Our 47 reviews since 2014 have all been 5 star. Here is our latest review, from September 2013:
Le Chabrol is exquisite. The villa is clean, perfectly appointed in the way a home would be, with every comfort and need you could imagine. The location is perfect for exploring the area with the promise of peace and quiet at the end of the day. Donald, as well as Cheri and Brian, were so kind, responsive and prompt. The house is perfect for a group of friends, some couples or a family, especially if you love cooking together. The kitchen is amazing and if you don’t take advantage of it and the many local markets, you are missing out. The bedrooms have lovely linens and all the touches that make for a comfortable stay: gorgeous views, plump pillows, plenty of lighting, ceiling fans, lots of storage and hangers, modern bathrooms, the works. The pool is lovely and cool on a warm day with sturdy wooden loungers and thick cushions poolside. Towels are provided. There’s even an herb garden! One thing to keep in mind that has nothing to do with the house: this is a rural, riverside location so bring your bug spray! Mosquitoes are abundant and will likely get indoors, so it’s something to consider and prepare for. We bought some repellent locally and took it everywhere with us for outdoor restaurant dining, sightseeing, etc. But after the first frost, I bet this is not an issue. We would love to book again in another season just to see how gorgeous the valley and river must be in fall, spring, even winter. Highly recommend!
That just about says it all but here is further information:
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, our light and airy home, 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 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, in formal grace under the grapevines on the terrace, or indoors at a fine oak table seating 6 to 10 in easy 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 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! Come enjoy our happy home - we think we've set very reasonable prices for what you get!
The Restaurants: There's a list of our current favourites in the kitchen, and you'll surely have done some research on your own. Tempting though it is to eat at home every night (and al fresco, at that -- NO BUGS!!!), 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. Within a half-hour radius you can find restaurants ranging from world-class refinement to L'Assiette Gourmande, run by a retired french couple who serve the best confit and foie gras in the world on tottering little tables in their pretty back yard. Note to autumn and winter visitors, GET THEIR CASSOULET!! The classic cuisine of Périgord features, besides duck and goose, the other key regional products which it grows and ships throughout France and around the world: 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.
