Chateau Sainte Martine

Down a long driveway in the heart of glorious parkland, discover Château Sainte Martine, a picture-book castle dating as far back as the 15th century. With such idyllic landscapes around you, it’s hard to imagine that you are just a 20-minute drive from the handsome town of Bergerac on the banks of the Dordogne River.

Inside the château are elegant salons with stunning ceilings, floors and fireplaces, the centuries merging as traditional and modern blend beautifully alongside the pleasing furnishings and artwork. It’s not all history and romance here - there is a billiard table in the second lounge, the modern fully equipped kitchen has high-end appliances and upstairs the four bedroom suites have been luxuriously designed with super king-size double beds, chic furnishings and gorgeous bathrooms.

Step outside to an expansive area of paths, terraces, lawns and lines of small cypress trees, so typical of a formal French garden, with a fabulous 30m-long infinity pool tucked away down pretty stone steps. There are wonderful far-reaching views across the estate’s expansive parkland and the Périgord Pourpre countryside beyond.

There are so many idyllic places across this region including the ‘Plus Beaux Villages’ of Monflanquin and Monpazier, medieval Issigeac and the UNESCO World Heritage vineyards of Saint-Émilion in one of the most famous wine regions in the world. When the sea beckons, the oysters of the wild Atlantic coast at Arcachon Bay and Cap Ferret are just a day trip away.

Closer to home, discover more of this incredible area renowned for its gastronomy, vineyards, caves, castles, markets and festivals in its traditional towns and medieval bastide villages before returning to the beauty and heritage of your exquisite château.

Features:

Château Interiors (900m2)

-    Living room
-    Dining room
-    Kitchen, fully-equipped including oven, dishwasher, microwave, fridge-freezer, blender, kettle, toaster and Nespresso machine
-    Small lounge/billiard room
-    Guest WC

Upstairs

-    Bedroom with king-size double bed (200x210cm) and en suite bathroom with bath and shower
-    Bedroom with king-size double bed (200x210cm) and en suite bathroom with bath and shower
-    Bedroom with king-size double bed (200x210cm) and en suite bathroom with bath and shower
-    Bedroom with king-size double bed (200x210cm) and en suite bathroom with bath and shower

Outside Grounds (50+ hectares)

-    Infinity swimming pool (30x4m, depth: 1.6m). Open approximately 20th April to end-September
-    Barbecue
-    Terraced garden (with steps)
-    Formal French garden
-    Enclosed grounds (with wires for animals)
-    Donkeys and horses
-    Bikes
-    Parking

Facilities

-    Wi-Fi
-    Fireplace
-    Satellite TV
-    Billiard table
-    Bikes
-    Table tennis
-    Safe
-    Hairdryers
-    Ironing facilities
-    Washing machine and dryer

Location:

Château Sainte Martine enjoys a rural setting within the Dordogne department of south-west France, located between Bergerac and Périgueux. Bergerac Airport is 24km away or take the fast TGV service from Paris to Bordeaux and onwards to Gare de Bergerac (19km). There is so much to discover in this beautiful region renowned for its gastronomy, vineyards, caves, castles, markets and festivals in its bastide towns and villages.

Bergerac (20km) is a handsome market town on the northern bank of the Dordogne River. The old town exudes charm with its characterful squares and medieval streets with high end restaurants and boutiques. The renowned Maison de Vins in Bergerac has a permanent exhibition for wine enthusiasts and hosts occasional summer concerts in its beautiful cloisters. Buy local produce at the food markets on Wednesday and Saturdays mornings before visiting the Château de Monbazillac, just south of Bergerac, to purchase fine bottles of their golden sweet wines.

Périgueux (38km) is an important city with a rich heritage, situated on the Santiago de Compostela pilgrim route and home to a Byzantine style cathedral, designated a UNESCO world heritage site. Dordogne is synonymous with fine food and drink and Périgueux is full of specialist shops from boulangeries to fromageries and lively squares with plenty of restaurants as well as the wonderful markets.

Stop off at one of the nice tea-shops in the charming medieval village of Issigeac (28km), perhaps en route to one of France’s 'Plus Beaux Villages', Monflanquin (65km), which overlooks the Haut Agenais region and Lède Valley from its hillside position. This small medieval village has picturesque pedestrian streets crossed by small bridges, a Gothic cathedral and an interactive museum relating to the medieval towns built in the region during the 13th and 14th centuries.

Monpazier (45km) is another one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’ worth visiting, a very old and beautifully preserved bastide town with a magnificent square as well as lovely shops.

Elsewhere in the Dordogne, discover beautiful riverside villages from pretty Lalinde (20km) and Limeuil (31km) to iconic gems such as La Roque-Gageac (66km) and Domme (77km), both just over an hour away heading east. Not forgetting the exquisite town of Sarlat-la-Canéda (68km) with its historic architecture and restaurants showcasing the gastronomy of the Périgord Noir.

Just over an hour away, wine enthusiasts don’t need an introduction to the world heritage site of Saint-Émilion (88km), east of Bordeaux in the heart of the famous wine region, one of the greatest in the world. Saint-Émilion has attracted visitors for decades and thousands of hectares of vineyards surround the picturesque medieval village.

Closer to home, there is a 9-hole golf course at Château les Merles (15km). The whole region is a paradise for nature and sports lovers offering a choice of so many outdoor activities such as tennis, horse riding, hiking and mountain biking alongside canoeing and kayaking on the Dordogne and Vézère rivers.

Terms & Conditions:

Security deposit?
€15000 charged to client's credit card as a pre-authorisation at least 2 weeks prior to arrival and refunded two weeks after departure, subject to full inspection.

Arrival time?
5.00 p.m.

Departure time?
10.00 a.m.

Energy costs included?
Yes.

Heating costs included?
Yes.

Pool opening dates?
Pool is open from late April to late September. Please note that pool opening dates are subject to local weather conditions and pool maintenance requirements and that cooler months may not be suitable for swimming.

Pool towels included?
Yes.

Linen & towels included?
Yes.

End of stay cleaning included?
Extra €1200, payable to Oliver's Travels at time of balance payment. This is for a standard changeover clean. Guests are required to leave the accommodation clean, tidy and in the same condition as on their arrival. Any extra cleaning, laundry, maintenance and/or rubbish disposal required will be charged against the security deposit.

Changeover day?
Saturday or Sunday. All other changeover days on request.

Minimum stay?
7 nights. All other durations on request.

Tax?
French Visitors Tax payable to Oliver's Travels at time of balance payment (typically costs €1-€10 per adult per night - please enquire if exact amount is required).



Pets welcome?
On request only and with prior agreement with the owner.

Smoking Allowed?
Not allowed.

Other Ts and Cs?
Weddings, stag/hen parties and any special events are on request only and subject to prior arrangement with the owner and additional charges.

Cot and high chair can be provided free of charge, on request.

The château sleeps up to 8 guests and, on request only, an additional two children in the billiard room – please enquire for details.

The helpful yet discreet château hosts live on the upper floor of the château – they can prepare breakfast, lunch and evening meals on request (at an extra charge) six days a week. She lives onsite, but she has an independent entrance to her quarters.
Smoking - not allowed