Location: Le Bugue, Aquitaine, France, Europe (35 minutes east of Bergerac Airport, 2 hrs east of Bordeaux) View Map
Accommodations: French Country Farmhouse, 6 Bedrooms, 3.5 Baths (Sleeps 12)
Not far from Les Eyzies and Sarlat, where the Dordogne river makes a dramatic loop, "Les Volets Bleus" is a very private, beautifully-restored 300 year old Perigordine stone farmhouse that sits on two acres of lawned garden, with magnificent views of the surrounding countryside.
With its characteristic blue shutters, this spacious retreat is elegantly furnished with French country antiques, and is situated among fig, peach and walnut trees, with three outstanding verandahs, two that overlook the large, magnificent pool that receives day-long sunshine.
Luxuriously furnished, and with all modern conveniences, "Les Volets Bleus sleeps" 12, with four double/queen bedrooms and two single/twin bedrooms, all with crisp white linens and sumptuous beds.
The property is ideal for one large group, or for two or more smaller family groups, since the Farmhouse property includes a wonderful converted Barn (attached to the main house), with both the Farmhouse and Barn having their own fully-equipped kitchens, dining and living areas, so that two groups can have their own completely separate eating/living spaces, or they can all join together in the huge country kitchen of the Farmhouse.
"Les Volets Bleus" offers quality and seclusion for a family or a for a group of friends wanting to holiday together. With four bedrooms (three double and one twin) and two bathrooms in the Farmhouse, and two bedrooms (one double and one twin) and one bathroom in the Converted Barn, "Les Volets Bleus" offers a total country getaway in the heart of the Dordogne.
Walk or drive into the timeless village of Trémolat with its well-known Relais and Chateaux hotel with Michelin-starred restaurant, historic Romanesque church and casual bistrots, and you will immediately step back in time into the wonderful, yet simple Perigordian past.
"Les Volets Bleus" offers a unique retreat from the business of day-to-day life, while still offering you the comfort of modern conveniences, all set in an atmosphere of charm and stylish elegance.
The property was recently purchased and renovated to an exceptionally high standard with all new furniture, beds, linens, appliances and filled with antiques. All this was done with a careful eye to modern comforts, while staying true to the charm and history of the area.
For enjoying the outdoors, there are plenty of sunbeds, outdoor tables and garden furniture along with barbecues to enjoy the warm summer evenings. The 11m X 5 m flood-lit pool sits in a large grassy area, with plenty of lounging chairs and umbrellas available.
'Les Volets Bleus' is situated in the Perigord Noir within easy reach of the famous caves and paleolithic history of Les Eyzies (25 minutes), Le Bugue (15 minutes) a lively local market town, Sarlat (40 minutes) with its medieval streets and famous market, and Bergerac (35 minutes), famous for foie gras, wines and ancient architecture. Périgueux (40 minutes) has fabulous shopping, while St Emilion (one hour) offers the perfect excursion to a quintessential Bordeaux wine-country town.
This region is rich in historic sites including the Lascaux Caves, and the fascinating Bastide towns such as Beaumont, Moliéres, and Monpazier which run along the spectacular Dordogne river.
Travel by car or by flat-bottomed "gabarres" (river boats) on the Dordogne to see the many magnificent châteaux to be found within easy reach of "Les Volets Bleus". Local, traditional markets abound and your days will be spent trying the freshest produce including the best selection of the classic food of the Perigord: foie gras, duck confit, walnuts, goat cheese, truffles and wine.
So find yourself a place in heaven, or rent it for a week at least, and enjoy long lunches out under the wysteria, or late-evening barbecues overlooking the pool. A delightful 20 minute walk through the countryside takes you into the nearby village of Trémolat, while a wander to the next-door farm offers a wonderful, local meal at the area’s best "ferme auberge".
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Washer
- Dryer
- Linens Provided: Top quality all-white Indian cotton sheets, pillow cases, duvet covers and towels are provided with both feather and foam pillows. Pool towels are provided too.
- Off Street Parking: A large parking area at the side of the house is available for 5 cars or more.
- Wood Fireplace: Large, open fireplace in the country kitchen
- Wood Stove (2) : A wood stove in the Salon, and a wood stove in the living area of the Converted Barn.
