A gem in the Dordogne!

A gem in the Dordogne!

Are you looking for a perfect hideaway for 2 that is cosy, beautifully furnished and interior designed?  Then look no further! 

Located on the banks of the river Dordogne between Saint-Cyprien and Siorac-en-Périgord this stone cottage is set within 5 acres of grounds yet just a short distance from Soirac-en-Perigord with its selection of shops, two good restaurants and a well stocked supermarket.

Overlooking the Dordogne River and in a delightful setting, this stone cottage sits very privately within the grounds of the main manor house 150 metres away with it's own private drive and private swimming pool.

The cottage has been renovated and refurbished offering luxury accommodation perfect for a couple.  The design, fittings and top quality furnishings are superb and a perfect place for a romantic holiday!  The open plan living area with excellent kitchen has been cleverly designed to maximise the surface area giving a spacious living and cooking area.  Whilst the bedroom is integral it has been designed that it does not encroach on the living area yet faces the infinity style pool and the long terrace at the front.  The large and impressive shower room finishes off the interior to make this a smart, luxurious place to stay.

There is a long sun terrace that faces the infinity, heated swimming pool and a wonderful view of the meandering Dordogne River.  The pretty garden is stocked with flowering pots and mature trees offers privacy.  A covered terrace for al fresco dining and comfortable easy chairs and settee makes this a perfect place for outdoor relaxation.

Find more villas in the Dordogne (click here). All with pools to make a perfect stay.

What our Area Manager, Gill says about this gem.......

This gorgeous cottage is perfect for two and a kitchen that is full sized and very well equipped.  Lazing by the pool and viewing the Dordogne River is heaven.  This is a lovely part of the Dordogne and near so many wonderful villages, chateaux and fabulous ornamental gardens.  The pretty village of Soirac-en-Perigord is a delight with quaint stone houses and a couple of good restaurants notably 'Le Trèfles à Quatre Feuilles' restaurant in Siorac-en-Perigord is a very nice restaurant which serves good food with a smile. It’s clean and bright and I had a superb Perigourdine salad there. It was very well presented with plenty of foie gras and excellent home-made bread.

Last of the brussels now gone, we hear from diarist and blogger Gill...

Strong wind breaks out in Bourg de Visa

Whilst the South West of France enjoys a good climate with temperate weather we do have the occasional high winds that can wreck havoc especially in the rural areas.  Early in the week my area, the Midi Pyrenees was on Orange alert warning us of very strong southerly winds with gusts up to 100 Km/h.  

On Monday afternoon the winds got up and I could hear it outside, a whooshing sound of the heavy gusts which whacked my electricity off and then on again and caused my computer to crash more than once! The only thing to do when this happens is to stay indoors and wait until it clears.  Venturing out is done with caution as there are so many rural areas and with that numerous trees.  Fallen trees are the main hazard as well as the old telegraph poles we still have and old power lines. Fortunately by Wednesday the wind had moved on but not without causing some local damage, mainly fallen trees and electricity problems.

The wind, known as the Autan, is a regular occurrence at this time of year in the south west of France, generally affecting the Midi-Pyrenees and Languedoc regions, but also felt in the Dordogne.  The strong wind is caused by the sea breeze from the Mediterranean and it then accelerates through the gap between the Pyrenees and the Montagne Noire. 

In January 2009 winds of up to 190 km an hour paralysed southwest France. Our region was on the red alert the highest alert of its kind. Everyone was told to stay in doors for their own safety. My village was without electricity for 3 days as power lines came down, trees came down and roves were blown off. The airports at Bordeaux, Biarritz and Pau were closed and the cost of repairs ran into millions of Euros.

France is known for its winds with the Mistral being the one that is known to most people.  This wind hails from Provence and it’s a fierce and cold wind that occurs mainly in the winter and spring in the gulf of the Mediterranean Sea. The Mistral usually develops as a cold front moving down across France. The air piles up in the Alps before spilling over the mountain's top and rushing down into the Rhône valley between the Alps and Cevenes.  It will blow continuously for days travelling along from Marseille and towards the Riviera.  It can cause damage to crops and in Provence the trees are permanently bent in the direction the wind.

Fortunately, these winds do not spoil the normal weather pattern of warm and sunny days in South West France and as I write the sun is shining, the breeze is calm and the temperature is mild!

A dose of Vitamin C....

A dose of Vitamin C....
The Fete du Citron (The Lemon Festival) usually takes place between mid-February until March, in Menton on the Côte d'Azur.  This year it is the 80th edition and runs from February 16th until March 6th.  The theme for this year’s festival is “Around the World in 80 Days”. The festival started in the 1930s with a handful of carts loaded with orange and lemon trees and has turned into one of the largest festivals in the South of France and almost rivalling the Carnival of Nice.
This event attracts up to a quarter of a million people as well as using up to 150 tonnes of oranges and lemons. These massive fruity floats are up to 10 metres high with incredible decorations and for 3 weeks the Jardins Biovès and the streets are given over to these citrus giants.
As this event is held over a few weeks then it is divided up into various sessions, each one different but just as entertaining.  Listed below are just a few of what can be seen and enjoyed.

