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Page 102 of 3717 Guest Reviews
We returned to La Charmante Distillerie in July 2025 for three weeks after the most fantastic stay last year - and it felt just as special, if not more so, the second time around. Mark and Gary have created something truly memorable here: a place that strikes the perfect balance that is beautifully designed and endlessly comfortable, peaceful without being remote and thoughtful in all the ways that matter. Everything is designed to help you slow down and properly switch off. Our daughters, 13 and 15, instantly settled back into their favourite rhythm - hours in the pool, relaxing in the snug, making jewellery outdoors and enjoying the freedom the setting creates. And we did the same— café and a book in the early morning sun, long lunches and quiet evenings with a cocktail or two, followed by some stunning late-night stargazing. One of the real joys of returning was being able to explore the surrounding communes a little more, expertly guided by Mark and Gary’s thoughtful suggestions. From stunning local restaurants and distilleries, night food markets, artisanal crafts in Aubeterre, fascinating visits to beautiful Templar churches and an unforgettable day at the Bassins des Lumières in Bordeaux. Every recommendation was exactly what we didn’t know we were looking for. It made the whole experience feel richer and more connected. What once again made this visit even more meaningful was having Mark and Gary as hosts. They are the kindest, most generous and genuine couple. It’s rare to find a place that gets under your skin in the best possible way - but La Charmante Distillerie has done exactly that. Returning felt like coming home and we left feeling recharged, grateful and already planning our visit next year….....if Mark and Gary will have us. Its also hard not to repeat what we said after our first visit in 2024: we’d love to keep this our own little secret… but that wouldn’t be fair. It really is the perfect destination with the perfect hosts.
We have spent an enjoyable fortnight here in Bessan. The house was comfortable and peaceful. The weather has been beautiful during our whole stay, unlike it is in the UK! We enjoyed the neighbouring towns, especially Agde. We will remember this holiday and do not want to come back home this afternoon. Many thanks.
Fabulous gite… perfect for our needs. Area wonderful for just tootling about … roads to dream of! Local support really pleasant and useful without being obtrusive…
We are now back at home and I wanted to send you my most sincere thanks for your welcome at Maison de Saint-Jean. Your house is magnificent. It combines the charm of an old farmhouse with the comfort of modern and stylish equipment. There were 6 of us but the house can accommodate 8 people. It is especially the exteriors that we adored. Even though the weather was not very comfortable this summer, we enjoyed the very large garden, the endless view and the heated swimming pool. We will definitely come back because the region is still worth a few detours and your house is the perfect base for visiting it. See you soon.
We all had a lovely time. The accommodation was so huge that we could all find space when we wanted that and a communal get-together when desired. Our son-in-law really enjoyed cooking on the Aga and produced some spectacular meals. Needless to say that we all had fun in the pool on sunny days.
Our week of vacation spent in your property was a success. The house is spotless, very, very clean and with a lot of attention (welcome products in the bathrooms, recent and clean linen, welcome basket, games). The barn with the ping pong table, darts, table football, billiards and where we could play sports, is wonderful. The long walks around the vines with Tutus delighted me, despite the showers. The Super U in Mirambeau has a very nice butcher's department. The meat is excellent. The fish department, with its oysters, shrimps and fish is also excellent. Tracy goes to great lengths to keep everything spotless when the vacationers arrive. The bouquet of fresh flowers on the table when we arrived was another attention that everyone noted.
Very nice accommodation with a huge living room. The proximity to the canal is the charm of the charm of the house.
Villa du Château is quite spectacular and certainly has the wow factor from the interior, beautiful decor, views to the setting at the foot of the castle. It all felt very special. We were a party of 13 adults but more than enough space as the layout and different areas of the house enabled us to spread around, almost making it difficult to choose where to spend most time! Sunsets from the terrace were stunning and colour changing castle good fun. The house is super well equipped with everything you need. Kitchen gadgets and plenty of crockery – great for self catering as we did. Ample parking and really easy access into the small town of Duras – walkable in a couple of minutes and everything else you might need a short drive away.
Beautiful and Charming place to Stay. Wonderful service from the owner Linda who does everything possible to make your stay enjoyable. This beautiful rural chateau is steeped in history and has a very eclectic decor in a shabby-chic style which would suit a group of friends or family that love something a bit different.
We have absolutely loved our stay in this perfect house. The pool has been a necessity due to temps in mid-high. All in all, it's been a wonderful fortnight and we've enjoyed rediscovering places that we visited here 20 years ago.
