OUR HOME -
A gorgeous detached 3 bedroom house (sleeps 7) with private pool & wonderful views located in the Dordogne’s most beautiful village, Beynac-et-Cazenac.
L'Ancienne Poste (The Old Post Office) is an airy, light and spacious traditional honey-coloured stone house in Beynac-et-Cazenac.
Everything you need is right on your doorstep. Gourmet restaurants. Riverside cafés & bars. A boulangerie. A grocery store. A magnificent château. A farmer’s market. Your own private pool. Even an English-speaking doctor. It’s all right here, nestled on one of the loveliest bends of the Dordogne river.
THE LOCATION -
Beynac-et-Cazenac has been selected as one of the ‘Plus Beaux Villages de France’ (‘the most beautiful villages of France’). This stunningly romantic village, which rises dramatically from the valley floor and was once the home of Richard the Lionheart, will enchant and captivate you at every turn, from its narrow medieval streets lined with soft honey-coloured stone houses to its shops, art galleries and restaurants, not to mention its magnificent Château, perched high atop the cliff, majestically watching over the Dordogne valley since 1150 AD.
PROPERTY DETAILS -
The main entrance to our home uses the original Post Office doorway and leads directly into the open plan living, dining and kitchen area.
The house has 2 master ensuite bedrooms (both have shower rooms along with a basin and toilet in each) and 1 twin ensuite bedroom (with a shower over the bath, as well as a toilet and a basin) – sleeping 7 in total.
All 3 bedrooms have ensuite bathrooms. Like the open plan living area, all bedrooms have panoramic views over the Dordogne river and towards the surrounding 4 châteaux of Castelnaud, Fayrac, Marqueyssac & Lacoste.
There are two sunny south-facing terraces, one next to the kitchen with magnificent Dordogne river & châteaux views, the second one at pool side, with a summer kitchen and gaz bbq.There are tables & chairs for sunny al fresco breakfasts, afternoon glasses of wine, or shaded evening meals overlooking stunning scenery and with beautiful sunsets.
The Garden Bedroom has an ensuite bathroom, two single beds & medieval stone archway with French doors opening onto the south-facing garden.
The Balcony Bedroom has an ensuite bathroom, a king-size bed & double French doors giving panoramic views of the valley below.
The Vaulted Bedroom has an ensuite bathroom, a king-size bed as well as an antique ‘sleigh’ bed. It also has a beautiful vaulted beamed ceiling along with a ceiling fan.
There is 3.5x5m 1.30m deep private pool, facing the theatral view . The pool is heated from april to october and have sun loungers & chairs.
The whole house is over 4 levels and there is private parking right next to the house (for small and medium size cars)
LOCAL ACTIVITIES -
You can do it all here and leave your car in the garage for the week! Or you could use it as your holiday base to explore the region. The ‘must see’ medieval town of Sarlat. The prehistoric cave paintings at Lascaux. The Michelin-starred restaurants of Trémolat. There's the walled medieval village (also known as a ‘bastide’) village of Domme. The legendary vineyards of Bergerac, Bordeaux and St Emilion. All this and more are within easy reach!
For those in need of relaxation, we recommend lazily drifting down the Dordogne in your own canoe. Discover lush green pastures perfect for picnics. Stop off for wild swimming from riverside beaches. And for the more active, there’s cycling, walking, kayaking, tours of the castle, even hot air ballooning. All of this is just a short stroll from the front door of L'Ancienne Poste.
In nearby towns like Sarlat (less than a 15-minute drive away) culture vultures and fans of gastronomy will enjoy art exhibitions, street theatre, music and food festivals, firework displays and outdoor dining in award-winning restaurants. There truly is something for everyone, whatever their age, whatever the season.
LOCAL CUISINE -
No part of France is so impassioned by its culinary heritage as the deeply gourmet idyll of Dordogne in the rural south-west. Dining has its soul around the kitchen table & the best gastronomic experiences remain traditional feasts lasting several hours. Duck is the staple. Consider magret de canard (duck breast) or confit de canard (slow-cooked duck confit). Duck or goose liver is fattened to become foie gras, served raw and thinly sliced, pan-fried and warm, or with toasts as a pâté. It's said that the local walnuts date back over 17,000 years. There's even a local museum dedicated to them! Fresh black truffles woo food lovers from mid-December to March.
People travel to the Dordogne to see artwork created before the dawn of civilization, but they end up feeling like you've touched down in the most civilised place on earth.
