Dream Medieval Stone Villa in Popular Market Village, ideal for Couples & Family

Issigeac is a charming little village. We felt like we stepped back in time and far from the cares of the world. The owners of this villa obviously put their heart into its restoration. BTW the bakery about 20 paces from the villa - toward the bank is fabulous! The cosy villa is super quiet and Issigeac offers a great home base for visiting châteaus and medieval villages throughout the area. We stayed 10 days and ran out of time to see all of the region's historical delights!

We could go on and on to praise this property, the location, the townspeople, and the owner Janice. We highly recommend staying in this beautifully-appointed stone villa in the fairy-tale village of Issigeac. We are a middle-aged married couple who has been to France 7 times and the experience here was fantastic. The people in this community were the most friendly in all of our experiences (and all of our experiences have been wonderful.) And like our other experiences in different parts of France, we marvel at how there are no bugs. You can keep windows open without worry about mosquitos.

The house covers all the basics and then some, such as great water pressure and plenty of hot water, super comfortable beds, high quality linens, fully fitted kitchen. Even the washer and dryer, tucked in a nook out of sight, are two separate appliances and they work perfectly. Also, the thick stone walls keep a very comfortable temperature even during the hot summer.

The town is small enough to be able to walk everywhere easily, but large enough to have all you need in the way of restaurants, shops, parking, bakery, etc. We found the local restaurants to be DIVINE, but not expensive as in some other parts of France. But if it is Michelin-starred gastronomy you hanker for, you can find this 15 minutes away.

Issigeac is strategically located to easily drive from Bordeaux airport (Driving in South Western France is about as easy as it gets.) with many charming towns to visit and sites to see in a short drive away.

Janice was so gracious, friendly, kind, and helpful before and during our stay. The house has loads of reference and travel books, all you could ever need, and she provides a written guide advising about the house, the area, and which village markets occur on what days, etc. The best market was definitely right in Issigeac on Sunday.

Tip: If you like sweet desert wine...partake of some Monbazillac with your cheese (MUST get the Brillat-Savarin at the market) and baguette...then visit the Monbazillac chateau 15 minutes away for a great view over the vineyards. Paris, the French Alps, Provence, and the Loire Valley are certainly wonderful destinations to see, but the Dordogne is our most favorite part of France--it's truly a place to enjoy life.

Issigeac is a magical step back in centuries, and this little villa, tucked down a narrow side street just steps from the village square, is the perfect base from which to explore the bastide-filled countryside. It is medieval out and in, but comfortably updated with modern amenities and quality furnishings. Orientation from the property manager was cheerful and thorough, even though we arrived hours late. Follow up from owner mid-trip continued the attentiveness. We even found firewood on our doorstep when the first cold front of the season breezed in! On the ground level beyond the entry foyer is a good sized Q bedroom and a small TW bedroom (perfect for a child) that share a double sink shower room. Both stay cool during the day. The WC is separately housed. The shower is American-sized with good pressure. Access to the walled patio is through the single bedroom and is outfitted with a gas BBQ and seating. A winding staircase takes you up to the living area. The first floor, with fireplace and comfy sofas, is open to the galley kitchen and dining area, giving a sense of spaciousness. The second large bedroom is up a second flight of stairs in the converted attic (with raised ceiling) and commands a roof top view over the village. There is ample room for the loveseat, tea table, daybed and additional seating. The ensuite bathroom is fitted with a freestanding tub and pedestal sink. Beds were comfortable and linens of a high quality. Because the two bedrooms are separated by the living area, the layout would be perfect for two couples. The stairs are necessarily steep, but well lit (as is the entire villa—a welcome departure from the French norm!) WiFi was stable and international phone service gratis. The legendary Sunday market does not fail to live up to its hype, and there is a day’s worth of strolling around the village that is interesting. The two “fine dining” establishments are just that (do reserve) and the tea room serves much beyond tea! A butcher, 3 bakers, 2 convenience stores and an excellent wine shop are one street removed. Randonee paths vary in length, but most are gentle, and the surrounding area includes as much history and vistas as you chose to include. The Dordogne valley is an easy day trip. Be sure to avail yourself of the copious sightseeing recommendations and area guide books provided by the owner and know that when you return at the end of the day you can count on a quiet, restful evening punctuated only by church bells.

Issigeac is a magical step back in centuries, and this little villa, tucked down a narrow side street just steps from the village square, is the perfect base from which to explore the bastide-filled countryside. It is medieval out and in, but comfortably updated with modern amenities and quality furnishings. Orientation from the property manager was cheerful and thorough, even though we arrived hours late. Follow up from owner mid-trip continued the attention. We even found firewood on our doorstep when the first cold front of the season breezed in! On the ground level beyond the entry foyer is a good sized queen bedroom and a small twin bedroom (perfect for a child) that share a double sink shower room. The WC is separate. The shower is US-sized with good pressure. Access to the small, walled patio is through the single bedroom and is outfitted with a gas BBQ. A winding staircase takes you up to the living area. The first floor living area, with fireplace and comfy sofas, is open to the galley kitchen and dining area, giving a sense of spaciousness.Up another staircase, the second large bedroom in the converted attic (with raised ceiling) is perched high enough to provide roof top views over the village. There is ample room to accommodate a loveseat, tea table, daybed and additional seating. The ensuite bathroom is fitted with a freestanding tub and pedestal sink. Beds were comfortable and linens of a high quality. Because the two bedrooms are separated by the living area, the layout would be perfect for two couples. The stairs are necessarily steep, but well lit (as is the entire villa—a welcome departure from the French norm!) WiFi was stable and international phone service gratis. The legendary Sunday market does not fail to live up to its hype, and there is a day’s worth of strolling around the village that is interesting. The two “fine dining” establishments are just that (do reserve) and the tea room serves much beyond tea! A butcher, 3 bakers, 2 convenience stores and an excellent wine shop are one street removed. Randonee paths vary in length, but most are gentle, and the surrounding area includes as much history and vistas as you chose to include. The Dordogne valley is an easy day trip. Be sure to avail yourself of the copious sightseeing recommendations and area guide books provided by the owner and know that when you return at the end of the day, you can count on a quiet, restful evening punctuated only by church bells.

What a fantastic villa in an enchanting town. We don’t tend to holiday in the same location twice, preferring instead to explore new places. However, there is something special about this villa and Issigeac that keeps drawing us back. We’ve now been twice in two years and wouldn’t hesitate to return again in the near future.

The location of the villa is great. Tucked away down a side street, it’s very peaceful but takes less than a minute to walk to the town square. Set over three floors, the villa itself is full of medieval character and has been beautifully updated with high quality and modern furnishings and amenities. From the moment you open the front door you will not be disappointed. On the ground floor there are two bedrooms (that would comfortably sleep three) with a shower room and WC. There is also a washer and dryer under the winding stair case. On the first floor is the spacious living area with gallery kitchen, large dining table, soft seating area and open fire. The third floor provides views over the roof tops of Issigeac and has a further large bedroom and bathroom. We stayed as a couple but the villa would also be ideal for two couples.

Issigeac is a wonderful town with boutique shops, restaurants, bakeries, grocery shops and a couple of friendly pubs (can recommend both!). It’s narrow winding streets, lined with fascinating ancient buildings, are great for exploring. The Sunday market has something for everyone and is a must do for any visitors. During the summer months, there are also evening markets where locals and visitors sit down to enjoy local produce. We spent many a warm summers evening sitting in the town square soaking up the atmosphere.

The villa is also ideally located to explore the wider area. There is lots of information/ guide books in the villa with ideas and recommendations covering a range of interests.

If we could give this villa more than 5 stars we would!