Luxury renovation of an ancient stone barn in a medieval bastide village

Just off the village square of a small, quiet thirteenth-century medieval village, this two en-suite double bed, luxury, modern renovation of an ancient stone barn offers the highest standard of luxury accommodation. The living space is arranged on a single level from the street, which leaves the terrace suspended high above the valley with fantastic views. The living space is a large open plan light and airy space with one end of the apartment all glass. The living space opens out onto an elevated covered terrace projecting the occupants out into the valley below. The terrace faces away from the village and neighbouring properties, offering high levels of privacy. It is above the roof line of those few properties below it. Large triple glass floor-to-ceiling doors and a glass balustrade on the terrace ensure tremendous views are always available. Facing South East, the apartment makes the most of the sun all year round and is especially evident from early morning when it fills both the terrace and apartment. High-tech energy reflective glass patio doors and remotely controlled Velux windows in the roof, supported by an air exchange heating/air conditioning system, ensure maximum comfort all year round. There is also a ceramic wood burner that rotates 360 degrees to offer warmth wherever you decide to rest in the living space and terrace, if you are lucky enough to find yourself there outside of the super sunny summers.

The property has superfast direct-to-home fibre broadband and excellent mobile phone reception.

The property is a standalone house with its own entrance off the village street. The pool is situated off a small, quiet road adjacent to the apartment, accessible via a locked gate. Only the guests have the key. The pool is prioritised exclusively for guests, and if they are at the pool, the owner does not enter. However, the owner occasionally maintains the pool and sometimes stops for a quick dip to cool down if there are no guests there.

The pool garden is separate from the garden terrace around the owner's property and offers several discrete private seating areas, all with great views. Great privacy and a large garden, considering we are in the centre of the village. Visitors are ensured of a private place to sit in the garden and enjoy the view or watch the swallows and house martins dive down to drink from the pool. There are certainly areas where you can sunbathe without being overseen. No neighbouring properties directly overlook the pool.

The apartment has a continuous floor surface from the front door to the end of the terrace with no steps or ridges to navigate. With all interior doors 83cm wide and a central floor drain in one of the en-suite bathrooms and an extendable shower hose, the apartment is welcoming to visitors in wheelchairs.

The village is very quiet as it has no through road. Visitors drive in and out by the same route. The 500-year-old bakery with traditional wood-fired ovens brings in locals from the surrounding area for morning croissants and fantastic bread. It also serves ice creams, coffee, cold drinks (including alcohol) and snacks. The village is a peaceful sanctuary even when it bustles into life. Particularly in the summer, offering weekly culinary fetes in the village square and classical concerts in the medieval church.

Montcabrier is set in beautiful countryside with an abundance of small market towns nearby, and is famous for its food and wine. Confit de canard, foie gras, goat's cheese, walnuts, prunes, melons, and peaches are all locally produced in abundance. Montcabrier hosts a marché des produits every Friday evening in the summer, for local producers to bring their fresh produce, BBQ, wine and often music and fairy lights with trestle tables set out in front of the 13th-century church make this a very popular event. There is also a marché aux puces and Festival de Montcabrier later in the summer. This is the local traditional dinner and dancing where matchmaking has helped generations of would-be romantics. Montcabrier hosts the wonderful "8 de Montcabrier" classical music festival (Check it out on YouTube), an outstanding event if you can be organised enough to get tickets. Motcabrier is on the Grande Randonnée G632, so it boasts fantastic walking opportunities along with mountain bike trails, horse riding and rock climbing. The great rivers of the Lot and Dordogne offer boat trips, canoeing, and there are many tributaries if you are keen on fishing. There is a free tennis court available for your use in the village, as well as a Pétanque pitch (bowls provided). There are so many things to do for every ability; it is best to ask us, and we can help you plan a full itinerary, including shopping, eating, entertainment, and whatever activity you seek.

A travel cot and high chair are provided, and there is a playpark for younger children in the village, including table tennis.

The Lot valley in this area, stretching from Cahors (40km to the East of Montcabrier), is the main area for the famous Cahors vineyards, which surround the village and wider area. It is all about the food, wine, markets and restaurants in this area of the Lot. Wine tasting is encouraged! The nearest market town is the beautiful medieval Puy-l'Evêque, 7km, although there is a market every day of the week in one village or another, a short drive from Montcabrier. Plenty of fantastic restaurants, again within a short drive, or for those happy to walk, with the nearest restaurant around 3km. There are large supermarkets in Fummel, 11km and Prayssac, 12km.

Following guest feedback, there is now a larger bed without a footboard, which is great for our taller guests over 6'. New knives and updated kitchenware too.