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View from patio across pool

Verandah leading from en suite bedrooms

Surrounded by orchards and vineyards and set in 2 acres of parkland, this spacious cottage, with its own private swimming pool, makes a peaceful country base for 4 people. Within walking distance of the medieval town of Duras with its beautiful chateau. This area is famous across France for high-class prunes (pruneaux d'agen) and, as Bordeaux's neighbour, it has a selection of small but excellent wine regions, of which Cote de Duras is one. The name of the property, Berticot, is also the name of the local wine co-operative and Berticot wine is on sale in many British supermarkets. The internationally famous golf course at Chateau de Vigiers is a 20 mins drive from the property. Colourful local markets abound in this part of France and the dedicated shopper could easily find a different market for each day of the week! However, if cooking is not on the agenda, good restaurants are easy to find. The owner's house is on site but unoccupied when guests are in residence.

Kitchen

Dining end of lounge

 

Prices Currency Conversion

 

Notes on prices
Prices are for the property per week in UK Pounds.
The property is available for long winter lets - please contact us for further details. All electricity and water will be charged at cost price for winter lets.
Use of tumble dryer is charged as an extra.
Electricity and water are included in the price for summer lets but excessive use of either will be charged at cost price.

Changeover day
Changeover day is Friday and we ask that guests arrive any time after 4pm and leave before 10am on departure day.

Accommodation

 

Notes on accommodation
The cottage is most suited to 2 couples and is not suitable for small children (under 12) except for non-mobile babies.
Electric central heating and woodburning stove. Telephone included to receive incoming calls and make local outgoing calls. Swimming pool fitted with a pool alarm which has to be activated when the pool is not in use. Fans in both bedrooms and on external outdoor dining area. Well lit patio and pool terrace and underwater pool light. We would ask that guests do not smoke inside the cottage.

Amenities/Facilities provided

 

Accessibility
The property is all on 1 floor but there is a step from the kitchen to the lounge, 2 steps from the lounge to the bedroom area and the same from the lounge to the patio. Access to the pool involves going down 3 steps. Entry to the pool is via a 'Roman end' with steps although these are fairly wide. Please contact us to discuss suitability.

Outside
Private swimming pool, 10m x 5m with Roman steps bordered on 1 side with a lavender hedge and protected by a pool alarm. Outdoor covered dining area with adjoining decked patio leading to pool terrace and bedroom verandah. Pool and outdoor dining furniture. 2 acres of land surround the property, mainly laid to grass with many mature trees. There are plum orchards adjoining the land and it is possible to take a short cut through the orchards when walking into Duras. There are wonderful views from the cottage of the vines of our wine growing neighbour, Chateau Molhiere. Wildlife is a constant delight - there are frequent appearances of wild deer and a hare who appears to live under one of our trees and we have a family of hoopoes as well as many other beautiful birds. Many of the comments in our visitor's book make reference to the varied wildlife they have spotted during their stay. There is a carport plus ample parking out front. There is a rotary clothes line and charcoal barbeque.

Coast/Beach
Arcachon, on the Atlantic coast, is well worth the 90 minute drive. There are sea front restaurants serving fresh seafood and south of Arcachon bay it is possible to visit the The Dunes de Pylar (supposedly the largest sand dunes in Europe) are close by. The Great Dune reaches a height of 107 metres.
It is a 3 hour drive to Biarritz (Atlantic coast) and the spanish border and 4 hours to the Meditarrenean spanish border.

Golf
The internationally famous Chateau de Vigiers Golf and Country Club is a 16km drive from the property through stunning countryside. There is a municipal golf course at Marmande (22km) and a 9-hole course at Tombeboeuf (33km).

Travel
The 3 closest airports are Bergerac (45 minutes), Bordeaux (75 minutes) and Toulose (2 hours).
If you are driving from the UK, we recommend taking the overnight ferry from Portsmouth to St Malo. We're about 6 hours drive from St Malo. If you're coming from the Channel Tunnel or Calais, we're 8.5 hours drive away.
It is also possible to take the Eurostar to Paris and then the TGV to Bordeaux, where you can hire a car for the remainder of the journey.

Distances
Duras (the local village) is 2km from the property and is well served with shops, restaurants and bars.
Ste Foy la Grande and Marmande (both towns with all normal amenities) are both approximately 20km.
Bordeaux (a must-see as the newly refurbished riverside is nearing completion) is 80km. It is possible to take the train from nearby Ste Foy la Grande and then take the tram from Bordeaux station.
For wine-lovers, St Emilion is 45 km.

Further details
There are too many local markets to be mentioned here but the best, in our opinion, are Monsegur (Friday), Ste Foy (Saturday), Bergerac (Saturday) and of course Duras (Monday). They are all completely different in size and character. Again, with restaurants, the choice is huge. There are currently 4 in Duras, all quite different in price/choice of food. If you want to travel further afield then there are restaurants in Monsegur (10kms), Sauvetat le Dropt (15kms), Auriac (10kms), Allemans (10kms), Ste Foy la Grande (20kms) and Bergerac (35kms). This is an area where eating out is an art form! Details of many of the local restaurants are in the housebook in the cottage. Duras has an excellent supermarket which is only 1km from the cottage. There are 2 banks with cashpoint machines in the village and a number of local shops. There is really not much need to venture far away from Duras if you're looking for a relaxing holiday. There are 2 bars in the main square (both of which serve snacks).
Both Ste Foy la Grande and Marmande have their fair share of large supermarkets - Ste Foy is by far the prettiest of the 2 towns although Marmande has a certain charm in the older part of the town.
It is easy to hire bikes locally and although the countryside is certainly not flat, there are some wonderful bike rides.
The chateau in Duras hosts many events during the year, especially during the summer months and details of these and other events in the local area are to be found in the local tourist office.
If you are looking for an active holiday then there is a wide choice of things to do - canoeing on the Dordogne, horse riding, flying or gliding at Marmande, microlight flights, hot air balloon flights (mainly in August), tennis, golf etc.
For music lovers the Monsegur 'weekend of swing' takes place on the first weekend of July.
Duras celebrates one of it's major events 'la fete de la Madeleine' around 14th July each year.

Booking notes
Please see calendar or check the availability with the owners by phone or email. A deposit of 25% will secure a booking, and a statement will be sent showing the balance outstanding. The remaining balance must be paid in full 8 weeks before arrival. If less than 8 weeks, then the full rate is payable before arrival.

Guest comments
'A beautiful cottage, great weather, very relaxing. Good food, lovely wine. Close to paradise!'

'Lived up to all our expectations, away from the 'madding crowd'. Now feel recharged and inspired. Excellent pool, excellent view, excellent frogs, need I say more?'

'We've stayed in many lovely gites and villas all over France and other countries but have so far never been tempted to return to somewhere we've been before. However we may well take you up on your kind offer to return to Berticot. The quality of the accommodation and location will take some beating.'

For booking and further information

 

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This advertiser joined Owners Direct in May 2007,
and has advertised this property with us since May 2007.

Property Ref FR2268
When contacting the owner please mention that you saw this property on Owners Direct Website.

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