Le Manoir Des Lavandes

About this property

Experience the warmth hospitality, graceful character and family-friendliness of this beautifully restored manoir in a charming village setting in northern Dordogne’s wonderful Périgord Vert.

With two acres of glorious gardens, a summer swimming pool and the most fantastic pool house, this 19th century manor house exudes traditional French style with contemporary extras to make this a fine holiday home for families and friends.

An elegant salon sits alongside a comfortable TV lounge with Netflix, Apple TV and UK satellite channels whilst the brilliantly equipped kitchen with modern touches contrasts perfectly with the formal dining room. Why not hire a chef to prepare a typical Perigordian feast to enjoy under the chandeliers or on the south-facing terrace looking out towards the village’s 12th century church.

The six bedrooms are also a delight with every comfort such as high-quality bedding (the two twins can even be made up with children’s bedding if requested) and each with their own en suite bathrooms with spacious modern showers, three with luxurious baths as well. At the very top of the manoir discover the roof terrace, a lovely spot for a quiet coffee or evening aperitif.

Outside, the vast enclosed gardens are a joy for playing badminton, croquet and football (alongside the many other games inside) and the cinema room, part of a converted barn, is great for cooler evenings with its 8ft screen, surround sound, DVD and Blu-Ray player and smart/satellite channels.     

You will no doubt spend quality time in the vast pool house with its summer kitchen, gas and charcoal barbecues, relaxing lounge area and covered dining table – perfect whatever the time of year whether its huddling by the fireplace on cooler evenings or watching kids splash around in the fabulous swimming pool in warmer months.

Help yourself to herbs, fruit and vegetables from the kitchen garden where you will find rhubarb and asparagus in the spring, aubergines and peppers in the summer and all sorts of seasonal fruit such as figs, plums and pears. This is in addition to the generous welcome basket on your arrival with beer, wine and olive oil alongside garden produce and fresh eggs from the resident hens.

You can fetch your morning croissants and fresh bread from the charming village shop, just a short stroll away, or experience market day in the picturesque old towns of Thiviers (especially renowned for its foie gras and truffle markets in the winter) and Excideuil, both within a 10-minute drive. The twice-weekly market in Périgueux is another great experience in this historic city known for its gastronomy and look out for atmospheric night markets taking place across the region in late July and August.

Then there’s idyllic villages to visit such as Saint-Jean-de-Côle and Ségur-le-Château, walking and cycling trails through the verdant landscapes, canoeing along the river in the beautiful town of Brantôme and famous French castles close by such as Château de Hautefort and Jumilhac.

With such rural beauty around you, yet within easy reach of some of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’ and ancient market towns, Le Manoir Des Lavandes offers something for everyone in the magnificent part of the Périgord Vert.

In northern Dordogne, Le Manoir des Lavandes is situated in the glorious Périgord Vert, a verdant region renowned for its beautiful scenery, delightful villages and wonderful market towns, just a 40-minute drive north-east of Périgueux.

The manoir itself is just on the edge of a tiny village with pretty houses, a 12th century church, a small bar and a lovely village shop where you can order fresh bread and croissants and pick up local produce and other groceries. You may be lucky enough to stay when the village hosts one of its various events including an atmospheric night market in August serving food and drink as well as concerts at other times of the year.

Keen walkers can follow marked trails from the village itself or in the surrounding region and there are plenty of maps and guides that you can borrow in the manoir. The owners can help arrange bike hire for you, including electric bikes, for you to be able to make the most of the cycling paths and quiet roads in this area. One of the many routes you may like to try is the 17km long Voie Verte which follows an old railway line between Thiviers and Saint-Pardoux-la-Rivière, via the idyllic village of Saint-Jean-de-Côle. If you prefer horse-riding, there is an equestrian centre a short drive away near Excideuil.

