(FMF) Maison Fontaine
- Information
- Gallery
- Video
- Price
- Availability
- Map
- Local Area
- Reviews
- Private 12m x 4m pool
- Heated pool*
- Fenced/gated and alarmed pool
- Baby and child friendly
- 5 acres of private garden
- Rural views
- High speed fibre broadband
- Private drive/parking
- Children’s swing
- Table tennis
- Dartboard and Croquet set
- Boules court
- Golf courses nearby
- Cot and high chair x 2
- Hairdryer (1)
- Cycle hire
- Central heating
- Room fans (4)
- Dishwasher
- Washing machine
- Charcoal BBQ
- Satellite TV, DVD
- Wheelchair access
- Bluetooth speakers
- Private cook available
- Shops/restaurants nearby
Maison Fontaine is a luxury French holiday home with a private heated swimming pool, and ground-floor bedrooms which are wheelchair friendly. Set near the rural village of Baleyssagues between Bordeaux and Bergerac near the Dordogne, close to Saint Emilion in south west France. La Champetre holiday villa Duras.
Featured in the French house decoration magazine L’essentiel de la Deco.
The magazine selected Maison Fontaine as having “The best French interior”
Offering sophistication, effortless natural elegance & genuine laid-back charm the tranquillity of Maison Fontaine, originally part of a medieval priory, is set against a glorious backdrop of rolling hills, plum orchards and vineyards where children can run freely through meadows whilst you chill out with a cool glass of wine by the beautiful private swimming pool.
This beautiful luxury holiday home is ideal for a group of friends or all of the family.
The building dates back to the 12th century and is wrapped around a cobbled courtyard, lending a serene calm to this medieval property.
Suitable for up to 6 adults and 4 children, set over 180m2.
Maison Fontaine is positively organic in its make-up – the stone walls are thick, providing unique insulation from the summer heat; huge glass windows allow natural light all day. A private shady terrace overlooks the pool, orchards and fields, it is a naturally tranquil haven.
Location and local amenities
Situated near the towns of Duras (2.1 miles) and Monsegur (5.3 miles) in the region of Aquitaine within the Bordeaux wine region and on the border of the Dordogne, Gironde and Lot et Garonne. Set in the countryside between Bordeaux and Bergerac. The infamous Saint Emilion is approximately a 45-minute drive away.
The surrounding picturesque bastide towns are host to weekly traditional French markets where the villagers shop for local produce and meet friends, enjoy a coffee and croissant and watch the world go by. A popular night market is also held each week during the summer months where street food, wine tasting and entertainment are the backdrops for the evening. Each town offers a good selection of restaurants, cafés, bars, pharmacie & banks with ATMs as well as the all-important boulangerie for fresh croissants and crusty bread and a popular chocolate shop selling handmade chocolates and gifts.
A comprehensive Carrefour supermarket and petrol station can be found at Duras or Monsegur. Larger hypermarkets are found in La Reole (30km), Marmande (24km) and Sainte-Foy la Grande 23km.
A private cook is available at the house and should be booked in advance at Loving Aquitaine
Maison Fontaine is an ideal central location to explore Bordeaux, Bergerac and the Dordogne region.
Luxury Bedrooms La Champetre villa Duras
Each bedroom is equipped with a room fan and hairdryer.
There are four fabulous bedrooms (one of which is wheelchair accessible) sleeping up to 10 in comfort.
Three bedrooms all have king-size beds (160cm wide and 200cm long) which are height adjustable at each end for added comfort and open-plan en-suite bathrooms.
Bedrooms 1 and 2 have their own open-plan luxury bath, walk-in shower and wc. Bedroom 3 has a bath with a shower, the wc is situated next to this room and is shared with bedroom 4.
All three bedrooms are large enough to place a cot if required.
The fourth bedroom is a children’s paradise – a dormitory den with 4 beds where a secure glass window overlooks the main sitting room, allowing a sneaky peep of the babes at bedtime. Each bed measures 80cm wide and 190cm long.
Kitchen
The kitchen is very well stocked with everything even the most discerning holiday chefs could require including a fridge freezer, gas hob, dishwasher, food processor/blender, juicer, cafetiere and a Nespresso (Krups) coffee machine. Dishwasher tablets and cleaning products are supplied.
Living space
Overlooking the courtyard to one side and the pool on the other, the main living room is a fabulous open-plan space that encompasses the kitchen, dining area and sitting room.
A second sitting room doubles as the TV room with a large flat-screen TV, DVD player and stack of DVDs, books and board games.
Heating is available at an additional cost in the cooler months.
Cleaning / towels / linen
Bed linen, bath towels and pool towels are all provided and are included in the price. Bookings of 2 weeks or more receive a complimentary supply of linen every week and a 4-hour clean.
