(FB) Babeau. Amazing valley views, Pool, AC. Near Bordeaux, St Emilion, Bergerac in SW France
- Information
- Gallery
- Video
- Price
- Availability
- Map
- Local Area
- Reviews
- Private 9m x 4m Pool
- Air-conditioned bedrooms
- Dog friendly
- Spacious gardens
- Stunning views
- Private off-road parking
- 2/3 living rooms
- Children’s swings/ slide
- Covered veranda
- High-speed fibre Wi-Fi
- Roku Streaming device for TV
- Table tennis
- Charcoal and gas BBQs
- Wood burner
- Cot (1) and highchair (1)
- Wheelchair friendly
- Golf courses nearby
- Weekly markets nearby
- Close to historical towns
- Cycle hire available
- Private catering available
- Cafe bar 0.4 mile
- Daily bread 0.6 mile
Babeau has a private pool, breathtaking far-reaching views, AC, exposed stone walls, beamed ceilings, dog and wheelchair friendly, walk to cafe bar and bread, this holiday villa is just a short drive to historic towns and villages, SW France.
Babeau is a detached 250-year-old farmhouse Set over 320 square meters and has been restored and furnished to a good standard whilst retaining most of the house’s original features including exposed stone walls, beamed ceilings and a fireplace. Set on a hilltop with stunning views, at the end of a country lane with fenced-in gardens and an orchard. 2.3km to the nearest vineyard with wine tasting.
A short walk (0.4 miles) into the village, a café with refreshments, buy ice creams or maybe a bottle of wine to go. Daily fresh bread from the post office or the cafe bar on Sundays by request. An ancient church with stunning views over the valley, there is also a grotto to discover, it’s well worth the walk.
Fun for all of the family and children of all ages, a tree adventure and climbing park is just 3km away.
An ideal location to experience the Bordeaux / Bergerac wine regions, visit weekly farmer markets, St. Emilion and the Dordogne.
This holiday villa is within a short drive of the ancient Bastide town centre of Monsegur 5.5km (Gironde) and Duras 7km (Lot et Garonne), both towns have café bars, restaurants, banks, shops and supermarkets as well as weekly farmers’ markets and night market in the peak summer months.
6 bedrooms, twin and double rooms for up to 12 guests.
3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms are on the ground floor with one bedroom and bathroom being wheelchair friendly, please see the Wheelchair users’ information below.
There is a separate wc on the ground floor, a total of 3 wc on the ground floor.
3 bedrooms on the upper floor, bedroom 1 has an en-suite shower room, wc and the other 2 bedrooms use the facilities on the ground floor.
Furnished throughout with beautiful handmade teak furniture. Air-conditioned in all bedrooms, all facilities are for your exclusive use during your stay.
Bedrooms
All bedrooms are air-conditioned and portable electric fans are available.
Ground floor:
Bedroom 2: Beautiful double room (150cm x 190cm). The French door opens out looking over the grounds to the front and views over the valley below. This is the most suitable room at Babeau for a wheelchair user.
Next to a wet-room with an adjoining door, this bathroom is shared with bedroom 3. Facilities include a bath, a separate walk-in shower area, twin sinks and WC. Suitable for a wheelchair user.
Bedroom 3: Twin room with views directly over the neighbouring vineyard.
Next to a bathroom as described above.
Bedroom 4: Large double room (160cm x 200cm), dual aspect views, double doors opening to the driveway side of Babeau.
A WC is located opposite this bedroom and is near to the second ground floor shower room with twin sinks and WC.
Upper Floor:
Master bedroom 1: Beautiful double room (150cm x 190cm). Balcony with loungers looking over the grounds on three aspects, views over the valley.
En-suite shower room, twin sinks and WC.
Bedrooms 5 and 6: A further 2 twin rooms with Velux windows.
All bedrooms have a wardrobe, bedside table(s) and lamp.
Cleaning, towels and linen
Bed linen, bath towels and pool towels are provided and included in the price.
A complimentary extra supply of bed linen and bath towels will be provided for bookings of 2 weeks or more.
Air conditioning
The property has built-in air conditioning in all bedrooms, the cost is included in the price. Please use the air-conditioning with respect and close all doors and windows whilst it is in operation.
