Le Chabrol is unique - an extraordinarily beautiful and serene property, deceptively simple on the outside but exquisite and sophisticated inside. It has everything the most discerning guest could wish for.
Situated on the banks of one of the most beautiful rivers in the world, and in a quieter part of the Dordogne, Le Chabrol is just across the river from the lovely village of Tremolat, with it's Michelin-starred Vieux Logis but within easy reach of the busy tourist towns like Sarlat, Domme, Beynac and Le Roque Gageac.
Since we took ownership of this Le Chabrol in 2014, every single one of over 50 reviews has been 5-star. We can find no other property with a similar record.
That just about says it all but there is more:
Le Chabrol was FEATURED AS #12 OF THE "TOP 50 HOLIDAY VILLAS IN SPAIN, FRANCE AND PORTUGAL" in the (UK) Times April 2009 and AGAIN 28 Feb 2010.
A little detail:
Le Chabrol, sits in a prime location in walking distance to the gorgeous village of Tremolat, under mature trees, by a vast open meadow running out to the riverbank beyond, with a private jetty for river swimming, absolute river frontage and the exquisite Tremolat bridge in full view, and an easy 100m swim!
The open yet separate spacious gourmet kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances and almost every conceivable gadget, will please the most demanding cook. Shop every day in a different farmers' market, then enjoy your treasures under the cherry tree by the pool, at the table on the riverbank, informally under the grapevines on the terrace, or get out the candelabras and dine indoors at a fine oak table seating 6 to 10 in comfort.
The gardens are full of cutting flowers for you to pick, plus snackables like strawberries, cherry tomatoes, cherries, figs, pears, grapes and physalis, each in its season.
Elegant 'American' bathrooms with strong spacious showers and unlimited hot water. Enjoy hot air ballooning, cliff-top castles, antique markets, the Bergerac and Bordeaux vineyards, canoeing, Cro-Magnon caves, fine dining and much more. 8-speaker BOSE surround sound, TV, high speed WiFi internet and free calls within France.
More About the House:
Passionate about French countryside, style, food and wine, we take great pride in this place and love spending time here with friends and family. To have a beautiful home here is a long-standing dream come true: a tranquil, romantic spot located on the banks of the Dordogne in what we believe to be the loveliest corner of France. This is an area of exceptional natural beauty, steeped in history, glowing with sun and fine weather, with outstanding cuisine at every turn. The former owners had superb taste. They designed the renovation of this 300 year old stone barn to be in harmony with the region's architectural heritage, and decorated the house in muted colors, with subtly elegant fabrics and authentic French country antiques.
We love a bit of luxury, which you will find aplenty inside this house, and we love outdoor living!
We feel that the house is intimate yet expansive, cheerful but calm. In summer we live by the sparkling salt-water heated swimming pool, lunching under the cherry tree with a great bottle of the local Bergerac wine and gorgeous local produce on the BBQ. In winter, we love that big fireplace!
The Restaurants: There's a list of our current favourites in the comprehensive house booklet, and you'll surely have done some research on your own. Tempting though it is to eat at home every night, there is fantastic food to be had here at every price range.
Trémolat alone has its renowned Michelin-starred Le Vieux Logis AND the best pizza restaurant in the region.
A second Michelin-starred restaurant, our favourite, Le Petit Leon in St Leon sur Vezere, is barely an hour away. With NZ chef Nick Honeyman, this is beyond excellent and several of our discerning guests have described this as their best restaurant experience ever.
You will also find strawberries, walnuts, truffles, Bergerac wines and the elegant Sauternes-like Monbazillac.
In summer, don't miss the night markets, where you dine outdoors on regional specialities in rustic village squares throughout the region - live music, locally-prepared delicacies cooked on-site, long, long trestle tables, happy, chatting and laughing French locals and visitors from all around the world .
Enjoying the River:
The Dordogne, shallow in summer and rather slow-moving in many spots, is considerably warmer than you might expect, and a delight to swim in. There are many beaches along the roads from which swimming is fun, quiet and easy. Our own bit of the riverbank is protected for the blue herons, wild swans and ducks that have adopted it. It's very scenic and we love swimming from our little jetty with the beautiful Tremolat bridge just 50 metres upstream.
Canoe rentals are available throughout the region so you can enjoy any number of leisurely hour-long scenic spectaculars. Waterskiing and pedalos are available at the Trémolat Bassin Nautique, where you can also hire a canoe or kayak for a few hours, or for your entire stay -- there are locking rings on our little boat dock so you can keep it secure during your stay.
The pool is heated in the summer months (June to August).
Short barge trips can be booked in the fantastic carved-into-the-cliffsides village of La Roque Gageac on the road to Sarlat. Rent a bike and cycle the tranquil towpaths beside the local canals which skirt the occasional rapids which made it rough sailing when goods from the region drifted downriver to Bordeaux two centuries ago. Climb Richard the Lionheart's spectacular fortified castle in Beynac.
The exquisitely-painted Lascaux caves are just an hour away, driving along the beautiful Vezere valley, with many pre-historic caves and troglodyte remnants.