Garden and meadow
The all-important BBQ is located on the alfresco dining area outside the kitchen. The dining table can seat up to 10 people and overlooks the garden and pool.
The enormous garden spreading across 5 acres is large enough for football matches (goalposts provided), cricket/rounders or simply to send the kids off on a treasure hunt. The house and garden are well stocked with toys, a sandpit, swing, seesaw, CDs, books etc…
Far-reaching views and a lovely spot to enjoy stunning sunsets.
The private secure heated swimming pool
The beautiful 12m x 4m swimming pool overlooks fields and orchards. It is both alarmed and fenced and gated with generous steps which stretch the entire width of the pool leading you into the shallow end of 1.10m in-depth. The deep end is 1.40m.
Important note: Please see the “Prices” page for full details about pool heating.
Baby Facilities
2 cots and 2 high chairs can be provided upon request.
Useful information for wheelchair users or guests that are not so mobile
Bedroom 2, set on the ground floor, is wheelchair friendly with a wet room and has flat tiled floors throughout. The bed is height adjustable at each end for added comfort.
None of the wide interior doorways on the ground floor have sills or door treads.
A purpose-made ramp allows access into the property from the garden and covered deck area by the pool. The 2 steps up to the living area door are 18cm and 16 cm high.
The ramp measures 77cm wide and 182.9 cm long. The maximum weight it will hold is 272 kg. It has a 20% gradient.
The door into the house is 86cm wide.
Bedroom 2: The bed height inc. the mattress is 40cm and either end of the bed can be raised to elevate the feet or upper body.
Door width 79.5cm. Shower room with sliding door (68cm), this can be adjusted to 74cm, if necessary the door can be taken off giving a maximum width of 77cm.
The entire shower room measures 2.32m x 1.70m. Within the shower room is the wc, the front of the wc measures 77cm to the door.
A wheeled shower chair is available if required.
TV room: The TV room doorway is 86cm wide.
All measurements are approximate.
Outside and swimming Pool:
Mainly gravel and lawn. The decked area has a negligible height difference and wouldn’t cause a problem. The pool can be accessed via the lawn through a gate that is 1 metre wide. There is a paved edge around the pool which is approx 5cm high plus the margelles. The rest of the surrounding area around the pool is lawned and is on the same level as the rest of the garden.
Travel
Airports
- Bergerac 42km
- Bordeaux 100km
- Toulouse 200km
Train
- Bordeaux station (TGV) 70km
- Sainte-Foy-La-Grande (Bordeaux / Bergerac line) 24km
- La Reole (Bordeaux line) train station 22km
Car
- Calais 577 miles
- Le Havre 430 miles
Use of car essential. Car hire quote with the best price guarantee, click here.
Maison Fontaine
| Dates | Price for 7 nights from | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 persons | |||||||||||
| 20 May 2023 - 16 Jun 2023 | €2,625.00 | ||||||||||
| 17 Jun 2023 - 30 Jun 2023 | €3,095.00 | ||||||||||
| 01 Jul 2023 - 25 Aug 2023 | €4,990.00 | ||||||||||
| 26 Aug 2023 - 01 Sep 2023 | €2,310.00 | ||||||||||
| 02 Sep 2023 - 27 Oct 2023 | €1,890.00 | ||||||||||
Changeover day: Saturday
We are happy to consider alternative days outside of peak season.
Reservation Information
No booking fee. A 25% deposit secures a reservation with the balance payable 8 weeks before rental commencement.
A refundable security bond of €1000 is payable with the balance which is returned within 7 days of departure subject to a satisfactory inspection.
Please view information about credit card and debit card charges.
Arrival from 17:00. Departure by 10:00
Included in the price:
Bed linen, bath towels and pool towels.
Bookings of 2 weeks or more receive a complimentary supply of linen every week and a 4 hour clean.
Pool information:
The pool is open from:
23 April – 28 October 2022
22 April – 27 October 2023
Pool heating is included in the rental price from:
May 21 – September 23 2022
May 20 – September 22 2023
During all other dates, pool heating is charged at 165€ per week if required.
Please note: Specific temperatures can not be guaranteed as pool heating is influenced by weather conditions and other factors.
The local area and what to do, Monsegur / Duras, Bordeaux and the Dordogne, France
Maison Fontaine is situated near the towns of Monsegur (8km) and Duras (3.5km) in the region of Nouvelle Aquitaine within the Bordeaux wine region and on the borders of the Dordogne, Gironde and Lot et Garonne, France.
Bordeaux city centre is a 72km drive to the west and Bergerac is 43km to the east, Saint Emilion is 41km north.
This is the ideal base from which to explore South West 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 gently rolling countryside is a pleasure to explore, with excellent roads winding their way through fields and vineyards. Perfect cycling country!
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 including cafes, bars and a pizzeria which hosts weekly live music.
