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Stunning Dordogne riverside villa with heated salt pool, 10min walk to Tremolat
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Reviews
10 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms 2+ bathrooms Sleeps 6 144 sq m
Popular amenities
Explore the area

Calès, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Cingle de Tremolat Panoramic View9 min drive
- Jardins Panoramiques de Limeuil9 min drive
- Parc le Bournat19 min drive
- Bergerac (EGC-Bergerac - Perigord - Dordogne)39 min drive
Rooms & beds
3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)
Bedroom 1
1 King Bed
Bedroom 2
2 Single Beds
Bedroom 3
1 King Bed
2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom
Bathroom 1
Toilet · Shower only
Bathroom 2
Bathtub or shower · Toilet
Bathroom 3
Toilet
Spaces
Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Separate dining area
Garden
Dining area
About this property
Stunning Dordogne riverside villa with heated salt pool, 10min walk to Tremolat
Le Chabrol is unique - an extraordinarily beautiful and serene property, deceptively simple on the outside but exquisite and sophisticated inside. It has everything the most discerning guest could wish for.
Situated on the banks of one of the most beautiful rivers in the world, and in a quieter part of the Dordogne, Le Chabrol is just across the river from the lovely village of Tremolat, with it's Michelin-starred Vieux Logis but within easy reach of the busy tourist towns like Sarlat, Domme, Beynac and Le Roque Gageac.
Since we took ownership of this Le Chabrol in 2014, every single one of over 50 reviews has been 5-star. We can find no other property with a similar record.
That just about says it all but there is more:
Le Chabrol was FEATURED AS #12 OF THE "TOP 50 HOLIDAY VILLAS IN SPAIN, FRANCE AND PORTUGAL" in the (UK) Times April 2009 and AGAIN 28 Feb 2010.
A little detail:
Le Chabrol, sits in a prime location in walking distance to the gorgeous village of Tremolat, under mature trees, by a vast open meadow running out to the riverbank beyond, with a private jetty for river swimming, absolute river frontage and the exquisite Tremolat bridge in full view, and an easy 100m swim!
The open yet separate spacious gourmet kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances and almost every conceivable gadget, will please the most demanding cook. Shop every day in a different farmers' market, then enjoy your treasures under the cherry tree by the pool, at the table on the riverbank, informally under the grapevines on the terrace, or get out the candelabras and dine indoors at a fine oak table seating 6 to 10 in comfort.
The gardens are full of cutting flowers for you to pick, plus snackables like strawberries, cherry tomatoes, cherries, figs, pears, grapes and physalis, each in its season.
Elegant 'American' bathrooms with strong spacious showers and unlimited hot water. Enjoy hot air ballooning, cliff-top castles, antique markets, the Bergerac and Bordeaux vineyards, canoeing, Cro-Magnon caves, fine dining and much more. 8-speaker BOSE surround sound, TV, high speed WiFi internet and free calls within France.
More About the House:
Passionate about French countryside, style, food and wine, we take great pride in this place and love spending time here with friends and family. To have a beautiful home here is a long-standing dream come true: a tranquil, romantic spot located on the banks of the Dordogne in what we believe to be the loveliest corner of France. This is an area of exceptional natural beauty, steeped in history, glowing with sun and fine weather, with outstanding cuisine at every turn. The former owners had superb taste. They designed the renovation of this 300 year old stone barn to be in harmony with the region's architectural heritage, and decorated the house in muted colors, with subtly elegant fabrics and authentic French country antiques.
We love a bit of luxury, which you will find aplenty inside this house, and we love outdoor living!
We feel that the house is intimate yet expansive, cheerful but calm. In summer we live by the sparkling salt-water heated swimming pool, lunching under the cherry tree with a great bottle of the local Bergerac wine and gorgeous local produce on the BBQ. In winter, we love that big fireplace!
The Restaurants: There's a list of our current favourites in the comprehensive house booklet, and you'll surely have done some research on your own. Tempting though it is to eat at home every night, there is fantastic food to be had here at every price range.
Trémolat alone has its renowned Michelin-starred Le Vieux Logis AND the best pizza restaurant in the region.
