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Idyllic and charming, beautifully restored 18th Century cottage retreat

Photo gallery for Idyllic and charming, beautifully restored 18th Century cottage retreat

Pool
Pool
Living area
Property grounds
Outdoor dining

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 4106 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

Map
Coux-et-Bigaroque-Mouzens, Nouvelle-Aqui, Dordogne
  • Proumeyssac Chasm
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Parc le Bournat
    ‪13 min drive‬
  • Château des Milandes
    ‪21 min drive‬
  • Sarlat-la-Caneda (XSL-Aerodrome de Sarlat)
    ‪48 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Idyllic and charming, beautifully restored 18th Century cottage retreat

The property is ideally located for exploring all the sites that the region has to offer. Situated in a secluded tranquil location in grounds of a little over one acre on the small hill top above Le Coux, it’s a pretty 15 minute walk to the village via a small country lane where there is a boulangerie, cave and a cooperative providing produce from local suppliers. Full of charm and character, the cottage has been beautifully restored using traditional methods and materials benefitting from its own private heated swimming pool and garden.
There is free wi-fi access.

PIERRE LAPIN:- A classic very attractive Perigord style cottage that oozes charm. There are 2 beautiful good-sized bedrooms each with their own luxury en-suite bathroom. The property is south facing with a sheltered patio/terrace leading onto a lawned garden with its own private swimming pool.

The kitchen dining room is a large open plan room, with a hand built central island and work unit fitted into the old kitchen fireplace. Both have solid wood worktops. Modern quality appliances are integral to the furnishings. Original features include the restored 'pisé' floor and the old stone sink (now just an architectural feature). The lounge is light and spacious and has a lovely wood-burning stove for spring and cosy autumn evenings. The sofa and armchairs provide comfortable seating whilst the tapestries, period furniture and stone flooring add to the ambiance of the room.

There is free wi-fi access throughout the property.

A beautiful hand-built staircase in elm leads upstairs where there are two spacious bedrooms, one with a queen size bed, the other with two singles. Both have beautiful solid oak furniture, tapestries and fitted wardrobes with full length mirrors. The beds have quality pocket sprung mattresses, luxury fine Egyptian cotton bedlinen and quality non allergenic duvets and pillows. Both bedrooms are double aspect, making for light and airy rooms with views over the gardens. Each bedroom has its own luxurious en-suite bathroom with suspended soft closing toilets, concealed cisterns and contemporary wash basins. One has a bath with shower fitted over while the other has a large walk in shower. Thick luxury towels are provided. The flooring upstairs is all locally sourced chestnut, which provides a rich ambiance in contrast to the calming shades used to decorate the walls. There are fitted radiators for spring and cooler autumn nights.

At the front of the cottage there is a sheltered south facing patio, supplied with table and chairs, and is ideal for al-fresco dining. A couple of quality garden benches are provided where you can sit and enjoy a coffee or glass of wine while reading a book or just relaxing in the peace and tranquillity.

Two steps lead up to the lawned garden where there is a 9m x 5m heated private pool. The pool has roman style half round walk in steps and is flat bottomed making it ideal for children to play and for adults to help little ones learning to swim. There is a further step mid length of the pool taking the depth from 1.2 to 1.4 metres. There is a lounging area next to the pool with steamer style loungers and sun shades provided.

The cottage has an acre of private, mainly flat garden in which to relax and play. A badminton net and equipment is available as well as a set of boules. There are numerous fruit trees from which guests are welcome to pick the fruit when in season.

A welcome pack is provided containing milk, spring water, eggs, wine, bread, butter, jam and coffee as well as some dishwasher and washing tablets. There is usually salt, pepper, oil and vinegar, miscellaneous herbs, cooking foil and food wrap.

Local markets are available throughout the week, (details can be found in the information pack at the cottage) and there is also a supermarket at nearby Siorac. The small co-operative in Le Coux offers produce from local suppliers.

During the summer season there are numerous events close by including medieval fetes, open air theatre, classical concerts, etc. On booking we will forward to you a website link which has a what' s on listing.

Outside of the main holiday period the pace of life is quieter. Each season has something different to offer. Please contact us and we can forward you some information on your chosen time of year.

