Property France

The French owners have taken over 5 years of meticulous planning and work to complete this wonderful barn conversion and it has been worth it! The property comprises the main section of a huge barn converted to provide the living areas, a courtyard garden on the ground floor and swimming pool at first floor level all contained within the barn walls to give complete seclusion and privacy. There are additional gardens and terraces around the property.

External Features

A short driveway leads from the country lane up to the front of the property and cars can be parked near the house. There is a grass and graveled area to the front providing a play area for children with table tennis and a swing.

Doorway through to the tiled Courtyard Garden with table, chairs, sun umbrella and barbecue. French doors lead from here into the house and another door opens onto the back garden. At the back of the property is an enclosed rear garden with terrace,  table and chairs and grass area.

A flight of steps from here leads up through a doorway to the heated Swimming Pool and terrace at first floor level. The Terrace around the pool has sun beds, table, chairs & umbrella. The pool is 8m x 4m x 1.5m deep, it is surrounded by the barn walls to provide a lovely private sheltered location and open to the sky above, a quite unique setting. All three doors giving access to the pool and terrace can be locked to make the swimming pool fully secure for young children.   The swimming pool is open from mid May to the end of September.

Accommodation Detail

There is chestnut flooring throughout except in the kitchen.

Ground Floor - Front door to:

• Large Sitting room with open fireplace, 3 sofas, satellite TV, video, DVD, CD player, French doors to courtyard.
• Study/Bedroom 5, with en suite Shower with basin and WC, mosaic tiles.
• Kitchen/Dining room, fully equipped with double sink, electric cooker, fridge, freezer, dishwasher etc. Dining table and chairs.
• Cloakroom with WC.
• Laundry room with washing machine and dryer, iron/roning board & extra fridge
• First Floor - Stone staircase with wrought iron banisters to:
• Large spacious landing stretching across the width of the property.   This is a lovely light and sunny area with sofa & chairs.    The  French doors at either end open out onto the two terraces which lead across to the Swimming Pool. From the balustrades around the terracing you can look down into the courtyard below.
• Bedroom 1, double bed, en suite bathroom
• Bedroom 2, double bed, en suite bathroom
• Bedroom 3, twin beds, en suite bathroom
• Bedroom 4, twin beds, en suite bathroom

The bedrooms all have fitted cupboards and lovely soft furnishings. The bathrooms are all beautifully fitted.

Pillows and quilts are provided.  Linen and bath towels are available at 12.50 Euros per person/set.

Cot, high chair and stairgate are available. 

Please note: The accommodation is for a maximum of 8 persons and on request an extra bed can be placed in the study if at least one of the other bedrooms is going to be used for single occupancy.

Full central heating is available during low season and is charged at 15 euros per day. 

About the Location

The property is situated in the tiny hamlet of "Lartimache" just 2.5 km from La Chapelle Montbrandeix on the borders of the Dordogne and Haute Vienne. Local shopping is at Cussac and St. Mathieu (a large leisure lake here). Lively markets are held each week at nearby Piegut and Nontron, both good towns for shopping. There is an excellent choice of local restaurants to suit every budget - "Chez Jules" at La Chapelle Montbrandeix and "Les Feullardiers" at Marval are both 5 minutes away and "Hostellerie St Jacques", a gourmet's feast, at St Saud Lacoussiere, just a 15 minute drive.

This is an unspoilt region of rolling wooded countryside interspersed with numerous rivers and lakes. This beautiful area has been designated a Regional Park - the Parc Regional de Perigord Limousin - you will find plenty of interesting information at the house and local Syndicat d'Initiative.   For young children, the lake at St Estephe with its beach and supervised swimming area will give hours fun.   Older children can hire pedaloes or canoes on one of the many lakes in the area.   

The area is full of fascinating market towns - you can choose a different market practically every day to browse around.  Brantome is a fascinating town on the River Dronne, sometimes called the "little Venice" of France - after exploring the town hire a canoe for a half day trip down the river and negotiate the "cascades" but be prepared to get wet !  

Interesting Chateaux and a range of cultural activities are nearby with the larger centres of Limoges, Perigueux and Angouleme all within an hour's drive. For a day out try wine tasting at  vineyards between Bergerac and Bordeaux,   visit more vineyards around   Cognac  for brandy, explore the Dordogne Valley or even a trip to the coast of the Charente Maritime.

See Local guide and map for information on nearby towns and facilities.

Activities Nearby

Canoeing, Cycling, Fishing, Horse riding, Swimming, Table tennis, Tennis, Walking

How to Get There

By ferry: Lartimache is an easy day's drive from the french ports.

By plane: Limoges airport is just 40 mins away (Flybe and Ryanair), Angouleme - 1 hour (Ryanair), Bergerac - 1.5 hrs (Flybe and Ryanair) or Bordeaux - 2.5 hrs.

By train: The high speed TGV travels from Angouleme to Lille or Paris for connections on Eurostar into St Pancras, alternatively the train from Limoges up to Lille or Paris into St Pancras.

Special Interest Holidays

If you are searching for the perfect venue to hold  an art workshop, retreat, musical gathering or whatever your passion then Lartimache is the perfect choice.   There is plenty of space within the house/surrounding gardens and courtyard to set up areas for "treatments", art/craft workshops etc.   Arrangements can be made for extra tables, in fact whatever you might need and more accommodation can be organised nearby.