Rent La Tour Des Vignes Aquitaine France

In the heart of the Gironde, this enchanting 18th century windmill stands amongst the vineyards and enjoys endless countryside views, near some of south-west France’s most charming medieval villages and market towns.
Sleeps 4.
The sails of the windmill may be gone but the sense of history and character certainly hasn’t. The moulin has been beautifully restored into a unique bolthole where a small group of friends or family can appreciate the tranquillity of this special setting. On the ground floor you’ll step into a bespoke oak kitchen with an old stone sink alongside modern appliances, ideal for preparing breakfast and simple meals – after all, this is where the vine workers used to enjoy their lunch on cooler days.
The windmill’s original steep stone stairs lead up to a charming small twin – open the bedroom windows and be greeted by views of magical vineyards. At the very top of the home, in the original sail room, you have 360 degree vistas of the Gironde countryside as you laze on the circular settee, perhaps with a glass of local wine, playing board games and spending cosy evenings with your loved ones.
That said, in the warmer months it’s all about appreciating the outdoors whether dipping into the pretty swimming pool, lounging on the sun-beds or preparing relaxing meals by the barbecue. Listen out for the chirping of the birds or the sounds of the farmers in the vineyards, as you revel in this countryside setting. Spend time in the rather luxurious hot tub before huddling by the fire-pit as the night falls and the bright stars come out.
The owners have also recently added a wonderful garden annexe, allowing guests to enjoy this tranquil setting from a light-filled lounge and sliding doors leading to a gorgeous terrace. An attic-style bedroom with a king-size bed can be found above, via a drop-down ladder, allowing this magical abode to sleep up to four guests.
This is a true beauty spot in a privileged position, yet despite its feeling of seclusion, you’re not far from a pretty bastide village with a wonderful patisserie and boulangerie as well as cafes and a great weekly market. Indeed, this region is filled with market towns, wine-villages and beautiful landscapes, perfect for keen cyclists and walkers.
You can canoe on the nearby Garonne or the Dordogne, explore the amazing towns of Saint-Émilion or Bergerac, visit the famous wineries around the grand city of Bordeaux or even travel as far as the stunning beaches of the Atlantic coast.
La Tour Des Vignes offers character and charm in a beautiful setting in this mesmerising part of southern France.
This is characterful living at its best – winding, steep and open-sided stone staircases and wooden trap doors lead to each of the windmill’s four floors/rooms.
The double bedroom, part of the garden annexe, is situated above the lounge (with a low/sloping ceiling) and accessed via a drop-down ladder.
Indeed, please refer to the ‘Features’ tab for full details of the layout of this unique property and note it is not suitable for younger children or guests with restricted mobility.
There is also a sofa-bed in the garden annexe’s lounge, available on request only.
Main Windmill Interiors
Each floor is reached via winding, steep, open-sided stone steps and working trap doors
Ground Floor
– Kitchen including an American fridge, 5-ring gas hob, small oven, microwave and toaster
First Floor
– Twin bedroom with sink built into the wall
Second Floor
– Sail room with space for two folding chair-beds (on request)
Basement
– Shower room (with small above ground window)
Garden Annexe Interiors (attached to windmill)
Ground Floor
– Garden lounge with two folding chair-beds (on request) and doors opening up to terrace
– Shower room
First Floor (low and sloping ceiling, accessed via drop-down ladder)
– Bedroom with king-size double bed and large star-gazing velux window
Outside Grounds
– Swimming pool (10mx5m, kidney shape with jacuzzi feature by steps) with safety alarm. Open May to September
– BBQ
– Small table and two chairs
– Fire-pit
– Hot tub
Facilities
– Wi-Fi
– Heating
– Satellite TV
– DVD player
– Books
– Board games
– Hot tub
– Washing machine (in a converted outbuilding)
La Tour Des Vignes is set in a pretty vineyard which enjoys beautiful countryside views all around. It’s only a short drive from a local village and is located in the Gironde department, south-western France, just over an hour from Bordeaux.
There’s a very picturesque bastide town less than a ten-minute drive away where you will find a good variety of cafes and shops. It’s particularly atmospheric on a Friday morning when the weekly market takes place and you can buy all sorts of wonderful local produce to cook in your windmill kitchen. Keen cyclists could ride there, if they don’t mind the hills.
On the Garonne river, the larger town of La Réole (16km), is around a twenty-minute drive away. The town dates back to the 12th century and you can admire its history through the half-timbered houses and beautiful historic architecture as you explore its narrow lanes. If you are visiting during July and August, be sure to look out for one of the town’s night markets where you will find amazing local food stalls, good wine and live music – a great evening out.
Duras (14km), in the Lot-et-Garonne region, is another great place to sample local wine from the Côtes de Duras or just spend time in the cafes, restaurants and twice-weekly Farmer’s market in this pretty town. Duras also hosts great night markets in the height of the summer.
The Dordogne region can be reached in around thirty minutes where there are many more idyllic towns and villages to discover. Canoe on the river Dordogne near Sainte-Foy-la-Grande (25km) or explore the pretty towns of Eymet (35km) and Issigeac (56km). The wine-town of Bergerac (50km) is also under an hour away, with its famous Maisons des Vins and beautiful buildings.
Heading west, a trip to the hilltop town of Saint-Émilion (38km) is a must for any wine-lovers whilst Bordeaux (90km) and its vineyards can also be reached for a superb day out. Carry on further and you could be dining with family or friends, savouring fresh oysters and white wine looking out towards the bay of Arcachon (125km) or running down the huge dunes on the coast.