- Beds
- King Bed
- Queen Bed (3)
- Twin/Single Bed (4)
- Convertible Bed (2) : There are 2 roll-away beds available
- Crib (2) : These are available with matching linens and pillows, as well as 2 high chairs
- Entertainment
- TV (No Cable/Satellite) (2)
- DVD (2)
- Video Library (2) : A DVD library of some of the latest films for children and adults.
- CD Player (2)
- Private Pool: A very large, well-fenced pool with newly-tiled area surrounding it, and lots of sunbeds and umbrellas - all set on a large grassy lawn.
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen (2) : Both kitchens contain all amenities including microwaves, dishwashers, coffee makers, kettles, toasters and blender/food processor.
- Cooking Utensils Provided: In addition we provide up-market wine and champagne glasses as well as many regular drinking glasses.
- Refrigerator (2) : One in each kitchen - with a large no-ice freezer section
- Dishwasher (2)
- Microwave (2)
- Catering Available: Catering is available by our top-rated "ferme auberge" on the next door property.
- Outdoor Features
- Charcoal BBQ Grill (2) : Barbecues on 2 of the four patio terraces.
- Deck/Patio (4) : There are 2 patios on both the front and the back sides of the house - in addition to lawned areas surrounding the house.
- Communications
- Telephone: This is available for anyone dialling in, and can be used with telephone cards to dial out.
- Broadband Internet: This is unavailable on our property (due to France Telecom) but is available in nearby village of Tremolat (for a fee) 6 days a week, along with a printer and fax machine.
- Other Amenities
- Doors and windows screened, Multi-region DVD players, Pool Chairs, Umbrellas, Lots of Garden Furniture, Swimming Towels provided, Hairdryers, Boardgames, Badminton and other games, DVD's, iPod speakers/playback system, Country Restaurant within 5 minutes walk, Babysitting available, Smoking Only Outside Please
- Suitability
- No Pets Allowed
- Handicapped Accessible (may have limitations): All the main living areas are easily accessible on the ground floor (kitchen, bathrooms, some bedrooms), with some bedrooms upstairs.
- Kid Friendly: We have games and activities for children (badminton, pool toys, bat and ball) - and most of our guests enjoy the large outdoor spaces for their children to play
- Smoking Not Allowed: Smoking is only allowed outside
- Activities (on site and nearby)
- Golf
- Tennis
- Shopping
- Sightseeing
- Restaurants
- Kayaking
- Boating
- Waterskiing
- Swimming
- Windsurfing
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Antiquing
- Cinemas/Movie Theaters
- Museums
- Miniature golf
- Horseback Riding
- Hot Air Ballooning
- Other Activities
- Walking/Hiking, canoeing, visiting Chateaux, many pre-historic caves closeby, Mushrooming.
Rate Details (In EUROS)
April 2 - April 17, 2009 . 1390 EUROS/wk
April 18 – May 29, 2009 .. 2200 EUROS/wk
May 30 – July 3, 2009 .. 2700 EUROS/wk
July 4 - 4 Sept, 2009 .. 3000 EUROS/wk
5 Sept - 18 Sept, 2009 .. 2700 EUROS/wk
Sept 19 - Oct 17, 2009 .. 2500 EUROS/wk
Oct 17 - Nov 14, 2009 .. 2200 EUROS/wk
Rates can be paid by check or transfer in Euros, US Dollars or Pounds Sterling
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Map & Owner's Profile
Luxurious, Restored Farmhouse in Countryside with Pool
Year Purchased: 2005
Why the Owner Chose Le Bugue
We found this beautiful area in 2003 when we took cooking classes in the area - and were amazed by the gentleness of the region: gentle food, gentle geography, gentle people. In addition, it's really how you hope life will be when you head to rural France. Most of our guests are shocked that a place like this REALLY exists! We looked at other countries, and considered other areas of France, but we pinch ourselves routinely at how fortunate we were to find villages like Tremolat, Le Bugue, Limeuil, Ste Alvere, Paunat and a place like the Dordogne. In addition, we're 15 minutes walk into Tremolat and 15 minutes drive from Le Bugue and Lalinde, so the easy access from Bordeaux and all the area is a plus. We've never met more welcoming and agreeable people in all our travels, and have never enjoyed food and wine like we do when at "Les Volets Bleus"! We just love visiting our Farmhouse whenever we can. Rather than finding a holiday home, we've found a life.