Baby and toddler facilities
A travel cot (including linen) and a high chair can be provided on request. Please note there are no stair gates.
Kitchen
Fitted kitchen with dishwasher, electric oven with grill, gas hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, kettle, toaster, filter coffee maker and a Nespresso Dolce Gusto coffee machine.
Weber charcoal grill and a Charbroil gas grill can be found on the terrace.
Utility room
Laundry room with a washing machine, iron and ironing board, there is a washing line in the garden.
Living rooms
There are 3 living areas:
The spacious TV lounge Dual aspect views through 2 sets of French doors to the pool area to the front and the driveway and orchard to the back of the house. Comfortable sofas and a table and chairs provide an additional dining space or for playing board games. There is a good selection of books to read. Separate WC.
A widescreen TV with Orange French streaming TV in addition to some English language stations, BBC iPlayer is available also. You are also able to stream Netflix and other platforms from this box, using your own login/subscription.
The sitting room and dining area look over the front terrace through French doors with views over the garden. An original large stone fireplace is the central focus of the room.
The mezzanine area above the sitting room is a nice space with seating, a bookcase and a desk with a chair.
Desk / Office space
A desk with a chair is situated in the Mezzanine area or the table and chairs on the other side of the tv lounge are also suitable as a desk space. High-speed fibre broadband/ Wi-Fi.
Outside, garden and orchards
Enjoy breakfast on the patio at the front of the house overlooking the fields and views of the Dropt Valley below, or take lunch under the shady, covered veranda. Weber charcoal grill and a Charbroil gas grill, outside table and chair sets, children’s swings/slide/climbing frame and table tennis. The large gardens surround the property on three sides, set over an acre of gardens with fruit orchards. A meadow surrounds the property grounds also owned by Babeau, there are walks into the meadow and superb views stretching out across the valley below and far into the distance.
The gardens surround the property on three sides, there are vines on the fourth side where a particularly nice red is grown (Bordeaux appellation) which can be bought directly from the vineyard. Stunning far-reaching views over the meadow and the valley below.
The entire grounds are fenced, and the gates can be locked.
Private swimming pool
9m x 4m pool, 1m deep, sun terrace and loungers. 3 in-pool steps lead you into the pool, the first step is the full width of the pool. The pool is protected by an alarm.
Dog friendly
A maximum of 2 dogs are considered on request at a charge of £50 each per booking plus an additional security bond of £250.
Cycling – secure storage for bikes
The area is really good for cycling, I am a keen road cyclist (David) and I spend many miles on the local roads. If you wish to know more about cycling in the area please call me. There is plenty of room in the laundry area to store bikes, there is a door that opens out to the driveway. Of course, as with anything valuable, you leave it at the property at your own risk.
Cycle hire and electric cycles are available to hire in the area. Cycle hire information page.
Useful information for wheelchair users and guests that are not so mobile.
Babeau is a very old farmhouse and whilst it was not specifically built for wheelchair access, there are 3 bedrooms on the ground floor, along with 2 shower rooms and a total of 3 WCs. The main shower room has been adapted specifically with wheelchair access in mind.
There are not many steps around the property but there is a large step from the main living area to the TV lounge and bedroom 4. It is possible to navigate around this from the main living area through double-opening French doors onto the front terrace (small ramp/gradient) which also has access to the TV room through double-opening French doors.
The French doors around the property are wide enough to accommodate wheelchair access, each threshold has an approximate height of 3cm to 4cm.
Bedroom 2 is the ideal room for a wheelchair user. The shower room, shared with bedroom 3, has a spacious wet room shower and a bath. The WC with plenty of space to one side for a wheelchair, with a wall-mounted handrail on one side and a folding wall handrail on the other, view a picture.
A shower chair/commode can be provided on request free of charge. The chair is on wheels and has height adjustable, foldable and removable footrests, and liftable armrests for easy lateral transfer, as well as a belt. It supports a maximum weight of 135 kg, view a picture.
As with the rest of the house, the doorways are quite ancient. The door widths are:
Bedroom 2 door 77cm, Bedroom 2 bathroom door 75cm.
Bedroom 3 door 79cm, Bedroom 3 bathroom door 55cm.
