The Château

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Our holidays at Château de Villars bring you “Rest, Relaxation and Rejuvenation”. Casual elegance and luxury in the depths of the French countryside.

Fresh air. Clear night skies. Peaceful days. Splendid walks. Your well-being!

Dip in the heated pool on warm spring, summer or autumn days. Laze on a teak lounger under an elegant pool umbrella. Sip a refreshing drink on the Chateau’s terrace. Gaze out over the green meadows.

Relax in a hammock under the Indian bean trees. Listen to the chirp of birds, the buzz of crickets, and the bleat of the Chateau’s Jacob sheep grazing in the meadows nearby!

Borrow one of the Chateau’s bicycles and explore the local hamlets – even take a Chateau picnic with you and spend the day out and about. Indeed, get away from it all, escape the hustle and bustle of the city. There is nothing to disturb you here at the Chateau.

Take a long walk on one of the many rural walking paths that surround Villars – and indeed some of which start right outside the Chateau’s stylish front gates.

Or a shorter stroll around the Chateau’s extensive meadows – stopping along the way to sit by the side of the little Trincou stream – or by the well where you can sit and watch the Chateau sheep.

Bill Davies and Kevin Saunders run Château de Villars. Well-travelled themselves, they know what attention to detail is needed to make your holiday unforgettable. They know how to give you the attention you need and yet to leave you undisturbed. They know how to give you a warm welcome and make you feel that the Chateau is your home for the time you are here. no wonder there are so many returning guests each year who have discovered this special gem.

The Château is located at the edge of the small Dordogne village, Villars. In the heart of Perigord Vert, on the border of the Perigord-Limousin National Park, Villars, enjoys an unrivalled location.

The Perigord Vert is a crescent shaped area covering the North of the Dordogne department. The famous author, Jules Verne, gave it the name ‘Perigord Vert’ during his travels in the area.

Its hills and humid climate combine with the impermeable soil to produce an all year round greenery of growth, even in the driest of summers. Water is all around. From everywhere streams flow towards the Bandiat, the Tardoire, the Cole or converge on the Dronne, the Isle or the Auvezere.

P1040656 terrace with new umbrellas

The Dordogne is packed with history and tradition, containing several of ‘the Most Beautiful Villages’ in France. Nature has also been generous here, offering a variety of idyllic landscapes around the turn of each hill, in the heart of each valley and along the streams that flow through them. There is, as you will discover, a magical, almost magnetic quality about the Perigord Vert.

Villars is on the Way of St James – one of the medieval pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostella in north western Spain, where legend has it that the remains of St James are buried. This route, known as the ‘Chemin de Vezalay’, starts in Namur, Belgium No doubt some medieval pilgrims visited Brantome en route and passed through Villars. This is certainly borne out by the beautiful large scallop shell, prominently carved over the main entrance to Villars’ medieval church, St Martial. The scallop shell is the traditional emblem of St. James and medieval Christians en route to Santiago de Compostela would carry a shell and often wear this emblem.

The Perigord is traditionally a ‘Land of Welcome’. Faithful to this, our golden rule is hospitality! We will help you share the Perigord’s past, savour its cuisine and experience the charm and tranquillity of its countryside.