Dordogne Boutique Villa, Saint Avit Senieur, Dordogne, France - Explore & Book
"This stunning honey-coloured villa sits in perfect solitude on its own private island in the heart of the Couze valley. Descend its long, narrow driveway and you'll reach a secluded, tree- and stream-encircled spot, which hums with birds chirping, dragonflies whirring and bees buzzing. The building - a former 18th-century paper mill which had fallen into disrepair - was beautifully refurbished by a British couple in 2019, with the help of Dutch designer Joris Van Grinsven. Great care was taken to keep a sense of the building’s industrial past: there are grey-framed glass doors, open-plan spaces and whitewashed beamed ceilings. The state-of-the-art kitchen has a poured-concrete breakfast bar, a sitting room with four large sink-in-me sofas, while upstairs are six ensuite bedrooms, one of which can be used as a stand-alone apartment. Backing the house is an enormous (12m x 6m) heated pool among manicured lawns and rainforest-thick greenery. You get complete privacy here. The owners, who live in the UK but visit regularly, have compiled a detailed pack of local info, with a local company on hand to help with any further questions about the house, or special activities. There's heaps to do in the Couze valley, with pretty villages all around, and restaurants just a five-minute drive away. The Dordogne is a foodie hotspot: it’s the honking heartland of foie gras, and the wine, cheese and salami are delicious. Stock up on ingredients from the local food markets and then head home to cook up a feast. Bon appétit! Highs Secluded and lushly rural location on a private island, yet a five-minute drive from local villages and markets An enormous heated swimming pool surrounded by sunloungers, deckchairs and a hammock; great for families So much space to spread out both indoors and outdoors, with a forest and two rivers on the villa's land Close to wine tasting, markets, night markets in summer, canoeing, caves and historic sites Lows Saturday-Saturday stays only in high season (June and August) Gets booked up quickly so get in there early!" - Abigail Blasi
