Plazac is a medieval village nestled in the hills of the Dordogne
Location: Sarlat-la-Canéda, Aquitaine, France, Europe (Sarlat 30 minutes; Montignac Lascaux & Les Eyzies 10 minutes)
Accommodations: House, 3 Bedrooms + Other (See Description), 2.5 Baths (Sleeps 4-6)
Keywords: Medieval house with huge stone rooms and a large garden
We searched for three years for the perfect house in the Perigord Noir, which is the area of the Dordogne that is steeped in history.
When we walked in the front door of the house, we knew this was it. There's something magical about the old stones of this medieval house, even though it has been completely updated with all modern conveniences. Our love affair began when we saw the medieval stone fireplace in the living room, large enough to hold a small car! Then we gazed at the view from the balcony window. First, the flower filled garden with its swimming pool; next, ancient stone houses; then the rolling hills of the Dordogne. We have never seen so many different shades of green.
We love the kitchen, which is completely equipped. It's in a large room with an old wooden farm table for dining, and a sitting area with TV next to the second stone fireplace, this one with a wood stove. And the recently discovered stone arched doorway which dates from the time of the 12th Century village stone church.
One bedroom is very large, with a another stone fireplace, a queen sized bed, air conditioning, three windows and a ceiling fan. The second bedroom is smaller, but with a beautiful view of the garden and the hills. And there's a daybed in the living room that can sleep two more. All these rooms are very quiet at night. The only sound you hear is the distant chimes of the church, and the birds that will gently waken you in the morning.
All the systems of the house are up-to-date, especially the furnace, which provides unlimited hot water at constant pressure (you will never be scalded in the shower). The house is built into the side of a hill. On a lower level (not a cellar) is a giant stone room featuring slit windows out of which people used to shoot arrows at the bad guys as they came up the hill.
Off this room is a walled courtyard with a dining table, which is cool in the afternoon.
The garden is walled and private and beautiful. There is plenty of garden furniture and umbrellas, so you can lounge at poolside and listen to the birds. There's a solar heated shower on the deck.
Our village is medieval and very friendly. You will be greeted by everyone you see and they will be curious to see new faces in the winding streets. There is a local bakery, one minute from the house on foot. It also sells simple grocery items. There's a friendly bar with a lively social life (be sure to introduce yourself to Dominique, the proprietor). We have a post office. On the outskirts of town is a bio (organic) food store.
There is a market town nearby which has two bakeries, a supermarket and several cafes. It has a Sunday morning market filled with local produce.
Also nearby is Montignac which has an Intermarche supermarket, antiques, medieval streets, bars, cafes, restaurants, a bookstore/newsstand and a canoe facility. Near Montignac are the Caves of Lascaux. The Plazac hills are laced with walking trails.
The preserved medieval city of Sarlat-la-Caneda is 30 minutes by car, as is the Dordogne valley with its dozens of castles and chateaux. Be sure to see the Valley of the Five Chateaux near Beynac. Castle Beynac and Castelnaud (across the river) are well worth a visit. Ten minutes from Plazac is Les Eyzies, which features stone cliffs dotted with ancient cave dwellings. (On the way you might want to visit the Prehistory park which is fun for the whole family.)
The Perigord Noir was the site of the Hundred Years War between the French and the English, which explains the hundreds of castles and guard towers dotting the hills. Every village is worth a visit, since they're all medieval and the residents have respected the unique historical qualities of the place where they live.
Here is a testimonial from a recent guest (September 2007):
"Just wanted to say thanks for the use of your wonderful home. We had such a good time! We loved the vistas, the town and the markets. We spent a couple of days just hanging out, fixing slow meals of the local foods and relaxing. We found Montignac to be a charming town. It was near enough to go a couple of times for walking around, having one great lunch (we left the card at the house) and enjoying the mid-week market. We also wanted to tell you that Ineke and Theo, who greeted us with the keys, were very kind, helpful and sweet to us. What great neighbors you have!"
Barbara S.
Seattle
Another guest loved the view from the house so much he posted a 10 minute video of just the view on You Tube. The exciting climax comes when the church bells toll seven.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Air Conditioning : There is an air conditioner in the main bedroom.
- Linens Provided : There's also a good supply of pool towels.
- Washer : The washer and dryer are down a short flight of steps.
- Dryer
- Wood Fireplace : A true medieval fireplace that draws perfectly.
- Wood Stove : Only for cold winter nights. This thing pumps out the heat.
- Beds
- Queen Bed (2) : The bed in he main bedroom is queen sized (160 x 200 cm). For the adventurous and the young-at-heart there is a queen sized bed in a large stone room with screened but not glazed windows, in what we call "the dungeon".
- Double Bed (2) : In the second bedroom there is a 140 cm (double) bed. There is a smaller (120 cm wide) day bed in the living room for overflow guests.