There is also Cinema Eden in Monsegur, which does show international films in their original language version (VO), a selection of English speaking films with French subtitles.
The market squares are host to many festivals and events throughout the year.
Wine and Gastronomy
This region is famous for its wines 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 near this holiday home that offer very good quality products at a very reasonable price.
The Bordeaux wine region has 21 appellations. Visit some of the many local Caves and Chateau that offer free tastings and tours while you choose a bottle or two.
Not to be missed is the world-famous St Emilion (40km), a designated world heritage site that 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.
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 26km 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, kids play area…. great for adults and kids.
Visit Europe’s largest sand dune 160km, 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 feel the sand between your toes whilst you 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 4km, 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, 3km 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 has six little gardens, each with its own character. Outside and inside seating. Known for their teas and delicious cakes. 3km.
Zip wire adventure and climbing park
Just 5km. 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.
Cycle hire, Bike hire
The countryside around our properties is popular 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 or the chocolate shop!
Bring your own bike or bike hire is available, we recommend booking in advance.
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 bicycles can be hired at Allemans du Dropt and Eymet cycle hire
- Carbon road bike hire in Bordeaux, they will deliver to Bordeaux train station for free, they do not deliver to your door but if you are a serious cyclists just ride the bike back to Villa Alouette. Carbon road bike hire Bordeaux.
Public tennis courts
Good quality courts are located in Monsegur, Duras & St Sernin de Duras and are usually booked via the local 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.
The Dordogne river at Sainte Foy has a faster pace but has plenty of canoe hire opportunities and literally just go with the flow and be picked up further downstream. Of course, the easiest way is a boat trip and let someone else do the work.
Canoe Kayak hire:
- Allemans-du-Dropt 15km: Dropt river, information
- Sainte-Foy-la-Grande 21km: On the Dordogne river, information
Golf
There are many pay and play golf courses within the area, the best being the beautiful Chateau Des Vigiers Golf and Country Club 22km. 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 – Ph +33 5 53 61 50 00 – 18 holes superb golf.
Crazy Golf
Crazy golf and animals! Drinks and snacks. 20km. Facebook page link.
Horse riding
Centre Equestre des Millespieds – 47120 Savignac de Duras 6km – Ph +33 6 12 72 30 83- Nice, family oriented horse riding club. Ponies available. English spoken.
Wildlife park, animals, zoo
Parc du Griffon, animals, play areas and refreshments just a 14km away. Parc du Griffon
Ferme Exotique 75km away.
Zoo de Bordeaux Pessac is 95km www.zoo-bordeaux-pessac.com
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.
Both Monsegur and Duras also have night markets during the summer where you can eat and have a drink as well as browse the many stalls.
Duras: Every Monday from 8.30 to 14:00 (closes at 12:00 from September to June). Nice market, excellent Organic veggies and fruit producer, Nicolas. Excellent organic goat cheese producers too… Foie gras, Magrets and so on by Mr & Mrs Ros…excellent! …. and many stalls of food/non-food.
Allemans du Dropt (14km): Every Sunday morning.
Sainte Foy La Grande (21km): Every Saturday from 8.30 to 12:00. Quite a big market with excellent producers.
Monségur: Every Friday from 8.30 to 12. Nice small market with a good fish stand next to the restaurant Le Grand Cep and a fantastic pork butcher under the covered market.
Issigeac (45km): Every Sunday morning.
Eymet (24km): Every Thursday morning.
Night markets
From 1st of July till End of August, very successful, where you can eat and dance, with many craft and food stalls. Go early if you want to park close to the village.
Duras (3km) Night market: Every Thursday evening till the end of August.
Lévignac de Guyenne (9km) Night market: Every Friday evening till the end of August.
Monsegur (8km) Night market. Every Wednesday evening till mid of September.
Supermarkets
Carrefour Contact supermarket – just out of Duras on the direction of Sainte Foy La Grande. Small but very well stocked (includes English part). Open from 8 am to 8 pm nonstop from Mondays to Saturdays. Sundays from 9 am to 1 pm.
Carrefour Contact supermarket in Monségur has got an excellent butcher section!!! Open from 8am to 8pm nonstop from Mondays to Saturdays. Sundays from 9am to 1pm.
Baker – Boulangerie, Rue Paul Persil, in Duras. Excellent croissants, fantastic cornflour and rustic bread, closed on Tuesday and Sunday afternoon.
Butchers – Boucherie Evrard – Rue Paul Persil, in Duras. Good butcher, next to the Place du Marché. Closed on Tuesday and Sunday afternoon.
Large E.Leclerc Hyper market plus other supermarkets and retail shops in Marmande 26km.
Large E.Leclerc Hyper market in Pineuilh near Sainte Foy la Grande 23km.
