“In any contest for pretty villages, St-Jean-de-Cole would leave all others behind.� The Blue Guide to Southwest France
Maison Rose is a 400-year-old rowhouse located in St-Jean-de-Cole, the Dordogne, France. The house faces a small greensward in the middle of the village. On the first floor are a large, beamed living room, kitchen/dining room with exposed stone walls, half bath and laundry. French doors lead from the kitchen to a rose-covered terrace with outdoor living and dining areas and a fountain. Beyond the terrace is a small garden of yew and box bushes with an oval reflecting pool. The second floor of the house has three bedrooms, each with an ensuite bathroom. The master bedroom has a queen-sized bed; the other two have twins, for a sleeping capacity of six. The house is furnished with French country antiques and good art. Amenities include a well-equipped kitchen with marble counters, firewood for the three working fireplaces (including one in the master bathroom), fresh garden flowers, stereo with a selection of classical, jazz, and popular CDs; an extensive library of books including many on the region; four 21-speed touring bikes; a picnic basket; an i-Pod portal, TV/DVD, and WIFI. St-Jean-de-Cole is designated one of the 144 Most Beautiful Villages in France. Its 150 or so inhabitants live in tile-roofed houses clustered around the former abbaye and a13th15th-century chateau. Commerce includes a small grocery, pharmacy, and three restaurants. There are also tennis courts and a 25-mile-long rails-to-trails path for biking and hiking. Previous renters and/or guests have included Sen. Sam Nunn and his family, the president of Relais & Chateaux International, a managing editor of the New York Times, the president of the Library of America, and Cokie and Steve Roberts. The house has also been featured in Conde Nast Traveler's "Guide to Affordable Villas" and featured in the Washington Post. The owners, Mary and Jim Oppel, have lived in the Dordogne since 1994 and provide gratis concierge services--everything from arranging a day visiting the celebrated prehistoric art to suggesting good-but-little-known restaurants. The house is available in one-week increments. Stays begin and end on Saturday.