Top-end holiday homes in France range from the grandiose French chateaux to the more homely and comfortable French manor houses. French Manoir Les Gaillardoux is a fine example of the latter, combining old stones and antiques of a 17th and 18th century French chateau with 21st century equipment and comfort. It offers space and privacy for up to 12 discriminating guests in 6 double suites, each with own attached toilet and large shower room. The swimming pool is heated, and the south facing terrace is just outside the dining room and the kitchen for outside meals and barbecues under the vast open skies.

The manor is situated in the ancient region of Aquitaine, which is still characterised by its medieval villages and historical associations with the Cathars. It lies on high ground between the historic market town of Cahors with its medieval bridge and cathedral, 20 minutes away, and the very fashionable city of Toulouse, with the nearest large international airport – 50 minutes away. It is in the centre of the Midi Pyrenees holiday region, south of the Dordogne and east of the modern-time downsized Aquitaine region, and with easy access to the Languedoc region and Pyrenees further south. Bergerac, with its small international airport, is about 110 km away, Bordeaux about two and a half hours drive and Carcassonne about 2 hours drive… and Lalbenque, the traditional capital of the Black Truffle, only 8 minutes away.

Those who have experienced a Dordogne holiday or a Languedoc holiday will find this region has similar attractions, rolling hills, open vistas, and spectacular river valleys, but is less crowded. The Lot is one of the least populated areas of France, though when you venture out, you will discover that it is far from sleepy; within five kilometres of the manor there is an aerodrome with tarmac runway for visitors with private aircraft, and a flying and parachute school. For feet-on-the-ground holidays there are opportunities for a range of magical eating experiences that can be enjoyed in all seasons, and for lovers of wine there are several estates open to visitors 365 days a year for tasting the variety of full bodied reds of the Cahors vineyards mostly situated to the south of the magnificent river Lot.

Chateaux France ? If you are interested in French chateaux, 13th century chateau de Mercues, 30 minutes drive, and 14th century Chateau de Cieurac, 15 minutes drive from Manoir Les Gaillardoux, are well worth visiting. Mercues, previously the summer home and ancient dwelling of the Counts and Bishops of Cahors, is now a Chateau-Relais with a gastronomic restaurant and superb views over the Lot valley. Cieurac is a bijou of a chateau with a long tormented history and very fine architectural features. It has been sensitively restored over the past 20 years and is now privately owned and open to visitors during the summer. Our guests are especially welcome in both chateaux, as they are in a number of gastronomic restaurants and chateaux vineyards.

Once you find your way around, which is a pleasure in itself as there is a combination of efficient motorways and attractive rural drives between villages, you will discover the region’s vibrant history and traditions of food, cooking, and rural living, often wondrous and always fascinating. Welcome to French manor Les Gaillardoux in Midi-Pyrenees, for a traditional, picturesque, gastronomic and thoroughly French, Aquitaine holiday in South West France!