17 April 2015
Jasmine Cottage, nr Bergerac, Dordogne, Aquitaine
When you plan your holiday this year you might choose to drive a little further afield than Brittany or the Vendee and venture as far as the Dordogne in the region of Aquitaine where you are almost certainly guaranteed sunny weather and a warm welcome.
Dordogne – quintessential traditional France
The Dordogne is very easy to get to, in fact it’s less than six hours’ drive from Saint-Malo. And this accessibility is just one of the myriad reasons for the area’s popularity with the British holidaymaker. The cuisine is fabulous, combining seasonal fruits of the land with duck, goose and of course the luxurious black truffles.
The landscape is gently undulating with green meadows and vineyards dotted with romantic chateaux and hilltop villages, not to mention the treasure trove of pre-historic art to be found in ancient caves in the east.
Jasmine, the fragance of Aquitaine
Tucked away near the delightful little town of Sigoules, and twenty minutes from the beautiful, historic town of Bergerac you will find ‘Jasmine’, a stunning holiday cottage in a wonderful location, perfect for a family of four to enjoy the French way of life.
The property is owned by Vivienne and Norman Joseph, who have lived in the area for over 14 years. They pride themselves on offering their guests all the facilities of home, from the modern bathroom to the fully equipped kitchen, comfortable furniture and good quality towels and bed linen. As well as the dishwasher they wanted to supply ‘enough cutlery, crockery, glassware etc so as not to have to keep washing up after every meal’! Sounds good to me!
Relaxation perfected!
The open plan living room is perfect for relaxation in the evenings with TV and DVD player and plenty of books and an iPod dock in the mezzanine library. There are two good sized bedrooms, one with a double and one with twin beds which can be made up as a super-king size if required.
It’s the little extras that make this cottage so relaxing and entice holidaymakers to return again and again — a hammock and swing sofa by the swimming pool as well as the good quality sunloungers and even a fridge freezer so that guests don’t have to leave the pool area to get a cool drink!
Vivienne and Norman try to add something new every year and have built two pergolas and a shady summer house area with cushioned chairs and a water feature. They are constantly improving and adding to the property and gardens so it maintains its fresh appeal.
Peaceful location with traditional activities
The cottage is in the tiny hamlet of Cuneges which is peaceful but not isolated with lots going on in the summer months. Saturday evenings can be spent mixing with the locals at the regular gourmet evening; dancing, trying the local wine and eating simple but delicious food.
On Sundays you can visit the local market at Soumensac some 25 minutes’ drive away where you can sample the speciality—barbecued duck with frites. And 10 minutes’ drive away there’s always wine tasting at the Chateau of Monbazillac, famous for its sweet dessert wine – the perfect accompaniment to foie gras!
‘There’s just a very good atmosphere here in the summer, something very relaxed and rejuvenating – very difficult to define’ says Vivienne.
Why not come and see for yourselves!
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