Tourist Information centres
Monségur (Gironde department) Ph +33 5 56 61 82 73 – web www.entredeuxmers.com
16 Boulevard Jean Brisseau, in Duras (Lot-et-Garonne department) Ph +33 5 53 93 71 18 – web www.paysdeduras.com
What a wonderful, characterful holiday home you have created. Comfortable, modern where necessary but full of historical character. And lovely to have the space all around. Just the tonic we needed after months of lockdown. Thank you!
We have at last found paradise in a place we could all share. Thank you for sharing this beautiful, peaceful house.
The countryside for early morning sun, endless swim day and night. The bird watching and the lazing in the shade.
We had great fun wine tasting locally and having been blessed with stunning weather we have had long al fresco meal every day.
I think we have made the most of all the games and puzzles inside and out and no TV !!!
Frédéric you have been a fabulous host and so thankful for our wheelchair requirements.
À bientôt !
Wonderful family holiday, beautiful house and grounds and so much entertain for our 2 years old daughter. The highlight of our two weeks included the wine tour with Frederic ( highly recommended ! ) visiting local markets, eating out and relaxing by the pool. We look forward to our return one day.
George, 8 years old
The Villa and the pool are amazing.
I can get my wheelchair everywhere. Thank you .
PS: The villa was the highlight of our holiday.
Parents
Thank you for a wonderful week. The children loved the pool and the grounds. Horse riding and canoeing were also very enjoyable.
Thank you !
We have had a wonderful week. The pool and garden are wonderful for the kids, whose week was made by a night swim !
We have been to the rope climbing, canoeing and night market.
The house really does have everything one could need or want. For the adults, the peace and calm and the location is brilliant.
Merci Frederic !
A wonderful first week to our 2019 holidays.
The house is wonderfully renovated and has everything a family can wish !!! We also had the chance of a very warm weather which gave us plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great terrace and had al fresco dining every day.
Thank you Frederic for allowing us to enjoy your wonderful property.
PS: The Auberge St Jean is a must eat in the area !!!!
Mia, 7 years old
We have had the most wonderful stay at this beautiful house. I loved playing in the swimming pool with my nanny, grandad, sister and my 2 cousins. The market in Duras is definitely worth a visit with lots of lovely things to see and buy.
I hope you will enjoy your stay as much as we have.
Rosa, 8 years old
This is a beautiful house and we wish to come back very soon.
The children’s bedroom is amazing. The pool is amazing. I will recommend the Tree top climbing place in Sainte Colombe. The pétanque pitch is amazing and so is the game. It is an extraordinary place and we recommend the house to everyone.
The parents
We have had a wonderful week at Maison Fontaine.
Frederic has been brilliant, warm welcome and always happy to help with any request. We enjoyed the night market and the tree-top experience 5 minutes away was a great way to get out of the sun and do something fun.
But most of all we have loved the fantastic pool and the beautiful house. Everything has been done to the highest standard and the house is very well equipped with everything you need.
A beautiful house and a great week « en famille « !
Back again to Maison Fontaine.
Little has changed since May 2017. Same warm welcome, wonderfully comfortable accommodation and a great ambiance. Merci Frederic and Fabienne.
The only difference was the weather which was superb.
For visitor/guests new to this area it is worth going out when daytime and evening market are on, fortunately in Duras, Eymet and Monsegur. Ask Frederic.
We weren’t quite prepared for the sprinklers this time that came on automatically at night and came as far as the white sofa ! Don’t’ leave your clothes out and within range.
Frederic told us about good wine at Carrefour supermarket at Duras. Not expensive and excellent.
Worth picking his brains about, as he is knowledgeable. We were the « guinea pig » for a couple of ladies that came and prepared a delicious 2 course evening meal for us. Merci to Charlotte who speaks English and Laura who understands it a bit.
My wife and I know the area well as we brought our children here 6 times when they were younger. I’m now paraplegic but the house an particularly the bathroom are very comfortable. Hired a hoist for the pool which made my life so much easier getting in and out of the pool.
We all have plans to return here again which says it all.
Encore une fois Merci Fabienne et Frederic.
3 elderly couples from Sydney Australia have had a superb week in this well appointed house.
We wish we could have stayed longer Bordeaux and Paris below us.
We loved the pool and the meadow.
The house is just wonderful and we appreciated Frederick’s kindness and generosity.
We all enjoyed visiting Duras and even Lascaux, the lovely rose garden down the hill.
Informations supplied was much appreciated.
We had a lovely time in your villa ! Great pool, where the kids spent all days.
Au revoir !
Fabienne & Frederic, my wife and I can’t thank you enough for your wonderful support.
We have stayed in many properties in France and Italy during the past 15 years or so. Maison Fontaine is right up at the top of our list.
We’ll never forget you !
We had a wonderful time in this lovely house. The outdoor living room is amazing. We played games and had all sorts of fun.
