Le Mayne

• A very private location for an extended family
• High quality renovated Napoleonic house
• Sleeps up to 16 (5 double rooms + dortoir for 6)
• Also ideal for small parties wanting spring or autumn peace
• 11 x 5.5m exclusive pool
• 27ha (60 acres) of woodland and fields to explore
• Large selection of games available for families to enjoy
• Reduced occupancy rates for May June and September stays
• 5km from Sauveterre-la-Lémance

Le Mayne is one of those places that the nearer you get you to wonder where you are going, as you leave a small country road onto a gravelled track with grass in the middle before you approach the property from the rear.

A peaceful oasis away from the world, and a chance for children to be children and families to be families - there is no wired internet connection, but in its place a good-sized swimming pool, table tennis, pool, volleyball, badminton, boules, woodland, fields and more for an active family to explore and interact together. That said, a mobile phone mast can be seen in the distance above the tree line, and so internet by 3G is fairly strong, and the Owner and his family manage quite adequately to communicate with that, although streaming and other high demand internet applications are unlikely to work properly.

The date above the door of the oldest part of the building is 1815, but once through the door, you are into a thoughtfully and carefully renovated house with five double bedrooms and a 'dortoir' of six single beds.

Available for smaller parties away from the main season, Le Mayne will certainly appeal to those who seek the French countryside's privacy with no near neighbours, and no roads or other transport links in view.

A countryside escape in privacy for an extended family

The private road leading to Le Mayne has grass in the middle of it, and approaches from the rear of the house: Follow the road round to the front of the house by the Tower, and there is plenty of space for parking a number of vehicles.

Entering the courtyard past the Tower there is the Outdoor Kitchen and pool on the left with a lawn in front, the entrance to the main Kitchen straight ahead, and the entrance to the Hall/ Sitting Room to the right.

Entering the Hall and Sitting room, there is a comfortable sitting area with a DVD Unit, and at one end of the hall the Pool table. The tiled floor and stout stone walls make this a haven from the heat in the height of summer, and once warmed in winter a comfortable place to relax.

Stairs lead to a Double bedroom on the Mid-level and the Master King Size Double bedroom on the top level with the spectacular timberwork of the tower roof above 

A mezzanine with a sofa bed outside the Master bedroom is an ideal quiet area for peaceful reading.

Back beyond the Hall is are three ground-level double bedrooms, the first of them having a King Size double bed and doors opening onto the courtyard.

A second hall has stairs up to the mezzanine 'dortoir' which has six single beds and a bathroom and is suitable for children: An additional temporary bed gives some flexibility. A divider can be placed between the two parts should some privacy or division be required.

Around the house are several bookshelves with a variety of books for Guests to read.

Back downstairs, doors lead through to the Storeroom where outdoor furniture is stored. The washing machine and Laundry area are also in this store.

Finally into the magnificent Kitchen/ Dining room would be ideal as a Living room for a smaller party out of season, with armchairs beside an impressive fireplace, a substantial dining table and the cooking area.

Kitchen equipment includes two fridges, cooker with oven, microwave,

Across the courtyard from the Kitchen entrance is an outdoor kitchen with a charcoal barbecue: There is a large assortment of tables and chairs, outdoor armchairs, loungers and sunshades available for use on the lawns and around the 11 x 5.5m swimming pool which is exclusive to Guests at Le Mayne.

With walls and hedges around, the swimming pool is well secured and additionally has an alarm.

Outside the courtyard/ pool area is a beautifully landscaped garden, where the various nets for volleyball, badminton, tennis and other games can be erected: There is also a selection of footballs, rugby balls. boules, and bats and racquets. A table tennis table is also supplied - all this in addition to the pool table in the Hall.

The grounds of Le Mayne extend to some 27ha (60 acres approx) of meadow and woodland, with some fruit and fig trees planted. The woodland especially makes a magical place for children to exercise their imagination and their bodies away from the 21st Century. 

Le Mayne is very conveniently situated near the border of the départements of Lot-et-Garonne and Dordogne, around 5km from the quiet town of Sauveterre la Lemance which has a train station - a rarity in this rural area!

This is also castle country: Sauveterre La Lémance has a castle high above the town, and it is a short distance to other noted castles in the area such as Biron (pictured), Bonaguil and Gauvadun to name three that are open to visitors.

To the west are the delightful Lot-et-Garonne towns of Monpazier, Villereal and Monflanquin, and the town of Fumel with hypermarkets and other good shopping outlets is reached within about 20 minutes.

To the south, other towns along the River Lot are also easily accessed with excellent markets at Libos or Monflanquin on Thursday, and Prayssac on Friday: A full list of markets can be found in the Area information. 

To the north are the Périgord and River Dordogne with spectacular scenery and quiet ancient villages at every turn.  To the east is Cahors, with the famous Pont Valentre on the route de Saint Jacques de Compostela over the Lot, and then into the limestone cave country beyond that including le Gouffre de Padirac and Pech Merle.  The historic and superbly scenic towns of Rocamadour and St Cirq La Popie are also to the east of Le Mayne.

This part of the River Lot is home to the Cahors AOC wine-producing region, with many wineries open for tasting and direct purchase: The Vallée du Lot et Vignoble website has much information on this.

The quiet roads are very good to explore by car, motorbike or bicycle, and there are now numerous well signed walking routes available for Guests from the Tourist information websites.

Opportunities for water-based activities including canoeing and fishing are plentiful wherever you get to the River Lot.

But first, you have to tear yourself away from Le Mayne.....