La Cour de Lavande

It is impossible not to relax at La Cour de Lavande. If the lavender-scented air and tranquil setting, surrounded by fields of sunflowers, vines and plum orchards, doesn't get to you, then the produce of the vineyard down the lane, or the cushion topped mattresses on the beds probably will!

Peacefully set down a country lane yet within a few minutes’ drive of the small market town of Duras, with the fabulous shopping, eating and world heritage sites of Bordeaux and Bergerac only about 40minutes away, this 350-year old three bedroom manor house conversion with its large pool and lovely, safely enclosed, courtyard garden is a real find.

Swedish owner, Yvonne Andersson, lives in a neighbouring barn conversion and appears to have thought of everything to ensure their guests enjoy a relaxing and memorable stay. Junior guests will love the huge attic bedroom with plenty of space to enjoy the handy toys, books and games provided, or the freedom of being able to play safely in the courtyard garden, or splash about in the large outdoor swimming pool. Grown-ups can hardly fail to get off to a relaxing start thanks to the long and useful list of baby and toddler gear provided (see Fast Facts box), plus the on request meals, salon services (Yvonne is a trained hair stylist) and pre-arrival shopping service which can ensure nappies, wipes, formula, baby jars etc. are all to hand without running the gauntlet of low-cost airline excess baggage charges.

The gite's picture-perfect 17th century exterior is reflected inside with tonnes of original features including vaulted, beamed ceilings and stunning fireplaces, all blended with contemporary Scandinavian design touches and luxuries from Wi-Fi and Hi-Fi (tonnes of CDs) to IPod docks and power showers. The fact that the three bedrooms are set on two different floors with a family room (huge with double and single bed) and twin on the ground floor and the very spacious attic twin with its own shower room above, makes it well suited to extended family holidays or multiple family groups. The kitchen is well equipped with all mod cons including washing machine and dishwasher, whilst the huge lounge, pretty covered terrace with sitting and dining area, and pool side lounging, means there's tonnes of space for everyone and always a quite spot to read a book, catch up on emails or enjoy a sneaky snooze, even with tear-away toddlers in tow.

Share Tips & Advice Show Location Map Although peacefully located, La Cour de Lavande is just a pleasant 2km walk from the village of St Sernin which has a cheap and cheerful auberge serving decent meals and selling basic supplies. The gite's owners, Teresa and Colin live in a separate building nearby and are always happy to offer advice and suggestions for days out and the best places to eat. They are also able to reserve restaurants and vineyard tours including the, not to be missed, Tuesday suppers at the award-winning Domain Chater, just a few hundred metres from the house.

The couple recommend several excellent restaurants nearby including the Lion D'Or at Saussignac, the Hostellerie des Ducs in Duras, the Auberge de XIII Clochers at Monteton and the Chateau de Sanse in Gensac. Local markets selling fresh produce and anything else you might possibly want to buy are plentiful. In particular, the Campbells favour Soumensac's Sunday market for its abundance of local food producers and the fact that huge tables are laid out to encourage a communal picnic each week.

A little further afield is the medieval city of Bergerac, which has recently undergone sympathetic restoration and combines a bustling urban environment with old world charm. The cosmopolitan city of Bordeaux with its great shopping, dining and museums is just 90mins drive north-west with the famous wine producing town of St.Emilion en-route.

Getting There: the gite is approx. 45mins from Bergerac Airport and around 90mins from Bordeaux Airport, both of which are well served by low cost airlines from many of the UK's regional airports. See www.skyscanner.net to help locate airports/flights. By car, it is approx 20mins drive from the Sainte Foy La Grande turn-off of the D936 on the D311 towards Duras and down a country lane from the village (St Sernin de Duras). The nearest train station is in Sainte Foy La Grande, which is linked to the TGV station at Libourne (50mins drive).

Nearest Medical Services: GP in Duras (10-15mins) and A&E in Marmande (approx. 20mins)

testimonial scores:4:0:0:0

For our needs (with 5 year old twins) it was fine, (with a small re-arrangement ...

For our needs (with 5 year old twins) it was fine, (with a small re-arrangement of sleeping arrangements on the ground floor!) but we would question the bedroom layouts for those with younger children, especially toddlers and infants.
Overall Experience Rating: 80%

Colin & Teresa couldn't have been more helpful without being over bearing. T...

Colin & Teresa couldn't have been more helpful without being over bearing. The accomodation was beautiful but still allowed you not to be paranoid about babies & toddlers inside! Even with rain & thunder our summer holiday still felt like a summer holiday! Overall rating: outstanding

Wonderful people who had thought of everything they made us feel very welcome an...

Wonderful people who had thought of everything they made us feel very welcome and a beautiful place. Overall experience: Outstanding

excellent accommodation all round. Nice touches, well furnished and a lovely par...

excellent accommodation all round. Nice touches, well furnished and a lovely part of the world

Definitely the best holiday we've had since having children!...

Definitely the best holiday we've had since having children!

it was lovely, a really nice place to stay ...

it was lovely, a really nice place to stay

Excellent facilities and location for a family with lots of little ones!...

Excellent facilities and location for a family with lots of little ones!

Owner Profile

Welcome to La Cour de Lavande! My name Is Yvonne and I am the new owner of La Cour de Lavande. I took over the Gite in September 2011 from Mrs and Mr Campbell. I am keen to offer you the very best service. I will continue to focus on baby friendly environmental service. I will also offer B&B/dinner on request. I am modifying the property to get it as a very cosy place to stay for kids and parents. Since I am Swedish, I will add an extra touch of Scandinavian stile. My target is to make you feel home and safe with the very best service.

Have a great time with us, you could enjoy a round of golf , swim in our private pool, a game of tennis, a canoe trip, horse riding or even Swedish cooking classes. We can organize birthday and anniversary party for you or your kids. When you enjoying relaxation and the beauty of this area, you can at the same time you can have a relaxed time in my hair dressing saloon. If you just want to feel free from cooking duties, we would be very happy to do the meals for you.

The property is equipped with lots of toys, plenty of games, books, video, pool-toys etc. they enjoy the big pool.