Maison de la Vienne

Nestled half-way between the glove capital of St Junien and the ceramics city of Limoges, this handsome, historic home sits in blissful tranquillity in 10,000m2 of private grounds, with far-reaching views over the Vienne valley. From the gravel courtyard to the painted shutters and granite walls, it looks every inch the traditional French country house, and makes an idyllic spot to retreat to with family and friends. The setting and exterior feel timeless, but the owners have breathed new life into its 18^th century frame, adding colour to its character with an eclectic mix of vintage prints and pop art pieces.

The extensive grounds are laid mainly to lawn, creating lots of inviting play space for energetic kids, and you can also bring your dog for a small additional fee. There’s a good-sized pool for lazy summer days – heatable by arrangement – plus table tennis if you’re in the mood for a bit of healthy family competition. Beyond the gardens, the lovely Limousin lies waiting to be explored; one of the most sparsely populated regions in France, it’s rich in history and authentically French, ideal for those who have perhaps ‘done’ the Dordogne and are looking for somewhere equally scenic but far from any main tourist track.

Local Area

This region epitomises la France profonde: authentic, local-focused and an absolute delight for all true Francophiles. The nearest town for shopping and eating is St Junien (15min drive), a traditional centre for luxury leather glove making, and now the gateway to the woodlands and waterways of the Perigord-Limousin Regional Natural Park, which is a delight to explore on foot or by bike. 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 alongside its famous ceramics. 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.