daysoff Guide to Essex - Astaillac Test page

Built of local stone in 1804 the house is typical of the farming type houses of the period. The design was cleverly built on three floors. During the winter the animals would have been kept on the ground floor, the heat from their bodies helping to warm the rooms above. The living accommodation was on the middle floor and winter fodder storage on the top floor provided insulation from the cold.  There is a disused water cistern which was used to catch rainwater from the roof in the days prior to a mains water supply.  The house was modernized in the 1960s to provide the two bedrooms on the top floor and is now being renovated by the present owners.

The house taken from the lane.

The front of the house

The house has central heating, making it comfortable to occupy during the winter even on the few occasions when there is snow on the ground. The house is fully equipped for up to eight people and the large garden of one third acre is packed with a wide variety of fruit trees providing welcome shade in the summer together with tasty morsels when the fruit is ripe.

The garage can be difficult to maneuver into particularly if you have a large car but there is ample parking space in the garden in the shade of the fruit trees.

The house is now being  modernized to offer comfortable accommodation. The ground floor provides a garage and storage together with the disused cistern.   The living accommodation on the first floor consists of a large kitchen, with the original "farmhouse" fireplace and is fully equipped with new gas cooker, fridge/freezer, microwave etc. There is a large dining room plus a living room with seating for eight comfortably. Balconies at the front and rear of the house provide ideal seating areas to relax and enjoy the views. On this floor there is also a shower room and toilet, the washing machine is located in the shower room. Upstairs there is one room with a double bed and a second with a double and a single bed, there is also a shower room between the two bedrooms.  There is a comfortable double bed settee in the living room and a single futon chair-bed in the dining room.

View of garden (one third acre) from front balcony.

View from the back balcony

Astaillac is a small hill top village set in the beautiful Correze area of the Dordogne. The breath taking views across the valley provide a wonderful backdrop to the house. The local town, Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne (translated means "beautiful-place-on-the-Dordogne") is steeped in history and charm. The location is ideal for visiting the many historic towns and sites in the area or enjoying the rural splendour of the local countryside. Walking, canoeing, horse riding etc are all locally available whilst the world heritage site of Rocamador is only about 45 minutes drive away. The area abounds with historic towns and villages many of which contain medieval buildings and landmarks. Local villages such as Turenne, Collonges-la-Rouge, Castelnau, Carennac Saint-Cere and Autoire are all worth a visit, the towns of Souillac, Tulle and Brive are only a short drive.

Ancient castles such as Castelnau abound in the area and together with caves, Neanderthal sites, river trips, fishing, museums, festivals and ancient churches, you will never be short of something to do, only short of time to do it.

The area has an enviable reputation for its gastronomic delights, specialities include foie gras, nuts, strawberries, local cheeses and of course the wonderful wines. There are many wine tasting centres and you can follow specially laid out routes which take you around the best of these. There is fresh local food in abundance, the markets are a blaze of colour and atmosphere, a must if you want to capture a little of the French way of life.

Map of the Dordogne including Astiallac

Astiallac Village (see enlargement for location of house)

Links for Channel Ferries & Tunnel

Available soon - for all enquiries telephone (England) 01359-231156

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