Sometimes it makes sense to stay in a hotel while you’re vacationing but there will be times when you might want to mix it up a little and try something different. The great thing about France is that you have many options when it comes to accommodations, whether it is a full service hotel, or something more independent.

We spent an amazing week in Sarlat, where we based ourselves strategically to have easy access to many sites of interest in the Perigord, places I’ll eventually write about.

This time we picked Au pré de l’arbre in Sarlat, which is a vacation village with 6 completely self-contained (self-catering) chalets in a forest just about a half a mile from the center of the village. Each chalet is completely equipped with all of the most necessary and convenient appliances you’ll ever need (fully equipped kitchen including dishwasher. Yay), giving you the independence and comfort to live, even for a week, in your own home sweet home.

We stayed in the house called Les Charmes, which is, of course a charming 2-story chalet that sleeps up to 4 people. There are two bedrooms upstairs and a balcony with a view of the forest. Les Charmes was one of two houses that sleeps up to four and we were very comfortable there; For larger groups, two of the six houses accommodate up to 8 people.

Oh! Most importantly, all houses are wired with high speed internet, cable TV (stations in English, German, French), CD/DVD player and even the two mascots of the village, Zora and Argos, a chocolate lab and a yellow lab. They hung out in front of our house, but if you’re not into adorable canine companions, no problem. Dogs are optional.

The pool is a rather large one with a wonderful view of the valley and forest, and is a particularly quiet and relaxing environment to take a leisurely swim or sunbathe within a setting of pine trees softly swaying with the gentle breeze.

We were happy to get to know the owners Nathalie and Marc, who told us of of their life changing decision to sell their home in Chartres (just outside Paris) to buy land in the Perigord, move their whole family into a forest, all in order to embark on their village des vacances that officially opened in 2003. It was a huge risk that involved the most challenging of trials and tribulations but everything has eventually fallen into place and only three years later, they already have returning clientele.

We highly recommend Au pre de l’arbre if you’re in this area of southwest France, and want to use it as a comfortable, clean and independent base to explore the nearby sites as well as the village of Sarlat itself – or even just to relax. I have no doubt that you’ll find this place a pleasant base, to say the least, and you can always feel free to ask advice from Marc or Nathalie to give you some itinerary ideas, specific places of interest or even recommend wines from the region, which include some of the finest wines in France.

To view the houses: Les Pins; Les Acacias; Les Charmes; Les Ormes; Les Châtaigniers and les Chênes, and to find out more about Au pre de l’arbre and rates, click below on their website.

We loved staying Au pre de l’arbre, and will be joining the group of “regulars.”

Au pre de l’arbre – Open all year
Website: Au pre de l’arbre (in English and French)

Nathalie et Marc Pinta-Tourret
Au pré de l’arbre
Rue Lino Ventura, “Le Mas Cavaillé”
24200 Sarlat-la-Canéda
E-mail: sarlat@aupredelarbre.com
Phone / Fax : +33 5 53 59 33 33
Mobile: +33 6 73 79 12 87

Tags: travel, france, dordogne, perigord, self-catering, chalets, accommodations, gites, Au+pré+de+l\\\'arbre