Charming Pigeonnier in Small Hamlet Bergerac Vacation Rental by Owner Listing 111695

Petit Bout Pigeonner tower

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Location: Bergerac, Aquitaine, France, Europe (3 minutes from Sigoules, 10 minutes to Bergerac (airport))

Accommodations:  16th Century Home, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths (Sleeps 4-6)

Welcome to our 300 year old Pigeonnier (dovecote) at Petit Bout! Find us tucked into an hameau (hamlet) of 6 stone houses in the Perigord Poupre (wine growing region). A 17th century ruin when we discovered it, it has been restored and renovated by an American architect with international design experience. The Pigeonnier’s many original features have been preserved; among them, the open fireplace, the stone warming-oven and the evier (stone sink).

On the Pigeonnier’s ground floor, we’ve installed ultra modern appliances to create a kitchen that is the perfect blend of old and new. Above the kitchen, reached by a circular steel and oak stair created by a local artisan, is a nice size single bedroom with sink and mezzanine. Beyond the living area on the ground floor, are two bedrooms, the spacious master bedroom has an ensuite with a tub and walk-in shower. The third bedroom, the ‘chambre d’ami’ is beyond, as is another bathroom which this room and the upstairs bedroom share. Both the living room and chambre d’ami open onto a private interior courtyard. This courtyard leads out to a second, larger courtyard, which offers views of the countryside beyond. The Pigeonnier is furnished inside and out with comfortable, country French furniture and fabrics while the kitchen and bathrooms offer the latest in modern convenience.

Surrounded by fields of sunflowers and rows of grapevines, Petit Bout is in the ‘compagne’ but not remote. A pleasant stroll (or 5 minute drive) along a country road, past the Cave Cooperative (where locals bring their grapes to be blended into wine) takes us to a medieval village, Sigoules, with all amenities - boulangerie, maison de la presse (English newspapers, magazines & books for sale), café, post-office, etc.). Ten minutes by car and you’re at the fairy tale castle of Monbazillac, touring the Chateau or sipping the sweet white wine of the same name, which the locals drink with dessert or more often with another specialty of the region, foie gras. One of our favorite restaurants is in Monbazillac and the food is as good as the scenery is: spectacular. Another 10 minutes farther north will find you at the capital of the Perigord Poupre, Bergerac, made famous by the Musketeer who never set foot in the town. The twice weekly Farmer’s Market which engulfs the Church with fresh, local produce and the Maison des Vins, where you may taste and sniff as many local wines are you are able, will make you forget all about Cyrano’s slight! At Bergerac, you can explore Old Town by foot or take a relaxing gabarre (flat bottom boat) ride and travel lazily along the Dordogne River.

Within an hour radius of Petit Bout, grand chateaux and simple wineries welcome you and offer you samples of their Bergerac sec (white wine), Pecharment (red wine) and of course Monbazillac wine. If you enjoy Farmer’s Markets, you can find one everyday and depending upon the season, you can gorge on white asparagus, wild strawberries or perfectly ripened peaches. If you like antiquing or searching for bargains, then the brocantes (antique fairs) and vide greniers (literally empty the attic) held in different villages and towns each weekend throughout the summer, are for you. Sightseeing too is easy with Petit Bout as your base. Within an hour or so drive, you’ll be touring beautifully preserved medieval hilltowns like Beynac and Castelnaud with their fabulous fortress chateaux, medieval bastides (planned towns) created by English and French rivals during the 100 Years Wars, of which nearby Monpazier is the best preserved. Then there are Sarlat and Brantome and their nearby Renaissance pleasure chateaux. And of course, there are the caves with prehistoric paintings from Lascaux to Font de Gaume and Rouffignac (where you visit the cave by electric train) that are not to be missed. From late July through mid-August, medieval fairs abound - with actors, dancers and musicians all in period costume, you'll be transported back in time. Please keep scrolling for more views of Petit Bout.

