Bergerac, Aquitaine 24100

A 17th-Century Perigordian estate steeped in monastic tradition. The estate, known as Monfrouilloux since 1691, unfolds along a path whose entrance is marked by two former square limestone pillars. The driveway leads to a spacious esplanade with a commanding view over the countryside, serving the different parts of the property. Three blonde-stone buildings, tiled roofs, form a U-shape around a French-style garden, while the outbuildings are arranged on the periphery. This arrangement recalls an old agricultural enclosure, where each building retained a precise function, between residence, service and work. From the esplanade, the view extends over alternating open countryside and woodland. The places quiet, the layout of the buildings and a stone calvary dating from 1835 preserve the memory of a monastic tradition that marked the site in ancient times. In the garden, carefully pruned shrubs create regular perspectives and border paths paved with small pebbles. The rigidity of this composition is softened by the greenery and the patina of the façades. Beyond the main house, the property extends to a pool with a pool house and a vegetable garden, gathered in a walled, secluded space. One of the annexes houses the gardeners residence and a large workshop. All around, a broad woodland with mixed species stretches out, where oaks, chestnut trees and firs form a deep canopy. A few trees, probably centuries old, overlook the undergrowth and edge the boundaries.