Le Mas. Hilltop views, Heated secure salt pool. In the Dordogne near Bergerac SW France

Le Mas is a gorgeous farmhouse with a heated saltwater pool with an electric cover. 5 bedrooms, stone fireplaces with wood burning stoves, thick stone walls, exposed beams and superb far-reaching hilltop views of the glorious Dordogne countryside. 

Situated in the south of the Dordogne, a region famous for its history, cuisine and incredible landscapes. The area offers so much to explore: châteaux, bastide (medieval fortified) towns, markets, brocantes, wine tours, prehistoric caves and much more besides.

A winding private driveway leads you through a wood and fields to the golden stone 16th-century property. Roses, jasmine, wisteria and lavender scent the air.

Loving transformed by the attentive owners into an award-winning “luxurious rural retreat” (The Telegraph), the houses have bags of character and history. Completely renovated whilst respecting the historical character of the building, Le Mas has been brought into the 21st century offering stylish understatement and discreet luxury. Well-equipped and well-maintained, it’s a place to fall in love with. Bask by the pool, have a siesta in a shady spot, enjoy the tranquillity, play ping-pong or sit by a roaring fire. We have a feeling you won’t want to leave this rural idyll.

Le Mas is perfect to explore the best of the Dordogne: castles, vineyards, markets, prehistoric caves, truffles and stunning scenery. The bastide towns of Monpazier and Beaumont with their cafés and markets are 10 minutes away.

Le Mas comfortably accommodates up to 10 guests or can be rented together with Le Mazet; a separate 1-bedroom property, which together can accommodate up to 13 guests over 6 bedrooms with 6 bathrooms. It’s a great house for families and groups of friends. To view both properties please view Le Mas Mazet.

A few steps away from Le Mas is the covered summer kitchen. Gather at the long dining table and fire up the large barbecue. A jasmine-scented terrace overlooks the private, heated, saltwater swimming pool and the stunning Dordogne countryside.

A house for all seasons, there’s a spacious family kitchen and comfortable sitting room, both with large fireplaces with wood burners (firewood included). 5 bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, are spread over the ground and first floors.

Le Mas has been awarded 5 stars by the Ministry of Tourism and is described by The Telegraph as a “luxurious rural retreat…superb”. To help ensure a great holiday the owners offer a concierge service including, a private chef service, wine tasting, morning deliveries from the baker and lots more.

Bedrooms

Three double bedrooms, two twin bedrooms.
All bedrooms are equipped with a fan in the summer months, and have their own en-suite bathroom and WC.

Three double bedrooms (first floor):
The three double bedrooms are all on the first floor, accessed via two staircases from the kitchen. The main staircase leads up from the kitchen to the two large master bedrooms, Bedroom 1 (33m²) and Bedroom 2 (23m²). Their en suite bathrooms have freestanding baths and walk-in showers. The second staircase leads from the kitchen to a dual-aspect double Bedroom 3 and en suite bathroom with shower.
These three bedrooms are all light and bright and have wooden floors, exposed beams and stone walls. They have views over the fields and woods on one side, and the summer kitchen and the pool on the other. The hotel-quality beds are all 180 cm x 200cm and have Egyptian cotton sheets.

Two twin bedrooms (ground floor):
At opposite ends of the ground floor are the two twin bedrooms. They both have two single beds and en suite bathrooms with showers. Bedroom 4 (near the kitchen) is wheelchair accessible, as is the majority of the rest of the ground floor and outside area. The hotel-quality single beds are 90 x 200cm and have Egyptian cotton sheets.

All five bathrooms have complimentary toiletries from The White Company and a hairdryer.
There are two travel cots available for infants under 2 years old.

Cleaning, towels and linen

End-of-stay clean: When you leave, all we ask is that you tidy up, The team will clean to ensure it’s as perfect as it was when you arrived, but we would appreciate all the games, toys, books etc. being put back.

Toiletries: You’ll find The White Company’s Noir range in the bathrooms (hand soaps, hand and body lotion, shower gel, shampoo and conditioner) and in the kitchens (cleansing hand soap and hand lotion). Compliments of the house!

There are goose-down duvets on the beds in the double bedrooms, but there are also anti-allergy duvets available. All the bed linen is 100% Egyptian cotton, and the towels are also pure cotton. Pool towels are also provided. For longer stays the bed linen and towels are changed weekly.

Baby and toddler facilities

Two travel cots with mattresses, two high chairs in both the kitchen and summer kitchen, children’s cutlery, plates and bowls, anti-slip mats for the baths, and some books, indoor and outdoor games.

The sitting room

The terracotta tiles in the kitchen continue into the sitting room (44m²), which has its own fireplace with a wood burner (firewood provided), exposed beams and doors leading outside to the pool and summer kitchen.

The huge comfy sofas make it the perfect place to relax, and the entertainment cupboard has hundreds of books, and lots of games and DVDs. The flat-screen TV has UK and French channels, the Netflix app and a DVD player.