Kitchen / main entrance doorway 74cm, Step height 14cm, easiest access into the property is through the TV lounge.
Kitchen archway to the sitting room and dining table 83cm.
You enter the property via the gravelled drive to the rear and through the kitchen door. There is a concrete path that runs along the back of the house from the kitchen to the TV lounge with a step of 8cm (there is no need for a wheelchair to go via this step), a wheelchair can access the TV lounge from the driveway and then through the double opening French doors.
The front of the house is paved and has a terrace surrounding the pool, in both cases, there are little slopes and small uneven surfaces/ change of surfaces but largely do not have steps.
We are here to help so please contact us to discuss your individual requirements. Additional photos for disabled guests can be provided on request.
Travel
Airports
- Bergerac 47km
- Bordeaux 98km
- Toulouse 200km
Train
- Bordeaux station (TGV) 68km
- Marmande (Bordeaux line) 30km
- Sainte-Foy-La-Grande (Bordeaux / Bergerac line) 28km
- Bergerac 48km
Car
- Calais 937km
- Le Havre 712km
Use of car essential. Car hire quote with the best price guarantee, click here.
Babeau interior
Babeau exterior
| Dates | Price for 7 nights from | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 persons | Shortbreaks from | ||||||||||
| 30 Sep 2023 - 03 Nov 2023 | £995.00 | ||||||||||
| 04 Nov 2023 - 15 Dec 2023 | £895.00 | £895.00 | |||||||||
| 27 Apr 2024 - 03 May 2024 | £995.00 | £995.00 | |||||||||
| 04 May 2024 - 24 May 2024 | £1,275.00 | £1,275.00 | |||||||||
| 25 May 2024 - 31 May 2024 | £1,895.00 | ||||||||||
| 01 Jun 2024 - 07 Jun 2024 | £1,395.00 | ||||||||||
| 08 Jun 2024 - 21 Jun 2024 | £1,595.00 | ||||||||||
| 22 Jun 2024 - 28 Jun 2024 | £1,995.00 | ||||||||||
| 29 Jun 2024 - 05 Jul 2024 | £2,350.00 | ||||||||||
| 06 Jul 2024 - 12 Jul 2024 | £2,695.00 | ||||||||||
| 13 Jul 2024 - 19 Jul 2024 | £3,445.00 | ||||||||||
| 20 Jul 2024 - 26 Jul 2024 | £3,845.00 | ||||||||||
| 27 Jul 2024 - 02 Aug 2024 | £3,995.00 | ||||||||||
| 03 Aug 2024 - 16 Aug 2024 | £4,195.00 | ||||||||||
| 17 Aug 2024 - 23 Aug 2024 | £3,845.00 | ||||||||||
| 24 Aug 2024 - 30 Aug 2024 | £2,595.00 | ||||||||||
| 31 Aug 2024 - 06 Sep 2024 | £2,045.00 | ||||||||||
| 07 Sep 2024 - 13 Sep 2024 | £1,845.00 | ||||||||||
| 14 Sep 2024 - 20 Sep 2024 | £1,495.00 | ||||||||||
| 21 Sep 2024 - 27 Sep 2024 | £1,345.00 | £1,345.00 | |||||||||
| 28 Sep 2024 - 18 Oct 2024 | £1,095.00 | £1,095.00 | |||||||||
| 19 Oct 2024 - 03 Nov 2024 | £1,195.00 | £1,195.00 | |||||||||
Changeover day: Saturday
We are happy to consider alternative days outside of peak season and short breaks.
Reservation Information
No booking fee.
A 25% deposit secures a reservation with the balance payable 8 weeks before rental commencement.
A security bond of £500 is pre-authorised against a credit card 7 – 10 days before arrival and will be cancelled subject to satisfactory inspection after departure.
An extra security deposit of £250 applies to bookings with pets.
Our full booking terms and conditions can be viewed here.
Arrival from: 4 pm
Departure by: 10 am
Private swimming pool
The pool is open from the beginning of April – until the beginning of November.
Included in the price
Bed linen, bath towels and pool towels.
A weekly change of bed linen and bath towels is supplied for bookings of 2 weeks or more.
Taxe de Sejour (tourism tax).
Built-in air conditioning in all bedrooms.
