Chateau Ribagnac - Le Catalpa Gite

Le Catalpa is a pretty 2-bedroom gite with its large private garden and lovely interiors nestled in the grounds behind the stunning Chateau Ribagnac chambre d'hote. Its lucky guests may enjoy sociable communal kids and adults suppers with the Chateau guests, or cook up a storm in their own very well equipped kitchens. By the same token, mini guests maybe as sociable as the like too by joining the fellow little ones playing in the communal gardens and play area, or pottering about in the gite's own large garden.

The interior is French chic country-modern in style with an impressive granite fireplace fitted with a wood burner making it wonderful for cosy winter evenings. The floors are tiled throughout with attractive creamy-white “blanc cassé” rustic tiles. The front door opens into the living room with generous space to relax in, and opens to the right into the kitchen, making for relaxed dining where you can chat and sip a glass of wine while you enjoy preparing the fabulous produce available, or simply warming up a Chateau prepared meal. It is well equipped with cooker, fridge/freezer, microwave and dishwasher. The bedrooms are located at the rear of the house as is the spacious bathroom with separate bath and shower. Outside the gite, there are chairs and a table to the front, overlooking the castle and an enclosed private garden at the rear with BBQ and table and chairs for four.

Owners, the Bergot family and their fairytale French chateau may well be familiar to some due to their starring role in TV's No Going Back series, which documented their move from their London home, to the then dilapidated 17th century castle. A few years on, Patrick and Colette have returned this picture-perfect chateau to its former glory, mixing antiques, art deco and contemporary pieces. The grounds, of which there are 86 acres, provide breathtaking views, with lakes, nature trails, wooded walks and of course a selection of outdoor games for both adults and toddlers. Meals at Ribagnac are always a highlight. Much of the fruit and vegetables used are grown onsite in the organic garden, and almost everything else is sourced locally. A full bar service in the lounge allows for further socialising, or quiet relaxation in one of the many reading nooks set amongst the turrets.

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With three children under 11, the Bergot's are full of useful advice on the area. Highly recommended by junior members of the clan are: the nearby sand-fringed swimming lakes (3minutes drive), Parc du Reynou, a well designed safari park/zoo, the old-fashioned charm of the rides and playgrounds Parc Bellevue, and 'Tarz'arbe' an adventure playground for both young and old. The new wolf sanctuary gives children the thrill of the fairy tale as well as learning about nature.

Horse riding is on offer at the local stables, from the age of three. The annual Mardi Gras, Easter, and Summer Music Festivals in Limoges and surrounds are fantastic family entertainment. For adults, Patrick and Colette recommend browsing the local antiques and food markets, and the contemporary art collection at Lake Vassiviere. There is also an excellent golf course nearby, where guests can take advantage of reduced green fees.

Getting There: Chateau Ribagnac is approx. 25minutes drive from the airport at Limoges. Other nearby airports include: Poitiers (1.5 hours drive), Clermont-Ferrand (2 hours drive), Bergerac (2.2 hours drive) or Bordeaux (2.7 hours drive). The main ferry ports are within 6hours drive. All but the last 10 minutes of the journey are on Motorway. Simply take Junction 27 off the A20 and follow the signs for Ambazac.

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Owner Profile

We are a family of five ; Patrick & Colette, and children, Eve (14); Agnès (7) and Gilberto (4). Eve is becoming a chic French teen (but still likes a good game of football!), Agnès is horse and insect crazy, and loves meeting other kids to show her outdoor world to, and Gilberto, well he’s tractor mad (luckily there are quite a few around here!). Patrick has a French/Portuguese background and has a sweet tooth to match and Colette a South African background – all nations that love to entertain! We came to live in the Limousin from London where we both worked as lawyers in the City. Being here gives us a way to put our family first and still do something creative and fun. Our children are growing up in the countryside and love all the things that can offer, and we enjoy sharing that with other families.

The Château appealed to us instantly – we fell in love with the historic building; its feeling of warmth and the fantastic grounds and view. It’s a pleasure to have visitors here- it is just the sort of place that feels right when there are guests here. We’ve added modern conveniences, but the feeling of history pervades. Evenings are always special, and the food is a really important part of the experience here. We enjoy sharing the great produce and specialities that our region offers. You can feel really close to nature here. We grow our own fruit & veg and have orchards, and you can stroll in our woods and catch a glimpse of the deer, birds and other wildlife. The different seasons are at their best here, whether its Summer sunshine you’re after or a cosy Winter retreat and roaring log fire or the gorgeous tranquillity of Autumn colours.

The fairy tale look of the Chateau appeals to most people and kids are no exception! It’s a great place without the stuffiness of many hotels, where everyone can feel at home and relaxed. There’s so much space to explore and play in here, you’ll find that your kids always look forward to getting back after a day’s outing where they can meet up together and eat dinner before all the grown-ups. And there’s so much to do! There are days out to suit every child, and there are the fantastic swimming lakes all over the area too…Kids and adults often swap stories of their best activities over breakfast, and if you need more ideas then we’re always at hand. Ask for our Top Ten Family Activities and you’ll see!