In a scenic setting above the Dordogne, within easy reach of Bordeaux and close to Saint-Émilion, step back in time at this beautifully restored 16th century French château with a heated swimming pool and vast private estate, a short walk from a picturesque riverside village. It’s a rare feat for such a historic property to also be a large, secluded and incredibly comfortable holiday home.
With 10th-century foundations, the origins of Château Mont Des Anglais date back to the time when the English dominated this part of south-western France. The feudal seat of a local noble family until the mid-19th century, this impressive holiday home has been completely renovated in recent years to provide 21st-century comforts alongside unique historic character.
Soak up its authentic heritage as you wander through the entrance hall with its grand piano (lessons can be arranged) and relax in the graceful salon, TV lounge or games room. The dining room features 3m high ceilings and a stone fireplace whilst the wonderfully fitted kitchen benefits from a La Cornue double oven and a woodburning cast iron fireplace. There is high-speed Wi-Fi, a conference room and two gorgeous offices with garden views, perfect for guests who may need to work, and you can climb the steep stone stairs to the 12th-century tower’s modern gym.
Across this remarkable French château admire its historic architecture and traditional characteristics alongside elegant furnishings and works of art. 20 guests can sleep across ten gorgeous bedrooms, most with en suite bathrooms, including a master king-size double in each of the two wings. Families are warmly welcomed – find toys, children’s books in French and English as well as a wealth of activities outside such as ping-pong in the 16th-century pavilion (where wine was once produced), football nets, badminton, soft archery and more. There’s a great sense of space across this quiet holiday home ensuring no one will get in anyone’s way.
The heated salt-water swimming pool is surrounded by the summer scents of lavender and rosemary, next to walnut trees and a large field perfect for playing games. Help yourself to seasonal produce in the vegetable garden and enjoy al-fresco meals on one of the terraces. The French gardens are beautiful with so many roses and the vast estate of nearly 100 acres of open fields and forest to explore will delight all ages. A private at-home wine-tasting is included in your rental rate and a whole host of other extras can be arranged from daily cleaning and catering to language, art and photography lessons as well as on-site yoga, sport coaching and more.
It's a glorious setting with views of the Dordogne valley, just over 1km from the banks of the river and a small village with restaurants, a tabac and canoeing/kayaking opportunities. Medieval Gensac is a 3km drive away, home to a boulangerie and weekly fruit and vegetable market, whilst nearby Sainte-Foy-la-Grande hosts one of the region’s best markets on a Saturday morning.
Explore local vineyards or head further afield to the wineries of Bordeaux and Bergerac as well as the enchanting hilltop village of Saint-Émilion – this region is a wine connoisseur’s dream! Not to mention inviting French restaurants, Michelin starred establishments and so many more atmospheric markets showcasing gastronomic delights from the Dordogne and Gironde.
As mentioned in the...
On a hillside just over 1km from the banks of the Dordogne and a small riverside village, Château Mont Des Anglais is in a wonderful location for exploring the best of the Dordogne and Gironde with the famous vineyards of Bergerac, Bordeaux and Saint-Émilion within easy reach.
The local village is home to a small handful of restaurants as well as a tabac for croissants, fresh bread and other essential groceries. Furthermore, there are canoeing and kayaking opportunities departing from here in this pretty setting by the river. Wander further along the banks of the Dordogne to find lovely spots for picnics with such idyllic natural surroundings. The local country roads are ideal for walking, running and cycle rides – bike hire can be arranged nearby.
Set in the picturesque Durèze valley, you can reach the medieval village of Gensac (3km) in around a 5-minute drive (or long walk) where there is a grocery store, boulangerie, restaurant and pretty square which hosts a fruit and vegetable market on a Friday morning. In the height of the summer look out for concerts in the 19th century church as well as the village’s much-loved annual brocante and other events.
Wine-lovers can explore local vineyards or head further afield to Bergerac (40km) and the grand city of Bordeaux (62km), perhaps stopping off in one of the many famous wine châteaux across the region such as Rick Stein’s favoured Château Bauduc (45km). It’s also worth noting that you can reach Bergerac, Bordeaux and Libourne by train from Vélines, just over a 10-minute drive away. There are excellent TGV connections to Paris from Bordeaux.
Another fine day out is the incredibly charming and historic village of Saint-Émilion (27km), home to UNESCO World Heritage landscapes of vineyards and some amazing wineries.
Not forgetting the many atmospheric markets dotted across the Dordogne and Gironde regions selling the most delicious local produce from foie gras, cheeses and truffles to so many seasonal fruits and vegetables. On a Saturday morning visit Sainte-Foy-la-Grande (14km), a beautiful town on the banks of the Dordogne which hosts a bustling market whilst the gorgeous village of Issigeac (52km) is the place to be on a Sunday morning for its delightful market.
The market town of Castillon-la-Bataille (14km), also on the banks of the Dordogne, hosts its market on a Monday morning. If staying in late July or August, book tickets for the town’s spectacular show which dramatically depicts the historic battle of Castillon. History lovers should also visit the fascinating Gallo-Roman mosaics in nearby Montcaret (6km) or drive further afield to discover caves and pre-historic paintings and sites across the Dordogne.
10-person price - 5 bedrooms/5 bathrooms (not available in July and August)
20-person price - 10 bedrooms/11 bathrooms Château Interiors
- Entrance hall with piano
- Main salon with sofas and chairs
- Lounge with TV, sofas and chairs
- Games room with small table and chairs (for chess etc)
- Dining room (for 10-20 guests) with stone fireplace
- Kitchen, fully-equipped including La Cornue double oven, induction hob (x5), fridge, microwave, two sinks, two dishwashers, wood burning fireplace and table
- Gym with weight-lifting equipment, exercise ball, yoga mat and TV (in top tower via very steep/narrow stairs)
- Offices (x2) and conference room
Bedrooms/bathrooms (over two wings)
- Master bedroom with low beam and king-size double bed (180cm)
- 6 x bedrooms with king-size double bed (180cm)
- 2 x bedrooms with queen-size double bed (160cm)
- Triple bedroom with bunk-bed and trundle bed
- 4 x en suite bathrooms with shower and WC
- 4 x en suite bathrooms with bath, shower and WC
- Separate bathroom with shower and WC
- Separate bathroom with bath, shower and WC
- Office bathroom with bath and WC
- 3 x WCs
Outside Grounds
- Heated salt-water swimming pool (3x4.5m, depth: 2.5m) with safety cover. Open and heated approximately May to mid/end-September
- Poolside terrace with teak sun-loungers
- Pool room with shower
- Various al-fresco dining terraces
- Gas barbecue
- Badminton and soft archery set
- Croquet
- Football goals (mid-size x2)
- Swing
- Flower garden
- Vegetable garden
- Walnut groves
- Natural spring (with frogs)
- Vast estate of fields and woodland (90 acres)
- Pavilion with ping-pong table and large mat (for yoga/dance etc)
Facilities
- High speed Wi-Fi
- Heating
- Smart TV
- Gym with weights, yoga mat and exercise ball
- Billiards table
- Table tennis
- 2 x bikes
- Children’s toys and games
- Board games
- 3 x artist easels
- Children’s books (in English and French)
- Washing machine and dryer (x2)