Additional charges
Oil-fired heating is charged based on consumption. Indicative average charge £150 per week.
Extra cleaning is available, payable directly to the housekeeper. Hourly rate 25€, minimum 3 hrs.
Dog friendly
A maximum of 2 dogs are considered on request at a charge of £50 each per booking, plus an additional security bond of £250.
Shower chair/commode
If required. Please note that it must be left in a clean condition, otherwise a charge of £50 will be deducted from the security bond.
Our tips on what to do in Monsegur, Duras, Bordeaux, Bergerac and the Dordogne region.
Babeau is situated near the towns of Duras 7km (Lot et Garonne), Monsegur 6km (Gironde), Sainte-Foy-La-Grande 25km, in the region of Aquitaine within the Bordeaux wine region and on the borders of the Dordogne, Gironde and Lot et Garonne, France.
A short walk (0.4 miles) to a café with refreshments; by special request, they can create a BBQ meal for you, you can also buy ice creams and bottles of wine to go.
Daily fresh bread from the post office or the cafe bar on Sundays by request.
There is also an ancient church with stunning views over the valley, there is also a grotto to discover, it’s well worth the walk.
There are many vineyards in the area, the nearest vineyard is just 2.3km, approximately 28 minutes walk. www.chateaufaurie.com
Bordeaux city centre is a 70km drive to the west. Bergerac is 47km to the east and Saint Émilion 40km northwest.
An ideal base from which to explore southwest France. Located in the region of Aquitaine on the 3 borders of Gironde / Dordogne / Lot et Garonne and is considered to be one of the most picturesque areas of France.
The region is famous for wine and wonderful gastronomy. Whether you are in St. Emilion, Pomerol, Blaye, The Médoc, Entre Deux Mers, Bourg, Graves, or Sauterne the wines of the region are without doubt some of the very best in the world! There are local producers nearby that offer excellent quality wines at very reasonable prices through to the higher end of the market.
Perfect walking and cycling country, the rolling countryside is a pleasure to explore, with excellent roads winding their way through fields and vineyards.
Monsegur and Duras are ancient Bastide towns set around a market square which are host to weekly markets and also a weekly night market during the peak summer season. There is a good selection of shops, cafés, bars, restaurants and excellent boulangeries in both towns, our favourite being La Choco-Latine in Monsegur who were runners up in the French TV show “La Meilleure Boulangerie de France” in 2019.
We love the volunteer-run Cinema Eden in Monsegur, they show some international films in their original language version (VO) with French subtitles.
The market squares host a variety of festivals and events throughout the year, Monsegur hosts the famous 24 Heures de Swing at the beginning of July.
Wine and Gastronomy
Vineyards are abundant in the area.
The Bordeaux wine region has 21 appellations. Visit some of the many local Chateau that offers free tastings and tours while you choose a bottle or two.
Not to be missed is the world-famous Saint Emilion. A designated world heritage site and is truly stunning. Explore characteristic narrow lanes lined with wine merchants, cafes, restaurants and interesting independent shops. A guided tour of the monolithic church is highly recommended.
Vineyard tours, picnic in a vineyard, cheese and wine pairing evenings are available with a local couple, Sylvie and Pascal. Loving Aquitaine.
Bordeaux
This designated world heritage site is a must for all visitors. This cosmopolitan city offers a diverse range of attractions. The golden triangle has a fabulous range of shops for those shopaholics.
A rich variety of architecture forms the backdrop for the street cafes, restaurants, bars and not forgetting the superb Grand Theatre.
Dordogne
The Dordogne is just one of the many places to visit for day trips. Anything from canoeing or boat trips on the Dordogne river at Bergerac to exploring the wonderful and pretty ancient villages.
Activities
Coast, Beach and Water park
A freshwater lake with a sandy beach at Blasimon is just 23km away and is a popular attraction to take children for a day out. The gently shelving sand provides a fun environment for splashing around and cooling off in the heat of the summer sun. Blasimon lake.
Aqua Park is 42km located near Bergerac. Beach, canoeing and a water park.
Aqua Fun Park near Casteljaloux is 56km. Park with a huge freshwater lake, picnic benches, walks, facilities, man-made sandy beach, water sports, kid’s play area…. great for adults also.
