The number of French country houses we’ve seen over the years must be edging close to four figures, yet we can count conversions of the calibre of Le Clos Colombier on just one hand. The original building, now entirely and superbly renovated, is over 900 years old and incorporates a tower that belonged to Chateau Veyrac. From the outside, the house is relatively unassuming, clad in ivy and adorned with simple white shutters. Step through the front door however and you’re transported into design-inspired, divinely decorated spaces that take the very best of the house’s venerable history and add a glossy, 21^st century finish.

The Michelin-starred chef owner has extensive high-end hotel experience, which is evident throughout the entire property and its informal-luxury style. Exposed stonework and weathered beams create an elegant framework for a mix of antique and contemporary furnishings, softly luxurious and irresistibly tactile. The castle tower has been given a new life as an intimate cellar bar, and for a less formal approach to your evening refreshments, there’s a further bar with pinball machine. If you’ve aspirations of a Michelin star of your own one day then the Gaggenau kitchen is your perfect cheffy playground, or you can simply sit back and let the personalised catering service take care of you and all your guests.

Sleeping up to 16 in three large suites and two bedrooms, this is a glorious house-party venue for couples, friends or a big family gathering. An 18-metre swimming pool and gym room are at your disposal, nestled into two and a half acres of private parkland. Veyrac village is on the doorstep, and La Chapelle Saint-Martin, a Relais & Châteaux hotel-restaurant run by Le Clos Colombier’s owner, is just a ten-minute drive away.

Please note: The interior of this property has a low staircase banister and windowsills, and a low boundary wall in the outside area. Families with children under 11 are asked to acknowledge by email that children must be supervised.

Local area

For us, this region is a perfect example of la France profonde: authentic, local-focused and an absolute delight for all true Francophiles. Veyrac village sits between two extensive natural parks where you can quietly lose yourself in unspoilt surroundings, and for a change from the pool, there are several swimming and fishing lakes in the vicinity, the largest being Saint Pardoux (30 minutes) with sandy beaches and various watersports. Limoges (20 minutes) is a UNESCO Creative City, offering up medieval half-timbered houses, a grand Gothic cathedral and some serious foodie credentials with far more than just the prized Limousin beef on the menu. Angoulême (90 minutes) has become known as the comic-strip capital of Europe, with extensive wall art throughout the city and a major annual festival. Closer to home, the Oradour Memorial Centre is a poignant and deeply moving record of a tragedy in 1944, when 643 inhabitants of the village were massacred by Nazi soldiers. For a less sombre excursion we suggest Mortemart village (25 minutes), a protected site since 1965 and one of the ‘plus beaux villages de France’.

Our choice of French properties is diverse, ranging from simple charm to genuine luxury and style. Much of our portfolio is privately owned, and price alone is therefore not a universal guide. We contract all our accommodation in person, and each property has its individual appeal.

To help you make the right choice based on your own priorities, we have devised a simple grading guide to be considered in conjunction with each individual property description, awarding up to a maximum of five stars for the below categories.