Serene watermill, easy access to historic Limoges

Description from the owner

Enjoy the serenity of this historic watermill, sleeping up to 15 adults, set in 3 hectares of orchard, meadow and woodland with 400m of river frontage. It has been renovated to provide comfortable accommodation, whilst retaining many original features from the days when it generated electricity to power machinery for bottling vegetables and preserves.

Located only 20 minutes by train from our local train halt (10 mins walk) east of Limoges, famous for its porcelaine, the mill is surrounded by stunning countryside, lakes and gorges, and within easy reach of pretty medieval towns with traditional festivals and markets. Please be aware t...hat there is no fenced garden area, so the proximity of the river and millstream mean that young children will need to be supervised, and the mill is not appropriate for pets.

The Mill is one of 16 watermills on the Combade, a top category trout river, situated just above its confluence with the River Vienne.  

It enjoys a secluded location which cannot be overlooked in summer, surrounded by its private orchard, woodland and meadows, usually home to 3 rare breed donkeys. There are terraces facing south,east and west offering sun or shade at all times of day. 

Without leaving your holiday home, you can explore the surrounding 3 hectares, cool down in the river, commune with the donkeys, observe the buzzards, nuthatches and woodpeckers, or simply relax and listen to the gurgling of the millstream.  

You can fish for trout using lure, bait or fly from our river banks or roam further afield up and downstream.  

We bought the mill, which ceased activity in the 1950s, because of its special location on the banks of a trout stream, absolutely private yet only 10 minutes walk to the local train halt of St Denis des Murs and pre-roman oppidum de Villejoubert, the largest known Celtic settlement of its time, only recently discovered. It is convenient, 30 mins by car, to Limoges the regional capital with all its city amenities, where our daughter went to school daily by train(20 minutes), whilst the same distance to the East are the rural delights of the Plateau de Millevaches and Lake Vassiviere. 

We have renovated the mill ourselves to retain as many original features whilst providing up to date facilities, combining history with convenience. 

Given sufficient food and wine which are readily available from the local market towns, you could spend you entire holiday without leaving the premises. Alternatively, it makes a great base for indulging a wide range of sporting activities or cultural expeditions. 

The property is the ultimate for tranquility and the night sky is as clear as you can find in Europe, listen-out for the unmistakable sound of migrating cranes in Spring and Autumn.Read more

Additional Location Information

The mill is situated on the River Combade in the hamlet of the 'Pont du Rateau' which is where the river Combade joins the River Vienne which in the days when timber was floated to its destination was a marshalling point with posts across the river like an upturned rake (rateau) giving the locality its name.It is also the point of departure for amateur guided canoeing descents of the Vienne.
The triangle formed between the rivers Vienne & Maulde, with the Pont du Rateau was the site of the 'Oppidum de Villejoubert' the largest Celtic settlement of its time, only recently discovered, and whose boundaries can be walked easily from the Mill
The train halt of St Denis-des-murs is a 10 minute walk from the mill with trains to Limoges via St Leonard de Noblat and to the Auvergne via Eymoutiers.
The setting is peaceful with easy access by car to the market towns of St Leonard, Chateauneuf la Foret and Eymoutiers.
The village of Masleon ( 3kms) boasts a bakery,grocery store and farm restaurant.
Limoges, the capital of the Limousin area with all its history and attractions is within 30minutes by car or train.

Location Type River, Rural, Waterfront

Rental fees

Additional notes from owner

Prices are made up of a basic charge for 2 people with a £25 supplement per week per person over 2 (website: hidden) for 4 people add 2x£25 = £50 to the weekly rate
There is a security deposit of £200 payable in advance or by cash on arrival to cover the cost of any breakages or fuel usage above the allowances stated in the terms and conditions on our website. This deposit will be returned at the end of the rental less any appropriate deductions.
Groups of up to 7 persons would normally have the use of the 2 bedroomed accommodation. By payment of a supplement of £90 per week, they can benefit from the extended accommodation.
It is expected that guests will clean the property before departure. Guests not wishing to undertake the cleaning can by prior arrangement pay a cleaning charge of £40 for the 2 bedroomed accommodation or £50 for the extended accommodation.
For payment using Paypal there is a 5% surcharge to cover the cost of Paypal charges that we incur.

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