What a wonderful week we’ve had in Maison Regence!
“We are immensely grateful for allowing us to make this beautiful house the backdrop of our annual holiday. Wine has been poured, stories have been shared and memories have been made in the gorgeous town of Riberac, and we will remember this week fond...”
What a wonderful week we’ve had in Maison Regence!
“We are immensely grateful for allowing us to make this beautiful house the backdrop of our annual holiday. Wine has been poured, stories have been shared and memories have been made in the gorgeous town of Riberac, and we will remember this week fond...”
When Maison Regence’s owners first searched for their perfect home in the Dordogne, they weren’t expecting to fall in love with this elegant townhouse in the heart of a market town. Yet with its historic charm, walled garden, swimming pool and prime location facing Riberac’s main square, they immediately knew this was the house for them.
No wonder as you will soon discover when you step inside and admire the oak floorboards, sycamore staircase and large living and dining rooms that interconnect with each other – the perfect set up for spending quality time with family or friends. With two-thirds of the house dating back to the mid-17th century and the other part from one hundred years later, there is so much character throughout Maison Regence which is also reflected in the tasteful décor and furnishings, alongside welcome contemporary touches. Across the upper two floors there are four beautiful bedrooms, each one with a private bath or shower room, two bedrooms also benefiting from air-conditioning.
Outside, steps lead down to a verdant walled garden with a gorgeous swimming pool with a poolside terrace with sun loungers and a barbecue for al-fresco dining. That said, you may prefer to simply wander and enjoy Riberac’s inviting restaurants including a pretty cafe-bistro across the opposite side of the square with tables and chairs set out beneath the shady trees.
Indeed, you really are in the very centre of the picturesque town of Riberac, just 70m from your nearest boulangerie for fresh bread and pastries in the morning. Embrace the bustling ambience from your doorstep as you stroll around the town admiring its old houses, impressive mairie and the Collégiale Ribérac in the Quartier des Arts. The vibrant and colourful market on a Friday morning, taking place on the square outside the maison, is regarded as one of the best in the Périgord and it’s a fantastic place to pick up all sorts of gastronomic delights from across the region.
Explore the landscapes of the Dordogne, canoe along Dronne river, follow forest hiking trails through La Forêt de la Double and visit Périgord gems such as Brantôme, Saint-Jean-de-Côle and the grand city of Périgueux, the capital of the region.
Visit Angoulême by the banks of the Charente, a comic lover’s dream with its Musée de la Bande Dessinée, or venture further south towards Bergerac, Saint-Émilion or even Bordeaux for yet more exquisite architecture and endless vineyards producing some of France’s most famous wines.
What Oliver loves...
How wonderful to stay in an 18th century townhouse with its own swimming pool in the heart of Riberac, a Dordogne market town
Inside, soak up the vast character of the maison’s sociable living spaces and charming en suite bedrooms
The house faces the main square which hosts one of the area’s best markets on a Friday morning
It’s also great to be able to stroll to the boulangerie around the corner as well as Riberac’s inviting cafes, shops and restaurants
A fantastic base for exploring the Dordogne – canoe along the Dronne or Isle rivers, admire Brantôme’s magnificent abbey and spend the day in the historic city of Périgueux
You could even venture as far as Bergerac or Saint-Émilion, both an hour away by car, or a little further to the vineyards of Bordeaux
What you should know
Air-conditioning is only featured in Bedrooms 1 and 4 – please see the “Features” tab for details of the house layout.
Guests need to be able to manage the many stairs in this historic maison with bedrooms on the first and second floor.
There are two car parking spaces accessed via the electric gate at the rear of the house. The main square in front of the house has further spaces on a 'first come first served' basis and two electric vehicle charging stations but avoid parking there on market day (Friday until around 2.00 p.m) as you will otherwise be blocked in by traders.
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The Local Area
About the surrounding area of Maison Regence
Walk to Village
<1hr to Airport
Walk to Restaurant
In the Dordogne department of south-western France, just a 45-minute drive from the region’s capital, Périgueux (38km), Maison Regence can be found in the heart of Riberac facing the bustling main square which hosts a wonderful market on a Friday morning.
Riberac is a traditional Dordogne market town with characterful houses, picturesque cafes and useful shops, just south of the Dronne River where you will find canoeing and kayaking opportunities in the summer months. From your house, just stroll around the corner to reach your nearest boulangerie for your morning pastries and fresh bread whilst one of the town’s most atmospheric cafes is just the other side of the main square with its tables beneath the shady trees. You can buy groceries at local shops within walking distance or drive under 2km to one of the larger supermarkets on the edge of the town.
It's an attractive town to wander around with its handsome houses, little art galleries, the impressive Collégiale Ribérac and the pretty townhall. There is a good choice of restaurants and the town is especially famous for its Friday morning market, known to be one of the best in the Périgord, selling all sorts of seasonal fruit, vegetables, cheeses, meat, charcuterie, honey, local wine, baskets and so much more.
Within a short drive there are superb forest hikes through the ancient Forêt de la Double as well as Le Grand Étang de La Jemaye (15km) with its playground, nature walks, fitness trails and picnic areas alongside seasonal water-based activities and supervised swimming in the height of the summer.
The medieval town of Brantôme (38km) is a gorgeous day trip with its riverside setting and impressive abbey. Take a boat ride along the river and look out for canoeing and kayaking opportunities in stunning surroundings. There are further water-based activities along the Isle River near Montpon-Ménestérol (33km) to the south of Riberac.
Driving into the Parc naturel régional Périgord-Limousin, Nontron (50km) is a lovely village with a rich heritage, known for its historic knife production, whilst picture-perfect Saint-Jean-de-Côle (57km), just beyond Brantôme, is classified as one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’. Even closer to home is the small city of Périgueux (38km) with its excellent markets, restaurants and historic architecture.
Heading south, another great day out Bergerac (52km) by the banks of the Dordogne whilst the enchanting hilltop town of Saint-Émilion (67km) is just over an hour away with its beautiful historic centre surrounded by UNESCO World heritage vineyards.
You could even venture to Bordeaux (112km) and its famous wineries, reached in around a 90-minute drive depending on traffic, or drive north to Angoulême (56km) by the banks of the Charente, home to the highly regarded comic museum, Musée de la Bande Dessinée, and the annual vintage car race, Le Circuit des Remparts.
The Region
The pace of life in the Dordogne is languid, laid back and positively infectious. Relax in bucolic beauty as you drift along the Dordogne River, or wander among the forests and hillside of the Périgord Natural Park.
The foodie scene too, is a relaxed affair. Take your time over your lazy lunches of local duck, black truffles and goats cheese. If you’re feeling energetic, you can even hunt for them yourself. The wine here is second to none, with famous grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chenin Blanc all having a huge presence here.
The Dordogne is also brimming with history. Castles and chateaux are scattered throughout the region, among the enchanting medieval villages. History of an altogether more ancient sort can also be explored in the incredible prehistoric cave drawings of Lascaux and Grotte de Rouffignac.