- Child Bed : There is a pack and play with a mattress and bedding.
- Entertainment
- Cable/Satellite TV (2) : There are two TV sets, each with two satellite boxes -- one with the 6 basic French channels, the other with dozens of British channels. Also included is CNN and sometimes we get BBC World.
- DVD
- Video Library : There is a collection of DVDs of unusual movies that caught our interest. A few Hollywood standards are included.
- CD Player
- Stereo System
- Music Library : There is a dock for your i-Pod/MP3 player that charges as it plays. There's a small collection of DVDs and CDs for your use.
- Private Pool : You'll love the pool. It's in the garden which is full of flowers and has a great view of the surrounding hills.
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen : We like to cook. Everything is waiting for you if you like to make fancy meals. You can shop at the local markets. Or, warm your coffee in the microwave to drink with the fresh croissants from the Plazac bakery, a one minute's walk away.
- Cooking Utensils Provided : It's pretty much all here.
- Refrigerator : Big for France, small for America. It has a wee freezer compartment.
- Dishwasher : Miele. So quiet you may wonder if it's broken.
- Microwave : For that cold coffee.
- Outdoor Features
- Gas/Electric BBQ Grill : There is a gas BBQ in the courtyard. You can take it out by the pool if you like.
- Deck/Patio : By the pool. Or use the walled courtyard.
- Balcony : Off the living room. Great view.
- View/Location
- Mountain View : The rolling hills of the Perigord Noir. We've never seen so many different shades of green.
- Communications
- Telephone
- Free Long Distance : Calls are free to all phones in the USA and Canada. Calls are free to all fixed lines in Europe. (You will need a calling card to reach European cell phones and to call elsewhere in the world.
- Computer : There's no computer, so please bring your laptop. However, there is a printer on the desk.
- Broadband Internet : There is ADSL and wifi in the house.
- WiFi (Wireless Internet) : Wifi even works down in the garden
- Other Amenities
- Friendly village, organic grocery store in the village, bakery. bar/cafe. Lots of hiking trails through the surrounding hills. There are 20+ nationalities represented among the villagers.
- Suitability
- No Pets Allowed
- Handicapped Accessible (may have limitations)
- Wheelchair Accessible (may have limitations) : The house is all on one main level. There are three steps up from the street outside the front door. There are small (one step)changes of level between several of the rooms. Access to the garden is down 7 steps or via a sloped walking street..
- Kid Friendly : The pool. Pool toys. The lake in Plazac is popular with the local kids. Castles and caves everywhere.
- Smoking Not Allowed : Please don't smoke in the house. You may not smell anything bad, but the next renters could well be offended. The garden is a lovely place to enjoy a smoke. So is the local cafe.
- Activities
- Tennis
- Shopping
- Kayaking
- Boating
- Swimming
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Fishing
- Antiquing
- Hot Air Ballooning
- Theme Park (Amusement Park)
- Museums
- Hiking
- Restaurants
- Other Activities
- The house is right in the center of a prehistoric area. There are countless museums, castles and cave dwellings to explore. There are many huge caves in the area.
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
We are flexible about arrival dates, although we prefer a Saturday to
Saturday stay. You will be welcomed by our next door neighbor.
Daily rate $250 USD or $235 for 7 nights or more (works out to $1,645 per week).
We accept stays of less than one week. Minimum stay 4 nights.
Cleaning charge $195 US per stay.
Special rates for longer stays, and for stays outside High Season.
NOTE:You will be required to pay a deposit at the time of booking. If you decide
to cancel this deposit may be retained if we cannot find a new client in time.
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
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Credit Cards Accepted:
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Owner's Profile
Owner Description
Year Purchased: 2007
We worked for many years in the movie and television business (Costume Designer and Director). Marc has a degree from the Sorbonne and we both love France.
Why the Owner Chose Sarlat-la-Canéda
The Dordogne is beautiful, especially our area, called the Perigord Noir. The rolling hills are always green and peppered with chateaux. This is the heart of gastronomic France.
The Unique Benefits of this House
There are hundreds of chateaux and castles to visit. There are caves everywhere including the famous caves at Lascaux. A branch of Napoleon's family lives in the region and there home is a museum. Our village is very friendly. There are hiking trails all over our hills. Our garden is beautiful and has a pool.
Property Photos
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- Plazac is a medieval village nestled in the hills of the Dordogne - France Vacation Rental House in the Perigord Noir
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- The main bedroom has a queen sized bed, three windows and AC - France Vacation Rental House in the Perigord Noir
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- The kitchen is fully equiped. - France Vacation Rental House in the Perigord Noir
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- The living room has a medieval fireplace, antiques and a great view.
