Maison Montruf
a Luxury holiday home in the heart of the Perigord Noir
Maison Montruf is a traditional Perigordian home located within a UNESCO World Heritage Site and dates back to the 12th century. The house has been lovingly restored and is bursting with character, retaining much of its history with thick honey coloured stone walls, exposed oak beams and terraces. The property is ideally suited to either large families or friendship groups.
The house accomodates a maximum of 8 people plus babies. With 5 spacious bedrooms it offers great flexibility for multi-generational families. 4 of the bedrooms have ensuite bathrooms the 5th bedroom is right next to the family bathroom. The beds are 1 x super king-size, 3 x king-size and 1 x twin singles. The house also has two large living rooms, a farmhouse kitchen diner and even boasts a room with a full size pool table.
Outside there is a private 12 x 5 metre heated salt water swimming pool with security cover and a sunbathing terrace with views across the Vézère valley.
Equipped to a very high standard throughout Maison Montruf is available to rent exclusively for a limited period during the summer.
Maison Montruf
Maison Montruf is located in Peyzac Le Moustier, a tiny village overlooking the valley of the river Vézère and the La Roque Saint-Christophe; home to the largest Troglodyte settlement in the West and dates back 55,000 years.
At the end of a short lane, automatic gates provide access to the house and garden, which are private and secure. The village of St Léon sur Vézère is just 3km away and offers a wide choice of restaurants from riverside cafes to fine dining. Fresh bread and pastries, a key part of any French holiday, are less than 5 minutes away by car.
Your hosts Paul & Charlotte live on site in a lodge in the grounds with their two soppy Flat Coated Retrievers. On hand if necessary, they can answer any questions and provide concierge services if required.
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The House
“Wow!” was our first reaction when we walked into Maison Montruf and this is typically the same response we hear from visitors. The combination of the bespoke oak kitchen, Italian tiled floors, the stone walls, beams and wooden ceilings create a wonderful colour pallet and the thick walls feel like they are cocooning you from the world.
The house in summary:
- 5 Bedrooms - Max 8 Guests + babies
- 5 Bathrooms: 4 ensuite and 1 family
- 12 x 5m Heated Salt Water Swimming Pool with Security Cover
- 2 x Salons
- Internet via Fibre
- UK & French TV with Netflix
- Sonos Sound System
- Dedicated Workspace
- Pool Table
- Table Tennis
- Gas and Charcoal BBQ's
- Laundry Room
- Conciege Service
Picture Gallery
Floor Plans
The bespoke kitchen (40m2) with its stone worktops, sink and island is complemented by modern German appliances (induction hob, large oven, and microwave) will enable you to convert the great local produce into fabulous meals. The integrated dishwasher then makes cleaning up simple. You will find fresh vegetables and herbs in the garden and we provide some store cupboard essentials. The “Bean to Cup” Delonghi coffee maker delivers you with that all important coffee to complement your morning croissant.
The large kitchen table comfortably seats 8 and is just one of 3 dining tables to choose from, the other 2 are outdoors, the closest of which is on the gallery terrace. Just a few steps away from the kitchen this terrace with its retractable awning overlooks the swimming pool and garden. It is a great place to have an informal lunch or breakfast. The final dining table is in the open barn and is a firm favourite for evening meals and drinks.
The pigeonnier is just off the kitchen and contains the cloakroom (the “loo with a view”) and a ladder providing access to a small balcony which provides an elevated view across the valley and garden. Somewhere for two to sit and enjoy reading a book or that sundowner.
There are two sitting rooms at Maison Montruf, the upper salon is immediately off the kitchen with large comfortable sofas to sink into and relax. Both UK and French TV is available along with Netflix, Apple TV and a DVD Player and Sonos wireless system (there are 5 Sonos speakers around the house) so all of your audio/visual entertainment requirements should be met.
The downstairs salon is a wonderfully cool room with double doors leading out to the gardens. It has two leather chesterfield sofas, UK TV with DVD player, DVD & book library and a Nintendo games console. There is also an office desk in case you cannot entirely escape those work e-mails or video calls (fibre based internet coupled with multiple wireless access points around the house ensure good coverage and speed despite the thick walls). You enter the salon from games room which is home to a full size pool table.
Maison Montruf has 5 bedrooms, the master suite is located on the ground floor. Originally the kitchen to one of the houses it has a large fireplace and ancient stone sink as features, as well as a painted arched window. A super king-size bed, separate dressing room and ensuite with walk in shower and roll top bath complete the master suite.
There are three bedrooms on the 1st floor, all of which have beamed ceilings with chandeliers. Two have en-suite shower rooms, the third is right next to the family shower room. One of the rooms is configured with twin single beds, the other two have king-sized beds.
The final bedroom is on the lower ground floor. It has a large fireplace and its own private entrance to the lower garden. It also has a large en-suite with walk in shower.
The utility room, with direct access to the swimming pool area, houses a washing machine, tumble drier and most importantly a wine cooler/drinks fridge, because you are on holiday after all.
