Maison Hansel

Just 3km from the enchanting village of Tremolat is the beautiful and characterful Maison Hansel, a wonderful place to relax in the colourful gardens or by the glorious swimming pool. This is the heart of the Dordogne and within a short drive you can be exploring some of the region’s most famous and idyllic villages and towns. Enter through the heavy oak doors to be greeted by the traditional living and dining space with terracotta flooring, a grand stone fireplace, wood burning stove and a high ceiling with exposed wooden beams. Large windows overlooking the pool and gardens bring in natural light making it a very pleasant place to relax. The modern and well-equipped kitchen contrasts the otherwise characterful features with pretty French windows leading outside. There are three pretty and simple bedrooms, two of them upstairs with solid chestnut parquet flooring plus two first floor shower rooms, one of which has recently been renovated to create a spacious walk-in rain shower with travertine tiling. Downstairs the third bedroom benefits from an en-suite bathroom and light coming in from the pretty window with garden views. Wander down the steps to the lovely swimming pool and sun terrace, read a book under the shade of the glorious mature trees or kick a ball around in the spacious gardens. In the summer you’ll find bursts of colour from the climbing roses and the sweet scent of lavender. This is a great location near both the Vézère and Dordogne rivers, an area full of pretty medieval villages, fine wines, truffles, vibrant local markets, canoeing on the rivers and unspoilt views of stunning countryside. Nearby Tremolat, on top of a hill overlooking the Dordogne, has a Michelin starred restaurant as well as some pretty shops and places to eat as well as a great base for watersports at Le Bassin Nautique. Don’t miss beautiful Limeuil, where the Vézère meets the Dordogne and you can paddle by the river beach or enjoy some fine views from Parc Limeuil after wandering through the delightful village. Other magical trips out should include sampling the delicious black truffle in the city of Périgueux, heading east to the exquisite town of Sarlat or simply exploring some of France’s Plus Beaux Villages along the Dordogne such as La Roque Gageac, Beynac and Castelnaud-la-Chapelle. Not forgetting the beautiful city of Bergerac with its unmissable Maisons de Vins. Whether you are looking for a relaxing escape or the perfect base for exploring this captivating region, Maison Hansel offers character and charm near some of the Dordogne’s most idyllic villages and towns.  Features: House Interior Ground Floor - Living-dining room with large dining table, wood burning stove and large windows overlooking pool and gardens - Laundry area with separate WC - Kitchen, well equipped including dishwasher - Double bedroom with own shower room First Floor (via open tread staircase with no bannister in parts) - Study mezzanine half-way up the stairs   - Double bedroom with own shower room - Twin bedroom with own shower room Outside Grounds - Private swimming pool (12mx6m) with safety alarm - Shady stone terrace - BBQ - Gardens, mainly laid to lawn Facilities - Wi-Fi - TV with some English speaking channels - DVD/Blu-ray player - Music centre - Washing machine  Location: The Dordogne is known as the valley of 1000 chateaux with endless pretty medieval villages, fine wines, truffles, local markets and spectacular valleys and rivers. Both the Vézère and the Dordogne rivers offer great kayaking, canoeing and unparalleled views of the countryside. Nearby Tremolat (3km) is an enchanting village on a hill overlooking the Dordogne. It has a Michelin starred restaurant as well as some pretty shops and other places to eat and a great base for watersports (windsurfing, water skiing and sailing) at Le Bassin Nautique. Don’t miss beautiful Limeuil (10km), where the Vézère meets the Dordogne and you can paddle by the river beach or enjoy some fine views from Parc Limeuil after wandering through the delightful village. Mauzac-et-Grand-Castang (4.5km) is another great place to eat out or explore the little shops and sometimes has an evening market during the summer months. It’s a little further to the market towns or Lalinde (11.5km) or Le Bugue (12.5km) where you can a good choice of supermarkets, banks and other town facilities as well as their bustling weekly markets. Many of the villages in the Dordogne region are classed as France’s Plus Beaux Villages such as glorious Monpazier, a bastide town dating back to the 13th century. To the north you have the sophisicated small city of Périgueux, famous for its amazing black truffles and to the east should visit Sarlat with its maze of medieval narrow streets, lovely squares and amazing restaurants. Not forgetting beautiful Bergerac to the west with its medieval architecture, narrow streets of boutiques and great restaurants as well as the unmissable Maisons de Vins. Other magical day trips include the Lascaux caves, just outside Montignac or head to La Roque Gageac, Château de Beynac or Castelnaud-la-Chapelle for remarkable days out in the Dordogne. The whole region is a true haven for nature and sport lovers alike offering a wide array of outdoor activities, from horse-back riding and a nearby pony club to tennis, mountain-biking (cycle up to the Cingle de Tremolat), golfing and watersports, not to mention the number of hiking and fishing opportunities in the area. Children will love the nearby waterparks, visiting the Aquarium du Perigord Noir and Jungle Golf in Le Bugue, exploring prehistoric caves and historic castles or even a magnificent hot air balloon ride across the stunning region. The more adventurous may enjoy go-karting just south of Périgueux or tree-top activities in the forests near Sarlat or Bergerac. Terms & Conditions: ? €1000 charged to the clients’ credit card prior to arrival. 4.00 p.m. 10.00 a.m. Yes. Yes. Mid-stay linen change on Monday also included for stays of two weeks or more. No. Weddings, stag/hen parties and other celebrations are not permitted. Please note that published rates are only valid for the current year. Any bookings for subsequent years will be on request only and correct rates will be confirmed at the time of booking. High chairs and cots are available for hire at a cost of €25 for each item per week (limited availability, to be pre-booked). Please note that your booking will only be confirmed once we have checked availability with the owner. Saturday. Other days may be possible on request in mid-season (end of May-mid July & September, approximately) Yes and mid-stay clean on Monday included for stays of two weeks or more. However, guests are required to leave the accommodation clean, tidy and in the same condition as on their arrival. Any extra cleaning, laundry, maintenance and/or garbage disposal required will be charged against the security deposit. Outside only. While passport and flight details are not legally required for entry into this country, the owner of the property has specifically requested that this information be provided in advance. This requirement is part of their internal check-in procedure and is necessary to facilitate your arrival and ensure a smooth start to your stay. Guests are required to be in possession of a valid insurance policy, which covers them for civil liability as well as cancellations, personal belongings, public liability and any accidental damage caused during their stay. A copy of this policy will be requested by the owner before arrival. 7 nights during high season - short stays may be possible on request outside of this period. Yes. Included in low season. From end of May to end of September, heating is on request and at a supplement. French Visitors Tax payable on booking confirmation (typically costs €2-€5 per adult per night). Exact cost will depend on number of adults travelling and duration, and will be advised at the time of booking. Yes.