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La Gilardie, single story
cottage, St. Aulaye.
2 bedrooms, sleeps 5
people
Wheelchair friendly
La Gilardie is an attractive, single storey cottage (about 300
years old), which forms part of the owners’ renovated Perigordian
farmhouse. It is set in a small hamlet, surrounded by woods, fields and
lakes. Because the property is on level ground with no steps, it is
wheelchair friendly, but not fully equipped for all needs. It is very
quiet here, perfect for relaxing and recharging your batteries. The
cottage is set in the beautiful Forêt de la Double, and is surrounded by
woods, countless lakes and fields. It is a place to relax, to enjoy the
sounds and sights of a fairly untamed countryside, to watch the buzzards
circle the sky or the hen harriers hunt across the fields.
The cottage has a large, beamed living room with a comfortable
three-piece suite, a dining table and a TV (French), VCR, Radio and Hi-Fi.
We have a large selection of videos and CDs. The kitchen is fully
equipped with microwave, fridge (with a small freezer), coffee-machine,
4 ringed gas cooker with oven, washing machine, toaster, electric kettle
and iron and board.
There are two bedrooms, one has a king-size bed, the other has
two singles. A very comfortable put-you-up could provide a bed for a
fifth person, specially a third child. A cot and/or highchair could be
provided if necessary. The bedrooms are comfortably furnished, very
bright and have low windows. The good sized bathroom has a shower, hand
basin and WC. There is a hairdryer in the bathroom, so no need to bring
one.
Outside, there is a private terrace with BBQ, garden furniture, a swing,
an electrically operated sun roof and a small garden. The main, 1 acre
garden with its mature trees, lawns and natural pond is shared with the
owners. It is a paradise for butterflies, birds and all sorts of wild
animals. There is plenty of shade for an afternoon's siesta and enough
space for your children to kick a ball about.
If you like exploring medieval villages, shop in traditional
French markets, or visit interesting old towns, then La Gilardie can
offer you all that and more. The nearest small town is St. Aulaye with
its 13th century Chateau Bastide, about 3 km away. There you can find a
supermarket, post office, bank, doctor, dentist and all the other
amenities to make your holiday successful and enjoyable. An hour’s drive
or less could take you to the old market towns of Ribérac, Angoulême or
Périgueux, Bordeaux is about one and a half hours away. Even a visit to
the coast at Royan takes only about 2 hours. We are sourrounded by
interesting old villages, most of them have wonderful roman churches,
some of them very well preserved and looked after. A visit to one of
them with their beautiful stone houses, sometimes very imposing stone
walls and narrow lanes, is a bit like walking back into medieval times.
If you like swimming, you have the choice of a river beach (the Dronne
runs through St. Aulaye), the public swimming pool in Ribérac or the
beautiful lake at La Jemaye, about 12 km away. There are several water
sport facilities at La Jemaye during the summer season and it is the
perfect place to spend a day, swimming in the soft waters or taking a
stroll around the lake.
In St. Aulaye are tennis courts, play areas and horse riding is just
outside St. Aulaye. A golf course is a 5 minute drive away by car. Of
the many places to visit, one must not forget the village of Aubeterre,
one of the most beautiful villages in France, built into and onto a
large rock formation, and it has the largest monolithic church in
Europe. A visit there will certainly make a lasting impression on you.
Exploring this part of the Dordogne with its many wonderful sights will
be very interesting and rewarding. We have several good restaurants
within easy reach by car for days when self-catering seems less than
attractive. The Périgord is one of the foremost gourmet areas of France.
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