THEBOT
The Setting
A converted chai set in a glorious setting on a promintory overlooking the River Dordogne - visible only in winter. Just a few minutes drive away from the market town of Ste.Foy la Grande offering many restaurants and shopping. Tennis, riding, golf, canoeing, fishing, boat and bicycle France are all nearby. A superb private restaurant (Table d'Hôte) owned by our chef is within easy walking distance.
The House
Enter the large main door of Thebot into the original living room of the house, a spacious room now the main foyer and small sitting room, with original wood floors, painted beams, an open fireplace. Turn right through a stone arch and stairway to the main reception room (37’x19’), formerly a barn. Dominated by oak beams, an ancient and large open fireplace (providing roaring fires of old vines when needed), the room is tastefully furnished with modern and antique furniture, including an impressive 19th century cherry-wood armoire, large sofas and armchairs, and a games chest offering plenty of choice. There is a 10ft by 6ft large screen cinema system with video projector, DVD player and free-to-air satellite channels (BBC/ITV etc.) and a 5 channel amplifier, which delivers stunning reality for film and music video enjoyment. The sound is superb, the acoustics exceptional. The house has Wi-fi.
Turn left on entering the house into the dining room, which seats 10 at its antique refectory table, through to the fully equipped luxury kitchen and summer dining room beyond. The large kitchen (20ft.x12ft) has terracotta tiled flooring, with windows to the south and north overlooking the garden, vineyard and orchards, and making it bright and airy. Designed to make cooking a pleasure, there is a cast iron Godin double oven cooker, microwave, dishwasher, double-sink and drainers, American fridge with ice-maker and plenty of granite worktop. The summer dining room has a round oak gate-leg table which seats 10. French doors open onto the pool terrace.
Three bedrooms run along the back of the house with 2 bedrooms upstairs. The upstairs bedrooms are set well apart from the other three, offering two families sharing a holiday a good measure of privacy. All the ground floor bedrooms enjoy peaceful views of the vineyard and orchard; the master bedroom has its own small terrace through french doors. On the ground floor there is one queen-size bedroom, with its own bathroom having a bath and a shower, and two twin-bedded rooms, each with its own shower-room. A wooden staircase takes you from the entrance hall up to the two bedrooms ( 1 double, 1 twin-bedded) and one fully equipped shower room on the first floor. Double aspect windows in both rooms provide superb views over the gardens, the Dordogne and to the South. All rooms are furnished with modern and antique furniture and decorated to a high standard for comfortable holiday living. All bed linen and towels are provided. A washing machine and dryer are provided in the basement.
Housecleaning, babysitting, musicians and a chef are available as optional extras at separate cost upon request. Our option list includes hire of 9-seater VW Transporters (with airport pick-up and delivery), our own 4 seater canoes. Wine tours to the chateaux of the Medoc or locally may also be arranged upon request.
The house has full oil-fired central heating, oil/logs are a separate charge between 15th September and 15th May.
Outside
Marvellous views southwards over the vineyards and valley, northwards over the vines and orchard. Large, landscaped, shady gardens. Pool, 10 metres by 5, 1 metre deep for half its length, deepening to 2.2 metres, overlooking the amphitheatre of the vineyard, a natural sanctuary for birds and deer. The pool has a new (2010) solid cover, operated by an electric motor for security. Barbecue, table, chairs, parasol on the terrace beside the pool. 10 sunloungers are provided for sunbathing. Long arbour which provides separate areas for barbecuing, eating in the shade at lunch-time. Boules, table tennis, area for parking. Access to a friend's tennis court, easy walking distance, can be arranged.