The Unique Benefits at this French Country Farmhouse
The most commented on benefit about staying at our property is the number and quality of double beds, the wonderful linens and cleanliness of the house. We feel that when you're on vacation, you should sleep as well as possible, and so we spared no expense in finding and furnishing really good, queen-size beds in our home. We furnish them with Indian-cotton linens and great pillows - accompanied by soft, fluffy white towels. Others warned us that putting in 4 double bedrooms (and 2 singles) would be a mistake since you "get more guests per room" if you put everyone in singles beds - but we disagreed! As a married couple, we LIKE to sleep together in a good bed when in vacation, so squashing together 2 tiny single beds is not our idea of fun! So at "Les Volets Bleus" at least 4 couples get to sleep in a "master" bedroom... rather than having one nice bedroom and then all the late-comers getting the dark rooms with single beds! Not my idea of fun either! In addition, we run our home like a boutique hotel with all the cleanliness, perks and amenities you'd expect at an upmarket location. We have an expert cleaning and prep team who go through the house with a fine-tooth comb... and it shows! So you can rest-assured that you will be sinking into beautiful, white, Indian-cotton sheets, and a bed that will give you the rest you deserve...and all in a house that meets the top standards for cleanliness. In terms of the outdoors, our guests also love all the terraces to sit outside on, and appreciate all the chairs and tables on each terrace, including all the pool chairs and towels. In addition, the beautifully clean, large pool (fenced to all highest EU regulations) is a winner with families of all ages in the summer. The proximity to all popular locations (being half-way between Bergerac and Sarlat) is also a definite plus, and our guests enjoy all the area has to offer, and not having to drive for hours to take part in it!
Owner's Map of Le Bugue
We (Bill and Janice) are the proud owners of “Les Volets Bleus” and purchased and upgraded/renovated the property in June 2005. Although our home is in California, we have traveled a great deal in western Europe and have rented many properties – some great, and some less than spectacular! We always appreciated cleanliness, comfort, good beds, furniture you could actually sit on, great linens and towels, appliances that really worked, and nice big wine glasses! After buying our dream French farmhouse, our philosophy hasn’t changed - and we have upgraded the standard of the house to meet or exceed the best we’ve seen. Basically, we have designed it to be the way we’d like it if we arrived tired and hungry from across the world.
READ REVIEW on our website.
Property Photos
- Front entrance to "Les Volets Bleus" - Vacation Rental in Aquitanine, France
- Large pool in back garden with secured fence (pool is 20ft x 43ft/6m x 13m) - Vacation Rental in Aquitanine, France
- Downstairs double bedroom in Farmhouse - Vacation Rental in Aquitanine, France
- Classic Country Kitchen with modern appliances
- Salon with french doors that open outside
- Upstairs double bedroom with beams
- A perfect spot for lunch under the wysteria
- View out front door to garden and countryside
- Converted Barn living/dining area
- Dining area in Converted Barn
- Twin bedded room in Barn
- Converted Barn end of Farmhouse
Guest Comments (7)
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Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #79727
There have been 1287 visitors to this page since the counter was last reset in 2009.
This listing was first published here in 2006.
Date last modified - October 07, 2009
Positive Rating
Positive Rating
'We had a fantastic holiday in your farmhouse with three generations of our family. The swimming pool and delightful grounds were a great success, especially with the children. The dogs loved to lay in the cool shade under the beautiful wisteria canopy, whilst we whiled away the afternoons over long, lazy lunches. The accommodation far exceeded our expectations. We have rented many holiday properties over the last forty years and rate ‘Les Volets’ Bleus as the best.’ - Mike and Christine Coleman + Family
Positive Rating
There's no doubt about it...France has changed our lives! We have tasted and touched a culture that probably would not have been experienced if not for "Les Volets Bleus". Thank you Janice and Bill for a wonderful venue for a 50th celebration. Our stay was incredible...so many acute memories...we can still almost taste and smell them! The dinner at "Le Vieux Logis" was fantastic with six courses of heaven and two great bottles of wine. Auberge "Les Truffieres" was incredible and Yanick and Lyzianne, the perfect hosts. I really want to ask them for the recipe for the garlic soup! In retrospect, every place we stopped had wonderful food. And the wine...wow...our California-wine taste buds are shot and "Julien de Savignac" [wine shop in Le Bugue] rocks!! Thanks again for all you efforts to make our visit spectacular...it truly was! Arriving to wine, milk, eggs, butter and bread is a special touch and really needed after the long journey. Thank you again...