Visit Europe’s largest sand dune 148km, the Dune du Pilat where both the climb and the views will take your breath away! Reward yourself with fresh seafood from the Bay of Arcachon or take the ferry to Cap Ferret and enjoy oysters and chilled white wine.
Chocolate
Yes, we believe chocolate is also an activity, we often have to visit to make sure the quality is up to standard… Maison Guinguet 8km, near Duras. A nice shop to visit, selling chocolate, gifts and offers guided visits to their artisan factory in July and August.
Duras Castle
The famous Chateau de Duras, 7km away. It’s well worth a visit, climb to the top and see the stunning 360-degree vista.
Tea room with gardens
Jardin de Boissona, six small gardens, each with its own character. Outside and inside seating. Known for their teas and delicious cakes. 4km.
Zip wire adventure and climbing park
Just 3.3km. Playground and snack bar. Des chênes toi Aventure
Boat trips
Dordogne river trips are available on traditional boats in Bergerac with Les Gabarres de Bergerac. 45km.
Cycling and bike hire
The French countryside around this property is perfect for cycling whether it’s just a gentle ride around to explore or if you are a keen cyclist, a long training ride on fantastic stretches of road to get the blood pumping whilst taking in the fantastic views.
Maybe cycle to a cafe bar for a cold glass of something local or the chocolate shop!
The Gironde and Lot et Garonne (Monsegur and Duras areas), guide and information Gironde bike information or Dordogne bike information
Bike hire can be delivered to your door, view prices and book – click here for details.
Bike Hire Direct, cycle hire
Electric / standard bike hire from Eymet (28km) cycle hire
Carbon road bike hire is available, collected from Bordeaux train station and you can ride back to your holiday villa using part of the old railway line (Roger Lapebie) which is now dedicated to cycling and walking.
Public tennis courts
Tennis courts are located in Monsegur, Saint-Vivien-de-Monségur, Duras and St Sernin de Duras they are usually booked via the tourist information office.
Canoeing and kayaking
Canoe hire is available on the rivers. The river Dropt winds through the valley with a slow flow on it, whilst the Dordogne river at Sainte Foy La Grande has a faster pace and has plenty of canoe hire opportunities.
Canoe Kayak hire:
Allemans-du-Dropt 18km: Dropt river, information
Sainte-Foy-la-Grande 25km: On the Dordogne river, information
Golf
There are pay and play golf courses within the area, the best being the beautiful Chateau Des Vigiers Golf and Country Club 26km. The chateau dates back to 1597 and is set in 450 acres of stunning countryside. Facilities also include a fine restaurant and a relaxing beauty spa. Golf Les Vigiers – Le Vigier – 24240 Monestier – Tel +33 5 53 61 50 00 – 18 holes superb golf.
Crazy Golf
Crazy golf and animals! Drinks and snacks. 20km. Facebook page link.
Wildlife park, animals
Parc du Griffon, animals, play areas and snack bar. 18km. www.parcdugriffon.fr/en.html
Ferme Exotique is a fun day out with lots of activities for children. 84km.
Zoo
Zoo de Bordeaux Pessac is 87km www.zoo-bordeaux-pessac.com
Aquarium Périgord noir
A great place to visit, includes an Alligator park. 92km Aquarium Périgord noir
Horse riding
Centre Equestre des Millespieds – 47120 Savignac de Duras – Ph +33 6 12 72 30 83- Nice, family-oriented horse and pony riding. English spoken.
Local markets and supermarkets
Markets
Most villages and towns hold weekly markets full of fresh and interesting local produce. An ideal place to pick up your holiday mementoes and gifts too.
Duras (7km): Every Monday from 8.30 to 14:00 (closes at 12:00 from September to June). Nice market with excellent organic fruit and veg, organic goats cheese, foie gras and a selection of other stalls.
Sainte Foy La Grande (25km): Every Saturday from 8.30 to 12:00. Big market with excellent producers and winner of “Favourite French Market” in 2014.
Monségur (6km): Every Friday from 8.30 to 12. Is a nice small market with a particularly good fish stall.
Issigeac (49km): Every Sunday morning. Extremely popular. Top tip – arrive early!
