Bergerac, Dordogne, France - Beautifully Restored Holiday Cottage

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Address: Hazelnut Cottage Le Noyer, Douville Bergerac Dordogne, Aquitaine Town: Douville Country: France Email: sueimmorama@wanadoo.fr Telephone: +33 (0)5 53 61 91 89 Website: http://www.hazelnutcottage.fr Facilities: Swimming pool, Self-catering, Pet friendly, Parking, Outside space Property Type: Cottage Sleeps: Sleeps up to 4 Tell a Friend

Description Welcome to Hazelnut Cottage Set in a magical 'cottage style' garden with herbs, climbing roses, bamboo and flowering shrubs and mature trees HAZELNUT COTTAGE dates back to at least the 18th  Century – when we purchased it there was indeed a WC and a shower but apart from that there was no comfort and it cried out for some tender loving care.  In the following pages the photos show you what the cottage now has to offer. The house is on 3 levels and sleeps 4 in two bedrooms (with a full size sofa bed in the lounge giving an option for 2 more) Facilities include a luxury bathroom with WC for the upstairs double room, a separate WC and shower room at garden level for the twin room,  high quality bed linen and towels,  a library of books in English and French and unlimited access to Internet with a printer/scanner, plus DVD/Video/TV (free-to-air French channels only). We purchased the cottage in 2003 and started the renovation that same year with the intention of creating a superb home and at the same time conserving the original beams, the large stone fireplace, the old stone sink and exposed golden stone walls.  We did not want to create a modern house – we decided that Hazelnut Cottage has such a great ‘feel’ to it that we did not want to destroy the very thing that made us want to buy it.  We have been letting since 2005 and the reaction of our guests when they arrive and at the end of their stay has been enough to convince us that we have succeeded. For when the weather is warmer  (late spring, summer and early autumn hopefully) there is the new solid wood-framed above-ground pool  with decking terrace.  Even out of season you can enjoy the garden-level outside dining terrace and BBQ and there is the small terrace outside the salon ideal for breakfasts in the morning sun – and the garden is a wonderful place to make the most of the sunshine and warm evenings - you can sit in the shade of the Hazelnut tree or sunbathe. This is an area of woodland tracks, small farms and vineyards, lovely country auberges where you can sample the local produce, and hundreds of Chateaux where you can breathe in the centuries of history. Bergerac is only 20 mins drive with the river Dordogne and a wealth of lovely small shops and restaurants in its pedestrianised medieval center. It's less than an hour to Lascaux and the valley of the Vézère with the Les Eyzies National Museum of Prehistory - that's if you can find the time in between sampling the local wines and just enjoying being in France! As they say here ‘Soyez la bienvenue en Dordogne‘  welcome to the Dordogne. The Pool A newly constructed solid wood-framed 6m x 3m (depth approx 1.2m) above-ground pool with decking terrace is available in the summer when the weather is warm enough to make bathing comfortable. The access steps to the pool can be removed and placed elsewhere so young children can play safely in the fenced garden We have installed a solar panel and now the temperature of the pool is comfortable on warm and sunny days - thus extending the season when you can enjoy it. The Garden This is one of the main attractions of Hazelnut Cottage. There is a huge variety of plants and over a dozen varieties of rose for your enjoyment. The Interior Hazelnut Cottage dates back to at least the 18th century and was probably once a barn. We cannot be sure but from research undertaken we think that it was during the early 19th Century that it was converted to a dwelling. The wide stone fireplace and superb stone sink were probably 'borrowed' from the local Manor House which was destroyed after the French Revolution and of which only some stone outbuildings remain.  The cottage has wonderful oak beams and during the recent renovation some of the stone walls have been left exposed and the rest covered in a local lime render thus giving it a wonderful historic feel but with modern insulation and creature comforts!   The cottage is on three levels, each with their own distinctive atmosphere. PRICES   LOW SEASON 2008 LOW SEASON 2009 13th September - 1st November 14th March - 30st May 2009    €350 €400 PER WEEK  (inclusive of linen, towels, tea towels electricity etc) MID SEASON 2008 MID SEASON 2009 30th August - 27th September 30th May - 11th July 2009 € 425 € 470 PER WEEK (inclusive of linen, towels, tea towels electricity etc) HIGH SEASON 2009 11th July - 29th August €820  PER WEEK  (inclusive of linen, towels, tea towels electricity etc) WINTER AND LONGER TERM LETS PRICE ON APPLICATION     NB  The above prices are based on maximum 4 people sharing