Vacation Rental Features

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• Amenities
  • Washer
  • Linens Provided
  • Off Street Parking: Ample parking in field across from house
  • Parking for RV/Boat/Trailer
  • Wood Fireplace
• Beds
  • Queen Bed (2)
  • Twin/Single Bed
  • Convertible Bed
• Entertainment
  • Cable/Satellite TV
  • CD Player
• Kitchen
  • Full Kitchen
  • Cooking Utensils Provided
  • Refrigerator
  • Dishwasher
• Outdoor Features
  • Deck/Patio
• View/Location
  • Monument View: view of rolling hills and vineyards
• Communications
  • Telephone
• Suitability
  • No Pets Allowed
  • Smoking Not Allowed
• Activities (on site and nearby)
  • Golf
  • Tennis
  • Theme Park (Amusement Park)
  • Shopping
  • Sightseeing
  • Restaurants
  • Rafting
  • Kayaking
  • Sailing
  • Boating
  • Parasailing
  • Swimming
  • Biking
  • Hiking
  • Fishing
  • Hunting
  • Rock Climbing
  • Spelunking
  • Antiquing
  • Cinemas/Movie Theaters
  • Live Theatre
  • Museums
  • Miniature golf
  • Horseback Riding
  • Hot Air Ballooning
• Other Activities
  • Weekly Farmers Markets, Outdoor Vide Greniers (empty the attic) and brocantes (antiquities) weekends all summer, Medieval fairs in July/August

Rate Details (In US Dollars)

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Personal Currency Assistant™

May .. $750/week
Jun .. $825/week
Jul .. $900/week
Aug .. $900/week
Sep .. $825/week
Oct .. $750/week
Cleaning fee 30 euros.

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.

• Credit Cards Accepted:

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Property Photos

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Guest Comments (3)

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• 11/15/08
  Positive Rating
  Tracey Young , Woodbury, CT
  • We have traveled ALL over the world and stayed in many villas, but Le Petit Bout, by far, was the most wonderful. This is a house with a soul and as you step through the covered doorway, into the immaculately-restored interior, you feel all your tension melting away. This is the house that I would build if I were building a house. The bathrooms are large and very slick--no expense has been spared to update this antique pigeonnier. The kitchen is all stainless modern and exceptionally well-fitted out--we turned out numerous dinners for 6. Bed are VERY comfortable and I am one to suffer from chronic back pain. Skylights above the beds let you drift off to a starry view. The 300+ channel TV is a great amenity--but we were so entranced with the area that we had little time to watch TV. Outdoor courtyards allowed us to drink our coffee in private or overlooking the countryside. Fabulous local markets every day in summer made it hard to choose between eating in and trying out the numerous and wonderful restaurants and cafes. Being in the Dordogne, there are lots of English and folks who speak English. The VERY French neighbors were so incredibly lovely and kind to us, but never intrusive, as was our landlady, who simply couldn't do enough to help us out, bring us local wine and flowers, answer our questions, etc. It truly was the vacation of a lifetime--and we were there for almost a month, so we know. And at this price, this place should be booked years in advance. So close to everything, yet so far, with its views of vineyards, sunflowers, wheat fields and cows. A dream of a place!
• 02/29/08
  Positive Rating
  Susie Naye , Seattle, WA
  • This VERY charming country home was exactly what I was envisioning for myself when I started an Internet search for my vacation. It truly became our home away from home. We were delighted with the location, nestled in the middle of the vineyards but close enough to a couple of charming towns to make shopping easy. The owner has made every effort to decorate the home with taste and care, and as the saying goes "it's so clean you could eat off the floor!" I highly recommend this house to anyone who wants a taste of the REAL French experience. We felt "comme chez nous" which translated, means "right at home".
• 10/11/07
  Positive Rating
  Brigitte Cowan , Fayetteville, NC
  • We loved, loved, loved this house! This house was ideal for two couples with extra large bedrooms and lovely, updated bathrooms. The kitchen had everything we needed allowing us to cook in several nights. The outside terrace was a great gathering point where we snipped green beans while having a coaktail all in a very private & walled area. Le Petit Bout is in a great location close to a nice grocery, butcher, baker that we could walk to in about 15 minutes. The central location put us close to many of the "Bastide" towns, Bergerac, and many other sights not to be missed. We hope to stay here again soon.

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