Walk over the wooden bridge and be enchanted by the setting of Moulin des Libellules on a small island on the Dronne River. With river access all around you, look out for kingfishers, carp and dragonflies at this idyllic retreat on the Dordogne and Charente border, a short walk from a traditional village, little shop and restaurant-bar.
Hear the village’s 12th-century church bells ring as you picnic in the garden, swim in the river or simply relax by the river’s edge. The characterful house comfortably sleeps up to 10 guests across its seven bedrooms, five with king-size double beds and two single rooms, alongside four bathrooms (one en suite). This is a genuine home-from-home with comfortable furnishings, attractive decor and interesting objets d’art.
The living spaces across Moulin des Libellules allow you to spend quality time with loved ones. Sit back with family and friends across the living-dining room, chill out in the TV lounge or make the most of the grand salon. Gather in the superbly restored pigeonnier, now a fun-filled games room near the swimming pool with its full-sized snooker table, table football and table tennis.
There are several places to dine al fresco including an especially lovely spot around an olive tree near the barbecue and swimming pool accompanied by the scent of summer jasmine. Laze back in one of the garden’s hammocks or head out in the rowing boat – there is also seasonal canoe/kayak hire within a very short stroll.
When not relaxing by the riverside, there’s plenty to explore across the Charente, Dordogne and beyond. Discover the art galleries, restaurants and café terraces of Aubeterre-sur-Dronne around 20 minutes away, classified as one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’, and experience one of the Périgord’s most famous markets in Ribérac on a Friday morning.
A little further afield, fall in love with riverside Brantôme and its famous abbey, sample some of France’s finest wine at prestigious châteaux in Saint-Émilion or spend the day in the heart of the Dordogne and you admire the grand architecture, vibrant markets and wonderful restaurants of Périgueux, only about an hour away from your charming riverside moulin in southwestern France.
What Oliver loves...
Stay on your very own island on the Dronne River reached via a little bridge
There’s a wonderfully large swimming pool and you can also swim in the river – the wildlife is incredible with carp, kingfishers, dragonflies and more
We adore the converted pigeonnier, now a games room with a slate-bed snooker table, ping-pong, table football and boules
Canoe hire is possible a very short walk away whilst there is a traditional village with a café-bar and shop less than 1km away
The picture-perfect village of Aubeterre-sur-Dronne is only 20 minutes away, one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’
What you should know
Families are very welcome and the amenities are great. However, please be aware that there is open access to the river across various parts of the house and grounds so children should be supervised at all times.
Guests can swim in the river and there is a rowing boat too – we ask guests to note that use of the boat is at their own risk. Seasonal canoe hire can also be arranged a very short walk from the house.
Rest assured there are no neighbours here – the building you can see spanning the river is solely used for hydro-power generation and is unoccupied.
The local village is less than 15 minutes walk away, but please note the route is partly along the main road with no pavements.
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The Local Area
About the surrounding area of Moulin Des Libellules
Walk to Village
Walk to Restaurant
Waterfront
In the Périgord Vert by the Dordogne and Charente border, this incredible property is located on its own little island on the Dronne River, reached on foot via a bridge. Here you are just over an hour from the airports in Bordeaux and Bergerac. Alternatively, guests can take the regional train from Chalais to Angoulême for TGV connections to Paris.
There are various open access spots to the river for swimming as well as amazing wildlife all around. Just a very short stroll away is a centre for canoe and kayak hire (open seasonally, reservations are usually required). It’s less than 15 minutes walk (no pavement) along the main road or short drive to a traditional little village with a shop and a restaurant-bar. From Moulin des Libellules you can hear the bells from the village’s 12th century church twice a day.
The small market town of Chalais (8km) is home to a large supermarket as well as small shops selling lovely local produce and a bustling Monday morning market. Another superb market to experience is Ribérac (28km) on a Friday morning, one of the largest in the Périgord.
Aubeterre-sur-Dronne (19km) is classified as one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’, so loved for its pretty houses, galleries, café terraces. Further afield, the handsome town of Brantôme (66km) is a wonderful day out with its old town, canoeing/kayaking, riverside walks and the impressive L’Abbaye de Brantôme.
For a change of scene, experience the beauty of the Charente as you visit the distilleries, charming old town and high-end restaurants of Cognac (70km) or head to some of France’s finest wine châteaux in Saint-Émilion (45km) and the surrounding Bordeaux wine region.
Meanwhile, the handsome cities of Périgueux (68km) and Angoulême (56km) both make fine days out in southwestern France or venture to Bordeaux (84km) for its grand architecture, markets, wine-museums and boat trips along the Garonne River.
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.
