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DOMAINE DE L'ORANGERIE

It is difficult to imagine a more beautiful region of France than the Dordogne, and within the Dordogne, a more lovely and tranquil place to be than Domaine de l’Orangerie. Its enormous grounds (35 hectares, more than 86 acres) assure complete privacy and silence, just as its pool, tennis court and sumptuously furnished six-bedroom manor house assure that guests have at their disposal all the necessities for a leisured vacation in the lap of comfort. The property is all the more remarkable for being within a brief drive of the most interesting town in the Dordogne, Sarlat-la-Canéda.

Domaine de l'Orangerie is actually three 18th-century farmhouses that were joined together as one contiguous structure in the 1980s. The architect took advantage of existing open spaces, high ceilings, exposed stone walls and exposed ceiling and wall beams to create an ambiance that is sophisticated yet evocative of the historic countryside where the property is situated. One particularly intriguing detail is a point in the upstairs hall where exposed vertical beams separate one wing of the house from another. Other interesting architectural features are the sitting area before an immense fireplace in the kitchen, the master bedroom with its sunken bathtub, and the airy glassed-in sun porch that forms the entrance hall of the house.

Another architectural achievement is the clever manner in which the layout of space and facilities assures privacy for guests at the property. A by-product of joining three separate houses is that the bedrooms are well away from the common rooms, which allows guests to play music or continue a lively dinner party without disturbing people who want to turn in early. Likewise the 6 m X 13.5 m (19.5' X 44') pool and its poolhouse are well separated from the house and concealed from view by a tall hedge. And the tennis court has been carved into a hillside so that people enjoying the main terrace do not have their view of the magnificent countryside interrupted by activities on the court.

The property is entered by a long driveway that passes the caretaker's residence on the way to the main house. From the glass entry hall there are vistas of the rolling hills. The common rooms lie on one side of the foyer, and the wing containing the bedrooms on the other. At the end of a wide hall from the foyer there is a guest lavatory. Discreetly concealed in a wall of closets in dark wood there is a wet bar.

The common rooms

The spacious living room has several different sitting areas, all positioned to emphasize the exposed rafters and especially the huge picture window that overlooks the hills of this beautiful region. Sofas, armchairs, coffee tables and bookshelves make this a convivial room for conversation or reading. A large TV (French channels only) with DVD player and stereo system are housed in a large bookshelf. The floors are stone tiles with area rugs in muted colors. From the living room sliding glass doors open onto the main terrace. The simple elegance of fine fabrics and materials, the classic furniture and the abundant light from the wall of windows create an atmosphere that is warm yet sophisticated.

The open-plan kitchen and dining area is one of Domaine de l'Orangerie's most charming features. The dining area has a wood farm table for 10. One prominent feature of the kitchen is a massive center island with a wooden top and many drawers and cupboards for kitchen tools. A long tiled counter has a double sink and a perpendicular counter houses the six-burner stove with a grill and deep fryer. There is an electric wall oven, microwave oven and toaster. The rich wooden cabinets conceal two dishwashers and two refrigerators. In an adjacent pantry are a separate freezer and a host of other serving pieces for indoor use and out. The warm tones of the wood and the presence of a charming sitting area with two plush armchairs before a huge fireplace make this a natural place for guests to gather in the evening. A long shaded terrace that opens off the kitchen has a table for eight and a built-in stone barbecue.

The bedrooms

The principal bedrooms and baths are on the opposite side of the glass-in foyer from the common rooms. All bedrooms have generous closet space, bedside tables with reading lamps, and fine views over the countryside.

Up three steps from the glass foyer is a long hall, one side of which is a stone wall with several windows overlooking the main terrace. At the end of the hall there is a handsomely appointed office with a writing desk, bookshelves and a queen-sized bed that is available for the occasional overnight guest.

Two guest bedrooms also open from the hall. One guest bedroom has a sitting area and twin beds in wooden frames, and the second, most appropriate for children, has three single beds and a television with DVD player. A generous bathroom between the rooms has a bathtub with overhead shower and double sinks. The WC is on the hall.

The spacious and refined master bedroom suite fulfills all expectations for a chambre de maître. The sumptuously appointed bedroom has a queen-sized bed, two plush armchairs and a writing table. A few steps up from the bedroom is the commodious bathroom, which has a sunken tub, a separate stall shower, a wide double vanity with mirrors, and a WC. The bedroom has a private terrace, and from the bathroom glass doors open to several steps that join the main terrace. The master bedroom can only be accessed from inside the house by crossing through the study and master bath.

Two stairways lead from each end of the hall to the upper level, where there are three more guest bedrooms, all of which have twin beds that may be joined to form a queen-sized bed.

One bedroom is a large room with exposed beams. Another bedroom at the end of the upstairs hall, with peaked ceilings and windows on two walls, is especially bright and charmingly decorated. These two bedrooms share a bathroom with a tub and overhead shower, double sinks and WC. An independent WC, reached by a passageway of vertical beams, is nearby.

The final guest bedroom is warmly decorated and has an ensuite bath with tub and overhead shower and WC.

Also on the upstairs level is a large open room that includes a laundry area with a washing machine, separate tumble dryer and ironing facilities. Two single beds lie along one wall.

The terraces, swimming pool and tennis court

The exterior features of Domaine de l’Orangerie , notably the two lovely terraces and the pool and tennis court, provide the crowning touches to an already wonderful property. The main terrace, which faces south and is situated in the center of the horseshoe shape formed by the house and its wing, is an ideal place to enjoy lunch and dinner. There is a long farm table where up to 10 guests may dine surrounded by landscaped gardens while enjoying vistas of the Périgordian countryside. During the summer months, lunch may be more comfortable on the kitchen terrace, which is shaded by mature trees.

Beyond the kitchen terrace, behind a long hedge, is the swimming pool. There is a broad pool deck with plenty of good-quality loungers and parasols. The fully equipped pool house has a comfortable sitting area, a summer kitchen with refrigerator, and a bathroom with shower and WC. At night the entire pool area can be illuminated by a high-tech lighting system.

Over the crest of the hill is the full-sized hardsurface tennis court. The court is fenced, and has deep backcourts and an umpire's chair, as well as a backboard for individual practicing.

The caretakers, a husband-and-wife couple, live in a cottage some 150 meters (a meter is about a yard) from the house. The husband maintains the pool and grounds, and the wife provides housecleaning daily except Sunday. A skilled cook is also available at extra cost to prepare meals.

Domaine de l’Orangerie has all the elements of a superb vacation property - comfort, outstanding decor, pool, tennis court, breathtaking views, privacy, silence, staff service and an excellent location near a sophisticated country town with restaurants and historic sites of interest. It is ideal for a group of couples or an extended family who wish to spend time together in a beautiful setting in the heart of the Dordogne.