Positive Rating
Many thanks for ensuring we had a great week at your place last week - we very much enjoyed your wonderful home and the whole setting. Even though the weather wasn't perfect, we still managed to get into the pool and really enjoyed sitting around it on the loungers. Ella liked going into the little paddling pool you provided too. We also particularly enjoyed the meal at the farm next door - great value and ambience! Your caretakers were a great help and we enjoyed an evening with them at the food market in Cadouin on the Monday evening. All the directions and suggestions you gave us (and all the maps you left) were also very useful. Thanks also for the welcome pack you left us with the bottles of wine - good to have after a long trip! Thank you again for a great holiday and we look forward to recommending you to our friends!
Positive Rating
Thank you so much for your gracious hospitality. Our stay at "Les Volets Bleus" was incredible... the realization of the perfect vacation in the Dordgone. We knew from the photos that the house was charming and romantic, but it was even more so in person. Your farmhouse is the epitome of 300-year-old Dordogne charm, but renovated with your very special eye and genuine, all-out care. The house functions beautifully, from the kitchen to the pool to the laundry room to the terraces, and is spacious and easy to live in (great beds, too!). We loved the great big farm table in the kitchen! But, most of all we want to thank you for your consideration and caring to insure that we had a very special time. We are grateful for the experience of such a wonderful, delightful place. Let Volets Bleu and the picture-perfect town of Tremolat will remain one of the very special memories of our lives. We look forward to returning another time.
Positive Rating
Thank you so much for all your help, directions and attention to detail - we had a lovely time at "Les Volets Bleus" - the weather was quite mixed, but there's so much to do in the area that the weather doesn't matter too much! The house was really comfortable - we really appreciated the good qualty linens and towels, and the excellent kitchen equipment. In all our years of renting houses in the Dordogne, we found your home and facilities to be the best we've ever experienced - they were really a "cut above" the other places we've stayed. You have thought of everything we might have needed! We also really enjoyed the village of Trémolat and had a good time wandering down the path to the village in the morning for our croissants - Jeremy even managed a jog or two. All in all it was a great holiday in a fantastic setting - thanks very much indeed! We look forward to returning.
Positive Rating
We’d like to take this opportunity to gush about our magical time at Les Volets Bleus! After training from Paris and renting a car in Bordeaux, we arrived at your glorious villa, stunned that it far-surpassed what any website photos could convey. It was absolutely our fantasy of the perfect place to while away a week in the Dordogne. ‘Les Volets Bleus” is an apt name for this beautifully landscaped stone farmhouse with radiant “bleu” shutters and charming details throughout. The house is just beautifully appointed with comfortable bedrooms, lovely furnishings, and so many thoughtful touches. And the rooms provided plenty of private, as well as coming-together spaces for our combined families. We also loved the large farmhouse kitchen that was wonderfully commodious with every utensil necessary for large, festive gatherings. I know I recommended to you several times during our visit that you consider becoming an interior designer. Another of the things that we are most grateful for is the effort you made in collecting guidebooks and your own personal suggestions for touring and dining. Between you and Lyzianne & Yanick, who run the incredible Auberge “Les Truffieres” next door (foie gras to die for!), we spent our week pottering through the marvelous countryside to chateaux, castles, grottes and vineyards. And we didn’t make a dent! We particularly loved the castles at Beynac and Castelnaud, the caves of Lascaux, Font de Gaume, Josephine Baker’s chateau Les Millandes, and the fabulous Bergerac wines. We will most certainly visit again – for a longer time – because I think we’ll never have our fill of the area. Thank you so much for your incredible hospitality and for sharing your special places with us.