The Parade of Golden Fruit
The "Promenade du Soleil" parades are held on Sunday’s, when lots of cars and people parade towards the sea.  It’s a delight for children as there are costumes, fanfares, drums and lots of confetti sprinkling.

 Moonlit Parade
The French say that the fruits of the sun have a date with the moon and as its held around Valentine’s Day then whose to argue! As the night falls the preparation for the incandescent party follows. Fireworks and celebrations galore, this is a celebration of the sun, with everyone "dancing in the moonlight".  This is held on Thursdays.

The citrus "World Tour"
You can travel virtually all corners of the world in citrus flavour, at the Jardins Biovès with famous statues and building constructed of lemons and limes.

Gardens of Light
Held here every Tuesday and Friday evening are spectacular sound and light shows.

Menton villas include this one, worth a look if you want to visit the area: http://www.qualityvillas.com/cote-dazur/menton/villa-olivier

Morocco and Ramadan

Some useful information for visitors to Morocco...

Ramadan

The Moroccan calendar holds many important events but Ramadan is the most important.  It is a deeply spiritual time for all Muslims.  Ramadan commemorates the revelation of the Qur’an to the Prophet Mohammed and it is always in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar it does not have a fixed date.  It begins on the day of the new moon and moves backwards each year by approximately 11 days. This year (2013) it will fall between 9 July and 7 August when the sun rises early and sets late. In 2014 the month of fasting will fall back slightly to 28 June to 27 July therefore falling back each year to cooler spring months.

Stunning Marrakech in Morocco

During Ramadan all Muslims must refrain from eating, drinking and smoking from dawn to dusk. Physical relations are also prohibited as Muslims are expected to spend more time in prayer seeking forgiveness and humility.  There are some who are exempt such as the old and sick, pregnant women and children.

At the end of the day just before sundown the streets empty and everyone hurries home.  When the call for prayer from the temples is heard at sunset Moroccans everywhere will break the fast.  The fast is first broken by a date and a glass of milk followed by a bowl of harira which is a thick lamb broth with lentils, tomatoes and chickpeas.  This dish is also eaten with shebbakia which are deep-fried pastries dipped in honey.  These can be homemade or bought from the special shebbakia stalls that are around during this time of the year.

It is in the evening after sundown that the towns and villages come alive again.  Cafes become busy, families’ parade in the streets and the shops are full again.  Later in the evening between 11pm and midnight, “dinner” will be eaten before most people drift off to bed.  This festive feast, at which families come together and celebrate, consists of tagines of meat or vegetables, couscous, endless plate-loads of patisserie and fruit and glasses of thick, milky drinks. Later, as the dawn prayer echoes from the mosques, drummers patrol the streets and alleyways rousing households for the assohour, a sleepy feast of thick pancakes spread with honey and served with mint tea or coffee before the fasting and prayer begin again.

On the last day of Ramadan, in the evening, the fast ends. The following day is Aid es Seghir, which means “Little Feast”.  This is a public holiday when new clothes are worn and alms and food are distributed to the poor. 

For visitors to Morocco during Ramadan does mean it will be difficult but it is worth noting that tempers can be frayed, due to hunger and thirst and some shops and restaurants in smaller towns or rural areas may close for the entire month. In the larger towns and cities shops and restaurants will close for half an hour before sunset and for an hour after sunset. 

Read more about Marrakech 

Les Quatre Fleurs - a Provencal offering

Villa Les Quatres Fleurs - http://www.qualityvillas.com/st-tropez-var/bormes-les-mimosas/les-quatre-fleurs

This latest post is to mention a special offer for a luxury villa in Provence, known as 'Les Quatres Fleurs'.

Sleeping 10, a private 11m x 5m swimming pool, countryside views, midweek maid service and wifi all add to the comfort on offer. In fact highlighted (as a negative I suppose!) is the fact there is no telephone at the villa. For me, this would be a strong point to help a prospective tenant take the house to really switch off and get away from it all!

A further positivity is an offer just released by the owner of this villa:

"Early booking reductions:  confirm your booking before Easter to take advantage of these offers:
04 - 24 May: was £3695 per week, now just £3360
24 May - 28 Jun: was £3970 per week, now just £3550"

In high season, when the price would have been £370 per person per week, it will now be £336, which is tantamount to a 10% saving.

The house is described thusly:

"Les Quatre Fleurs enjoys a wonderfully tranquil location surrounded by woodland and vineyards in the hills just above the beautiful little village of Bormes les Mimosas. This secluded holiday villa is also close to the sandy beaches and pretty coves which adorn this particularly appealing stretch of the French Riviera.

