Picture yourself ascending worn stone steps to your very own fortified house, its thick walls dating back to 1450, standing as they have for nearly six centuries in a peaceful Dordogne hamlet. This is where history becomes home—where you wake to birdsong in the Périgord countryside, where your morning coffee tastes better in a room warmed by a 15th-century stone fireplace, and where every weekend becomes an exploration of medieval bastides, riverside markets, and gastronomic traditions that have barely changed since the Renaissance. This 170-square-meter stone residence between Monpazier and Beaumont-du-Périgord offers an extraordinary opportunity to own a piece of French history while enjoying the vibrant vacation lifestyle of the Dordogne, one of Europe's most captivating regions for second-home ownership. The residence occupies a serene hamlet location that delivers the quintessential French countryside experience—complete silence broken only by church bells from nearby villages, yet positioned just minutes from two of France's Plus Beaux Villages. This balance defines the Dordogne vacation experience: authentic rural tranquility with immediate access to cultural richness, weekly markets overflowing with foie gras and walnuts, and restaurants where three-course lunches remain an art form. Your ownership journey begins as you approach this former fortified house, its honey-colored stone glowing in the afternoon light. The original stone staircase leads to an entrance that opens into a welcoming kitchen flowing into the main living space—a room that tells centuries of stories. Two monumental stone fireplaces anchor this space, one from the 15th century, another from the 16th, both testaments to the craftsmanship of medieval stonemasons. The current owners have fitted the larger fireplace with a 12-kW wood-burning stove, transforming winter evenings into theatrical experiences as flames dance against stone that has witnessed five hundred winters. Exposed timber beams stretch overhead, their hand-hewn surfaces speaking to an era before power tools, when every element was shaped by human hands. The ground floor configuration proves ideal for vacation property ownership, offering a comfortable bedroom and full bathroom that allow single-level living when needed—perfect for extended family visits or future rental flexibility. Ascend to the first floor and discover two additional bedrooms, each a private retreat under original timber beams, each with its own en-suite bathroom. This thoughtful separation of spaces makes the house exceptionally functional for hosting multiple couples or families, a crucial consideration for vacation properties where privacy enhances the experience. The Dordogne region surrounding your future home ranks among Europe's most desirable vacation destinations, yet remains accessible and affordable compared to Provence or the Côte d'Azur. Monpazier, just minutes away, represents one of France's best-preserved bastide towns—a perfect square of arcaded streets and golden stone buildings constructed in 1284. Thursday mornings transform the central square into a vibrant market where farmers sell produce picked that morning, where cheese vendors offer tastings of local Cabécou, and where the scent of rotisserie chicken mingles with fresh bread from the boulangerie. Beaumont-du-Périgord, equally close, provides another medieval bastide experience with its fortified church and summer festivals. Both villages offer essential services including schools, medical facilities, shops, bars, and restaurants—practical necessities that make year-round or extended vacation stays comfortable. The surrounding countryside invites endless exploration: Château de Biron towers on its hilltop just twenty minutes away, Château de Castelnaud houses a medieval warfare museum above the Dordogne River, and the riverside town of Beynac enchants with its cliff-hugging castle and stone streets. Bergerac, reached in thirty-five minutes, provides an international airport with direct flights to London, Brussels, and other European cities, plus an SNCF train station connecting to Bordeaux and beyond. This accessibility transforms the property from distant dream to practical reality—weekend escapes become feasible, extended summer residences become comfortable, and welcoming visiting friends requires just a short airport pickup. The region's culinary culture alone justifies vacation home ownership here. The Périgord produces France's finest foie gras, its most prized walnuts, its celebrated truffles, and wines that pair perfectly with duck confit and pommes sarladaises. Local restaurants range from Michelin-starred establishments to village bistros where four courses cost less than appetizers in Paris. Summer means outdoor dining under plane trees, autumn brings truffle markets and mushroom foraging, winter centers around fireside meals, and spring explodes with asparagus, strawberries, and the first market vegetables. Your property includes impressive outbuildings that dramatically expand its potential. A 121-square-meter barn with recently renewed roof offers conversion possibilities—imagine a guest cottage, an art studio, or simply generous storage for bicycles, kayaks, and all the equipment an active vacation lifestyle requires. A second 74-square-meter barn houses the boiler room while providing additional storage. A 42-square-meter covered loggia creates an outdoor living room for those long summer evenings when dinner stretches past sunset, when conversation flows with local rosé, when the cooling air finally offers relief from August heat. The cellar provides proper storage for the wine collection you'll inevitably build. All these structures sit within approximately 2,546 square meters of maintained gardens—enough space for vegetable plots, fruit trees, outdoor games, or simply unmowed meadow filled with wildflowers. The established gardens require reasonable maintenance while offering privacy and outdoor living space that defines French countryside ownership. Practical systems include oil-fired central heating supplemented by the wood-burning stove, providing flexible heating options suited to vacation property usage patterns. Fiber-optic internet enables remote work possibilities—increasingly important as more buyers seek homes that function as extended residences rather than pure vacation retreats. The loft benefits from insulation, and the property operates with a compliant septic system. Single-glazed windows reflect the home's historic character, though they offer straightforward upgrade opportunities for buyers seeking improved thermal efficiency. The Dordogne property market currently favors buyers, with prices remaining stable and significantly lower than comparable regions. Properties of this character—authentic historic houses with substantial outbuildings and land—attract strong rental interest from international visitors seeking genuine French experiences. Rental management companies throughout the region specialize in vacation property management, handling bookings, cleaning, and maintenance, allowing owners to generate income during periods they're not in residence. French property ownership for international buyers involves straightforward processes, with notaires guiding purchases and annual property taxes remaining remarkably affordable compared to other European markets. This house represents more than vacation property investment—it offers entry into a lifestyle rhythm dictated by market days and harvest seasons, by the angle of afternoon light through ancient windows, by the satisfaction of shopping for dinner ingredients from producers who work the surrounding fields. It's about creating family traditions around that 15th-century fireplace, about lazy afternoons reading in the garden while cicadas drone in the heat, about returning year after year until the local boulangère recognizes you and sets aside your preferred loaf without asking. Key features include: 170 square meters of restored living space across two floors • Three bedrooms, three full bathrooms for comfortable accommodation • Two monumental stone fireplaces from the 15th and 16th centuries • 12-kW wood-burning stove for atmospheric heating • Original exposed timber beams throughout upper floor • Ground-floor bedroom and bathroom for single-level living option • 121-square-meter barn with recently renewed roof • 74-square-meter barn with boiler room and storage • 42-square-meter covered loggia for outdoor living • Traditional cellar for wine and storage • Approximately 2,546 square meters of maintained gardens • Oil central heating plus wood stove for heating flexibility • Fiber-optic internet connectivity for remote work capability • Located between two Plus Beaux Villages de France • Thirty-five minutes from Bergerac international airport and train station. The residence awaits in move-in ready condition, its restoration honoring historic authenticity while ensuring comfort. Contact Homestra today to arrange your viewing of this exceptional medieval stone house and begin your Dordogne vacation home journey. Your French countryside story starts here, in a hamlet where time moves slower and life tastes richer, where every visit reconnects you with what matters most.