A second Michelin-starred restaurant, our favourite, Le Petit Leon in St Leon sur Vezere, is barely an hour away. With NZ chef Nick Honeyman, this is beyond excellent and several of our discerning guests have described this as their best restaurant experience ever.
You will also find strawberries, walnuts, truffles, Bergerac wines and the elegant Sauternes-like Monbazillac.
In summer, don't miss the night markets, where you dine outdoors on regional specialities in rustic village squares throughout the region - live music, locally-prepared delicacies cooked on-site, long, long trestle tables, happy, chatting and laughing French locals and visitors from all around the world .
Enjoying the River:
The Dordogne, shallow in summer and rather slow-moving in many spots, is considerably warmer than you might expect, and a delight to swim in. There are many beaches along the roads from which swimming is fun, quiet and easy. Our own bit of the riverbank is protected for the blue herons, wild swans and ducks that have adopted it. It's very scenic and we love swimming from our little jetty with the beautiful Tremolat bridge just 50 metres upstream.
Canoe rentals are available throughout the region so you can enjoy any number of leisurely hour-long scenic spectaculars. Waterskiing and pedalos are available at the Trémolat Bassin Nautique, where you can also hire a canoe or kayak for a few hours, or for your entire stay -- there are locking rings on our little boat dock so you can keep it secure during your stay.
The pool is heated in the summer months (June to August).
Short barge trips can be booked in the fantastic carved-into-the-cliffsides village of La Roque Gageac on the road to Sarlat. Rent a bike and cycle the tranquil towpaths beside the local canals which skirt the occasional rapids which made it rough sailing when goods from the region drifted downriver to Bordeaux two centuries ago. Climb Richard the Lionheart's spectacular fortified castle in Beynac.
The exquisitely-painted Lascaux caves are just an hour away, driving along the beautiful Vezere valley, with many pre-historic caves and troglodyte remnants.
Situated on the banks of one of the most beautiful rivers in the world, and in a quieter part of the Dordogne, Le Chabrol is just across the river from the lovely village of Tremolat, with it's Michelin-starred Vieux Logis but within easy reach of the busy tourist towns like Sarlat, Domme, Beynac and Le Roque Gageac.
Since we took ownership of this Le Chabrol in 2014, every single one of over 50 reviews has been 5-star. We can find no other property with a similar record.
That just about says it all but there is more:
Le Chabrol was FEATURED AS #12 OF THE "TOP 50 HOLIDAY VILLAS IN SPAIN, FRANCE AND PORTUGAL" in the (UK) Times April 2009 and AGAIN 28 Feb 2010.
A little detail:
Le Chabrol, sits in a prime location in walking distance to the gorgeous village of Tremolat, under mature trees, by a vast open meadow running out to the riverbank beyond, with a private jetty for river swimming, absolute river frontage and the exquisite Tremolat bridge in full view, and an easy 100m swim!
The open yet separate spacious gourmet kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances and almost every conceivable gadget, will please the most demanding cook. Shop every day in a different farmers' market, then enjoy your treasures under the cherry tree by the pool, at the table on the riverbank, informally under the grapevines on the terrace, or get out the candelabras and dine indoors at a fine oak table seating 6 to 10 in comfort.
The gardens are full of cutting flowers for you to pick, plus snackables like strawberries, cherry tomatoes, cherries, figs, pears, grapes and physalis, each in its season.
Elegant 'American' bathrooms with strong spacious showers and unlimited hot water. Enjoy hot air ballooning, cliff-top castles, antique markets, the Bergerac and Bordeaux vineyards, canoeing, Cro-Magnon caves, fine dining and much more. 8-speaker BOSE surround sound, TV, high speed WiFi internet and free calls within France.
More About the House:
Passionate about French countryside, style, food and wine, we take great pride in this place and love spending time here with friends and family. To have a beautiful home here is a long-standing dream come true: a tranquil, romantic spot located on the banks of the Dordogne in what we believe to be the loveliest corner of France. This is an area of exceptional natural beauty, steeped in history, glowing with sun and fine weather, with outstanding cuisine at every turn. The former owners had superb taste. They designed the renovation of this 300 year old stone barn to be in harmony with the region's architectural heritage, and decorated the house in muted colors, with subtly elegant fabrics and authentic French country antiques.