I’m sure we will come back soon.
Thank you for such an amazing villa. All 9 of us have enjoyed our stay.
We’ve been to your Villa five times now, every summer and the surrounding countryside is magnificent. We are definitely coming again soon.
The pool and the outdoor living room are amazing.
We all loved this vacation. I loved climbing in the trees and of course swimming in the pool.
The house was very beautiful and clean.
It was so worth it !
We have had a fabulous week here at Maison Fontaine. The house is beautiful, so much so that diminished our enthusiasm to excursions !!
We were all blissfully happy relaxing by the pool, playing ping pong, haunting the lézards and enjoying BBQ lunches and dinners !
I’m sure will be back.
We have very much enjoyed our stay here. The lovely decoration and feel of the villa combined with the surrounding countryside has made our stay memorable.
We have greatly appreciated the provision of outdoor activities from football to boules, helping us to fill our days regardless of the weather. We have made great use of the terrace, either sheltering from the glaring – but lovely- sun or from the occasional thunder and lightening and overall the spaces around the villa have been lovely to spend time in.
Thank you.
We had a great time in this beautiful & thoughtfully restored house. Architectural features highlighted at night are amazing !
Loved the boules. really great welcome pack and the floral decorations in the rooms were a lovely touch.
Thanks you both !
Dear Frederic and Fabienne, what a lovely house!
We have had a wonderful time here at Mounicat. You have made here a beautiful holiday home.
Everything works. It looks beautiful, is very homely and the design deserves an award.
Our 2 kids ( 4 & 2) do not want to go home !!! They have had so much fun and so we have.
The whole family enjoyed their stay immensely. We had sun, fun & thunderstorms !
The cottage was AMAZING. Sitting at the terrace with a bottle of wine was perfect.
Thank You Frédéric
We arrived needing a rest and sun and your villa gave us both and are very appreciative: thank you !
We get to enjoy the local countryside through all the walks we did. The one starting at the end of the road was very convenient !
Duras has a few hidden spots that we enjoyed more than St Emilion or Bergerac. The chocolate shop were you can taste everything, the rose garden and the market being a few.
There was little reason to stay inside.
Next time we will do a day in Bordeaux but just weren’t feeling it once we get into the swing of laid back French living.
Thank you so much for your generosity! such a welcome surprise on arrival to house a few goodies waiting.
The bread and camembert didn’t last long.
The house is beautiful, such a seamless marriage of rustic and sleek design.
We love the outdoor living area, what a perfect setting to spend our days.
When the sun didn’t shine, it was a blessing as we love ourselves away from the villa to explore the area in search of entertainment for the kids ( all under 5 !). We were not disappointed: griffon farm park, the forest ropes adventure & val de gorse. Such a great area of France.
At the villa, when the kids weren’t in the pool there was never a dull moment as this place is a kid paradise from the thoughtful toys , swing set, football posts, boules court & the kids room just all kept the excitement building over !
Our week came to a close to soon !
What a peaceful setting ! Such a rustic elegance! I found it hard to leave in the evening to dine out in the town because the sun set the patio and was so inviting to watch as the sun set into the hills beyond the meadow.
Thank you very much Fabienne & Frederic for the wonderful welcome surprise of so many treats: wine, cheese, fraises, biscuits , bread and milk. you are so kind.
I also appreciated the special touch of flowers in each bedroom & the dinning table.
I have rented houses in several places in France, Europe, the US and I have not found any to have come close to being perfect as this house ! We do hope to return some day!
Best wishes.
We have had a really enjoyable week in your beautiful house.
The attention to design details is superb, from the soft furnishings to the flower arrangements and beautifully selected art and furniture.
The light and space in the living room has been a joy every morning and we have spent many happy hours around the table enjoying the wonderful local wine each evening. The kitchen is well equipped and we found it easy to prepare meals for nine of us.
The children have had fun in the pool, playing games and visiting horses at the bottom of the field. We loved the outdoor seating area which has provided a grown-up space where we can watch the children in the pad.
Happy days !!
Thanks.
Such a great house and loved your house.. weather was exceptional !!!
Fabulous week despite the English weather!
The wonderful villa and surroundings were there made up for it. First holding with our grandson, loved the pool and the wine and French food. We will be back !
We have had a wonderful relaxing stay in this beautiful home in a perfect location.the added bonus of a gorgeous cat and her kittens greeting us each day has made it even better.
Frederic & Fabienne have been helpful, chatty and discreet; We have visited St Emilion ( X2)Bergerac, Monsegur and Eymet and the drives to each places have been a pleasure in themselves due to the stunning scenery.
I would love to return one day, taste more wines and eat more delicious food…
Sarah, 11years writes:
It was really lovely staying in such a beautiful villa.We visited St Emilion and went out to delicious places to eat. We have stayed here twice now and thoroughly enjoyed our trip. All rooms and pool were stunning !!!