The 1-acre garden is completely secure (to keep the wildlife out, not you in). The walled garden is right outside the house and contains the swimming pool with its soft liner and carefully designed travertine sun terrace equipped with ample sun loungers, seating and parasols, it is an ideal place to spend the day.
As Maison Montruf is on the side of a west facing hill, the garden has a number of amazing vistas. It is also a haven for birds and insects, some birds nest in the walls of the house and barn, others in the trees in the copse and a myriad of insects feed on the lavender plants that grow so well here in France. If you are lucky you will hear a Golden Oriel, you will certainly hear the Nuthatches and Woodpeckers that live locally. You may also spot small lizards sunbathing on the walls in the garden.
The grounds also contain ruins of the original village. The classroom of the old school house makes an ideal spot for the table tennis table.
The Local Area
Location, Location, Location!! Maison Montruf is located within the Dordogne “Golden Triangle” and as such all of the major attractions and towns are within an hour of Maison Montruf. Below is just a small selection, we will provide you with further detailed information pertinent to the dates of your stay closer to your arrival:
Local Towns
Saint Léon sur Vézère is just 3 kms away and is classified among the Most Beautiful Villages of France. It has all the charm of a medieval village of the Périgord Noir with its soft coloured stone, lauze roofs, its maze of couredous (narrow streets) and the tranquillity of the river. There is a wide choice of restaurants and cafes to suit all tastes and budgets. Or, there is the Marché Gourmand. Each Thursday evening during July and Aug, the village boules court is set with long tables, take wine, water, bread and cutlery with you then buy a dish of your choice from the various stalls and dine at the communal tables whilst enjoying the entertainment.
Montignac (15 kms) is the closest town. It has a wide selection of stores for all your shopping needs including a large supermarket, bio shop, pharmacy etc. It is also home to the world-famous Lascaux caves, which contain stunning Upper Palaeolithic painted art estimated to be 17,300 years old. The old town is a maze of streets with fourteenth- to sixteenth-century timbered houses. Throughout the year Montignac has a twice weekly market on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Montignac is also one of the places you can hire a canoe to start your river adventure.
Sarlat Because modern history has largely passed it by, Sarlat has remained exquisitely preserved and is one of the town’s most representative of 14th century France. Its historic centre, with 77 protected monuments, was added to France’s Tentative List for future nomination as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2002. This medieval town is a foodies’ paradise with a local produce market on Wednesdays, which features again on a Saturday morning at the full market. Buy yourself a pastry at one of the stalls, then sit at one of the cafes with a coffee and watch the world go by.
Périgueux is the administrative capital of the region. It is known for the landmark Saint-Front Cathedral, with domes and turrets. The Vesunna Gallo-Roman Museum contains an excavated Roman house with the remains of baths and murals. The Périgord Museum of Art and Archaeology has ancient artifacts, African sculptures and modern paintings. Throughout the summer Perigueux hosts mime and street theatre festivals, as well as concerts, and of course it has great markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Local Attractions
Ancient History
Maison Montruf overlooks Roque Saint-Christophe which is the largest and oldest cave dwelling site in the West. These natural caves were occupied by man in prehistoric times then modified to become a fortress and a city in the Middle Ages and is considered to be a jewel of troglodyte architecture. The Roque is where the human adventure began in Périgord 55,000 years ago.
Maison Fort de Reignac is a unique cliff castle, surrounded by a halo of mystery and is the last intact illustration of a tumultuous period of the History of France.
Caves
In addition to Lascaux there are a number of other caves in the area including.
Font de Gaume is considered to be the foremost site of polychrome cave painting in France. Some 250 engraved and painted figures have been identified, including bison, horses, mammoths, woolly rhinoceroses, and a wolf.
Le Gouffre de Proumeyssac, the crystal caves with spectacular stalactites and stalagmites. For the brave you can be lowered into the cave “in a basket”.
Châteaux
There are countless châteaux in the area all worth visiting, to name but a few within 45 minutes’ drive (and in no particular order) are:
Château Milandes (built 1489) the home of Josephine Baker, the American born entertainer and French resistance fighter.
Château de Beynac, the most authentic and best-preserved Fortress of the Perigord.
Castlenaud Founded in the 12th century, it is a perfect example of a medieval fortress. Today, the Château houses an important collection of weapons and armour.
Gardens
Marqueyssac is a 17th-century château and gardens located at Vézac, with beautiful sculptured box hedging and incredible views over the Dordogne valley
Gardens d’Eyrignac with 300 spectacular plant sculptures hand-carved by 6 gardeners working with hand shears, cords and plumb lines.
The Jardins d’imaginaire combines the art of gardens with the history of humanity with 2,000 roses, 20,000 perennials, 2,500 boxwood plants, 120 water jets, over 150 plant species, 8,000 trees and shrubs including rare species, a plant tunnel and water gardens.
Local Activities
There are many activities available here in the Dordogne. Here are just some ideas and if anything particularly catches your interest, we can provide you with a more detailed information ahead of your stay.
