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Old Stone Farmhouse - Idylic French Living & Boutique Luxury - Private Pool

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Exterior
The pool is a rael sun trap During the Summergetting sunshine from 7am until 10p
Alfresco dining on the shady, south facing, front terrace
Pool
Unclassified image, 5 of 48, button
Reviews
10

Exceptional

3 bedrooms3+ bathroomsSleeps 8180 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Pet-friendly
    Pet-friendlyPet-friendly
  • Pool
    PoolPool
  • Fireplace
    FireplaceFireplace
  • Breakfast available
    Breakfast availableBreakfast available
  • Kitchen
    KitchenKitchen
  • Barbecue grill
    Barbecue grillBarbecue grill

Explore the area

Map
Saint-Sernin, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
  • Popular LocationDuras Castle8 min drive
  • Popular LocationChateau des Vigiers Golf Course15 min drive
  • Popular LocationChateau de Monbazillac33 min drive
  • AirportBordeaux (BOD-Merignac)92 min drive

Most relevant reviews

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 Single Bed and 1 King Bed

Bedroom 2 upstairs

1 King Bed

Bedroom 3 upstairs

1 King Bed

3 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 4

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

Old Stone Farmhouse - Idylic French Living & Boutique Luxury - Private Pool


"Les Caulins", built in the 18th century, is a typical French country house, formerly a vineyard and a farm. Peacefully located among the rolling hills of the Lot-et-Garonne countryside.

3 superior bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, New 10x5 metre pool. Detached, surrounded by gardens and open countryside, historical towns and Chateaux nearby, vineyards and great markets.

The house has been sympathetically restored keeping all the features you would expect from a 300 year old stone house. Stone sinks, oak beams, large fireplaces, hidden terraces and sunny vistas.

The accommodation comprises 3 generous bedrooms, one on the ground floor, which have been lovingly decorated and are a mix of old French charm and boutique hotel. All rooms have super king-size beds with Egyptian cotton linen, vintage and antique French furniture and flat screen TVs. The spacious en-suites are tiled in stone with roomy walk in powerful showers and modern "boutique touches".

A pretty, shady covered terrace provides a relaxing spot to escape the mid-day sun or to enjoy breakfast. From the terrace you enter the heart of the house, le Grande Salon. A generous, terracotta tiled and oak beamed room and as with many old French farmhouses, the centre of the house. A well equipped kitchen with large kitchen dining table. Plenty of cosy seating and a big stone fireplace with wood burning stove large flat screen TV with English channels and WI-Fi.

Outside you will find a new 10m x 5m swimming pool complete with day beds, sun loungers and the far reaching views of the rolling hills and vineyards of the Cote de Duras. There are plenty of shady spots and sunny vistas just perfect for lazy BBQ’s with a glass of local wine.

If you can drag yourself away from the pool and the far reaching views there is plenty to do close by. The villages of Saint Sernin and Villeneuve de Duras 3km offer a bar/tabac, a pizza restaurant and bistro, The bustling Bastide town of Duras 6km with a great little weekly market and night market in the Summer. Here you will find all the amenities, supermarkets, pharmacies, bars and restaurants, a Chateau. There is also a chocolate factory where you can taste and buy beautiful chocolate and local confectionery. We are surrounded by the local winemakers, all of which offer tastings and sell their wines by the case and many by the bottle and by the litre. 12kms to the North is the Dordogne river and the town of Sainte-Foy-la-Grande with one of Frances best markets. The lovely town of Bergerac and the imposing Chateau at Monbazillac 35km. The UNESCO World Heritage site of St Emilion 45km and the beautiful Bordeaux 65km.

For the more active there is Canoeing on the Dordogne 12km, Tennis courts at Saint Sernin, Golf at one of Frances best golf courses 12km and a countryside haven for walking and cycling.


Please note the swimming pool is closed from November and re-opens in April.