The villa lends itself perfectly to easy indoor/outdoor living, with the open-plan living room opening onto the large terrace and outdoor dining for up to 12. Bormes les Mimosas is classed as one of the most beautiful villages in France (un des plus beaux villages de France), and rightly so: known for its stunning flower displays for which it regularly wins prestigious awards, this delightful little medieval town is full of narrow streets, small squares and fountains and boasts a very favourable climate. It has exotic and botanical gardens, as well as a large park with walks and a children's play area. There are plenty of restaurants, cafes and shops, and a traditional Provencal market is held in the main square every Wednesday morning. "

Click to see the full description: http://www.qualityvillas.com/st-tropez-var/bormes-les-mimosas/les-quatre-fleurs


The local area may also be of interest:

"The old village of Bormes-les-Mimosas, sitting on a the flank of the forested Maures mountains, is well decorated with mimosa (of course) and has a lot of cactus growing along the rock walls around the village. The commune of Bormes-les-Mimosas includes a marina (Port de Bormes), the new town (which you will drive through) and the old village (which you will drive to). "
Please see this link more: http://www.beyond.fr/villages/bormes.html

Wikipedia describes the local area also:
"Bormes-les-Mimosas is a city in bloom and won the 2003 Gold Medal awarded by the Entente Florale. The Fort de Brégançon, located in the commune, is the official retreat for the President of the French Republic". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bormes-les-Mimosas

If you would like to book this villa, make further enquiries about it or others in the region, please do call or go online and browse. We look forward to hearing from you.

Quality Villas Ltd
0044 -0- 1442 870055
Find a Provence villa to stay

Feeling hot, hot, hot!

Well actually, if any piece these days should start with a song, probably it should be 'I've got chills...they're multiplying...' although not quite '...losing control' yet, aside sliding the car down a few hills in the current ice and snow.

However I am happy to report the thaw and defrost is coming in the UK just now, rooftops and fields still have the gleaming white effect (of snow, then frost...then snow again) but the roads, slowly but surely are clearing and people are driving fast again (there were some of course who drove fast even in the ice, sometimes it works out, sometimes you read about them in the papers).

As a public service, here at Quality Villas, we bring you the hottest villas available. Glorious images of summer holiday villas, blue pools, blue skies, barbecues in full flow and sandy beaches with the waves lapping at your feet can all fill the mind!

For some holiday suggestions to enjoy the above, pick from these:

Italy, Amalfi coast: Il Delfino (http://www.qualityvillasitaly.co.uk/amalfi-coast-campania/atrani/il-delfino )
"...Il Delfino is the height of elegance: newly refurbished, the interiors are tastefully decorated using neutral colours, with splashes of colour provided by the frescoed, vaulted ceilings of the living room, choice pieces of furniture and the hand-made majolica tiles used in all the bathrooms. From the living room, with its views of the sea and Amalfi, you can access both terraces, which offer wonderful places to relax, soak up the sun and dine al fresco."

Italy,Tuscany: Il Capoccio (http://www.qualityvillasitaly.co.uk/tuscany/tavernelle-val-di-pesa/il-capoccio )
"...Sleeping 22 across a main villa and annex (cottage) the property includes a ' wellness centre' with a heated jacuzzi, sauna and small gym. The stunning outdoor pool area also sports a jacuzzi feature, meaning plenty of opportunity for rest and relaxation."

Italy, Lazio: Orazio (http://www.qualityvillasitaly.co.uk/lazio/selci-sabino/orazio )
"...Surrounded by olive trees and vineyards in the gentle hills to the north of Rome is this charming small villa located in the beautiful countryside of the Sabina region. The property has tiled floors, beamed ceilings and is elegantly furnished with country antiques giving a traditional Italian feel typical of this region."

For anyone still doubting the desire to travel to warmer climes or at least have something booked for the summer so that 'warmth' is pre booked (!) have a look in your back garden, or just on the road outside. Turn up the heat!

Our back garden...brrrr!







 

2013 is here...

Keep smiling...

So the festive period can now be said to be fully behind us. The Christmas Tree must be down by Sunday and if you are still eating turkey leftovers, you probably shouldn't be!

For those that partied on the 31/12, hopefully you have also recovered.

The issue now is that January is a month that looms large for not having a whole lot to look forward to, aside the desperate appearance of pay day at the end...which also looks way off at time of writing.

So how to cheer oneself up?

Apparently a holiday is a good cure for a lot of things, relieving stress when it does come round of course. However having something to look forward to through the dark months (a way to refer to winter time, when it gets dark early rather than anything else!) is to have a holiday planned and coming. That beacon of light on the horizon will warm the cockles at any time of year, so the thing is, to plan it early, then not only have you got it all sorted (thus you can start to tell friends and family how organised you are) but you also have that warm feeling inside knowing you have the place you want, for the dates you want.

At Quality Villas we are feeling the 2013 rush already, good news indeed as clients old and new get their villa holidays sorted, but have you sorted yours yet?

If you would like to speak to someone about a villa in France, please browse online to www.qualityvillas.com

For Italy - go to www.qualityvillasitaly.co.uk

For Morocco - go to www.qualityvillasmorocco.co.uk

And for the early birds who love the powder and hitting the slopes, also onsale for 2014 and ready to go:
www.qualityvillasski.com