La Vieille Maison
beautiful Limousin (lake district), central France
Guests: 7
Wifi: available
Pets? Pets welcome (more than 3 contact us upon booking), fee applies
more about La Vieille Maison
about the property
A late medieval family holiday home in the heart of the Limousin, France, situated next to the ancient church in Bellac village. Dogs welcome.
Officially one of the best places to stay in Europe! No. 7 in the Sunday Times top 50 'Sensational Villas' list!
"This 15th-century townhouse in the village of Bellac has been exquisitely renovated by a British stonemason. Granite fireplaces, medieval floor tiles: the place is bursting with French flavour, and there are lovely views from the terrace at the back. At this price, you wouldn’t expect a pool — but Bellac has a public one with slides for kids, so who cares? Limoges airport is a 40-minute drive." Sunday Times
Enjoy a peaceful holiday in this truly ancient French medieval townhouse in Bellac - a 'cite de caractere' in the beautiful Limousin region of central France. This is the smaller of our two properties on the old Church square which were originally part of the original fortification of this small medieval town. Restored by one of the best stonemason conservators in the UK, this unique house dates back to the 15th Century and has been carefully conserved, retaining original features including a magnificent staircase over 500 years old, late medieval floor tiles and cut granite fireplaces.
If the Landmark Trust had properties in France then they'd rescue a building like this - with original and ancient features in every room. It is even home to a traditional full French 'box bed' - possibly the only place left in France where you can sleep in such a piece of history. There is also a choice of other antique and modern beds to suit a family, and a patio with glorious views across the valley and to the local viaduct.
There is a swimming pool with slides for kids a short walk away, in town.
Please see sister property Maison d'Eglise if you would like to book both properties.
grading
latest review
Delighful house, with sympathetic restoration, and a few nice quirky touches. Very comfortable for the 2 of us once we got used to the stairs (both in our 60s). At this time of year the area is very q...
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good to know
- arrival at
- 16:00
- depart by
- 10:00
- guests
- 7
- 7 nights from
- £985 (based on 2 staying)
- 7 nights up to
- £1200 (based on 2 staying)
- pets
- pets welcome (more than 3 contact us upon booking)
- bed layout
- Twin (ground floor), Double, Single, Twin
facilities at La Vieille Maison
map - location
travel info
How to Arrive?
By air: 40-minute drive to Limoges airport
- Ryanair - from London Stansted, Bristol, East Midlands, Liverpool & Leeds
- Flybe - Newcastle and Southampton.
- Air France flies in from Edinburgh, Dublin, Birmingham and Manchester.
Or Bergerac airport (2-hour drive, flights from Bristol etc).
By road: 6 hours from Caen and 8 hours from Calais. Good access from A20 or N147
By train: Eurostar Paddington London > Lille or Paris with TGV rail to Poitiers, & local train to Bellac station (10 min walk). Car hire available at Limoges airport and Poitiers & Limoges railway stations.
in detail
OUTSIDE:
- Small gravelled patio to the front, facing the square.
- Walled terrace to rear with views over the valley, with patio set.
- There is plenty of parking (no charge) in the public square in front of the house.
GROUND FLOOR:
- Entrance Hall: limewashed green, with spiral stairs to first floor and doors to shower room and ground floor bedroom.
- Shower Room: With 'dinner plate' shower head. Loo downstairs. Washing machine.
- The 'Box-Bed' Bedroom: A twin bedroom with two singles (both full-size mattresses). Remarkable, original antique French box bed fully restored - perhaps the only surviving bed of its kind in use. Windows to side and rear with great views to the viaduct.
FIRST FLOOR:
- Salon: Comfortable sitting room with fine views to the viaduct and down the valley from window & 'Juliette' balcony. Wood-burning stove in antique limestone fireplace, antique dining furniture and dresser with Limoges porcelain. TV with (French) digital channels & DVD player. Radio & iPod docking station. Internet Wi-Fi.
- Kitchen: Simple, modern kitchen with gas stove, electric oven, microwave, dishwasher, fridge with small ice box (no freezer). Views over the church square.
SECOND FLOOR:
- Master Bedroom: A large comfortable room with an antique bed and armoire. Lie in bed and enjoy the views down the valley to the viaduct. A lovely room.
- Toilet: Separate modern toilet adjacent to the master bedroom
- Bathroom: The bathroom (shower over bath) sits midway on the corridor between the two bedrooms on this floor.
- Single bedroom: Large antique 3/4 beds (a single, but could at a push sleep a couple) and view over the square.
THIRD FLOOR:
- Attic bedroom: Large twin bedroom with views to the church.
The property is heated via a large, modern and efficient woodburning stove in the lounge, which has a newly-installed heat-transfer flue system to the rooms above. There are also newly installed electric storage radiators in these and other rooms. Wood for the stove is supplied in the holiday price at this property, but guests will need to buy kindling.
local area
- Cinema, theatre, pool, restaurants, river - short walk
- Ancient Notre Dame Church - square in front of cottage
- Limousin - the 'garden of France'/'French Lake District'
- Coussac Bonneval , Chateau de Bonneval - fine chateaux
- Nearby ancient village of Mortemart
- Limoges - 25 minute drive
- Poitiers - medieval town & Futuroscope , great for kids - 1hr
- Parc Animalier de la Colline Enchantee - 30 km/ 45 mins
- La Vallee Des Singes - a monkey sanctuary.
- Oradour - village untouched since WWII - 30 min drive
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