Eymet (28km): Every Thursday morning. Medieval town.
Summer night markets
Both Monsegur and Duras also have vibrant night markets during the peak summer months grab a bite to eat from one of the stalls and enjoy your food with a drink at one of the bars. There’s usually musical entertainment which creates a lively atmosphere.
Duras (7km): Thursday evening
Lévignac de Guyenne (12km): Friday evening
Monsegur (5km): Wednesday evening
Supermarkets
(Opening times may vary, especially on public holidays)
Carrefour Contact supermarket – just out of Duras on the direction of Sainte Foy La Grande. Small but very well stocked (includes English section). Open from 8 am to 8 pm nonstop from Mondays to Saturdays. Sundays from 9 am to 1 pm. 9km. GPS: 44.678160, 0.189631
Carrefour Contact supermarket in Monségur has got an excellent butcher section!!! Open from 8 am to 8 pm nonstop from Mondays to Saturdays. Sundays from 9 am to 1 pm. 8km. GPS: 44.650047, 0.087358
Butchers – Boucherie Evrard – Rue Paul Persil, in Duras. Good butcher, next to the Place du Marché.
Large E.Leclerc Hyper market plus other supermarkets and retail shops in Marmande 28km. GPS: 44.512165, 0.135597
Large E.Leclerc Hyper market in Pineuilh near Sainte Foy la Grande 28km. GPS: 44.826719, 0.219504
Tourist Information centres
Monségur (Gironde department) Tel: +33 5 56 61 82 73 – web www.entredeuxmers.com
Duras (Lot-et-Garonne department) Tel: +33 5 53 93 71 18 – web www.paysdeduras.com
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
An Idyllic Location.
A very spacious property with all the amenities you could want, good bathrooms and comfy beds. The location is idyllic, the views incredible and everything is in easy reach with plenty to do for the whole family. Duras and Monsegur well worth a visit, especially on market day or night. The lake at Blasimon and the Tree Top Adventures proved great fun for the kids. Would thoroughly recommend.
★ ★ ★ ★
Wonderfull house.
We had a lovely time in this great house with amazing view.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Superbe maison, spacieuse et parfaitement équipée. Le séjour était très agréable, calme et tranquillité assuré. Hôte très réactive!
—–
Superb house, spacious and perfectly equipped. The stay was very pleasant, calm and tranquillity assured. Very responsive host!
Vue magnifique
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Nous avons passé d’excellentes vacances dans votre maison. Elle est très spacieuse, et très pratique. Elle est bien équipée, conforme à la description. Le jardin clos est magnifique. et quel calme !! pas de voisin
—–
We had a great vacation in your house. It is very spacious, and very practical. It is well equipped, as described. The walled garden is magnificent. and what calm !! no neighbour
Une vue à 360 degrés sur les alentours !
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
La localisation de cette maison est vraiment exceptionnelle avec une vue sur tous les alentours, les levers et couchers de soleil. La piscine est très agréable également. La maison est très spacieuse.
—–
A 360-degree view of the surroundings!
The location of this house is truly exceptional with a view of all the surroundings, sunrises and sunsets. The pool is also very nice. The house is very spacious.
Lovely villa, better than expected!! Very clean, loads of amenities and enough sunbeds! In the middle of nowhere so you can’t walk into town but the views are amazing. We all decided we’d love to stay here again! Thankyou for a lovely stay x
Excellent family holiday home, I would recommend having cars to be able to travel to and from the house at ease but close to local supermarket and little towns. Beautiful outside space, very safe for children with great toys and facilities for them to use as well. Couldn’t recommend enough for a lovely family break!
Hidden Retreat
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Had a fantastic stay, the house has everything you need and the views are amazing. There was a group of 9 adults and 3 children staying for a week. Plenty of space for everyone inside and outside the house. There is a small bar a few minutes walk from the house which can provide bread and other pastries if pre ordered which made a delicious breakfast. The town of Duras and Monsegur are a short drive away and make a nice day out. I would recommend this house to other friends and family.
Beautiful Babeau
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
This was the first time the whole family had holidayed together. The party included Grandmother, Grandfather, the 3 children and their respective partners and most importantly the 4 grandchildren, two aged 4 and the other two 6 and 7 respectively.