We love a bit of luxury, which you will find aplenty inside this house, and we love outdoor living!
We feel that the house is intimate yet expansive, cheerful but calm. In summer we live by the sparkling salt-water heated swimming pool, lunching under the cherry tree with a great bottle of the local Bergerac wine and gorgeous local produce on the BBQ. In winter, we love that big fireplace!
The Restaurants: There's a list of our current favourites in the comprehensive house booklet, and you'll surely have done some research on your own. Tempting though it is to eat at home every night, there is fantastic food to be had here at every price range.
Trémolat alone has its renowned Michelin-starred Le Vieux Logis AND the best pizza restaurant in the region.
A second Michelin-starred restaurant, our favourite, Le Petit Leon in St Leon sur Vezere, is barely an hour away. With NZ chef Nick Honeyman, this is beyond excellent and several of our discerning guests have described this as their best restaurant experience ever.
You will also find strawberries, walnuts, truffles, Bergerac wines and the elegant Sauternes-like Monbazillac.
In summer, don't miss the night markets, where you dine outdoors on regional specialities in rustic village squares throughout the region - live music, locally-prepared delicacies cooked on-site, long, long trestle tables, happy, chatting and laughing French locals and visitors from all around the world .
Enjoying the River:
The Dordogne, shallow in summer and rather slow-moving in many spots, is considerably warmer than you might expect, and a delight to swim in. There are many beaches along the roads from which swimming is fun, quiet and easy. Our own bit of the riverbank is protected for the blue herons, wild swans and ducks that have adopted it. It's very scenic and we love swimming from our little jetty with the beautiful Tremolat bridge just 50 metres upstream.
Canoe rentals are available throughout the region so you can enjoy any number of leisurely hour-long scenic spectaculars. Waterskiing and pedalos are available at the Trémolat Bassin Nautique, where you can also hire a canoe or kayak for a few hours, or for your entire stay -- there are locking rings on our little boat dock so you can keep it secure during your stay.
The pool is heated in the summer months (June to August).
Short barge trips can be booked in the fantastic carved-into-the-cliffsides village of La Roque Gageac on the road to Sarlat. Rent a bike and cycle the tranquil towpaths beside the local canals which skirt the occasional rapids which made it rough sailing when goods from the region drifted downriver to Bordeaux two centuries ago. Climb Richard the Lionheart's spectacular fortified castle in Beynac.
The exquisitely-painted Lascaux caves are just an hour away, driving along the beautiful Vezere valley, with many pre-historic caves and troglodyte remnants.
Add dates for prices
Amenities
Pool
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free WiFi
Outdoor space
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- Pool
- Hot tub
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9.8 out of 10, (78 reviews)
House Rules
Check in after 3:30 PM
Check out before 10:00 AM
Children
Children allowed: ages 0–17
Room to run fields to play in
Events
No events allowed
Pets
No pets allowed
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
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 indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
Property Registration Number 8104199230014
We should mention
This property does not have any lifts
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
A car is recommended for transport to and from this property
About the area
Cales
Located in Cales, this holiday home is in a rural area and on the waterfront. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Vezere Valley and Bac de Sors, while Moulin de la Rouzique and Parc le Bournat are cultural highlights. Jardins Panoramiques de Limeuil and Planbuisson Bamboo Garden are also worth visiting. Waterskiing and canoeing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with horse riding and hiking/biking trails nearby.