Property manager

Ian & Heather Craig

Languages

English, French

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Pool
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 3:30 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Long-term renters welcome
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property

We should mention

Cash transactions at this property cannot exceed GBP 1000, due to national regulations; for further details, please contact the property using the information in the booking confirmation

About the area

Coux-et-Bigaroque-Mouzens

Located in Coux-et-Bigaroque-Mouzens, this cottage is in a rural area and on a river. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Vezere Valley and Les Grottes de Maxange, while Filature de Belves and Parc le Bournat are cultural highlights. Travelling with kids? Consider Planbuisson Bamboo Garden and Aquarium du Perigord Noir. Fishing and swimming offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with horse riding and hiking nearby.
Map
Coux-et-Bigaroque-Mouzens, Nouvelle-Aqui, Dordogne

What's nearby

  • Proumeyssac Chasm - 11 min drive - 9.1 km
  • Troglodytes Dwelling - 11 min drive - 10.1 km
  • Parc le Bournat - 13 min drive - 11.9 km
  • Cadouin Abbey - 17 min drive - 16.9 km
  • Château des Milandes - 21 min drive - 20.3 km

Getting around

  • Siorac-en-Perigord Station - 6 min drive
  • Bergerac (EGC-Bergerac - Perigord - Dordogne) - 58 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Le Café de Paris - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Auberge l'Esperance - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Auberge MEdiEvale - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Auberge du Trèfle à Quatre Feuilles - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Restaurant Epicure - ‬12 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Idyllic and charming, beautifully restored 18th Century cottage retreat have a pool?

Yes, this property has a pool. Pool types include heated pools.

Is Idyllic and charming, beautifully restored 18th Century cottage retreat pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Idyllic and charming, beautifully restored 18th Century cottage retreat?

Check-in begins at 3:30 PM.

What time is check-out at Idyllic and charming, beautifully restored 18th Century cottage retreat?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Idyllic and charming, beautifully restored 18th Century cottage retreat located?

Located on a river, this family-friendly cottage is within 6 mi (10 km) of Golf de la Forge, Vezere Valley, and Lolivarie Golf Club. Filature de Belves and Château de Campagne are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 29 out of 36 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 7 out of 36 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 36 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 36 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 36 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Toby A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful, quiet cottage in the heart of the Dordogne

We had a lovely week in Ian and Heather's thoughtfully restored cottage. The house has kept its historic charm, but has a modern, well-equipped kitchen and en-suite bathrooms. There is also a lovely wood burning stove in the sitting room which we used on the colder evenings. The swimming pool is a delight and was used often on warmer days. The house is located in the heart of the Dordogne, close to a number of beautiful villages. Ian and Heather were wonderful hosts - great that we were able to meet in person during our stay. Thanks for the fresh figs!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

Dan P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful property, relaxing stay

As another review said, the property is possibly nicer than the pictures. Lovely touches like the beautiful tapestries show the efforts the owners have gone to to restore the property sympathetically. It is also very functional as well as beautiful. The kitchen is well set up with all the appliances and equipment you'd want, including Nespresso machine, proper oven, a gas hob (this was particularly pleasing - too many French properties use old electric hobs) and loads of worktop surfaces for food preparation. The bathrooms are very elegantly appointed, and the living room is cosy and comfortable. It really felt like a treat to be able to stay in a place like this. The only thing that was an issue for us was that in the very hottest weather it became hotter inside at night than was comfortable, but we did experience some pretty extreme hot weather. Overall I would definitely recommend the property
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

RICHARD S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

I beautiful quiet location equipped to a high standard throughout. Simply perfect.

The property is located on the wonderful wife area. It has great access to the Bastide towns of the Dordogne Valley. The property throughout visit with your very high standard.
Stayed 14 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Claire F., Stockport, UK

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Location location location

A stunning property in the most perfect location for peace and quiet but centrally located to explore all the Dordogne has to offer. The property has been so tastefully and sympathetically renovated. The beds were extremely comfortable and the layout of the property affords plenty of space to relax. The pool was immaculately clean and a welcome respite from an unusually hot early October stay. The property owners’ communication was extremely helpful, with the welcome pack being a lovely surprise too. A car is a must to benefit from this delightful property’s location. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Pierre Lapin - it won’t disappoint.
Stayed 10 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Barbara S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing find

Beautiful cottage thank you for such a restful holiday place.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jon M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic holiday in a fantastic property

My wife and I enjoyed just over a week at this fantastic house.It is sited in a very peaceful location with only a pleasant 20 min walk into the lovely local village, The property is finished to the highest of standards whilst preserving its heritage. Temperatures were in the mid 30s during our stay and the superb pool provided welcome relief. Comms with the owners was excellent and very timely. Would highly recommend Pierre Lapin and we will seek to return again in the future.
Stayed 9 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

BENJAMIN L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Belle maison bien rénovée avec une grande piscine

Très bonnes vacances dans le Périgord noir avec plein d’activités à faire à proximité. La maison est belle et fraîchement rénovée. La piscine fait 10 mètres de long et est chauffée. Le paradis !
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Pascal M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

peter rabbit

Une très jolie maison pour des vacances périgourdines très réussies. La région est splendide et la maison et sa piscine très agréables. Aucune hésitation pour y retourner
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2023

8/10 Good

Mary H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Pierre Lapin

A beautiful cottage in a slightly remote position but very quiet and peaceful. It was an excellent location to visit the many attractions in the area and we were able to make the most of everything on offer.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022

8/10 Good

NOELLE B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Très bonne maison de vacances!