One of our daughters , Nia, researched the property and didn’t she do well !! The position of Babeau was magnificent perched on a hilltop overlooking vineyards and beautiful surrounding countryside. There was ample room for the 12 of us and the most popular area was, of course, the swimming pool. The week flew by and we enjoyed the best family holiday ever.
Thank you Babeau for such a wonderful time.
An relaxing retreat with spectacular views
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
This is the perfect getaway to enjoy the French countryside and spend time as a family.
Absolutely magical week. Thank you so much
Stunning location, with spectacular views across wine country! Just a short walk from a little shop where you can buy pastries. 10 min drive to beautiful town (Monseigneur) where there was a market some days and a bakery to buy lovely pastries. We really enjoyed visiting a local winery, just 3 min drive away. Tito, the man who owned the vineyard, was so welcoming and generous, a hilarious few hours sampling some delicious wines. We played many table tennis competitions, even did a treasure hunt and lots of fun in the pool. Generous sized bedrooms, clean and nicely decorated. Lovely big kitchen and dining room. Cannot recommend highly enough, would return again!
A Place to Relax
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
We had a wonderful family holiday at Babeau. Easily found yet remote enough not to be bothered by anyone. The view of vineyards and plum orchards from the swimming area is wonderful. Duras and Monsegur are close enough and there is lots to do in the area however we just relaxed and did very little. The house is well equipped and the dishwasher a godsend. All in all a brilliant family holiday.
Fabulous gite- pictures don’t do it justice!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The pictures of this place really don’t do it justice! It is a beautifully maintained home that is spacious, clean and well equipped. Beds were extremely comfortable and the bedrooms are all large and spacious. There are plenty of bathrooms and ample hot water with good water pressure. Living space is vast and well equipped with comfortable seating and loads of dining space. Not that we used it much spending most of our time outside by the pool and eating at the large table on the shaded terrace.
The pool is great and the garden complete with plum orchard and kids climbing frame and swings kept the kids happy with loads of room to run around and explore. We were 2 families of 4 (with 4 kids between us aged 3 to 7) plus another couple and we easily had enough of our own space not to feel like we were living on top of each other.
The area is beautiful and the local town, Duras, has a chateau that both kids and adults enjoyed exploring, and there’s plenty going on in the summer (markets, night markets, festivals) if you can tear yourself away from the peace and quiet of the pool and garden. Canoeing on the Dordogne was fun and just a short drive away.
Great service from the owners including prompt return of the security deposit.
Rebecca F. August 2016
Restful, clean and inviting
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
We were there with our 5 grown up children. The house was spacious and meticulously clean when we arrived. there is plenty of ground within the gardens for everyone to lose themselves if they so wish, but we tended to gravitate around the pool. You need a car to get there and to get around.
Peter M, August 2016
In the sun
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Great house with all the space and toys you need to keep children happy, adults can enjoy the shade and wine while overlooking the children in the pool. location excellent for exploring the region and local amenities good. highly recommended 6 adults 3 children 1 baby wonderful stay”
Byron R, May 2015
“Babeau is a stunning villa in beautiful surroundings. We found everything that we needed in the villa for three generations (58 years to 5 months old!) After a fun filled day exploring, we would return to Babeau for an evening barbeque washed down with plenty of local wine. Despite having two babies with us, the villa had a plethora of evening activities to offer and we would stay up into the small hours enjoying a game of cards / ping pong / darts.
On the evening that we arrived at Babeau, we were greeted by a phenomenal buffet created by the wonderful Sylvie. An array of beautiful homemade dishes were laid out before us and were quickly devoured! Having said this, there was such an incredible amount of food that we were able to continue enjoying it for the next four days! Particular favourites included the quiche, chocolate pots and extensive cheese board.
We were then once again met by Sylvie on our fourth day at the villa as she had agreed to take us on a tour of a local vineyard, acting as our translator. Sylvie was informative (she had done extensive research of her own before taking us) and exceptionally friendly.
It was an absolute pleasure meeting Sylvie and we would strongly recommend having her cater for you!