You will find a great range of restaurants in the area, the nearest being a traditional French restaurant just 6km away. The local markets are another amazing way to discover the gastronomy of the Périgord Vert with local specialities including truffles, mushrooms and foie gras. The markets in Thiviers and Excideuil, both within 10km, are highly recommended as is the twice-weekly market in Périgueux, a city well-known for its cuisine. Look out for other night markets taking place across the region in the height of the summer such as the charming Monday evening July/August event by the river banks in Ségur-le-Château.

Other lovely trips out include one of France’s 'Plus Beaux Villages', Saint-Jean-de-Côle (18km) with its gorgeous historic houses and Brantôme (37km), a picture-perfect town on the banks of the Dronne river with its abbey, troglodyte cave and pretty stone buildings. Take a stroll along the river or hire canoes as a wonderful way to discover the surrounding scenery. The bustling market takes place on a Friday morning and food-lovers can also visit the Michelin starred restaurant, Le Moulin de L’Abbaye.

If you are hoping to visit some of the famous castles of the Dordogne, the magnificent Château de Hautefort is just half an hour away whilst Château de Jumilhac (18km) is even closer.

If you wish to travel further to the historic châteaux along the Dordogne river, it is only a 90-minute car journey to Château des Milandes and Château de Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, for example, perhaps to be combined with a visit to the impressive gardens at Marqueyssac or the charming town of Sarlat-la-Canéda (80km).

Accommodation

 Manor Interiors

Ground Floor

-    Formal living room with card table and games
-    Lounge with log-burner and Smart TV with Netflix/Apple/UK satellite
-    Kitchen, fully equipped including range cooker, microwave, large fridge and freezer, second freezer, wine fridge, dishwasher and Nespresso machine
-    Dining room with log-burner and table for 12 guests
-    Laundry room with WC
-    Study with desk and Wi-Fi access

First Floor

-    Bedroom 1 with double bed (5ft) and en suite bathroom with bath, large shower cubicle and WC
-    Bedroom 2 with double bed (5ft) and en suite wet room with large shower and WC
-    Bedroom 3 with twin beds (3ft each) and en suite bathroom with large shower and WC (in this bedroom a 4ft6 double can be requested to replace one single)
-    Bedroom 4 with twin beds (3ft each) and en suite bathroom with large shower and WC

Second Floor

-    Bedroom 5 with double bed (5ft), portable air-conditioning unit and en suite bathroom with bath, large shower cubicle and WC
-    Bedroom 6 with double bed (5ft) and en suite bathroom with bath, large shower cubicle and WC
-    Access to roof terrace
Separate Barn in Grounds 
- Cinema room with 8' screen, Netflix/Apple and UK satellite TV, DVD and Blu-Ray player and surround sound
- Games room

Outside Grounds

-    Heated salt-water swimming pool (12x6m, depth: 1.4m) with safety cover and fenced/gated
-    Pool house (75m2) with open log fire, fridge, kettle, ice-machine, sink, Bluetooth speaker, lounge and dining area, gas barbecue and plancha, charcoal barbecue, separate WC and changing area
-    South-facing al-fresco dining terrace
-    Roof terrace with table for 4 guests
-    Charcoal barbecue
-    Badminton
-    Croquet
-    Football goal
-    Children’s play area (slide and swing)
-    Kitchen garden (seasonal fruit, vegetables and herbs)
-    Hens
-    Enclosed garden (2 acres)

Facilities

-    Wi-Fi
-    Heating
-    Fireplaces
-    Portable a/c unit (one, Bedroom Five only)
-    Fans (bedrooms)
-    Cinema room (8’ screen, surround sound, DVD and Blu-Ray player, Netflix/Apple TV/UK satellite channels)
-    Smart TV with Netflix/Apple TV/UK satellite channels
-    Bluetooth speaker
-    Books (all ages)
-    Board games  
-    Table football
-    Table tennis
-    Outdoor games
-    Hairdryers (x4)
-    Ironing facilities
-    Washing machine and dryer