Calès, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
What's nearby
- Cingle de Tremolat Panoramic View - 9 min drive - 4.1 km
- Jardins Panoramiques de Limeuil - 9 min drive - 8.1 km
- Cadouin Abbey - 14 min drive - 11.7 km
- Gouffre de Proumeyssac - 18 min drive - 13.4 km
- Parc le Bournat - 19 min drive - 14.5 km
Getting around
Restaurants
- Bar Brasserie A L'ancre Du Salut - 9 min drive
- Le Coulobre - 11 min drive
- All' Olivo - 11 min drive
- La Petite Cuillère - 11 min drive
- Du cote de chez Cathy & Paulo - 14 min drive
Frequently asked questions
About the host
Hosted by Donald Collie

My love for France began when, as a young Australian doctor, I was lucky enough to work at L’Hopital Americain de Paris in Neuilly, suburban Paris. The experience changed my life. I came to appreciate the 'joie de vivre' of the French, I learnt to love the French culture, style, food, wine and countryside. I travelled to the Dordogne in that first year, 1978, and was spell-bound by the beauty of the region, the river and all that it encompassed.
After my time at the L'Hopital Americain, I returned to Melbourne, completed my training as an eye surgeon, had further specialist training in Holland, the UK and in Cleveland, Ohio in the USA and then set up practice in both private and public hospitals in Melbourne. For many years, I was involved with Aid trips to treat blindness in the Pacific Islands – Vanuatu, Solomons, Kiribati, Tonga and Tuvalu.
Wonderful people, simple lives, beautiful places, bountiful natural supplies. These are the things I love and in its own way, the Dordogne embodies all of them.
In April 2014, I travelled to the Dordogne and met Gary Gunas who, with his partner Billy Rosenfield, had restored this magnificent 300 year old barn on the riverbank, now known as Le Chabrol, just a stone’s throw from one of the loveliest villages in the region.
Gary and Billy were reluctantly selling the property to purchase an apartment in Paris and we were able to purchase Le Chabrol with all their beautiful, original art, superb furnishings, a fully equipped kitchen.
We also have Paula Lopez as a wonderful manager, Corinne Jammet to keep the house spotless, Simon Batt to keep the lawns perfect and Benjamin Escarment to maintain fine gardens.
After my time at the L'Hopital Americain, I returned to Melbourne, completed my training as an eye surgeon, had further specialist training in Holland, the UK and in Cleveland, Ohio in the USA and then set up practice in both private and public hospitals in Melbourne. For many years, I was involved with Aid trips to treat blindness in the Pacific Islands – Vanuatu, Solomons, Kiribati, Tonga and Tuvalu.
Wonderful people, simple lives, beautiful places, bountiful natural supplies. These are the things I love and in its own way, the Dordogne embodies all of them.
In April 2014, I travelled to the Dordogne and met Gary Gunas who, with his partner Billy Rosenfield, had restored this magnificent 300 year old barn on the riverbank, now known as Le Chabrol, just a stone’s throw from one of the loveliest villages in the region.
Gary and Billy were reluctantly selling the property to purchase an apartment in Paris and we were able to purchase Le Chabrol with all their beautiful, original art, superb furnishings, a fully equipped kitchen.
We also have Paula Lopez as a wonderful manager, Corinne Jammet to keep the house spotless, Simon Batt to keep the lawns perfect and Benjamin Escarment to maintain fine gardens.
Why they chose this property
We love this property for the way it addresses that great rule of Location, Location, Location.
Location #1: The Dordogne itself. We've vacationed in this region since the late 1970's and we believe it's the loveliest corner of France. This is an area of exceptional natural beauty, steeped in history, glowing with sun and fine weather, with outstanding cuisine at every turn. Our fellow expats here claim, and we agree, that for certain people there's a definite magnetism here that draws you in and just doesn't let go - kind of a mystical, visceral pull, in fact.
Location #2: Our little corner of the Dordogne. The Périgord Noir, as it's called, is the heart of the heart of the region, known for its indigenous black truffles and the black shade of the pine forests that still stand in many areas, however open to farming and scenic vistas it may be today. We have far less of the tourist-jammed traffic of the Sarlat area, 40 minutes to our east, and far more of the sumptuous tranquility which is the region's greatest asset.
Location #3: Our own plot of land. Turning our backs on our quiet little road, we overlook our own pool and gardens, and beyond that the open fields and river, with our own land blending into the neighbours' as far as the eye can see. Giant sky, total privacy. Sweet.
