Thank you for being a wonderful host and telling us all the good places to go and see, and where to eat. The house was fabulous! Thank you for all the lovely figs you gave us, we really enjoyed them. We had a great time in the villa and hope to come..."
Thank you so much for our stay! We have loved our stay! The local lakes, rivers, the pool have all been amazing! The kids have had a ball!"
Thank you for giving us such a wonderful, restorative and memorable stay. You are a most gracious hostess. This is a most beautiful house, but most importantly, a happy house."
At a glance
- Sleeps 10
- 5 bedrooms
- 4 bathrooms
- Free WiFi
- Swimming pool
Property highlights
- Characterful 15th century farmhouse villa
- 15m private pool
- Games facilities
- Borders Cognac, Charente and Dordogne
In a glorious hilltop setting, with miles of countryside spread out before you and vineyards above, you share a corner of France with a privileged few. This tranquil spot is something of a well-kept secret, although Le Petit Mas, surrounded by farmland, woods and meadows, is just a kilometre from the picturesque (shop-free) village of Vouthon and in an area known for fabulous Romanesque architecture, historic priories, castles and churches.
As well as four double bedrooms, there’s a converted attic room with four single beds – a dream for children who want a den, bedroom and pyjama party all in one – and every floor of this three-level building is an attractive combination of antique furnishings, rustic homely touches and contemporary art, all offset by exposed beams and solid stonework. An airy living room complete with baby grand piano and a traditional well-equipped farmhouse kitchen help make this an ideal base for extended families.
On the south-facing terrace, an evening meal is a sunset-lit affair and with two other terraces and over 30 acres to explore, this 15th-century farmhouse gives everyone room to roam, whether that’s around the property or out into the countryside.
The local area
The Tardoire River for canoeing is just five minutes away and a number of walking trails start nearby. The castle at La Rochefoucauld is a must-see and there are summer concerts in town during July and August. You’ll find shops here too and a Saturday market, although for bread and groceries, your nearest ports of call are the villages of St-Sornin (1km) and Montbron (4km). From Montbron, you can also hire bikes and a riverside walk from here takes in the castles of Ferriere, Chabrot, Menet and the mills of Menet and Chabrot: paper mills, stone, flour mills being a feature of the region. Sophisticated Angoulême lies 25km to the west with its two places of worship: a magnificent cathedral and a chocolate factory. There’s also a Museum of Cartoons, sailing, squash courts and an 18-hole golf course if neither history nor confectionary are calling.
Le Petit Mas is very well located on the borders of the Dordogne, Limousin and Charente, allowing you to explore the beautiful villages of the northern Dordogne such as Piégut and the diverse landscapes of these very different areas.
The Charente is cognac country, for many the very epitome of French life, where the great houses of Courvoisier, Hennessy, Martell and Rémy Martin distil their magnificent brandies. Cognac itself has far more to offer, grand houses and narrow winding streets; and more festivals than there are months in the calendar. To the east stands Angoulême, its very name a sign of sophistication, a prodigious cathedral the strongest hint of its affluent past. The Charente River gathers momentum near Saintes but it is never much more than a quiet waterway for those who delight in messing about in boats. Sleepy little towns like Jarnac seem to float by, followed by proud Romanesque abbeys and priories, silhouetted against the lush undulating countryside. Make sure you visit the churches at St-Amand-de-Boixe and Bassac.
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An in-villa chef and meal delivery service is available by arrangement at all our French villas
* For further clarification on Facilities and Amenities, please view the 'Details' tab for each property or speak to one of our experienced sales consultants.
Accommodation
Layout
- 5 bedroom house (sleeps 8 to 10, maximum 8 adults)
Ground floor
- Entrance hall
- Living room with fireplace and baby grand piano, French doors lead to terraces
- Kitchen with oven, hob, toaster, kettle, coffee machine, fridge, freezer, microwave, dishwasher and dining table
- Separate WC
First floor
- Master double bedroom with integrated bath and washbasin
- Double bedroom
- Double bedroom with ladder to children’s dormitory (for emergency use only)
- Shower room with WC
- All doubles can be made into twin beds on request
Second floor
- Large bedroom/playroom with 4 children’s beds with en-suite bathroom and WC (restricted headroom)
- Double bedroom with additional single bed with en-suite bathroom and WC (restricted headroom)
General
- Complimentary WiFi (ground floor only)
- Simpson Travel telephone representative
- Washing machine and dryer
- Dishwasher
- 2 cots (linen supplied) and 2 highchairs
- Fans
- Telephone
- Piano
- TV, video, DVD and CD players
- Book library (English and French) for adults and children
- Extensive collection of children’s toys
- Table tennis and table football
- Bar billiards
- Swings and large sandpit
- Croquet and badminton
- Barbecue
- Private swimming pool 15m x 6m (depth 0.7m – 2m), fenced, Roman steps.
- For further information on Terms and Conditions for this property please click here
WiFi
- All properties with WiFi are able to support basic functionality such as web browsing and checking emails*
* We aim to offer an uninterrupted service but sometimes due to factors beyond our control reliability can be affected.