We had a fantastic time in this lovely house.
The house was perfectly equipped, nothing was missing and we loved the decoration.
We’ve been using and enjoying the pool very much. Kids could run safely in the garden and play football.
Lovely time and memories.
We had a fantastic family holiday with beautiful weather- if a little too hot at times !
Great house and facilities for the family in a fab location.
Enjoyed St Emilion and topping/dinning in Bordeaux.
Thank you for the warm welcome.
It’s been a wonderful week for us, transported at first by BA. It meltdown, but we didn’t let that stop us. After 16 hours in the car, we arrived to a lovely welcome form Fabienne and Frédéric
Maison Fontaine is a fabulous house, beautifully decorated and extremely well equipped. Everything we could ever need is here. We had some warm weather so the pool had a work out and the under covered area was the perfect place fro pre dinner drinks ( and others).
Two of us had stayed in the general area some years ago so it was fun visiting hamlets and villages like Duras and Eymet.
We can endorse Frederic’s recommendation of Auberge St Jean and XIII clôchers at Monteton. As a result we are all returning home considerably heavier than we we arrived.
Our thanks to Fabienne and Frédéric for making this lovely property available to us. We hope to be back in the not too distant future.
We’ve had a perfect stay in this beautiful house. Such a warm welcome with flowers in each room, a welcome package and everything so nicely decorated.
We’ve enjoyed the pool, when the sun appeared and went to St Emilion (and surrounding areas) and to Bergerac. Especially St Emilion is a nice (although very touristic) village.
Of course we climbed the tower of the Duras Castle and shopped at the bakery and the Carrefour Contact supermarket in Duras.
Thank you very much for letting us enjoying this hidden gem.
Really enjoyed our 2 week stay in this beautiful gite, so full of character, history and stunningly restored and furnished with every comfort of home. Frédéric and Fabienne could not have been more welcoming and helpful responding promptly to care for our every need in the friendliest of ways. We had a great time in the pool, playing badminton, table tennis and relishing the space and wildflowers and butterflies in the uncut grassy areas. The delicious ingredients in our welcome pack were much appreciated.
In the area we loved visiting the night market at Monsegur and various day markets Eymet, Duras etc. It was great to enjoy the beautiful fresh tomatoes and bread we bought at St Foy La Grande in a picnic there on the banks of the Dordogne. We had a wonderful pastry day here with Lydie of So Sweet, followed by her providing us with a vegetarian 3 course gastro dinner, here at Maison Fontaine. She’s a lovely person! The bicycles we hired have provided hours of fun and exercise visiting the local villages and beauty spots and the provider too was most helpful. We are sad to leave Maison Fontaine but hope to return very soon. Many thanks Frédéric and Fabienne for sharing your beautiful gite with our family.
The M family, September 2016
Relaxing holiday home
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The owner has done a superb job of renovating this property, parts of which date back to the 13th century. The three double bedrooms all have very comfortable beds. Kitchen is one of the most well equipped I’ve seen in a holiday home, everything you could possibly need. TV room has flat screen TV, DVDs player and a satellite box that picks up 4 main UK channels (no C5) plus several others (CBBC, ITV2 etc.). The pool is wonderful and is very well maintained by the owner, who was always on hand, but never intrusive. Local town (Duras) has a very good baker, butcher and at least 3 well regarded restaurants. A wonderful and relaxing holiday home.
Steve, July 2016.
Fantastic Place
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“Beautiful property 3 wonderful double beds Kids loved their room! Extremely well equipped, cosy floor heating Great pool Toys and films Can’t think of anything that could be improved on Lovely chateau and pizzeria in Duras.”
Ruth A, April 2016
We had a fantastic week. Very nice house with a good luxury atmosphere. Showers are great and very confortable beds. The last day we could use the pool, this was fantastic ! Lot’s of historical cities and villages to discover all around. The restaurant Hostellerie des Ducs was a perfect place to celebrate with our kids our 25th wedding anniversary. Thanks a lot for this beautiful week…
Tom, Aleid and kids. April 2016
“Thank you so much for this pleasant stay in this beautiful house. The surroundings are great and offer a peaceful stay. We will remember it always and take with us many memories of our holiday ( The wine tour specially)
Everything was very enjoyable.”
Donna McM., Melbourne, Australia
Jack H. Toronto, Canada. October 8th, 2015
“What a wonderful 2 weeks – pity about the sunshine !!!
Thank you Frederic for all your assistance and kindness.
A wonderful coincidence meeting up with friends and colleagues from many years ago who happened to be our neighbor.”
Jill & Mike M. Cape Town, South Africa. September 26th, 2015
“Thank you for this wonderful 2 weeks of bliss in you beautiful surrounds. We have seen all there was to see…eaten all there was to eat… and drank way too much!!!
the best time ever with old friends and new friends!”