When our now good friends, Gary and Billy bought this property, it was a very tired working barn - cows were still living on its mud floor! They designed the renovation to be in harmony with the region's architectural heritage. From the street, it still looks rather like the barn always was - large-scale louvers around the front door reflect the house's original heritage as a tobacco-drying barn. But from the back - the side facing the river - it's clearly more like the 'Relais et Chateau' properties that inspired its design. More than one friend has called our house a Tardis - a seemingly-modest box by the road, with a whole other UNIVERSE inside and out back.
Location #1: The Dordogne itself. We've vacationed in this region since the late 1970's and we believe it's the loveliest corner of France. This is an area of exceptional natural beauty, steeped in history, glowing with sun and fine weather, with outstanding cuisine at every turn. Our fellow expats here claim, and we agree, that for certain people there's a definite magnetism here that draws you in and just doesn't let go - kind of a mystical, visceral pull, in fact.
Location #2: Our little corner of the Dordogne. The Périgord Noir, as it's called, is the heart of the heart of the region, known for its indigenous black truffles and the black shade of the pine forests that still stand in many areas, however open to farming and scenic vistas it may be today. We have far less of the tourist-jammed traffic of the Sarlat area, 40 minutes to our east, and far more of the sumptuous tranquility which is the region's greatest asset.
Location #3: Our own plot of land. Turning our backs on our quiet little road, we overlook our own pool and gardens, and beyond that the open fields and river, with our own land blending into the neighbours' as far as the eye can see. Giant sky, total privacy. Sweet.
When our now good friends, Gary and Billy bought this property, it was a very tired working barn - cows were still living on its mud floor! They designed the renovation to be in harmony with the region's architectural heritage. From the street, it still looks rather like the barn always was - large-scale louvers around the front door reflect the house's original heritage as a tobacco-drying barn. But from the back - the side facing the river - it's clearly more like the 'Relais et Chateau' properties that inspired its design. More than one friend has called our house a Tardis - a seemingly-modest box by the road, with a whole other UNIVERSE inside and out back.
What makes this property unique
We love to cook -- elaborate meals, for lots of friends and the kitchen was designed to suit this joy. It's got everything you could possibly want in terms of equipment -- fish poachers, cherry pitters, cake and tart pans of all sizes, the works. And given the quality of even the most basic foodstuffs here -- from the daily farmers' markets or the superb Grand Frais shop in Bergerac and other specialty shops like Arvouet Foie Gras in Le Buisson -- well, you can cook the same recipes you use at home and come up with flavours you never thought possible! But you can also use our many French cookbooks (all in English) and cook like you've never cooked before.
What sets us apart from most other rental houses in the area is that it's really a HOME, and not a calculated, Ikea-furnished rental property. The house was designed and furnished with basic calm and good taste and decorated in muted colors, with subtly elegant fabrics and authentic French country antiques. When you compare ours to many other properties, you won't find 'that' sofa here (as one of our guests recently exclaimed with relief)!
Further, while it's indeed our home, we always de-clutter it completely before any guests arrive, so that you're never living with any of our 'stuff' -- every closet and cupboard is completely empty and sparkling clean. No clothes, photos or toys. You're not working around us; the house is all yours when you're here. We rent HomeAway homes on our own holidays, and a key factor for us is just this -- not feeling like we're bunking in with strangers!
We want this to be your very own home away from home.
What sets us apart from most other rental houses in the area is that it's really a HOME, and not a calculated, Ikea-furnished rental property. The house was designed and furnished with basic calm and good taste and decorated in muted colors, with subtly elegant fabrics and authentic French country antiques. When you compare ours to many other properties, you won't find 'that' sofa here (as one of our guests recently exclaimed with relief)!
Further, while it's indeed our home, we always de-clutter it completely before any guests arrive, so that you're never living with any of our 'stuff' -- every closet and cupboard is completely empty and sparkling clean. No clothes, photos or toys. You're not working around us; the house is all yours when you're here. We rent HomeAway homes on our own holidays, and a key factor for us is just this -- not feeling like we're bunking in with strangers!
We want this to be your very own home away from home.
Languages:
English, French, Italian
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