Les Gueybauds | 4-Bedroom Villa in Gardonne Lamonzie-Saint-Martin

Gardonne sits quietly in the heart of the Dordogne, a village where limestone hills roll toward the Dordogne river and locals still know each other by name. A luxury villa rental in Gardonne means trading highways for country lanes, and this is precisely where Les Gueybauds reveals itself—a converted farmhouse where eight guests spread across four bedrooms find both space and intimacy, anchored by a 5×11 metre private swimming pool that opens each summer.

The pool dominates the outdoor experience here, its Roman steps descending into water that ranges from 1.1 to 1.7 metres deep, fitted with an alarm system for family peace of mind. But the real revelation is what surrounds it: a covered terrace where afternoon light filters through, a poolside shower and separate WC for guests who prefer not to trek indoors, a second kitchen positioned outdoors for long lunches that stretch into evening, and a games room where children and adults alike abandon pretence and simply play. This is the Dordogne as it should be lived—outside, unhurried, connected to the rhythms of weather and appetite.

Inside Les Gueybauds

Les Gueybauds sleeps 8 guests across 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, organised across three floors of a thoughtfully renovated building that honours its agricultural past while delivering modern comfort.

The ground floor opens into a foyer where a staircase promises exploration upward. The sitting room invites conversation and rest, while the fully equipped kitchen—complete with gas hob, electric oven, microwave, dishwasher and washing machine—becomes the property’s beating heart for families who cook together. A separate dining room allows meals to feel intentional, and a discrete WC serves the main living spaces.

Climb to the first upper floor and discover two double bedrooms positioned to catch morning light, each with its own rhythm and character. A shower room serves these rooms alongside a separate WC, ensuring morning routines never become negotiations.

The second upper floor houses a double bedroom and a twin bedroom, each distinct in proportion and mood, with their own shower room and separate WC. This floor arrangement suits multi-generational groups perfectly—grandparents in one bedroom, parents and younger children distributed across the others, teenagers claiming the twins.

Throughout the villa, Wi-Fi keeps the outside world accessible without demanding attention. A colour TV, video player and stereo provide entertainment for quieter moments. A high chair and cot mean families with infants need not leave essential equipment at home. Storage exists where you expect it, and the layout flows without unnecessary corridors or dead-end rooms.

Outdoor Spaces and Living

The swimming pool—5 metres by 11 metres, with depth ranging from 1.1 to 1.7 metres—operates July and August and functions as the property’s focal point. Roman steps invite gradual entry, essential for children and those who prefer not to jump. The alarm system reassures parents without drawing attention to itself. Around the pool, several distinct outdoor zones emerge: the covered terrace offers shelter from afternoon heat, the poolside kitchen and WC mean no one needs to abandon aquatic pursuits for refreshment, and the games room (accessed directly from pool level) catches laughter and competition throughout the day.

The garden extends beyond the pool area, providing space to walk, breathe and remember why you came to the French countryside. A BBQ stands ready for evening dinners that taste better when cooked outside. This is the kind of outdoor arrangement where guests naturally split their days between sun, shade, water and games—each person finding their own rhythm without crowding anyone else’s.

Location: Gardonne and the Surrounding Area

Gardonne itself, just 3 kilometres from Les Gueybauds, offers the essentials of village life: bars where locals drink coffee in the morning and pastis in the afternoon, restaurants ranging from casual to ambitious, and shops where seasonal produce appears when it should. This proximity means you can walk to dinner without planning a logistics operation, a luxury often overlooked in rural French property rental.

Saint Foy la Grande, 8 kilometres away, functions as the next tier of civilisation—a small town with market squares, more substantial dining options, and the kind of local character that disappears from larger cities. The twice-weekly market here overflows with produce from surrounding farms, cheese wheels you cannot find anywhere else, and the sort of handcrafted goods (pottery, textiles, wooden implements) that remind you why travelling matters.

Bergerac, the regional hub at approximately 16 kilometres, splits into two distinct attractions. The airport here (Bergerac Dordogne Périgord Airport) handles international flights and sits roughly 20 minutes by car—manageable for arrivals without feeling urban. The city itself, built around the Dordogne river, offers museums dedicated to regional tobacco and wine industries that provide genuine insight into local history beyond tourism marketing. The real draw, however, lies in the wineries surrounding Bergerac: dozens of small producers in the Périgord wine region, many offering tastings and cellar visits where you learn not just to taste wine but to understand terroir—the specific combination of soil, slope and climate that makes one hillside’s wine distinct from its neighbour’s.

The Dordogne river itself runs nearby, approximately 4 kilometres from Gardonne, offering water sports, boat hire, and kayaking opportunities that range from leisurely float trips to more energetic paddling. Cycling routes throughout the region—including the famous Vélo 2000 which connects towns across multiple departments—pass near the villa, ranging from flat riverside paths to hillier routes through villages like Eymet and Issigeac (both approximately 12-15 kilometres away) famous for their medieval architecture and Saturday markets.

Golf courses dot the landscape within 15-30 kilometres: the Golf de Fontenille near Monfllanquin (28 kilometres) and smaller clubs closer by serve players of all abilities, while tennis courts and horse-riding centres cluster around the larger towns. For cultural immersion, the Château de Monbazillac (25 kilometres)—a Renaissance château producing distinctive sweet wine—combines architecture, wine tasting and views across the valley in a single visit.

The Dordogne river also borders dramatic natural attractions: limestone cliffs, hidden villages accessible by footpath, and swimming spots where the water runs clear enough to see the bottom. The region experiences warmest weather June through September, though May and October offer pleasant temperatures without summer crowds. July and August bring the most visitors but also guarantee the pool is open and outdoor restaurants are fully staffed.

