Le Bastion

Immerse yourself in French village life at this beautifully restored Maison de Maître close to the Dordogne river, perfectly positioned between Bergerac and Bordeaux in one of the most famous wine regions in the world.

Le Bastion is perched well above the river in the heart of a picturesque Gironde village dating back to medieval times. Surrounded by cobbled lanes and overlooking a 19th century church, historic Le Bastion has undergone a remarkable restoration. Over the last few years its new owners have treated its renovation as a labour of love, exposing hidden stone walls, oak beams and Louis XV fireplaces whilst completely updating the maison. The end result pays huge respect to the property’s heritage as its historic charm is vastly evident, yet so many wonderful 21st century features have been added.

Downstairs, guests will love the delightful lounge with a wood-burning stove, 65” satellite TV and wonderful valley views. The dining room with its oak beams, flagstone flooring and chandeliers leads through a stone arch to the bespoke Neptune-style kitchen with state-of-the-art appliances, USB charging, a Sonos music system and large kitchen island with bar seating.

On the first floor, reached via the striking stone staircase, there are four bedrooms each with their own bathroom. Each room boasts high-end features such as Sonos speakers and USB ports, not to mention elegant décor and fine quality linen and towels. Look out for super king-size doubles in three of the rooms and gorgeous bathrooms featuring rain showers and two with a roll top bath.

A further superb feature is the games room where you can make the most of the table tennis as well as many board games and puzzles. This is a room that will appeal to both families and friends, especially children. For adults, the gym is yet another bonus of this fantastic house equipped with a rowing machine and multi-gym.

Step across the village lane into your own rustic courtyard where you will find the swimming pool – how wonderful to be able to enjoy a morning swim or cool off on long summer days in such authentically French surroundings with the aroma of lavender. A barbecue, drinks fridge and Bluetooth speaker add to the appeal, or you may prefer the serenity of the west-facing terrace where you can sit back with a glass of Saint-Émilion’s finest vintage and watch the sun setting over the Durèze valley. A short walk from the house there is nearly two acres of private woodland to be explored. The owner is keen to establish a wildlife area in this area and has a multi-year project underway to encourage birds, bats and bees!

As well as the vineyards of Saint-Émilion, which have acclaimed UNESCO World Heritage status and can be reached in under half an hour, discover endless wineries closer to home surrounding the village and beyond towards Bergerac or Bordeaux. Atmospheric food markets also await, including the region’s largest market in nearby Sainte-Foy-la-Grande on a Saturday morning. Enjoy a trip to one of the many interesting villages such as Castelmoron-d'Albret, 17km away, claimed to be France’s smallest village with its tea shop, pottery store and artist studio.

There are so many things to do in Bordeaux which is around an hour away including the Cite du Vin, rue Sainte Catherine claims to be the longest shopping street in Europe. The Grand Theatre, the Jardin Public, the Place de la Boursee and the magnificent cathedral. Other noteable shopping towns more locally include Libourne 33km away and Bergerac 40km away, the home of Cyrano de Bergerac.

Or stay at home in your picture-perfect village, home to different local events and festivities throughout the summer, such as classical concerts performed by the Gironde Orchestra in late July, the annual brocante (flea market) in early August, and occasional night markets for the warmer evenings. A walking tour from the tourist office is a lovely way to explore the village and learn about its history and the 19th century church is well worth a visit.