Property manager

John & Emma Gilchrist

Languages

English

Amenities

Pool
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

Events allowed: family gatherings and birthday parties
Parties/events by previous consent

Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 23 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
Not permitted on the furniture, beds and upstairs

Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas
No smoking in the house.
Events and parties by request in writing

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events (including family gatherings and birthday parties) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 20
Note from host: Parties/events by previous consent
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit

We should mention

Cash transactions at this property cannot exceed EUR 1000, due to national regulations; for further details, please contact the property using the information in the booking confirmation
A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Saint-Sernin

Located in Saint-Sernin, this holiday home is in a rural area. Duras Clock Tower and Duras Castle are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Lac de l'Escourou and Plage des Bardoulets. Travelling with kids? Consider Griffon Park and Zoo de Mescoules. Kayaking and fishing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with horse riding and mountain biking nearby.
Map
Saint-Sernin, Nouvelle-Aquitaine

What's nearby

  • Duras Castle - 8 min drive
  • Chateau des Vigiers Golf Course - 15 min drive
  • Lac de l'Escourou - 19 min drive
  • Chateau de Monbazillac - 33 min drive
  • Chateau de Montaigne - 33 min drive

Getting around

  • Sainte-Foy-la-Grande Station - 17 min drive
  • Bergerac (EGC-Bergerac - Perigord - Dordogne) - 32 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Chateau des Vigiers - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪Café de la Paix - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Le Relais de Monestier - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Don Camillo - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪The Naked Vigneron - ‬14 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Old Stone Farmhouse - Idylic French Living & Boutique Luxury - Private Pool pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet.

What time is check-in at Old Stone Farmhouse - Idylic French Living & Boutique Luxury - Private Pool ?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Old Stone Farmhouse - Idylic French Living & Boutique Luxury - Private Pool ?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Old Stone Farmhouse - Idylic French Living & Boutique Luxury - Private Pool located?

This family-friendly Saint-Sernin holiday home is located in a rural location, 2.7 mi (4.4 km) from Domaine de Dame Bertrande, and within 6 mi (10 km) of Maison Guinguet and Duras Clock Tower. Duras Castle and Domaine du Petit Loubès are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 22 out of 23 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 23 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 23 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 23 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 23 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Arnaud L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Excellent séjour
Très belle maison parfaitement décorée. Espaces de vie commune très agréables. Terrasse et piscine. Propriétaires à la fois présents mais très discrets. Excellente qualité de service. Je recommande la cuisine d’Emma. Je reviendrai certainement.

10/10 Excellent

isabelle s.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Très bonne accueil maison propre
Propriétaire accueillant maison agréable Bon séjour repos calme
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

David B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Falling in love with France
Lovely location , property was as perfect as we all hoped it would be. Clean comfortable bedrooms , showers were ideal and beds couldn’t have been any softer. Slept like a log.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

John G., france

Utter paradise
Great House, Great Bedrooms, Great Bathrooms, Great Pool. Emma's Food and Johns wine knowledge Amazing.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Sandy G.

Great place to eat, drink and relax.
We had a wonderful stay at les Caulins. Emma & John are fantastic hosts an have a special piece of heaven that they are only too happy share with their guests. We were made to feel very welcome from the moment we got out of the car& the little extras in the fridge were a real special touch. Our long, lazy Sunday lunch will beforever remembered. Truly the stuff of legend! We have no hesitation in recommending les Caulins to anyone lucky enough to get the chance to go there.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2018

10/10 Excellent

maryanne p.

Fantastic, Tranquil and Amazing Hosts
Have just had the most wonderful week. Welcoming and so Comfortable the Gite had everything in it we could possibly want, our hosts John and Emma were amazing. Could not recommend more highly.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2018

10/10 Excellent

John G., france

Rural Luxury
The farmhouse is sooo well equiped and beautifully decorated. Five star hotel showers, huge comfy beds and lots of space. The terrace for alfresco dining is superb, cool and shady. The pool is one of the nicest ive seen with far reaching veiws. & finally Emma's food is a kin to a michelin star restaurant. We will be back
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2018

10/10 Excellent

Sally B.

Wonderful week in super house with great hosts
This holiday home was probably the best equipped we have experienced. There was everything we could possibly need - especially in the kitchen where it was obvious that people who love to cook had equipped the house. On arrival we found lots of treats such as wine, chocolate, bread, a brilliant fridge stocked with milk, home-made jams, figs and other items and even a fat, yellow courgette from the garden which we cooked and enjoyed. The bedrooms were gorgeous, all with fabulous ensuite bathrooms and amazing, walk-in showers. Emma and John were brilliant hosts. So friendly and full of advice. Emma cooked us a wonderful meal on our last night which was absolutely delicious. The pool is gorgeous and the views around, when sitting by the pool, are lovely. You can walk up the hill by the property, past the field with horses and another with cows and skirt a lovely fir woodland before arriving at the edge of a vineyard - all of this visible from the poolside. We had a lovely, relaxing week and would definitely come back. Thanks Emma and John.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2018

10/10 Excellent

John G.

