"Las Tuillieres"

An Elegant 18th Century Manor House in Montaigu de Quercy, France

Nestling on a hillside overlooking a beautiful valley, Las Tuillieres is situated on 14 acres of its own private farmland and woodland, ideal for walking.  The garden is well kept and completely secluded from view.  There are two lakes in the garden; one in front of the house, the other at the side.  The side lake is ideal for swimming, and is well stocked for fishing.  There is a plum orchard behind the house, and apple trees in the garden. The house is an 18th-century stone manor with shuttered windows and marble staircase.  Three of the four bedrooms share the magnificent view across the front lake and the rolling valley beyond, each equipped with its own basin.  The fourth room overlooks the garden and part of the side lake. The house sleeps 8-10 people; linen is included.  There are two bathrooms upstairs (large bath and shower, hot and cold water, basin and bidet), and separate half bath on the ground floor. Downstairs, the kitchen has a breakfast area, with a fridge and washing machine in the boiler room adjacent.  A large open fireplace marks the spacious living room with oak beams and dining area.  The French windows open out onto the side lake, where a flagstone area makes it easy for outside dining. The garden furniture is kept in the storage room at the end of the hallway.  There is central heating for the winter months, and the open fire adds a convivial warmth during spring and summer. A friendly English couple manages the property,Mike and Louise Dowsett.  They will provide cleanning services during your stay, for an extra charge if you wish. Las Tuillieres affords a perfect base for exploring the enchanting Lot Valley, surrounding villages and countryside.  Activities abound:  Visits to prehistoric caves, impressive chateaux and the ancient city of Cahors, to name but a few.  There is horse riding nearby, and tennis courts are available in the local maket village of Montaigu de Quercy.  The Lot river basin boasts various basins nautiques which offer water skiing, windsurfing, and canoeing.  At the end of the day, tuck into the wonderful Quercy cuisine for which the area is famous, along with a bottle of wine from the Cahors A.O.C. Montaigu de Quercy is the nearest town (5km). In addition to the Saturday morning market, it has a supermarche, an excellent butcher, boulangerie, post office, bank and cafe.  Other restaurants ranging from the hotel cafe in Beauville (it is recommended not to eat for three days beforehand) to the haute cuisine of the Chateau are within easy driving distance.