For broader destination context, explore our Dordogne travel guide for in-depth recommendations. Browse our luxury villas in France for alternative properties across the country, or visit our European villa collection to discover similar properties in other regions.

Who This Villa Suits Best

Families with children gravitate toward Les Gueybauds naturally. The pool with alarm system, games room, high chair and cot address practical needs, while the layout—with multiple bathrooms and separate bedrooms across floors—prevents the constant proximity that frays tempers during long holidays. Children aged 5-14 find entertainment in the games room and pool; younger ones appreciate the contained garden and proximity to village restaurants where waiters bring children’s portions without question.

Groups of friends renting together find the four-bedroom arrangement works well for two couples or a mix of couples and single friends. The multiple bathrooms mean morning routines don’t bottleneck, and the games room extends social time into evening without forcing everyone into the same small sitting room.

Multi-generational groups—grandparents, parents, children—benefit from the distribution across three floors. Grandparents can claim a ground-floor or first-floor bedroom without climbing multiple staircases, while younger family members populate upper spaces. The sitting areas are numerous enough that adults can rest without abandoning the group entirely.

Couples seeking a quiet villa away from the village will find the gardens and outdoor spaces sufficient for privacy, though the lack of isolation (Gardonne is nearby, and neighbours exist) means this is not a completely secluded retreat. The wine-tasting opportunities and golf courses appeal to adults seeking structured activities beyond pool time and reading.

Practical Information

Les Gueybauds accommodates 8 guests across 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. The four bedrooms comprise two doubles on the first upper floor, one double and one twin on the second upper floor, allowing flexible sleeping arrangements for different group compositions.

The nearest airport is Bergerac Dordogne Périgord Airport, approximately 16 kilometres away with a driving time of roughly 20 minutes under normal traffic conditions. Car rental at the airport or advance arrangement of a transfer service is advisable, as public transport to Gardonne remains limited and walking distance from the airport is impractical.

The nearest supermarket is in Gardonne village itself, 3 kilometres away—close enough for a quick car trip or, for essential items, a local shop. Weekly markets in Saint Foy la Grande (8 kilometres) and Bergerac provide seasonal produce and speciality foods.

Included in the rental: Wi-Fi, use of the pool (open July and August), linen, towels, use of all kitchen equipment and appliances, the games room, access to the gardens and covered terrace. The pool heating, where applicable, forms part of the seasonal opening. Check-in flexibility depends on the booking schedule; advance communication with the on-site caretaker/owner can often accommodate earlier or later arrivals within reason.

Frequently Asked Questions about Les Gueybauds

How many guests does Les Gueybauds sleep?

Les Gueybauds sleeps 8 guests across 4 bedrooms. Two double bedrooms occupy the first upper floor, while the second upper floor contains one double and one twin bedroom. A high chair and cot are available for families with infants, though these do not increase the total guest count beyond 8 for comfort and facility purposes.

What is the nearest airport to Les Gueybauds in Gardonne?

Bergerac Dordogne Périgord Airport lies approximately 16 kilometres from the villa, roughly a 20-minute drive by car depending on traffic conditions. The airport handles both domestic and international flights through European carriers. Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport, a larger international hub, sits approximately 90 kilometres away with a driving time of around 90 minutes, making Bergerac the more practical choice for most travellers.

What is the best time of year to rent Les Gueybauds?

June through September offers warm, reliable weather with average temperatures between 20-27°C, perfect for pool use and outdoor living. July and August guarantee the pool is open and all local restaurants and attractions operate at full capacity, though these months bring higher visitor numbers to the region. May and October provide pleasant weather (15-22°C) with far fewer tourists, ideal for travellers seeking quieter exploration. April and November can be rainy and cool (8-17°C). December through March carries risk of wet weather and limited opening hours for attractions, making these months less suitable unless you prioritise solitude and don’t mind reduced amenities.

Is Les Gueybauds suitable for families with children?

Yes, substantially. The swimming pool features an alarm system for safety, Roman steps for gradual entry, and depths ranging from 1.1 to 1.7 metres accommodating swimmers of all abilities. A high chair and cot address families with infants. The games room provides weather-independent entertainment. Gardonne village, 3 kilometres away, contains family-friendly restaurants with established routines for younger diners. The nearby Dordogne river offers safe swimming spots, while cycling paths and walking routes provide age-appropriate activities. The property caretaker/owner on-site can advise on local family activities and emergency contacts.

What is included in the rental price at Les Gueybauds?

The rental includes Wi-Fi access throughout the villa, linen and towels, full use of all kitchen appliances (including dishwasher and washing machine), the colour TV and entertainment systems, the games room, access to gardens and covered terrace, and use of the swimming pool during its operational season (July and August). Utilities (water, electricity, gas) are included. The high chair and cot are available at no additional cost. Cleaning is typically included at the start and end of each booking; mid-week cleaning can be arranged for additional cost. Heating and pool heating operate seasonally.

What restaurants and shops are near Les Gueybauds?

Gardonne village, 3 kilometres away, contains several bars and restaurants where advance booking during peak season is advisable. Saint Foy la Grande, 8 kilometres distant, offers expanded dining options and hosts a significant market twice weekly (typically Tuesday and Saturday mornings) with fresh produce, cheeses, and local specialities. Bergerac, 16 kilometres away, contains numerous restaurants spanning casual bistros to more formal dining, plus supermarkets and speciality shops. For wine tastings and cellar visits, dozens of small producers operate within 15-25 kilometres of the villa, most offering tasting rooms with advance notice. Local recommendations from the on-site caretaker/owner prove invaluable for discovering less-known restaurants and producers favoured by residents rather than tourists.