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- The walled garden with the pool is behind the house
Traveler Reviews (5)
A piece of heaven
Guest: Jacque
(Texas)
Date of Stay: 07/09/11
Review Submitted: 10/15/11
We loved staying here. The house is superb--beautiful, well-maintained, and super comfortable. I've never had a better bed in a vacation rental. The kitchen was well-equipped--we made lovely food, with produce from the local markets, which are amazing. My 7 year old daughter still talks about the soothing sound of the doves in the morning. The view from the living room is unbelievable--we sat in the chairs, sipped Monbazillac, and watched the view for hours. Do go to the restaurant in nearby Fanlac if you stay here--the village is picturesque and the restaurant itself fabulous. We didn't have the best weather while we were there but there's so much to do in this area, it really didn't matter. The caretakers were very helpful in helping us identify activities, restaurants etc. Our stay in Plazac was perfect; we wouldn't change a thing. We only wish we could afford to go every summer.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.
Guest: Dave H., Houston Texas
(-)
Date of Stay: 05/22/10
Review Submitted: 03/21/11
We really did enjoy our stay in Plazac. The weather was nice and cool, and for the most part sunny. Although the pool water was a little cool by our Texas standards (below 70 while we were there), the children of our French friends (who live in Brittany) loved it. The garden was fabulous. We had lunch out there a number of days, and dinner on a few more. The swallows were just back, and nesting. They collected moss from the neighbor's roof and then water from the pool for nest building. The Magpies were just fledging, and the Yucca plant flowered during our stay. The herb garden was very much appreciated, as well as the un-believably well-stocked kitchen. By the end of our visit, were were surprised if there was some obscure kitchen tool that wasn't there. We braised market-bought fowl in the cast-iron, enameled pot, we sautéed mushrooms and made omelets in the pans, and even baked our Bretagne Gallette and fresh fruit dessert in the oven (it was the height of strawberry season). It was the best equipped kitchen we've had in France.
Recommended for:
Guest: Francine L, Los Angeles CA
(-)
Date of Stay: 06/05/10
Review Submitted: 03/21/11
We loved our two weeks in the Dordogne; the friends we made and the magnificent sights we visited. Our stay was even better than anticipated. We were overjoyed to find such a wonderful "home" waiting for us upon our arrival in Plazac, with all the creature comforts you afforded our weary bones. Ineke and Theo were ready and willing to assist us when called upon... and gracious no matter what the hour. Francine L., Los Angeles, CA
Recommended for:
Guest: Barbara B, New York NY
(-)
Date of Stay: 08/15/09
Review Submitted: 03/21/11
The owners put an enormous amount of thought into making the house comfortable and thoroughly enjoyable for visitors. The house has every modern convenience, plus a beautiful pool and garden. Our two week stay was simply glorious. We also loved the charming town of Plazac. We did a lot of sightseeing and were totally smitten with the beautiful Dordogne. I highly recommend the prehistoric caves (Lascaux II/Lascaux Revele, Grotte de Font-de-Gaume (you need a reservation) plus a fascinating cave in Le Moustier. In addition, we visited the unbelievable, Gouffre de Padirac (bring a sweater!) The castles and gardens in the region were also phenomenal. We went to many and found the architecture and history so interesting. We canoed on the Vezere and took a river boat trip on the Dordogne River. Both great fun. Loved the medieval "Bastide" towns. One of our favorite towns was the charming, Saint Leon sur Vezere. Sarlat is fantastic and so interesting. The regional food and wines were spectacular. We visited a different market almost every day and were in awe of the amazing types of cheeses, fruits, foie gras, meats, etc. and of course, wine! Our general routine was to have a wonderful lunch out in a restaurant in whatever town we were visiting, go to a local market and then come back to the house and cook dinner. We love to cook and had great dinners, given the terrific foods that were available not only in the wonderful daily markets but also the supermarche! Needless to say, the local wines were superb. One more thought on food, our ten year old daughter is a very picky eater. After two or three days, she was eating foie gras sandwiches for breakfast and begging for more! Lastly, the next door neighbors/caretakers were extraordinary. They were caring, thoughtful and great fun. We enjoyed meeting them and they were so helpful and kind. We had the most wonderful vacation. We can't wait to return to La Maison Jean Sylain Dupont and the Dordogne.
Recommended for:
Guest: Monica and Chris H., Dallas TX
(-)
Date of Stay: 08/05/07
Review Submitted: 03/21/11
If you EVER get the opportunity to stay at this amazing home, please do so. We spent a week in Paris then drove to Plazac and stayed 5 days at this rental. It was even better than the photos reflected! We slept so well and just truly relaxed. Incredible place to bring a group to (and I understand they are adding on and making it even nicer)! This is one experience we will never forget!
Recommended for:
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Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #132462
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