Gîte Maison Vignoble

28/05/2023

❤🇫🇷TIME TO SAY A RELUCTANT AU REVOIR & THE VERY BIGGEST OF THANK YOU'S🇫🇷❤

As the famous saying goes, ''All good things must come to an end.'' After 10 years running Maison Vignoble as a Gite I am sad to announce its closure - the time has come for me to hang up my cleaning gear, shut down the booking calendar and to turn the key in the door for the last time.

This decision has certainly not been an easy one - when I welcomed my first guests back in May 2013 feeling a mixture of trepidation and nerves, I could never have imagined how successful Maison Vignoble would become, and how much I would enjoy running the Gîte ... I wanted to offer guests a special place to stay, that was welcoming and unique, sparkling clean and a home from home - could I manage it? Would they like it? Maison Vignoble has taught me skills I never otherwise would have learned, made me a more confident person and helped me meet lifelong friends. Yes, there were some tough, challenging days when I questioned continuing at all, but they were very few and far between, in the majority I have loved it - I have so enjoyed meeting people from all over the world and all walks of life, and seeing them enjoy both the house and exploring the area, departing refreshed and happy with fond memories, as well as the challenge(s) that running a Gîte brings. However, keeping Maison Vignoble up to my standards, to be the very best holiday home I can make it, also takes a lot of time and energy - between the Gîte and my full time job, I overdid things last year and my health suffered as a result, a wake up call that now is the time to finish and put myself first; to be the best it can be, a Gîte needs drive and energy, and I would hate to not be able to give what both the house and guests deserve.

So, I'd like to say the biggest of thank you's 🙏 - to all my guests since 2013, to fellow Gîte owner friends who have given me advice and help when I needed it and the courage to improve my Gîte, expand its reach and push myself to make it better and more successful with each passing year, and to my family and friends... without each and every one of YOU, and your support, Maison Vignoble would not have become such a success. Testament to that, I could more or less have booked out my 2023 calendar with returning guest bookings had I opened this year - what a high to end on!

I am immensely proud of Maison Vignoble and what I have achieved, and I'll look back on my my ownership with very happy memories... I shall certainly shed a few tears when I leave Maison Vignoble for the last time, it is a very special place and I'm not sure I will ever find another house like it, a house with a heart. I'll finish this farewell with four comments from special guests who wanted to return this year and which left me very touched. Thank you everyone for your support, thank you for the memories. Thank you for everything. ❤🙏❤

🔹️''I just want to say that myself and Kate have stayed in a variety of places over the years but we both agree that you were the kindest and most helpful host we have experienced. It was such a pleasure to meet you and get to know you and it goes without saying that we both wish you every happiness for the future''. 🔹️

🔹️ ''We enjoyed our stay very much and we both use the photos as screen savers on our computers to make us happy!'' 🔹️

🔹️ ''The nicest Gite we have ever stayed in, and a holiday we will never forget''. 🔹️

🔹️ ''The best place is the house - it has a place in our hearts''. 🔹️

01/01/2023

🎆🥂 HAPPY NEW YEAR! 🥂🎆

Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year and good health too for the year ahead! ! 🎆🍾🥂🌠

I took this image of a favourite tree at dawn back in July which I walk past most mornings - it seems a fitting image for a post about new beginnings. 2022 was a great, although sometimes challenging year for me and Maison Vignoble, but meeting so many great people and thanks to the kindness and help of some lovely people too made it another special and successful year to remember. Looking forward to the year ahead!

Bonne Année et Bonne Santé! 🎆🍾🥂🌠🇫🇷

31/12/2022

📸🎉🎉 INSTAGRAM TOP NINE 2022🎉🎉📸

The Instagram account was created with the aim of promoting not just the cottage, but the magnificent area and talented photographers who capture its outstanding beauty... a post every day, and a few of my own too. Instagram has certainly inspired an interest in photography that I didn't know I had and even more of a passion for the Nouvelle Aquitaine region of France. 📸🖼🇫🇷

A huge thank you 🙏🙏🙏 in particular to , .tineur, ,
🌟, , , .pics, , , , , , , , , , , , ,
, , , , and for their support and allowing me to share their photography multiple times this year... if you are an Instagram user, give their accounts a follow, all are very talented and post beautiful images of the region. 🇫🇷

So, here are my ! 😃📸💖

1. 📸 - Chevreuil
2 .📸 - Bourdeilles -
3. 📸 - Ségur-le-Château-
4. 📸 - Périgueux, Cathédrale Saint-Front -
5. 📸 - Ségur-le-Château - .bel
6. 📸 - Château de Puyguilhem - .bousser
7. 📸 - Brantôme - .ward86
8. 📸 Bourdeilles -
9. 📸 - Château de Jumilhac -

24/12/2022

The resident Maison Vignoble Robin and I wish everyone a very Happy Christmas! Joyeux Noël et Bonnes Fêtes! 🎅🎄🦌☃️🎁🌟

21/12/2022

The magic of Christmas in the city of Périgueux, capital of the Dordogne. Christmas festivities here begin at the end of November, and continue through until early January. Whilst Périgueux is a beautiful city to visit at any time of the year, a trip around Christmas time is extra special - browse the fantastic Marché de Noël (Christmas market) and city shops, and view the spectacular festive lights and decorations at night. 🎅🎄🍷

Des étoiles plein les yeux, Périgueux noël 2022.