Mylene F. Cape Town, South Africa. September 26th, 2015
“Frederic and Fabienne are the most fantastic host, nothing was too much trouble.
Fréderic’s Wine Tour of Off Piste chateau was phenomenal. A whole 12 hours talking about Wine !Delightful vineyards visited. A real must!
The recommendations of local restaurants were very helpful. The Micheline starred Auberge de St Jean was a highlight, well worth a trip.
The accommodation is fantastic and a real joy to be here. We have all had a super relaxing time here.”
Ben R. London, UK. September 12th, 2015
Tranquil Heaven
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Arrived to a lovely welcome from Frederic and Fabien. We were given a tour of the accommodation and settled down to our 1st night, with an ample welcome basket. We could not fault the accommodation at all, the house has been beautifully renovated to a very high standard, impeccably clean and very well equipped throughout. The pool was such a blessing every day, and the surrounding garden is lovely, also well equipped with a variety of sport equipment for young and old. Overall we had a fantastic 1 month stay, the setting was incredibly beautiful and tranquil, yet only a 5 minute drive away from the nearest town. We would not hesitate to highly recommend staying at Maison Fontaine and again, Frederic and Fabien were fantastic host, helping with queries and answering many questions regarding the area and local cuisine. A beautiful month spent in a beautiful place.”
Amanda C. All of August 2015
“We have had a real wonderful stay here in this beautiful house. Frederic and Fabienne have been really helpful and really helping us finding gorgeous restaurants and deciding were we should explore in the local area ( we recommend St Emilion) The house is amazing and had everything we could wish for. Our 3 children had a great time in the pool or playing football, tennis table or cricket in the garden.
Thanks again for a brilliant holiday.”
Louise F. London UK. August 1st, 2015
“We have enjoyed the outdoor fun, the fields are beautiful with wonderful flowers, the TV room was brilliant I would recommend this as a peaceful holiday in the countryside.”
Nina W. age 8 3/4, Kent, UK. July 24th, 2015
“We’ve had a lovely week spent in this fabulous Villa, especially enjoyed all the outdoor space !
Thank you Frederic for all your help.”
Susan C. Cheshire, UK. July 11th, 2015
“It was such a pleasant stay in this beautiful and immaculate chateaux. Frederic and his wife were such great host and their hospitality is beyond words.
This is such a beautiful area to stay and relax in. We loved the town and castle. Driving to Bordeaux and surrounding areas was worth seeing it. If ever in Atlanta please drop by and visit.”
Larry W. Atlanta, USA. June 27th, 2015
“We had a wonderful family week here ( eight adults, two babies and a three years old). What a beautiful house and setting. We really appreciated all the toys and sporting equipment, thank you. A visit to chateau Duras ( without push chairs) and to Monday market are highly recommended.
Thank you for a great holiday.”
Paul McM. Reading, UK. June 20th, 2015
Tranquil Holiday Gite
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
A Fabulous holiday gite set in a very tranquil locality. The accommodation is very comfortable and commodious, with all modern facilities and conveniences. The property is quirky and interesting in its design with interesting features in all rooms. The host Frederic was very welcoming and helpful, his wine tours are excellent. The property and pool are well maintained and cleaned to a high standard. I recommend this property to anyone seeking a holiday location in which to relax and unwind.”
Neil W, May 2015
“I liked the pool the most because I got to practice my swimming. However the big garden was also really fun to go in because there’s a lot of space for football.”
Roman M. Age 7
“Thank you Frederic for all your help. Matt loved the eel traps !
The toddlers loved the changing landscape. Long grass and hay bails.”
Emma M. and Roman and other kids…London, UK. May 30th, 2015
“Very, Very good !!”
Neil W. Essex UK. May 23rd, 2015
“What a great house! We really enjoyed our stay here with 3 couples + 2 kids.
Frédéric you are a great host, finding the strawberries and cheese in the fridge, good tips for a day trip! We all want to come back for sure !
Thanks hope to see you again !”
Karen M, Bristol UK. May 2nd, 2015
“Thanks so much for a great week in a super house. We loved relaxing by the pool and enjoyed a delicious meal clocked by the private Chef ! Recommend visiting the Chateau de Duras. Hope to return soon! “
Katryn L. London, UK, May 2014
“What a beautiful house, we have enjoyed our week here enormously. We took away lots happy memories and look forward to returning! Fab sunny weather too. “
Ben M. Bristol, UK, May 2014
“We’ve had a wonderful 2 weeks. The house was fabulous and really well kitted out. Our 2 boys ( 3 & 4) loved loved the swimming pool in particular. A day trip to Bergerac is recommended.”