10 out of 10
Les Caulins has to be the most outstanding and welcoming Gites in the SW of France. It’s cleanliness and comfort are exceptional. The warmth and generosity and the quality of food and it’s presentation are of the highest quality and the best we have ever experienced. This is evidenced by our rebooking two more holidays for 2019/2020. Tranquil and relaxing with all the home comforts. Cannot recommend it too highly.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

ANDREW B.

Wonderful, 5 star,top quality holiday home with everything we could want for the best holiday ever!
Fabulous! We have just spent a wonderful week at Les Caulins - a luxuriously appointed house,beautiful gardens and pool and all together, a 5 star holiday. Emma and John are so welcoming and hospitable and Emma's home cooked meals are superb. We would recommend Les Caulins wholeheartedly and we shall definitely be returning as soon as we can.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2018

10/10 Excellent

Paul S.

Superbly comfortable and well appointed farmhouse, with lovely owners
We would thoroughly recommend this lovely farmhouse. It’s well appointed, very comfortable, and when you don’t want to cook, just ask John and Emma to prepare you a lovely meal. Emma’s cooking is fantastic, and John can recommend some great and affordable wines. A great place for a chilled out holiday.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2018

10/10 Excellent

Louisa R.

Lovely house and welcoming owners
Les Caulins is set in a lovely area of France and is surrounded by beautiful countryside. It is a beautiful house which has been renovated to extremely high standards by the owners, Emma and John. The house is very well-equipped and has everything you need. The garden is lovely and our dog and toddler loved running around the lawn. The swimming pool is a sun trap and was perfect on a hot day. Emma and John could not have been more welcoming, they are two of the friendliest people and made us feel at home immediately. Emma’s cooking was absolutely divine, we tried it all - the two course menu, BBQ and her ‘one pot’ meal - everything was delicious and with a small child it was great being able to have restaurant quality meals without having to go out. John’s knowledge of wine was very useful and on our last day we went to a local vineyard to stock up on the wines he had provided/recommended during the week. Overall it was absolutely fantastic and we had such a lovely week - we would 100% recommend it to others. Thank you Emma and John, we had a wonderful holiday!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2018

10/10 Excellent

Andrew M.

Just Brilliant
Great hosts, great property and would love to return Simply sunning area of France
Stayed 7 nights in May 2018

10/10 Excellent

Peter J., Vancouver Canada

Very enjoyable stay!
The four of us felt very comfortable here. Well equipped kitchen, great bathrooms and showers, and for two couples, lots of privacy. John and Emma are wonderful hosts. We took advantage of their meal option twice, and thoroughly enjoyed 5 star meals. Thank you both for a great stay.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2018

10/10 Excellent

Amanda H.

Super!
We absolutely loved our stay at John and Emma's farmhouse.They were very hospitable and most helpful. The house is suitably located with beautiful surroundings - a perfect place for a much needed break. It was great to be able to explore the area, taste the local wines and food. Talking of food, Emma's cooking was simply divine! We will certainly be going back.....a big thank you to John and Emma!!
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2018

10/10 Excellent

John G., france

Emma & John Exactly like they are on the TV show A New Life in the Sun
If you have seen the TV program you will know the house, pool, the veiws and the hosts are exceptional. Emmas cooking is devine and not only is the quality & presentation better than the surrounding restaurants. The prices are cheaper and you can drink your own wine or John can recommend wine from his cellar at cost price. We cannot rate this place and hosts enough. I just hope they do not get booked up too quickly.
Stayed 11 nights in Mar 2018

10/10 Excellent

John G.

Coup de cœur assuré !
Une vrai maison d’hôte ! Accueil très British avec beaucoup d’attentions. La maison est décorée avec soin et, merveilleusement située sur une petite colline entourée de près avec des chevaux. Ambiance chaleureuse, bucolique et pleine de charme . Coup de cœur assuré !
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

BEGOÑA G.

Excepcional
La casa muy bonita y con muchísimos detalles. Muy confortable. Propietarios encantadores. Lugar idílico. Sin duda , una casa para repetir
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Toni S.

