Rent Moulin Des Libellules France

Walk over the wooden bridge and be enchanted by the setting of Moulin des Libellules on a small island on the Dronne River. With river access all around you, look out for kingfishers, carp and dragonflies at this idyllic retreat on the Dordogne and Charente border, a short walk from a traditional village, little shop and restaurant-bar.

Hear the village’s 12th-century church bells ring as you picnic in the garden, swim in the river or simply relax by the river’s edge. The characterful house comfortably sleeps up to 10 guests across its seven bedrooms, five with king-size double beds and two single rooms, alongside four bathrooms (one en suite). This is a genuine home-from-home with comfortable furnishings, attractive decor and interesting objets d’art.

The living spaces across Moulin des Libellules allow you to spend quality time with loved ones. Sit back with family and friends across the living-dining room, chill out in the TV lounge or make the most of the grand salon. Gather in the superbly restored pigeonnier, now a fun-filled games room near the swimming pool with its full-sized snooker table, table football and table tennis.

There are several places to dine al fresco including an especially lovely spot around an olive tree near the barbecue and swimming pool accompanied by the scent of summer jasmine. Laze back in one of the garden’s hammocks or head out in the rowing boat – there is also seasonal canoe/kayak hire within a very short stroll.

When not relaxing by the riverside, there’s plenty to explore across the Charente, Dordogne and beyond. Discover the art galleries, restaurants and café terraces of Aubeterre-sur-Dronne around 20 minutes away, classified as one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’, and experience one of the Périgord’s most famous markets in Ribérac on a Friday morning.

A little further afield, fall in love with riverside Brantôme and its famous abbey, sample some of France’s finest wine at prestigious châteaux in Saint-Émilion or spend the day in the heart of the Dordogne and you admire the grand architecture, vibrant markets and wonderful restaurants of Périgueux, merely an hour away from your charming riverside moulin in southwestern France.

Moulin Interiors (across two floors with two staircases)

–    Open-plan living and dining area
–    TV lounge
–    Second dining area
–    Kitchen, well-equipped
–    5 x bedrooms with king-size double bed
–    Single bedroom with double bed
–    Single bedroom with single bed
–    Bathroom with bath, shower and WC
–    3 x bathrooms with shower and WC
–    Guest WC

One of the bathrooms is en suite to one of the bedrooms

Pigeonnier (near the swimming pool)

–    Games area with full-size slate-bed snooker table, table football and table tennis
–    Loft-style reading lounge (via steep open-tread stairs)

Outside Grounds

–    Swimming pool (14x8m, depth: 0.75-3m) with safety alarm. Open approximately June to mid-October
–    Poolside terrace with outdoor furnishings
–    Three areas for outdoor dining
–    Barbecue
–    Garden and picnic area
–    Boules
–    Bikes
–    Open-river access
–    Rowing boat

In the Périgord Vert by the Dordogne and Charente border, this incredible property is located on its own little island on the Dronne River, reached on foot via a bridge. Here you are just over an hour from the airports in Bordeaux and Bergerac. Alternatively, guests can take the regional train from Chalais to Angoulême for TGV connections to Paris. 

There are various open access spots to the river for swimming as well as amazing wildlife all around. Just a very short stroll away is a centre for canoe and kayak hire (open seasonally, reservations are usually required). It’s around a 10-minute walk (no pavement) along the main road or short drive to a traditional little village with a shop selling bread, a butchers and a restaurant-bar. From Moulin des Libellules you can hear the bells from the village’s 12th century church twice a day.

The small market town of Chalais (8.5km) is home to a large supermarket as well as small shops selling lovely local produce and a bustling Monday morning market. Another superb market to experience is Ribérac (28km) on a Friday morning, one of the largest in the Périgord.

Aubeterre-sur-Dronne (19km) is classified as one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’, so loved for its pretty houses, galleries, café terraces. Further afield, the handsome town of Brantôme (66km) is a wonderful day out with its old town, canoeing/kayaking, riverside walks and the impressive L’Abbaye de Brantôme.

For a change of scene, experience the beauty of the Charente as you visit the distilleries, charming old town and high-end restaurants of Cognac (70km) or head to some of France’s finest wine châteaux in Saint-Émilion (45km) and the surrounding Bordeaux wine region.

Meanwhile, the handsome cities of Périgueux (66km) and Angoulême (56km) both make fine days out in southwestern France or venture to Bordeaux (84km) for its grand architecture, markets, wine-museums and boat trips along the Garonne River.