It was refreshing to find a small business where we could deal with the same person every time that we had an enquiry. Tracy and David were incredibly accommodating and helped to make our stay truly memorable. From arranging celebratory birthday banners on arrival to organising a bespoke wine tour around a local villa, nothing was too much to ask for. Furthermore, their expert knowledge of the local area meant that all of their recommendations exceeded expectations.
We look forward to booking our next holiday with Holiday Cottages and Villas.
Many thanks,”
Anne, Steve, Ben, Steve, Faye, Thomas, Christine and Lauren
April 2015
“So good we are back for more
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The initial rustic appearance of the property belies the attention to detail inside the house and quality of the fixtures and fittings to provide a most comfortable place to stay. The listing description was spot on and the house itself was spotless – large rooms throughout; well appointed bathrooms; and well equipped kitchen – the only thing we missed was a cafetiere which, I understand, has been addressed for next year when we are back for three weeks. There is more than enough outdoor space around the pool or garden with views across the valley to Monsegur and Duras either in full sun or on patios under cover for those of us who enjoy the warmth and open air without being baked. Bedrooms remained pleasantly cool to allow for a good night’s sleep. The village and local area are very quiet which allows you to go for strolls without problems but Monsegur and Duras seem only a stone throw away for markets, shops, cafes and restaurants and you are on the edge of some of the best wine growing regions in the world – Bordeax, Bergerac, Pecharmont and Duras. What’s not to like.”
Ian, September 2014
“We had a wonderful couple of weeks at Babeau – the house was fantastic, although the only downstairs room we really used was the kitchen! We ate every meal outside – even during rain and thunderstorms! The views were wonderful and the children really loved the pool. There was also so much garden space for them to play in. The plums were great too.
Many thanks for your help in organising this lovely holiday.”
The Matthews party, August 2014
“We have just returned from a wonderful relaxing week at Babeau. The property is lovely, well equipped and in a fantastic location, with vineyards as far as the eye can see. This would be an ideal place to just come and relax, and not do anything. The kids were hardly out of the pool, and there’s a sunny terrace around the pool with stunning views over the countryside. If you are into wildlife it’s a fantastic place too, with gardens full of birds (we had a huge flock of birds of prey rising on thermals), lots of lizards and we even had an early morning badger on the lane.
The surrounding area is a haven for wine lovers. An hour’s drive to St Emilion was the highlight of our trip, but there are lots of nice vineyards all around. Make sure you go to the evening markets in the villages nearby. Fresh Oysters, escargots and loads of other local delicacies, served up with local wines in the square is something not to be missed.
I hope we will be back again soon. Thanks for a fantastic holiday.”
The Firth party, July 2014
Thank you very much,we had a fabulous holiday with good weather, such a beautiful place and so relaxing. Only complaint, it wasn’t long enough. Thank you again for your help!
The Light family, June 2013
“We leave wet England and arrive in the sunlight at Calais and drive through the Loire valley picking up the odd bottle of wine on the way. We arrive at Babeau once again (visited June 2011). We enjoyed everything about Babeau and the surrounding countryside. Our 6 year old grand daughter, with a sad voice, told her 4 year old sister “We are going home tomorrow!”. Her reply was “Why?” – we had no answer! Hope everyone enjoys their visit as we have.”
The Nichols party, June 2012
“The photos on the website do not do this place justice!…Excellent facilities, very well thought out and the house managers – Maureen and Andy – lovely, lovely people… Babeau will be very highly spoken of to our friends and family. We will be back!”
“Loved that yours is the last property on the lane and there is a huge garden with swings etc. – meant the kids could go out at any time and we knew they were safe.”
The O’Sullivan party
“We have had a fab week. All the kids enjoyed the pool, gardens and fruit trees. House fantastic – works well with two families.”
“Yes it really is a lovely house! We really enjoyed our two weeks at Babeau. It was clean, tidy and in a wonderful location-just the place to chill out, read and drink wine! and the pool to keep cool. We even thought of booking for next June…”
The Harrington party
“This is a lovely peaceful place which has made us feel rejuvenated. Spacious house with room for all the activities for all ages. Enjoyed it all!”
The Hallows party.
“Thanks for a wonderful holiday experience here in Babeau, thoroughly enjoyable!. All eleven of us had a blast – scenery beautiful, villages and vineyards lovely, so this gang from Dublin will be back!”
The Shannon party.