Le Vieux Moulin

The villa

After searching high and low for their dream Dordogne home, upon seeing Le Vieux Moulin in the glorious sunshine, the owners immediately knew this was the one! Once a crumbling paper mill in idyllic surroundings, it was restored to a stunningly beautiful place to stay.

As soon as you cross the little bridge over one of the two rivers which encircle Le Vieux Moulin, you know you are in an incredible setting. In a rural setting, surrounded by countryside and the sound of the flowing rivers backing on to the gardens, this is rural Dordogne at its best with flowing rivers and beautiful countryside surrounding you.

Step inside and be amazed at the high standard of renovation of this former paper mill and farm, some of which dates back to the early 17th Century. With a nod to the home’s historic past, many original features have been beautifully restored alongside a contemporary and minimalist vibe with stylish furnishings and sleek décor.

Downstairs the living room, dining space and modern kitchen with its original terracotta floors offers comfort with warmth from the wood - burning fires on cooler days or doors opening up to the gardens as summer approaches. A bright and airy wellbeing space opens out on to the garden, overlooking the pool providing a flexible space to host yoga sessions, or working out. There is a downstairs king sized bedroom studio which is ideal if you are travelling with older relatives, nannies or even teenagers who would prefer their own space. It has a cosy lounge/dining area and fully equipped kitchen, a flat screen television and a wood burner. Upstairs there are six ensuite bedrooms, including an impressive master bedroom with its very own bathtub standing grandly in the room.

Outside in the gardens you can find welcome shade under the wisteria pergola, a perfect setting for lunch overlooking the pool. Laze on a hammock with a good book, enjoy a game of boules and table tennis or simply relax on the pool terrace by the inviting heated swimming pool, whilst listening to the river flowing. As evening approaches, dine to the sound of hooting owls on your covered terrace by the summer kitchen and barbecue and enjoy long evenings with fine wine, food, family and friends.

Despite this rural idyll, it’s only a five - minute drive to the charming local village with a well - regarded restaurant and the ruins of an abbey which hosts concerts in the summer. You are also only a 5 - minute drive or 35 - minute walk through the beautiful countryside to Beaumont - du - Périgord with its pretty shops, restaurants and a wonderfully atmospheric night market in the summer where you can feast and drink wine with locals.

The Dordogne river is just a 20 - minute drive away where you can picnic by the riverside or hire canoes for a lovely trip out. Picture - perfect villages within easy reach include Limeuil, Trémolat, La Roque - Gageac and Domme.

Closer to home, Monpazier is only 16km away, thought to be one of France’s most beautifully preserved villages. Not forgetting Bergerac, within half an hour with its medieval architecture and unmissable Maisons des Vins.

In one of the most picturesque regions of France, the Dordogne also offers wonderful hiking, horse - riding, cycling and golf. Not to mention some of the country’s best food markets which are held across surrounding villages and towns. Pick up local cheeses, breads, cakes, foie gras and canard to take back to your beautiful home for an authentic Dordogne experience.

The setting of Le Vieux Moulin is just idyllic - it’s on an island in the Couze valley encircled by two rivers, accessed via a little bridge and surrounded by forests and countryside. Yet it is only a 5 - minute drive to the nearest village, a charming place where you will find a lovely bistro by the ruins of a beautiful abbey, where summer concerts are sometimes held.

The bastide town of Beaumont - du - Périgord (5km) is also a short drive with restaurants, pretty shops and galleries. In the summer there is a wonderfully atmospheric night market on a Monday evening where you can sit on long - wooden tables, choose your food from one of the street - market traders and buy local wine to enjoy, there is even some dancing too. The most energetic of guests can stroll across the countryside to reach Beaumont - du - Périgord in around 35 minutes - it is a beautiful walk.

The Dordogne region offers endless activities for all ages from golf within half an hour to horse - riding, hiking and cycling across the magnificent countryside.  Some of France’s most wonderful food markets are held across surrounding villages and towns where you can pick up amazing fresh produce such as local cheeses, breads, cakes, foie gras, canard as well as fruit and vegetables and there is also some superb wine - tasting across the region.

You are just a 20 - minute drive to the glorious Dordogne river in Le Buisson - de - Cadouin where you can hire canoes, enjoy leisurely picnics or follow the river and explore some of the idyllic riverside villages such as Limeuil (20km), where the Vézère river meets the Dordogne and Trémolat (22km) with its Michelin starred restaurant. Further east are some of the Dordogne’s most famous attractions such as Beynac - et - Cazenac (40km) with its famous chateau, La Roque - Gageac (45km) and beautiful Domme (48km), officially one of France’s most beautiful villages.

Another one of France’s Plus Beaux Villages , Monpazier, is only 16km away, a bastide town dating back to the 13th Century and thought to be one of France’s most beautifully preserved villages. Issigeac (20km) is also worthy of a visit, especially on a Sunday morning when the bustling market takes place.

Not forgetting Bergerac (32km) with its medieval architecture, narrow streets of boutiques and great restaurants as well as the unmissable Maisons des Vins and the famous town of Sarlat - la - Canéda (50km) with its maze of medieval lanes, lovely squares and amazing restaurants specialising in cuisine of the Perigord.