Services
- Bed linen, bath and pool towels are provided
Access times
- Check-in time – 5.00-7.00pm
- Check-out time – 9:30am (cleaners will start on the outside areas at 9am)
Getting there
- Airports
Limoges 76km
Poitiers 130km
Bordeaux 155km
La Rochelle 165km - Ferry ports
St-Malo 467km
Caen-Ouistreham 485km
Le Havre 566km
Cherbourg 610km
Calais 750km - TGV stations
Angoulême 26km
Libourne 118km
Surgères 122km
Bordeaux 148km
Location
Key Information
- Charente region
- Restaurants (Montbron) 10min drive
- Shops (Montbron) 10min drive
- Château de la Rochefoucauld 15min drive
- Angoulême 40min drive
- Limoges airport 1hr 15min drive
Villages
- St-Sornin (1km) – bakery and a small grocery
- Montbron (5km) – all shops and services
- La Rochefoucauld (13km) – all shops and services
Places to see
- La Rochefoucauld – the castle, a 'must-see', children and parents can dress up while they visit the castle
- La Rochefoucauld – Couvent des Carmes, gothic Church
- Montbron – a stunning walk along the river Tardoire to the castle of Ferriere, Charbrot, Menet and to the Mills of Menet and Chabrot. Small museum of Prehistory for children in Montbron (with activities in July and August)
- Many mills in the area are opened to visits – paper mills, stone mills, flour mills, visit Moulin de la Forge and Moulin de Vouthon to buy local oils
Activities
- Tennis in Montbron (5km)
- Bike hire in Montbron (5km) - bikes can be hired in advance and delivered to the property
- Outdoor activity centre 'Le Chambon' (7km)
- Canoeing – 5min drive from the house (highly recommended), very well organised, frequent departures on the Tardoire River
- Shopping in Piegut Market in nearby Dordogne (Wednesdays)
- 18-hole golf course at Ecuras (Golf de la Prèze – 10km) and Angoulême (25km)
- Sailing on the lake in Angoulême (25km)
- Riding at Pranzac (8.5km) – horses and donkeys
- Go-karting 15min drive
- Fishing on the grounds of the property
- Many walks starting from the house
Market Days
- Montbron (5km): small market on Friday and Saturday mornings
- La Rochefoucauld (13km): Saturday mornings
- Piégut (22km): a 'must visit' on Wednesday morning
Recommended Restaurants
- Montbron (5km): Pizzeria 'La Toscane' (good for children, garden with tables in the summer, low price)
- Moulin de la Tardoire near Montbron (7km): one Michelin star, booking essential
- La Rochefoucauld (13km): Chez Steph (medium price)
- Saint-Adjutory (15km): La Bellone (good for children and parents, medium price)
- Angoulême (25km): Chez Paul and Cokotte (both chic with friendly staff)
- Many restaurants from all over the world with a nice atmosphere during summer evenings in the old Angoulême
These restaurants have been recommended by our owners and this list is updated by us as often as possible. Their ownership and quality may have changed since the list was last updated
From the Dordogne’s forest-covered hillsides to the undulating countryside of Lot-et-Garonne, these fertile landscapes have long played their part in human history – the famous Lascaux cave paintings testify to that. For a taste of spectacular coastline on your holiday, head to Charente-Maritime or find a lakeside beach that’s perfect for a picnic – this region is known for its abundant food and excellent wines. Choose a restaurant in an ancient village square and enjoy the sense of history repeated.
And for a place to stay in Dordogne and the South West, explore our collection of luxury villas.
Location
- Charente region
- Restaurants (Montbron) 10min drive
- Shops (Montbron) 10min drive
- Château de la Rochefoucauld 15min drive
- Angoulême 40min drive
- Limoges airport 1hr 15min drive
- St-Sornin (1km) – bakery and a small grocery
- Montbron (5km) – all shops and services
- La Rochefoucauld (13km) – all shops and services
- La Rochefoucauld – the castle, a 'must-see', children and parents can dress up while they visit the castle
- La Rochefoucauld – Couvent des Carmes, gothic Church
- Montbron – a stunning walk along the river Tardoire to the castle of Ferriere, Charbrot, Menet and to the Mills of Menet and Chabrot. Small museum of Prehistory for children in Montbron (with activities in July and August)
- Many mills in the area are opened to visits – paper mills, stone mills, flour mills, visit Moulin de la Forge and Moulin de Vouthon to buy local oils
- Tennis in Montbron (5km)
- Bike hire in Montbron (5km) - bikes can be hired in advance and delivered to the property
- Outdoor activity centre 'Le Chambon' (7km)
- Canoeing – 5min drive from the house (highly recommended), very well organised, frequent departures on the Tardoire River
- Shopping in Piegut Market in nearby Dordogne (Wednesdays)
- 18-hole golf course at Ecuras (Golf de la Prèze – 10km) and Angoulême (25km)
- Sailing on the lake in Angoulême (25km)
- Riding at Pranzac (8.5km) – horses and donkeys
- Go-karting 15min drive
- Fishing on the grounds of the property
- Many walks starting from the house
- Montbron (5km): small market on Friday and Saturday mornings
- La Rochefoucauld (13km): Saturday mornings
- Piégut (22km): a 'must visit' on Wednesday morning
- Montbron (5km): Pizzeria 'La Toscane' (good for children, garden with tables in the summer, low price)
- Moulin de la Tardoire near Montbron (7km): one Michelin star, booking essential
- La Rochefoucauld (13km): Chez Steph (medium price)
- Saint-Adjutory (15km): La Bellone (good for children and parents, medium price)
- Angoulême (25km): Chez Paul and Cokotte (both chic with friendly staff)
- Many restaurants from all over the world with a nice atmosphere during summer evenings in the old Angoulême
Key Information
Villages
Places to see
Activities
Market Days
Recommended Restaurants
These restaurants have been recommended by our owners and this list is updated by us as often as possible. Their ownership and quality may have changed since the list was last updated
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