There are a number of directed walks within the area that you can follow or you can simply step out of the back gate straight onto the GR36, turn right for Brittany, or left for Spain if you are feeling very energetic. Or you can simply follow the path as far as St Léon for a coffee or ice cream. Alternatively, in Montignac you can go for a walk with a donkey who will carry your bags or young child.
This is also a great area for cycling either on road or VTT. Electric road bikes are available for hire in Montignac or Rouffignac for those who are not keen on steep hills. There are also many companies that offer canoeing either on the Vézère or the Dordogne rivers so it’s easy to find one that will meet your needs.
There are a number of stables nearby that offer horse riding and we are not too far away from a number of golf courses.
There are water parks, aquariums and local spectaculars as well as Hot Air Balloon trips, Microlite and Helicopter flights for those that want to see the world from a different angle.
Your Stay
We do our upmost to ensure you have a wonderful holiday here at Maison Montruf.
Always happy to advise
We live on-site, in a lodge within the grounds. We are discrete and your holiday will be totally private, however we are on hand if you need any advice on what to do or where to go.
Dining Services
For that special occasion why not consider a private chef who will create a bespoke meal for you at Maison Montruf.
Bedding and towels
All the bed linen is 100% Egyptian cotton and the bath towels are also pure cotton. We also provide towels for the pool and canoeing trips. For longer stays the bed linen and towels are refreshed weekly on request.
Young children
To ensure you don’t have to bring too much with you, we provide a travel cot with mattress and linen, high chairs, children’s cutlery, plates and bowls, baby bath, and some toys and books, indoor and outdoor games. Stair gates can be installed on request.
From the garden
There are fruit and nut trees, a herb garden and a small vegetable patch in the garden, please help us by helping yourselves! We also provide store cupboard essentials for cooking.
Toiletries
Premium toiletries from The White Company are provided in the bathrooms (soaps, shower gel/shampoo, conditioner and body lotion) and cleansing hand soap in the kitchen.
Cleaning products
Dishwasher tablets, washing-up liquid, laundry detergents and other cleaning products are provided for your stay.
Cleaning at the end of your stay
Cleaning at the end of your stay is included within the rental charge, but we do ask that you leave the house in a clean and tidy state.
Arrival and departure
The property will be available to you from 4.00 p.m. on your day of arrival until 10.00 a.m. on the day of departure.
We are sorry but pets are not permitted
Please do not smoke in the house
Photos and Floor Plans
Rates and Availability
We are sorry, but Maison Montruf is now fully booked for the 2024 season. If we were to recieve a cancellation then we will post this on our Instagram feed.
Our 2025 calendar and pricing will be announced this May.
If you are looking for holiday in this region then please find below some other fantastic properties we recommend you check out!!
- Le Mas and Le Mazet – a 5 star property that sleeps from 2 to 13 people near Monpazier
- Domaine de La Banne – a 4 star property that sleeps up to 6 people near Belves
- Le Sorbier – a 4 star property that sleeps up to 10 people just outside Montignac
- Les Charmes de Carlucet – 5 star accomodation with two properties, one sleeps up to 7 and the other 5 and is located between Sarlat and Montignac
Availability Calendar
Booking Enquiry
Included within your rental fee
- Bed linen, bathroom & pool towels
- End-of-stay clean
- Tourist tax
- Heating of the pool
- Wi-Fi
- Toiletries
- Utilities: water; electricity; heating (low season)
- Gas for the barbecue
- Essential store cupboard ingredients
- Cleaning products & detergents
- Concierge service
Payments
An initial payment of 30% is required to secure your booking and the balance is due 12 weeks before arrival, we will send out the reminder when it is due. If you are booking within 12 weeks before your arrival then the full payment is required at the time of booking.
Security Deposit
We ask for a refundable security deposit of €300. Your security deposit will be refunded within 48 hours of your departure.
Cancellation
If you do need to cancel, we will try our best to re-let the property, and if successful we will refund your payment in full less any expense or loss incurred by us.
Where are we?
Contact Us
If you would like more information or have specific needs then please do not hesitate to contact us.
- bonjour@montruf.com
- +33 (0)6 84 09 11 06
- Impasse de la Source, 24620, Peyzac Le Moustier, Aquitaine, France
Paul & Charlotte
Having moved from the UK in December 2017 we spent the first few years enjoying France and making the perfect holiday home for you. Our ambition was to create something more than a “Gite”, somewhere special, somewhere you will love and want to return to.
Maison Montruf’s first guests arrived in 2021 and since then every guest has agreed that we have achieved our ambitionand many now return.
After first holidaying in the area in 2008, moving here became our 2020 “escape plan”. Only after moving here from the Cotswolds. did we truly appreciate what an amazing place it is to live. We fell in love with the house and views at first sight and have never regretted our decision to leave our 9-5’s in the UK and create Maison Montruf. Previously, Paul worked for a Global IT company and Charlotte an F1 team so we have both travelled extensivly, but here is the only place we would have left the UK for.
We really look forward to welcoming you to Maison Montruf, you never know it may become the inspiration for your “escape plan”.
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