Gourmet gite in the heart of the Dordogne
It doesn't get any better than this! Not only have Emma and John done an amazing job of restoring this old farmhouse to a very high standard, but you get their culinary and oenology skills on tap! You really don't have to go anywhere else to have a lovely relaxing time, just enjoy the house and Emma and John's hospitality. Make sure you book one of their delicious 3 course dinners, it's better value and more enjoyable than any restaurant. Thanks for a great stay and we'll be back!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

alastair o.

lovely place all you need for a great break
lovely mix of contemporary and traditional 300 yr old stone. very well equipped, lovely bathrooms and comfy beds. great job all round and a lovely stay
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Margaret B.

Beautifully renovated farmhouse near the village of Duras, southwest France
We had a weeklong relaxing vacation in John and Emma's carefully restored farmhouse in southwest France. The house itself comes equipped with three large bedrooms and adjoining baths plus a large common area with kitchen. The recently completed pool overlooks a neighboring farm and was the perfect hangout spot in the afternoon. Duras, the closest village has a large weekly market, as well as a night market with prepared foods. We picked up hot, cooked escargot and paella for dinner. We took it all back to our 'gite' --French word for a vacay rental, and ate on the shaded terrace with a bottle of local wine. Speaking of wine...the wine here was extraordinary, inexpensive and relatively unknown. Keep in mind that Duras is within an hour of the great Bordeaux vineyards. Best of all however, with this rental, are the two owners John and Emma. They are available to answer questions or share what they know about the region. Emma is a chef, who I think can cook/cater most anything for you if you ask. And John has been a sommelier in some of the best restaurants in the world. It was fun to get to know them and to share stories about the country my husband and I love best in the world, France. They clearly share the same passion. We count ourselves lucky to have found this place and will most definitely return.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Jamie W.

A truly wonderful stay. The pool and house were better than we imagined and the food divine!
After we found the property John and Emma were charming and accommodating. I must say the food and wine were great quality and great value. We certainly intend to be back!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

kevin hughes

Great place - well thoughout throughout, great kingsize beds and ensuite showers that work!.
We stayed for a week in June 17. Weather indifferent alas but in the few sunny days the pool was great. The house was everything you'd need and sometimes more than you'd expect from a GITE . John and Emma the owners who lived next door were lovely - take them up on their offer to cook YUM YUM!! Definitely somewhere to go back to Kevin
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2017

About the host

Hosted by John & Emma Gilchrist

Host profile image
John & Emma Gilchrist
France

We have been living here, at Les Caulins, in the beautiful South of France since March 2016. Our home is a separate small house so if needed we can be available to give local information or help in any way we can to make your holiday enjoyable and memorable.

We have been in the catering and hospitality industry for 30 years. Emma since the age of 9 wanted to be a chef and John is nuts about wine. Emma began her cooking career at Midsummer House in Cambridge then honed her skills with spells in Italy, Switzerland, Barbados and London restaurants: Blanford Street, Sally Clarke, l'Oranger & Nicole Farhi. Emma is passionate about seasonal, fresh food with her gutsy approach to enhancing simple flavours.

John a former UK Sommelier of the year and winner of the Mondavi award for the best wine list in the world met Emma at Midsummer House before working at some of the Worlds best restaurants and hotels. Sandy Lane Barbados, In London: The Berkley, Browns Hotel, Nico's, The Savoy, Scotts of Mayfair, Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Hambourg and Raffles Singapore. John is bonkers about wine with some 30 years experience in the industry. An enthusiast for the little wine producers and seeker of unknown gems.

Prior to aquiring Les Caulins in 2016 Emma and John ran their own succesful restaurant in Buckinghamshire. Winning many awards including the 50 best destination restaurants in the UK, Wine pub of the year, British Cheeseboard of the year and Buckinghams best restaurant for 8 years to name a few.

Why they chose this property

The idea of spending a morning at a local market or sampling some wine at a nearby vineyard. followed by a afternoon by the pool and supper watching the sunset was a dream we could not resist.

The area is one of the best in France for our passions, food and wine. The quality of the produce: truffles, strawberries, plums prunes, melons, figs, pork, beef, duck, foie gras, the list goes on......... This combined with some of Frances best markets and the abundance and diversity of some of the best known and least known wine regions in France. Places to explore, new sights to see, a simpler life and the glorious weather were too much for us to ignore.

What makes this property unique

Total relaxation, peaceful, with far reaching views and, if we want, plenty around us to do and the opportunity to share our passions is our perfect way of life.

We have gathered and combined our vast experience in the hospitality industry and created a holiday gite that we would enjoy for our own holiday, charmingly French, totally relaxing, informative, a little rustic, very comfortable and affordable with surprises of luxury.

Good food, some wine and great company.

Languages:

English
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