Please select any picture on the page below to see a larger view
About Us & Le Salidou holiday villa (gite) near Sarlat
The history of Le Salidou - from country cottage to superior self-catering
Le Salidou began 300 years ago as a simple stone house, a tied cottage to the Chateau du Repaire, with an attached cow barn, in about six acres of land, three of which are woodland. It comprises of about 450 square metres (4500 sq ft) of living space, the older part of the house having one-metre (3 feet) thick walls.
A new wing was added some fifteen years ago by the previous American owners, who owned the property for twenty-five years. The new wing was constructed by local artisans using material salvaged from the old church of St Aubin de Nabirat which was 500 years old. The house still retains its old character whilst incorporating modern American ideas.
A real home-from-home away from home!
Le Salidou is furnished and equipped as a permanent home, including many antiques and collectibles on a variety of themes. As a result, the house doesn't have that awful "furnished-as-a-holiday-rental-property" feeling that so many vacation rentals (unfortunately) have. It feels like a real home because it is a real home!
Gîtes
We don't generally refer to le Salidou as a gîte because that name doesn't really seem to fit. People often think of gîtes as being rather 'basic' in terms of facilities, even though many gîtes nowadays are very well kept and equipped. As you will see if you have looked around our web site, Le Salidou is far from being 'basic' and so we tend not to use the name 'gîte'. Whatever we call it - holiday villa, holiday rental, holiday home, self-catering villa and so on - one thing is certain; le Salidou offers outstanding accommodation for a wonderful self-catering holiday in the gorgeous Perigord Noir area of Dordogne in south west France.
About us: Our journey from Yorkshire to the Dordogne
We are Bernard and Pat Raikes and for many years we ran a Bed & Breakfast in South Yorkshire. At the time, this was one of only two establishments in the whole of the Yorkshire Tourist Board touring map to have been awarded Five Diamonds, Silver Award Guest Accommodation status. In 2004 we decided to retire from B & B and move to the warmer climate of France. Our aim was to provide the same high standards of comfort and service, in wonderful surroundings, on a self-catering basis to discerning guests.
We were looking for a spacious house, in a lovely location, with lots of character and ample space inside and out. It took us some time to find it, but eventually we bought Le Salidou. Our lovely home stands in its own 6 acres of land, complete with private swimming pool, in St Aubin de Nabirat in the Dordogne, in the south west of France.
The whole house is available to let as a superior self catering holiday home, for up to 12 guests (+2: please enquire ). The emphasis is on the very highest standards of quality and comfort, and the house is the perfect place for an extended family or small group of adults to enjoy a self-catering holiday in France, in a civilised and relaxed ambience.
Privacy = Tranquillity = Total Relaxation!
We will be on hand if you need any local information or help, and to discreetly service the house, pool and grounds, however, we understand the meaning of "privacy". If we are fulfilling our role properly, you will hardly notice us as we keep things spick and span and running smoothly. If you're in the mood to chat and find out more about the local area, that's fine and we'd be happy to give you the benefit of our local knowledge. The choice is yours!
Disabled Access
There are two ground floor bedrooms which are accessible to wheelchair users and others with mobility problems, and one of these rooms has direct access to the poolside area (no steps but slight slope) at the rear of the property.
Nearest Airports
Within 10 kms of Gourdon, Sarlat and Domme, the house is easily accessed via the airports of Bergerac, Limoges, Rodez and Toulouse - please see our maps & directions page for details of distances from airports and how to find low cost flights to Dordogne from the UK
