Holiday home of the week: a 17th-century farmhouse in the Lot-et-Garonne

With character in spades

Grab your friends and family and head to this French farmhouse complex, which has been carved into five contemporary apartments filled with period features.

Bassivière sits just south of the Dordogne in Lot-et-Garonne, and started life as a 17th-century farmhouse, complete with barn and medieval tower. Dutch owners Laura and Niels Aben began reviving the property in 2013, retaining as much of its old bones as they could.

‘We really like mixing the old with the new,’ they say.

Stone walls and oak beams have been preserved, and they’ve introduced contemporary additions to the holiday lofts, such as industrial style mezzanine levels, steel staircases and concrete countertops in the kitchens.

French holiday home for rent: Bassiviere - Welcome Beyond
Apartment 2. Photography: Stephanie Bodart

Four loft apartments now fill the old barn (sleeping between four and seven people respectively), while the 15th-century pigeon tower has been turned into a private two-bedroom retreat. Each is available to rent individually via Welcome Beyond, with prices ranging from €145 to €280 per night.

The five French holiday apartments have unique interiors and configurations, with rough, rustic textures offset by smooth concrete floors, leather sofas and a mix of wooden and contemporary furniture. And all have high ceilings and huge windows, and are set over two or three levels.

French holiday home for rent: Bassiviere - Welcome Beyond
Bassivière restaurant. Courtesy of Welcome Beyond

Bassivière sits on private 2.5 acre plot, and is surrounded by vineyards and fields of sunflowers. The apartments have access to an outdoor swimming pool and private terrace. Additional perks include an on-site restaurant, yoga and massage room and wine tasting at one of the chateaus nearby.

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