Très agréable maison avec sa belle piscine et son grand terrain. Nous avons passé une très bonne semaine! l'emplacement est idéal pour les visites principales de la région. Le +: chaque chambre a sa salle de bain et les équipements comme table de ping pong / Filet et raquettes de badminton
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Melanie L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Séjour très agréable.

Très jolie maison idéalement située pour permettre de nombreuses visites et activités au cœur du Périgord. Dès notre arrivée nous avons été séduits par les gentilles petites attentions des propriétaires. La situation au calme et la piscine ne font que renforcer la magie de l’endroit. De très belles vacances à partager en famille.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Birgit T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Top!

Very nice house in a beautiful garden and with a great pool! Lots of things to do and visit in the surrounding area: kayak, cano, caves, medieval villages, castles,... We received a lot of information about this through the owner and the cleaning lady gave us some extra information too, which was very much appreciated. We only have two tips: it was very hot during our stay (almost 40°C), but keeping the windows open at night was difficult due to musquitos. So some flyscreens for the windows would be nice. Opening the cover from the swimming pool is very heavy, especially for a woman by herself. So in future, when it needs replacing, a less heavy solution would be nice. But the most important thing is that we had a great time in a beautiful house and garden!
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Derry B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Dordogne Perfection

The pictures of Pierre Lapin on Homeaway.com made it look appealing but the reality is even better and how often does that happen ?? This is just a sublime hideaway amidst glorious countryside and yet only a short drive to historic sites, market towns and the best of the Dordogne landscapes. The interior decor perfectly complements this old house, an atmosphere enhanced by the clever use of hanging wall tapestries. A very well equipped kitchen, comfy sitting room with a great wood burning stove and a very good swimming pool. It was such a treat to be able to wander around the extended garden area around the house and pick ripe figs off one of the many fruit trees. Very good and fast response from the owners if any queries arise during one's stay so Peter Rabbit gets a huge tick of approval from us.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2019

10/10 Excellent

Gaye W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Pierre Lapin Sept 2019

Very comfortable house. Well located for Dordogne sights.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2019

10/10 Excellent

Peter B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A charming little gite situated in a quiet location but only a 15 minute walk to the village

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Pierre Lapin, a sympathetically renovated property on the outskirts of Coux, and well placed for visits to historic locations such as Sarlat and the world famous Lascaux.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019

8/10 Good

Lucie K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely stay in dordogne

House was lovely in a quiet spot but handy for visiting the region. House has been very carefully renovated with excellent fittings (especially beds). Cannot think of many faults.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Paul W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Another fabulous stay

We love this property, if you are looking for peace and quiet but with lots of lovely place to visit nearby this is a place to consider. The cottage is always clean and tidy and the welcome box of groceries is a real treat. Thank you once again for a lovely time in this amazing place.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Nicola S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Just beautiful!

What a beautiful cottage. Very tastefully decorated. It's very well equipped, quiet and very relaxing. Just what we needed. It was spotless when we arrived. (Thank you for the box of essentials!) The week we were there it was very hot and we appreciated the thick walls which helped keep things cooler. A car would be essential. There's lots to do in the area. Would recommend visiting some of the caves in the heat of the day! If you fancy a change from the pool, nip down to the river where there was an area roped off and a lifeguard present too. Couldn't recommend Pierre Lapin highly enough. Communication and information received from the owners was both helpful and excellent. Our only suggestion would be maybe a couple of door stops to stop the breeze catching the bedroom doors if you have the windows open (we just used bags) and I'd have loved to see a little photo album of the house going through stages of refurbishment. We appreciated all the hard work that has gone into making it such a lovely cottage. Wouldn't hesitate to book again if we were coming back to the area. Thank you for a lovely stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Chris S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Return trip

Nice to return. Splendid gite in a magical location. 'nuff said - again!!
Stayed 21 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely, secluded rural property

This stunning gite is tucked away about half a km off the D703 north of Coux. The online description and photos give you a great idea of the place, which is well equipped for self catering. The owners were helpful in every way, and responded quickly to our queries. There's a quiet walk into the friendly village, where you'll find a boulangerie and a farm shop, as well as a bar tabac, wine cellar and a hotel with a bar and restaurant. Our only small criticisms were that there was almost no toilet paper when we arrived, and also that the kettle was a little too small for four people. We'd definitely recommend Pierre Lapin for your nexy holiday, but be aware that there's little or no public transport in this delightful part of France.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Susan H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely property

The house was very comfortable and well equipped, in an excellent location
Stayed 7 nights in May 2019

10/10 Excellent

Norma N., Brisbane

We had a great stay.

