The elegant and imposing mid-16th Century Château Des Bois is situated in 45 acres of private grounds and boasts excellent views over the Isle River valley. Six lavishly decorated bedrooms and six bathrooms are available for exclusive hire. A swimming pool is available for private use; it is fitted with a child security alarm.

Château Des Bois features stunning furniture and decoration, including mosaics, detailed plasterwork, parquets, stone-flagged floors, and high ceilings with magnificent exposed oak beams. Many of the rooms are covered in wood paneling, while an enormous 17th century fireplace forms the centrepiece of the dining room. Beupoil family wallpaper still hangs in the living room.

Château Des Bois is located on a hilltop village between the two towns of ‘La Roche’ and ‘Gravelle’, and overlooks the river Isle and the woods of Antoniac. The architecture of other buildings in the village bear a remarkable similarity to the château; this is because the family who once owned it also owned the village and rewarded the local farmers with housing and food in return for their labours in the fields.

The nearest airport is Bergerac (48km) whilst the small yet grand city of Périgueux (11km) is within easy reach where you will find beautiful architecture, bustling markets and a number of highly regarded restaurants such as Les Huit, Hercules Poireau and Les Clos Saint Front. Visit the city's large outdoor market on Wednesdays and Saturdays and head to Saint Astier's market, 8.5km by car, on a Thursday morning. A large supermarket and shopping mall is just over 6km away.

Local activities include golf (Golf Club Perigueux is a 10-minute drive away), tennis (within a 5-minute drive), canoeing/kayaking along the L'Isle River (10 minutes away) and wine tasting in Bergerac (50km), Monbazillac (60km), the especially beautiful Saint-Émilion (87km) and Pomerol (82km).

Brantôme (26km) is a delightful little town which has earned the moniker ‘The Venice of the Dordogne’ due to its location on an island. See the oldest bell tower in France at the Carolingian abbey, take a canoe or boat ride on the river, browse the windows of the many shops or sample the local cuisine.

Bergerac (50km) is a riverside town with medieval houses that line the streets of the centre, virtually unchanged for centuries, and over a hundred vineyards cater to wine enthusiasts of varying tastes. For those who enjoy a sweet wine, Monbazillac is a pretty good bet. Sarlat-la-Canéda (92km) is another medieval town with well preserved streets and a good market.

The river is an essential part of the landscape of the Dordogne, and runs straight through the southern part of the region, taking in many scenic towns along the way. A boat trip is the best way to explore these villages – enjoy stunning scenery along the way and bask in the sheer charm of this region.

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