The perfect week! We had the most enjoyable stay at this beautiful manor with our friends. Is in a perfect location to visit all the vineyards and castles. The house is beautiful and the kitchen was our favourite spot. We very much appreciated the gifts left for us when we arrived. The host was always available when we had any questions or we needed help with anything. Our dog loved the garden.
It was truly a first class apartment, in a superb location with lovely sea views. Corinne and her husband were perfect hosts: excellent communication before our arrival, welcoming, friendly and very helpful during our stay, without ever being intrusive. We appreciated the impeccable modern interior of the apartment, the terrace and all the little touches provided by Corinne; we took advantage of the proximity to numerous restaurants and the possibility to stroll along the seafront - as well as enjoying the rooftop swimming pool, the beach and the marina with its unique atmosphere. We will come back with great pleasure and I highly recommend the apartment.
A wonderful week, dining outside and lounging by the pool. Thank you all.
What a wonderful place to stay, house, pool, night skies and boulangerie 5 minutes away. The extended family had such a good time here. In temperatures of nearly 40°C the castle was still cool but so sad to see the effects of the drought / climate emergency everywhere. Birds needed water every day! Deer by the pool, slow worms and much more.
Idyllic, total relaxation It was our first time visiting Charente and we absolutely loved La Charmante Distillerie. From the moment we arrived we felt relaxed. The pool area and terraces had amazing views and so tranquil. The interior was beautifully furnished and we liked the nod to the old distillery and its history. There were plenty of activities for the family and we really enjoyed star gazing with the telescope provided. Mark kept the grounds and pool immaculate. We appreciated access to the herb garden and fruit trees. I would also mention the excellent internet coverage which meant that our teenagers were happy in the den in the loft, and the younger kids loved playing in the sandpit and on the climbing frame. Can’t recommend this place enough!
Absolutely nothing to say. Quality service and charming and dedicated people. I recommend this place with a breathtaking view. Quality house furnished with lots of charm and taste.
This was one of the very best holiday experiences we have ever had. Superb accommodation, spacious and elegant with a stunning pool and table tennis. The area is glorious with mediaeval towns, wineries and close to Bergerac airport should that be required. It really is a spectacular location and can recommend it without any reservation, not least as the owners are completely committed to the satisfaction of their clients. It’s outstanding.
Excellent week in a Loft with great taste! Thank you for all your attentions - "Thanks for everything"
Had a wonderful 2 weeks at the Maison Baleyssagues in Lot-et-Garonne. Great days out in Bordeaux and the countryside. Weather great for the most part. Really enjoyed the super pool - which has been the best so far. Thanks so much to Frederic for being such an entertaining host. See you gain soon.
Thank you so much for our lovely relaxing stay in your home. We have waited a couple of years due to covid and our boys (and ourselves) really enjoyed our stay. You made us feel so welcome and we have very muh enjoyed spending time in your garden watching regular visitors like woodpeckers, buzzards and barn owls, etc. We are already planning to come back and promise to visit more of the region. Thank you for your kind hospitality and it was lovely to meet your visiting family. If we could take the pool and the hammock home with us, we would! Thanks again.
We stay at the apartment for 3 days. The apartment is exactly as described, modern and new residential building, great location right near the beach and walkable distance from local restaurants and shops. The apartment has everything needed and gives amazing feeling of being "at home". We will definitely want to stay again in the amazing place.
Thank you for taking care of our family. The house is absolutely amazing. Such wonderful memories have been made by us all. We so enjoyed the pool, night market and beautiful sunsets.
Thank you very much for your comments, which are always appreciated. Can we ask to include a rating of 5 out of 5 for Villa Kali.
We certainly had a restful and memorable holiday at Château Monjardin... the house and grounds are magnificent and provided a lovely quiet retreat that the whole family enjoyed.
We have returned from 2 perfect weeks holiday at La Cigalière in Servian. Really lovely house, perfect pool, would go back in a flash.
Wonderful place. Wonderful place for our family in a quiet village with a perfect little shop, and fantastic for walking, biking, and visiting so many lovely places. and the "chateau" is an awesome place, inside and outside. come and see.
We have had a wonderful stay here, the weather has been lovely and the pool was perfect. We stayed outside the whole time!
The house is absolutely perfect for a large group. The bedrooms are all hotel standard and there is so much space that the house never feels cramped. The outside space is great, and we spent most of our time on the water! The view is incredible!
What a spectacular home away from home! Thank you for creating a beautiful and welcoming space where we could explore this beautiful region. Every detail, every room - magnificent.
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