We are old friends, 2 couples in our 70's, living on different continents, enjoying spending some holiday time together. This was the 4th of 5 properties rented by two of us over a 7 week holiday in Europe. Le Coux is a short drive to supermarkets, lovely villages along the Dordorgne and interesting geological and/or anthropological caves. We found Le Coux to be comfortable, spacious and everything designed for a holiday without lots of instructions to what we could and could not do. The milk, wine etc left for us were greatly appreciated. There were plenty of tea towels,kitchen needs and utensils. Another set of mugs in the kitchen would have been handy. All the appliances worked well with plenty of detergent for clothes and dish washing. There was a spare light bulb which we needed. The bedrooms are roomy and offer privacy from each other. The bedding and towels are of a good quality and the beds comfy. The internet connection was strong and constant. After following the instructions, we had English language TV. There are plenty of DVDs, board games and books to help fill in the evenings. We spent 'down time' sitting, eating,reading or doing puzzles outside. Unfortunately the warm weather brought the mosquitoes and we had to have the windows closed at night. The grass was suffering from the constant hot, dry weather. We were late in the holiday season and the village boulangerie was closed for a fortnight. The four of us thoroughly enjoyed our week's stay at Le Coux.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2018

10/10 Excellent

Clare C.

Fantastic rural retreat!

We loved our stay at Pierre Lapin. The house is lovely and very private with a great private pool. The hosts were fantastic and were very helpful in accommodating a couple of additional requests we had. Overall we had a great time and would highly recommend it.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2018

10/10 Excellent

Helen L.

Lovely cottage. Very well restored restored. Quiet, spacious garden-very private. amazing pool!

We loved staying here. Enjoyed canoeing, visiting historical sites, relaxing, eating and drinking! House was perfect. We especially enjoyed the peace and quiet and privacy. Children loved the pool and the various inflatables there. A great holiday!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2018

10/10 Excellent

Chris S.

A splendid return visit to this beautiful gite

What's to say? The gite is special, the local support team are great and Ian and Heather are always available to answer any questions. Typical rural setting so the chance to see the deer, watch the raptors and generally chill (or should I say warm - because it is!!) in the pool. Hopefully we will return.
Stayed 21 nights in Jun 2018

About the host

Hosted by Ian & Heather Craig

Host profile image
We bought the property in Le Coux as the beginning of a dream. We had been living in London together for over 10 years (Heather originally from south Wales and myself from the north east of England). We thoroughly enjoyed life in the capital but decided that we would like to move to the country with a view to setting up a small holiday rental business. We did initially look in the cotswolds and places closer to home but eventually took time out for an extended touring holiday of europe with the intention of looking at properties in what may be a suitable location for us to settle into. No matter where we travelled we kept on returning to France and the dordogne valley in particular held a special attraction. It seemed such a naturally welcoming place it is easy to see why the earliest relics of mankind are found in the area. So we found our property and after that typically complex and alarming legal process where you aren't quite sure if you have bought a house or a field of cattle we became the owners of a set of tumbledown ruins. Three years into the renovations, when our own house was just about ready to move into, our daughter Chloe was born. This unsurprisingly did have an impact on our lives, I lost my main helper in the renovations process and suddenly our time line for events became extended. We were however in the fortunate position not to be too pressed on our schedule. We took some time out to enjoy being a family of three. I eventually went back to my paid employment, which involved travelling away from home but provided us with the extra funding to remove any financial worries. Over several years we have developed the property and garden, with some help from others from time to time but it has predominantly been accomplished by ourselves alone; a serious venture! As Chloe reached the end of her junior school years we decided that life back in the UK would offer a better path forward and so at the end of 2011 we moved to Cardiff.

Why they chose this property

We bought this small-holding on the top of the hill just on the outskirts of the village of Le Coux after viewing many other properties in the area over a number of years. We knew as soon as we saw it, that it was the place for us; a short walk down into the village, a very tranquil location and yet in the heart of one of the prettiest areas of France. We first holidayed in the region over 30 years ago, actually only a few miles from the house, and ever since that first visit we felt that this would be the place where we would love to live.
The property was completely ruinous, not having been lived in for several years and although it was going to be a challenge it offered us all that we were looking for. Despite the large number of visitors to the Dordogne and its central location, it is fantastically quiet set at the end of a country lane with only a few neighbours so as not to feel too isolated.

What makes this property unique

A beautiful location set amidst one of the most attractive regions of France in the heart of the main tourist attractions that the Dordogne has to offer yet at the same time in as tranquil a setting as you could wish for. Even in the height of summer, you can easily imagine there is not a soul around while you enjoy a cool drink on the terrace or wander aimlessly around the garden.

Languages:

English, French
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