Le Coustal
French Manor Holidays in the Beautiful, Unspoilt Perigord Vert, Dordogne
"This bucolic, peaceful setting, this domaine with its inescapable charm, is the perfect place to come to relax and unwind..."
Set in 16 acres of private parkland and woods with an exquisite private heated pool, Le Coustal enjoys an elevated position with stunning views over the Dronne valley to the south.
LEARN MOREBed and Breakfast accommodation either in one of our uniquely designed rooms or our ecological off-grid Citerne Suite
YOUR STAY AT LE COUSTALGet in touch to book your French Manor Holiday in the Beautiful, Unspoilt Perigord Vert, Dordogne. We offer a discount for stays of more than 7 nights.
BOOK YOUR STAYWelcome to Le Coustal, our home on the Dordogne / Charentes border in the south west corner of France. Situated just 400m from the centre of the charming medieval bourg of Lusignac and set in 16 acres of private parkland and woods with an exquisite private heated pool, Le Coustal enjoys an elevated position with stunning views over the Dronne valley to the south. Since moving here with our lovely Cocker Spaniel in the summer of 2017 just in time to host our daughter's wedding in the grounds, we have been working tirelessly to bring this stunning former wine chateau back to life in a traditional fashion, respecting the history of the buildings and their environment..
When we moved in, Le Coustal had been left completely empty and shut up for over 2 years but, more importantly, remained virtually untouched for over 40 years. With many original features still remaining both in the house and outbuildings we are sure you will join us and our guests in succumbing to its charm and beauty.
Whether you wish to relax and wander around the grounds or get out and about and enjoy some of the many attractions this lovely unspoilt corner of the Dordogne has to offer, our main aim is to make your stay with us truly memorable. Come and discover why we have chosen to make this beautiful manor house our home!
'Fantastic, extremely spacious room in very large 18th Century manor house. Character in abundance! Double, full length shuttered windows overlooking the rear of the property with views over the well-maintained grounds and in to the beautiful Dordogne countryside. Extremely comfortable double bed with luxury cotton bed linen. We slept so well!'
Designed in the early 1700s by a Parisian architect during the reign of Louis XV, Le Coustal would have been built for a high-ranking military officer or aristocrat. Built on the foundations of an earlier, 13th century agricultural building (the remains of which are still visible today), the site was adapted and flattened to accommodate the new, larger property. Architectural emphasis at this time was all about perspective; on arrival at the new entrance gates on the edge of the domaine the eye would be drawn directly to the main, double entrance doors of the property at the end of the lime tree-lined driveway. Beyond the front doors and into the large hallway, the perspective widened and guided the visitor through and out to the rear terrace. Here the vista suddenly widened again to the rear gardens in the French style, a formal garden consisting of box hedging and at least one fountain, below which the formal garden gave way to newly planted vines and a pathway leading down to the formal fishpond.
The property underwent significant changes in the early 1800s just after the Revolution when the chateau was passed from the nobility to local farmers. The entrance was moved from its original site on the main road and the driveway rerouted to carry visitors directly to the front doors of the main house. Most of the current outbuildings - the Chai (wine cellars) at the rear and the barns to the sides of the main house - were constructed to support an increased agricultural use. Vines were planted to the rear of the property and on the large meadow on the eastern side of the domaine. Wine production continued until the vine blight struck southwest France at the end of the 19th century. Traces of the Coustal vines still exist today although the only wine produced here today is a home-made Pineau (strictly for the brave drinker).
During WW2, Lusignac was in occupied France but within a kilometre or two of Free France: the line of demarcation was situated in the valley just below. The property's prominent situation was used to keep local people informed of the whereabouts of the local German Army unit , based just along the road in Lusignac bourg: white sheets were apparently hung out to signify whether the area was safe. In addition, we know that a system of local tunnels (now blocked) extends from Lusignac's chateau, through the bourg and out to Le Coustal, giving locals a safe passage out of the bourg, although this underground system is much older, probably dating back to the times of the Huguenots and the religious wars.
YOUR STAY AT LE COUSTAL