Sarah. R. London, UK, June/July 2014
“Fabulous time spent in the most beautiful villa relaxing by the pool. Our visit to the Chateau de Duras was a highlight for the New Zealand family. Also enjoyed the visits to other villages and markets.”
Karen M. Butleigh and New Zealand, July 2014
“A wonderful week in a beautiful home! Highly recommend a visit to the Hauts de Riquets vineyard – within walking distance! Thank you Frédéric and family for you kind hospitality.”
Sarah B. Oxford, UK, August 2014
“Another lovely stay in peaceful, beautiful surroundings- all feeling very relaxed and happy.
Frédéric as always extremely helpful. We would love to come back.”
Clare B. Kent, UK, August 2014
“Great house and fantastic 2 weeks. Frederic’s wine tour to be done at all costs..taking back a few cases of his recommendations. Also night market at Monsegur and day market at Ste Foy La Grande very good. We’ll see you again.”
Eugene O. London, UK, August 2014
“Great week spent relaxing in this beautiful house. Our daughter loved the pool and the swings. It had everything we needed for our energetic toddler! We highly recommend the private Chef for delicious food. Thanks.”
Victoria D. London,UK, August/September 2014
“Awesome week. Perfect for adult and kids. Our 4 children had an amazing holiday. The six adults are leaving – sad that is all over so quickly! Great times!”
Vikki R., London,UK, September 2014
“We’ve spend super holidays and everything was just perfect! Thanks for welcoming us. Our children loved the toys, the garden as well the house. We will recommend your house.
Joseph R, UK April 2013
“Maison Fontaine met our expectations completely. The house is elegant in every detail! Comfortable and so evocative of regional style. We will carry on memory of Lot-et-Garonne home with us to share with our family and friends. Thanks for these peaceful nights and stunning mornings!”
Catherine & William Mc L., CANADA May 2013
“Thanks for everything .The Maison Fontaine is superb, elegant and you’ve thought about everything. We’ve spent a perfect week.”
Robert S., UK June 2013
“Maison Fontaine, most definitely, has the “ WOW” factor! What a beautiful place to stay with our family and friends for two weeks! We had such a lovely stay. You were both so helpful and kind answering our questions. So much stuff for the children! We will definitely recommend Maison Fontaine as a fabulous place to stay especially for families!”
Tilly and Pete J., UK September 2013
“Thank you for making our stay so enjoyable. You thought of everything to make our holiday very relaxing, comfortable and stress-free. Your house and surroundings are amazing .Would like to visit again and would certainly recommend. Many thanks.”
Sarah S., UK September 2013
“We had an absolutely blissful time. The house was fabulous with every comfort you could wish for, with everything provided, and in such a wonderful setting. The village being only a few km away made everything really convenient and being able to watch the sunset each night whilst sitting at the table outside eating dinner was real food for the soul. Frederic couldn’t have been more helpful and nothing was too much to ask. We all enjoyed the pool, especially the children and there was so much for them to do with all the toys and games provided. We will definitely be back!”
Genna B., UK July 2013
“We have just left Maison Fontaine today and what an incredible place it was. None of us wanted to leave!
The attention to detail, comfort and cleanliness is second to none. Frederic is a fantastic host and so friendly and willing to assist and make some suggestions of where to visit and what to see. We will be talking about Maison Fontaine for a long time to come.
It was great to be the first Aussies to ever stay there, but I’m sure that we won’t be the last. Thank you to you also for being so easy to deal with. We will also be recommending your services to family and friends who may be travelling to Europe in the future.”
Sarina Mc K, AUSTRALIA ,June 2013
“Our stay was amazing. What a fabulous house and lovely owners. The house was even more gorgeous than the photos and we really enjoyed the pool and outdoor living area (especially in all that heat).”
Bethan H., JERSEY ISLAND, August 2012
“We really enjoyed staying at Maison Fontaine. There were some really nice thoughtful touches… The house has been beautifully furnished with spectacular bathrooms. The kitchen was very well equipped. Our two children loved the pool and also playing with the pile of toys that have been left in the house… we will be back!”
Marianne P, UK, July 2012
“We’ve had a truly splendid time here, your maison is especially special. Bravo to you both for execution of style and decor. I would like to thank you additionally for making my holiday as you our director du vin, I have given me many wonderful experiences, amazing wines and exceptional château.”
Robert K, UK, June 2013
“A huge thank you to you both we all had a perfect time, I am so relieved to have found somewhere that could work ! Having not had a holiday for so long as I couldn’t find suitable accommodation it was just the best the first holiday I didn’t want to come home from!
Thank you again Frederic, I am so grateful, now trying to make a plan for next year!!!
Clare B. UK, August 2013
“Thank you again for everything you did to make our holiday as special as it was…we had a fantastic time. Warmest regards”
Sarah, S. UK, August 2012