'Most Beautiful Village in France' *, 5-bdrm house

Description from the owner

(*St. Cirq Lapopie--voted the Most Beautiful Village in France by the French public in 2012.)

If you can imagine yourself (and family or friends) in a beautifully renovated, warm and spacious stone house, within an absolutely enchanting, friendly, and lively medieval village, surrounded by gorgeous fields, limestone cliffs, and a magnificent river, walking to artist studios, gourmet restaurants, and wonderful shops just up the street, yet living in the delightful and well-lighted privacy of your own house, perfectly located for day trips or hikes or bicycling, to castles, vineyards, markets, museums and more, then please read on... (and let us know what you think or what questions you have):

Between the Dordogne and Provence, on a cliff overlooking a magnificent river valley, lies the lively, medieval village of St. Cirq Lapopie, a place Richard the Lion-hearted once failed to conquer.

And between 13th Century walls, in the heart of this charming village that time has left untarnished, lies our lovely, newly renovated, fully-equipped five bedroom, three bathroom home.

As you stroll through its medieval gate and gaze at the ancient red-roofed village houses, many garlanded with flowers, you'll imagine that time has stood still.

But when you walk through the old oak door of our home, all the contemporary trappings are there-- from the fully-stocked gourmet kitchen to the luxurious king beds to the two-person porcelain tubs.

Spacious enough for large families, and groups, the house was designed to make even a single couple feel cozy and welcome.

Under consideration as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, St. Cirq Lapopie has been a mecca for artists and writers throughout the past century.

The town is alive with small shops and fine restaurants, art studios, a museum, a cathedral, and more. There's a sandy beach too. You don't have to stray far.

Yet just beyond the village environs lie castles and markets, cave paintings and cathedrals, museums and vineyards, and the lush countryside.

You can bicycle for traffic-free miles along the majestic Lot river. Or canoe for hours along the banks of the river from town to town. Or simply walk to the local castle or a nearby patisserie or cafe.

Whether your prefer lazing or action, window gazing or window shopping, dining out or cooking in, day trips or just a stroll to the corner, there is no end of enticing choices in our friendly, inviting village.

Throughout France, and Europe, there are lots of wonderful places to rent out in the countryside with swimming pools and expansive views, etc. That, indeed, can be a wonderful kind of vacation. This, on the other hand, is a different sort of vacation: living in an enchanting, manageable, medieval French village, also with magnificent vistas, yet just a walk to local restaurants, provincial and gourmet, an easy immersion in French culture (even if you don't speak the language) or an escape into all the privacy you want, a real sense of place without isolation, in a wonderful house that is your launching pad for walks, bike rides, canoe trips, a swim at the beach, not needing a car for every move, and, too, a launching pad for day trips all across the region, whether your desires lean towards wine tastings, museums, castles, markets, athletics, or almost any variety of site seeing.

If this sounds appealing, then it is not an exaggeration to say that this can be one of the memorable vacations of a lifetime. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have questions, wishes, or just want a real conversation about about this home in this village. Thank you.Read more

Additional Location Information

There is nothing like living in a medieval village in a fully renovated medieval home, with beauty and history at every turn, not only within the town, but within the house as well. The light, the location, the living space, make this a very special place for a vacation with family, for a family reunion, for a couples getaway, or a gathering of friends. The layout, while designed to sleep up to 10 people, with five bedrooms and three full bathrooms, has an openness and comfort that even a single couple or small family can enjoy.
In addition to the great pleasure of having a house in such a special village, this particular house, a characteristic stone house with its familiar red-tiled roof, was built about the 13th Century and has the charm of history (for example, an archer's window from which we imagine arrows were rained down upon King Richard the Lion-hearted in his foiled attempt to conquer this little city), as well as some lovely views, architectural details, and a location just up the street from the ancient arch which draws one into the village.
The house just off the main street, a quick walk to restaurants and shops, yet in the morning and evenings it is quiet enough on the street to pull out chairs and watch the sky with a glass of wine or hors d'oeuvres in hand. In addition it is situated just below the house of the founder of surrealism, Andre Breton, and has a lovely public garden behind it, just off the beaten path.
There is free parking a short walk just outside the Village gate. And as you will see when you visit the website, there is so much to do nearby: from vineyard hopping to bicycle rides, from kayaking to market shopping, from prehistoric caves to nearby castles.... many possible day trips-- a week won't seem like enough time, but even a single day will feel rejuvenating and memorable..

Location Type Mountain, River, Village

Rental fees

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