Dordogne Périgord Tourisme
Just My Périgord
Ville de Périgueux
Office de Tourisme Intercommunal du Grand Périgueux
VIPérigueux
Périgueux Actus
Pxinfos
Just My Périgord

30/11/2022

The beautiful walled town of Rochechouart, twenty minutes drive from Maison Vignoble, is watched over by its own stunning Château which dates back to the 13th century. Whilst part of the building is taken over by the local council, you can visit the Museum of Modern Art which is housed within the Château de Rochechouart and its gardens. The collection of Art is relatively big and there is often a temporary exhibition to view.

19/11/2022

Exciting news that the 8th stage of the Tour de France 2023 is passing not far from Maison Vignoble on Saturday 8th July 2023! Catch it during a visit to Brantôme, or at the villages of Abjat sur Bandiat, Saint-Saud-Lacoussiere, Champs Romain, Dournazac or Bussiere-Galant, all of which are in a 15 to 30 minute radius of Maison Vignoble. 😃🚵‍♂️🇫🇷

🚴🏽‍♂️ 🤩 Tour de France 2023, samedi 8 juillet : la 8e étape entre Libourne et Limoges traversera le canton du Perigord Vert Nontronnais, et passera par St Front la Rivière, St Pardoux la Rivière, Champs Romain, Abjat sur Bandiat et St Saud Lacoussière
Plus d’informations à venir !

15/11/2022

The village of Piégut is only 7 minutes drive from Maison Vignoble - it might not be big, but the town is famous across the region for its large general market held every Wednesday morning throughout the year; bustling with activity and a huge array of stalls selling everything from fruit and vegetables to beautiful local artisan crafts, it really is not to be missed! The town also has two boulangeries, shops, a supermarket and a few restaurants to choose from. The castle of Piégut-Pluviers was destroyed in 1199 by Richard the Lionheart (Richard I of England), and today only the Tower remains as shown in these terrific images by Declic & Decolle; after leaving the castle, he was later killed at the local town of Châlus, and you can follow a marked 'Richard the Lionheart' trail through the region.

08/11/2022

I walk past this tree 🌳 most days - the skies are a bit grey today (as you can see from the photo!) but for me, it illustrates perfectly Autumn 2022 🍂 in this region of France. Half and half, losing its leaves but clinging on to the rest as if unsure whether it should lose the remainder; this is perfectly natural of course, but it could be forgiven for being uncertain!
Indian summer? Definitely. After a very dry and hot summer, Autumn is continuing with little rain and in the main exceptionally warm temperatures for the time of year... the grass is growing like Springtime, 20°c and sunshine is forecast for the coming weekend, the flowers are still blooming and I have never seen the water levels so low this late in the year. A little rain is forecast next week with slightly cooler temperatures, maybe Autumn is finally properly arriving?

01/11/2022

Beautiful Autumn colours in Brantôme 🍂🧡

𝕍𝕠𝕤 𝕚𝕟𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕤 𝕖𝕟 ℙé𝕣𝕚𝕘𝕠𝕣𝕕
📍Brantôme 📍
❇️ Photo signée 📸🍁merci pour ce beau partage ✅
❇️
:  c'est  votre Périgord au travers  de vos photos.
❇️
➡️ Suivez-nous et partagez vos plus beaux instants du Périgord en utilisant
ou 🏰pour être sélectionné
🔶
📷 Sélection par ✅
⚪
 

10/10/2022

The stunning Gare de Limoges Bénédictins train station in Limoges has just won 'The Most Beautiful Train Station in France' Award - a very well deserved win! Magnificent both inside and out, put it on your list of places to visit during a day out in the city of Limoges.

[ PLUS BELLE GARE DE FRANCE 🚉 ]

Grâce à vous et à votre soutien, notre gare de Limoges Bénédictins remporte la première place du concours et devient la : une véritable fierté 🤩

📸 : Loïc Lagarde Photography

Gares & Connexions⎢Limoges Tourisme ⎢Département de la Haute-Vienne

27/09/2022

🌸 THANK YOU 🌸

Apologies for posting less often than usual in recent weeks.

October is almost upon us, and slowly the weather is starting to feel a little bit Autumnal with finally some significant rain in the forecast (the first in months) which should help to ease the severe drought conditions across the region and much of France. The change of season also means the end of the 2022 Gite season at Maison Vignoble, busy from early Spring I decided some months ago to close the cottage to bookings a little earlier than usual this year. Season 2022 has certainly been challenging but in the most part very enjoyable - sincere thanks to everyone who chose to book their holiday at Maison Vignoble, and who helped make it my second busiest season ever; yet again I have been lucky to meet and welcome some lovely guests this year - the record breaking summer of heat and the aforementioned drought has meant people enjoyed some beautiful weather during their stays, always the icing on the cake to a good holiday!

Finally, special thanks to my father Les and to Carol and Mark who exceptionally kindly stepped in for September and finished the season for me when I became unwell and unable to do the changeovers - lifesavers (literally!), and to whom I am incredibly grateful indeed. Thank you everyone. 😊💖🇫🇷