Heating: Le Mas has central heating throughout. There is also a wood burner in Le Mazet and two in Le Mas, which are effective and cosy. Firewood is provided in the cooler months, sourced locally from the neighbour’s woods!

Kitchen

The hub of the farmhouse is the large kitchen (55m²), which leads to the other rooms and two staircases. There is a long kitchen table and transparent Pedrali chairs in front of the wood burner, and the kitchen area has a big concrete worktop.

Chefs will love the well-equipped kitchen which includes a Smeg range cooker, dishwasher, washing machine, fridge, freezer, microwave, Nespresso coffee machine, Aeroccino milk frother, Siemens Porsche Design filter coffee maker,  toaster, blender, and kettle. The kitchen’s history and character is evident in the large stone fireplace with a wood burner, terracotta tiled floor, and the old larder and évier (sink) set into the one-metre thick stone walls.

Cleaning products: Dishwasher tablets, washing-up liquid, detergents, bin bags, loo paper and other cleaning products are all provided for your use.

The summer kitchen

Opposite the kitchen is the covered summer kitchen (65m²). It was originally a barn for housing animals and drying tobacco. It’s now partly open on three sides, offering a breeze, shade and fantastic views over the pool and rolling hills. As well as a dining area, there is also a kitchen area with a large Weber gas barbecue (gas provided).

The summer kitchen is where you’ll gather for meals, games, or to admire the view and relish the peace and quiet. Atmospheric lighting makes the summer kitchen and gardens magical at night.

Private heated swimming pool

Le Mas’ private heated pool is open from April to October. It measures 10 x 5 metres and has a maximum depth of 1.7 m, and has a large terrace with sun loungers, deck chairs and parasols. The pool has an electric cover, which keeps the pool both secure and warm. It’s a saltwater pool which means softer water and fewer risks for allergies and irritation to your eyes and skin. Saltwater pools have about 10% of the salinity of the ocean.

The pool is positioned to be close to the house and the summer kitchen, and to take in the stunning views.

The garden and games

The garden is well-maintained and references Le Mas’ past as a farm. There are nut trees (which the deer love!) and fruit trees, including medlar, quince and sorb from which jellies are traditionally made. The air is scented with lavender, rosemary, jasmine, wisteria and roses.

There is a mulberry tree in the middle of the meadow with a bench around it, it’s gently lit by bulbs when the sun has gone down. There are other benches dotted about the garden, several of which are made from a fallen walnut tree. They are the perfect spots from which you can enjoy the far-reaching views.

Garden produce: Please help yourselves to the walnuts, hazelnuts, chestnuts, apples, pears, plums and mirabelles, cherries, peaches, medlars, quince, sorb, blackberries and sloes. There are also herbs – rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano and mint planted for you.
The neighbours below Le Mas have an organic permaculture farm, from whom you can buy season vegetables or order a veg box.

Games barn

Two outbuildings have been converted into a covered pétanque court and a covered table tennis area. There are games to play outside such as table tennis, football, rugby, archery, darts, badminton, children’s croquet and more.

Your stay at Le Mas

The extremely welcoming and attentive owners, Rupert and Franck live on-site in a converted tobacco barn. They are respectful of guests’ privacy but are on hand to help you with advice on where to go and what to do during your holiday and are always happy to advise.

Private chef
A fantastic French private chef who had his own Michelin-star can cook for you at Le Mas, bringing the restaurant to you. As a group, choose one from his selection of menus and he’ll arrange the date with you. He’ll arrive early to prepare and to lay the table. He’ll serve you and clear everything away, leaving you to enjoy the delicious food and great company!

Food on arrival
You can order a dinner package from a local traiteur for you to warm up. The duck lasagna and homemade quiches are delicious! This can be arranged for your arrival day so that you don’t have to worry about shopping and cooking. You might like to go to the Sunday morning market at Issigeac (25 km) to stock up – and supermarkets are open until lunchtime on Sunday mornings.

Wine-tasting
If you want to taste and learn about Bergerac and French wines without getting in the car, it can be arranged for a wine expert to give you a fantastic wine-tasting session in the comfort of Le Mas.

Bakery delivery
A local artisan baker delivers straight to the door 3 mornings a week. Just text your order the day before to enjoy fresh bread, croissants and chocolatines in the morning.

Massages, pilates and yoga
If you are not relaxed enough (difficult to imagine),  a holistic massage under the trees or in your room, or a tailor-made yoga or pilates session can be arranged.

What to do in the area and beyond

There are many towns, villages and castles to explore on your doorstep. Local towns and villages host weekly markets as well as summer night markets and various festivals throughout the year. More information on what’s on locally can be viewed in the “Local Area” tab above.

Travel

Airports

• Bergerac 35km
• Brive–Souillac 88km
• Bordeaux 170km
• Toulouse 161km

Train

• Bergerac 37km
• Lalinde (Bergerac line) 22km
• Bordeaux station (TGV) 150km

Car

• Calais 900km
• Le Havre 700km

Use of car essential. Car hire quote with the best price guarantee, click here.