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Our "petite maison", above the village of Couze-et-St-Front, is an ideal base for exploring the Dordogne region. This house is for rent in a very popular area of Aquitaine. Easy access by road, rail or only 20Km from the very busy Bergerac (Roumaniere) Airport.
- 3 bedrooms (king, queen, single beds), new bathroom, upstairs.
- Fully equipped kitchen - dining for 8. Living room. Laundry, toilet downstairs.
- Open "terrasse" for outdoor living, car parking.
- Check out OUR HOUSE
- A new system of location identifier, called Mapcode, has been introduced by Mapcode and taken up by most online mapping services and the Tomtom Satnav
- Use the Mapcode, FRA DQC3.3FQ, to locate the house on your Satnav or online maps (GE, Tomtom, Bing, OpenStreet etc)
- Here is Couze on Google maps
Our House in Couze
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Nestled under the "Tertre du Chateau" our house is a recently restored 1850s stone cottage overlooking the village of Couze and its surrounding countryside.
Every room has views over the valley. Traditional wooden shutters shield double glazed windows against the afternoon sun.
A new photograph, January 2009
Built onto the base of an ancient chateau, our house looks to the west over Couze; the river, village, playing fields and a tranquil rural setting. To the north west the imposing Chateau d'Onel overlooks the Dordogne above the Port de Couze.
From across the valley to ...
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Cheek by jowl with contemporary neighbours.
The two different roof lines differentiate the building style.
The terrasse stretches across the width of the house.
This view is from above the Maury-Bas hamlet on the way to Lanquais.
Looking across the valley to the "Tertre du Chateau" from above Maury-Bas.
the house with the blue shutters.
- Blue shutters, in keeping with the local decor.
The bedrooms are upstairs, each with its own shutters.
Downstairs, kitchen to the left, lounge to the right.
They keep the house cool in summer and warm in winter.And the world at bay.
Shutters are an integral part of French decor.
A Nice Spot to Sit
- The house faces west, rural views and an inviting late afternoon sun create a quiet, easy feeling.
A large "terrasse" over the road offers plenty of room for BBQs, and a place to park. Or just sitting.
Couze is 24Km from Bergerac on the D660. It is the first village south of the Dordogne and is the gateway to many «bastides», the "new" towns of Aquitaine; Lalinde, Beaumont du Périgord, Issegac, Monpazier... This is a seriously "old" part of France: 20 000 to 35 000 years. New is only 800 years ago.
Village of Couze-et-St-Front
- The 14th century village straddles the Avenue de Cahors, the D660, heading south along the Couze river. Attractive buildings attest to the success of the paper mills.
Two tourist mills, and a commercial mill, still operate.
From our locality, the «Tertre du Château», the Avenue de Cahors follows the Couze. The Place du Lavoir (Sunday market), elegant 19th century houses, the local church and, to the right, the Romanesque church are part of the charm of the village.
Daytime Dining
- Dining on the terrasse, lunch time.
Later, as dusk falls on Couze, rural views and a Bergerac rosé calm the weary tourist.
The kitchen is a short step away.
Yonder westward lies the Périgord «pourpre», the start of the famous Périgordian wine region. Clustered around Bergerac are the vineyards of the Côte de Bergerac, Rosette, Pécharmant and Monbazillac. Further West are the mighty Gironde vineyards; Bordeaux, Entre-Deux-Mers, Sauternes, Médoc. The Dordogne is the historic transport system. Walking trails, including the GR6, and the pilgrim trails, are close by.
... and dining in.
- Dining in for up to eight!
New crockery and cutlery makes for fine dining at home. This Kitchen Rules!
What to cook? Boulangerie Patisserie Ulrich opposite the school is new. Complementing the one in Lalinde.
Corner store: La Boutique Couzotte Martine
Down at Port de Couze try:
Marche biologique (organic food market), Boulangerie Au Pain d'Ici, fairly new boulangerie/patisserie.
Proxy mini supermarket.
Or head for Lalinde for supermarkets large and small, bread shops, butchers, pastryshops, cafés and bars.
Local markets, good local producers, supermarkets small and grand. They all sell great food for you try. Your culinary skills are complimented by a pleasant table setting.
Eat! Drink! Couze-et-St-Front
- Le Temps des Moulins, opposite the «Marie» on the Avenue de Cahors seems to be shut now.
Local dining at Au Fils de l'Eau is just down the Avenue. Very highly regarded. Book on week-ends
And a new creperie,Au Gré des Saisons. Crepes and galettes.
Over the bridge at Port de Couze, the local bar tabac is the place for a drink or coffee. The joint jumps on a Friday summer night with music and bonhomie.
Top class dining at Au Fil de l'Eau, family and children dining at Au Gré des Saisons provide a welcome respite from your "at home" culinary efforts.
Le Bistrot du Pont (Le BDP) is now the local watering hole. Over the river.
Bookings are a good idea, especially on the weekend for Au Fils de l'Eau 05 53 61 79 76
Au Gré des Saisons. 05 53 23 88 27
