La Maison Maitre - Lartigue Suite

BFB's Overview.

La Maison Maitre is a very special find indeed - a glamorous blend of French country chic interiors with the best elements of self catering i.e. spacious, private accommodation and freedom to cook for yourselves, and the style, luxury and optional additional services of a boutique hotel such as bathrobes, slippers, champagne, flowers etc.

Lovingly restored by its owners, designers Juliet and Deane, and their team of local artisans, this grand 18th century former barn is now home to three luxury self catering suites with one, two and three bedrooms, fully equipped modern kitchens and their own private outdoor terraces. Each suite is stylishly decorated with an eclectic mix of modern, antique and traditional style furniture, attractive soft furnishings, antique mirrors and crystal chandeliers, and painted in cool restful colours. A fourth suite in the luxuriously converted former pigeonnier tower offers couples with a baby or small child a little extra romance as well as all the same standards and facilities of the barn suites.

Deane, and their team of local artisans, this grand 18th century former barn is now home to three luxury self catering suites with one or two bedrooms a piece, fully equipped modern kitchens and their own private outdoor terraces. Each suite is stylishly decorated with an eclectic mix of modern, antique and traditional style furniture, attractive soft furnishings, antique mirrors and crystal chandeliers, and painted in cool restful colours.

Despite their 18th century character, each has plentiful supplies of contemporary fixtures and fittings too. Their fully equipped kitchens come with free standing cooker, microwave, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, washing machine, kettle, toaster and coffee machine, plus a full complement of crockery, cutlery, and glassware, cooking utensils, iron and ironing board; whilst their living areas boast UK satellite TV and Video or DVD player, selection of films and a CD player. There's even a hairdryer supplied for each suite, completing the boutique hotel suite feel. Younger guests are well looked after too with a comprehensive list of nursery gear from sippy cups and sterilisers to cots and baby baths (see full list in grey box below), plus baskets of toys, books and colouring materials.

The icing on the cake is the wonderful setting on an 8-acre country house estate complete with parkland, fields and orchards, plus a glistening 12 × 6 m pool (heated) with truly fabulous views over the surrounding countryside and villages. Here guests relax easily and time goes slowly. Days start taking in the views over al fresco breakfasts on the suite terraces or cooked for you and served on the lovely communal terrace. Later on it’s a tough choice between lounging by the pool soaking in the views or packing a picnic (self-made or ordered from the owners) and pottering around the grounds, perhaps a stroll into the pretty village for supplies or lunch? Or a daytrip to one of the pretty nearby towns or a St Emillion Vineyard? Evenings are generally spent sitting on the terrace enjoying the lavender scented breeze whilst enjoying a cool glass of local wine or a delicious 3-course meal cooked for you. Such an idyllic setting is sure to refresh even the most frazzled of parents!

Accommodation Overview

The Lartigue Suite - This lovely suite sleeps 6+infants in three elegant bedrooms, comprising two doubles and a twin. There are two luxurious bathrooms, one with bath and the other with a shower. The spacious open-plan living area is flooded with light from the vast, now glazed, barn doors, and feels exceptionally airy thanks to the 6m high ceilings and beautiful limestone floors. The huge slate-topped dining table can seat 10-12 and enjoys lovely views over gardens and a cosy lounge area next to the Toulouse-stone feature fireplace which is lovely for reading or watching movies or UK TV. French doors open onto an extensive, communal, covered veranda, with full complement of teak garden dining furniture, where guests can enjoy ‘al fresco' dining in the shade. There's also a private sunny seating area with barbecue.

Location Information

The 13th century bastide town of Sainte Livrade-sur-Lot is less than 5 minutes drive away and offers excellent bakeries, two supermarkets, newsagent, pharmacy, estate agents, hairdressers, doctor, banks, post office, tourist office, coffee shops and restaurants, including a particularly fine one overlooking the river. On Friday mornings the open-air market provides a colourful experience of French life, with local regional produce and delicious treats.

The nearby historic town of Villeneuve-sur-Lot is a short 15 minute drive away, and boasts the most restaurants and pavement cafes in the whole region. There are also fashion boutiques, jewellers, antique shops, estate agents, some larger supermarkets and main post office. Market days are Tuesday and Saturday mornings, held in the open air at the main central square, spilling out into the neighbouring streets, and inside at the old covered market hall. Well worth a visit.

Agen is the capital of the region and can be found 30 minutes away by car nestled on the banks of the river Garonne. From here you can catch flights to Paris and rail links to Paris, Toulouse and Bordeaux, or spend time sightseeing and shopping in the bustling high street with its varied selection of cafes, restaurants and boutiques, which even includes one small department store.

Nearest Medical Services: Doctors surgery 3 minute drive into the village with English speaking doctors, 15 minute drive to nearest hospital.

Getting There: Nearest airports are Bergerac(approx. 45 mins), Bordeaux and Toulouse (both approx 1hr 45mins) . The closest ferry ports are Bilbao (4.5 hrs), St Malo (6hrs) & Calais(10hrs). Try www.skyscanner.net as a useful resource for finding flights, www.ferrysavers.co.uk for ferries and www.auto-europe.co.uk for car rental. Alternatively, the owners can provide a chauffeur.