We recently spent a week over the may half term Domain de Mathevies, Dordogne, France. Domain de Mathevies is a beautiful site situated in the Perigord Noir region of The Dordogne with a selection of accommodation from a Gite, Mobile Homes to luxury cabins. You can also pitch a tent, camper or caravan too. We stayed in a Mobile Home. As a p[arent the key to the perfect family holiday is often found in keeping the rest of my family happy. But Domain de Mathevies manages the holy grail – a family holiday that fitted each and every one of my family.
The Perigord Noir region of France around Sarlat is an enchanting place to visit with your family and I will have a separate post in everything we did during our week. But here I want to give you a feel for the wonderful place that Mathevies is. We arrived Saturday evening after an eventful journey filled with rain and flooding to a wonderful warm welcome from Patrick and Natalie who own and run Mathevies. We quickly unpacked our bags and left them in the mobile home and then popped to the cooky nook bar for a drink and to order our breakfast for the morning before settling in for a solid nights sleep!
We decided that Sunday would be a day of decompression for all of us. MadDad and the boys walked the 50 yards or so to the reception and collected our croissoints, bread and pain au chocolate and we had a leasirely breakfast before exploring Mathevies. The site which used to be a vinyard and farm is set on a south facing incline and has stunning woodland views. it is small, but perfectly formed with a childrens play area, two pools (one toddler pool and one reular pool with terrace), tennis court, bar and seating area and a play area in the barn.
Even though it was raining it didnt stop the boys and other children for running around and playing. My two even spent some time in the pool (well they were wet anyway). Mini commented that there was more children that adults on the site and over the week the boys always had someone to play with and technology only came out so we could watch Netflix when it was pouring down on an evening. Yes Matheveies has wifi throughout the site, which is a huge bonus if you are travelling with tweens and teens.
It is really hard to decribe the atmoshphere on site. it really feels like a home from home and many people go back year after year. In fact one Dutch couple we met were back for their third year in a row. But it doesnt have an exclusive feel at all. Part of the charm is Patrick, Natalie and their children. They are great hosts, passiionate about providing a quality holiday for everyone and are really knowledgable about the area. It is almost as though you take a big deep breath as you get on site and spend the week exhauling.
It the small things that make stayong at Mathevies a pleasure. Forgot your tennis rackets or lost your ball? Don’t worry, just pop to receiption and they will loan you theirs. Same with table tennis bats or boules, which the boys banned me from playing as I was a total shark (years of playing with my parents when I was growing up)!
Maxi “There was no way to get bored, as there was loads of children to play with and if I was missing Alvin, I could play with maisey the campsite dog”
As a parent it was great to be able to let the boys freerange around the site after setting some ground rules and knowing that it wasnt too big for them to get lost or too small that they couldnt explore. Mini loved being able to go to the bar and get his drink (a diabolo was his drink of choice – sprite and grededine), it made him feel really grown up. Even on the rainy nights we just grabbed a blanket from the pile by the bar and snuggled on the sofa under the veranda and watched a movie together or played cards. Oh and the boys managed to catch an England game on the TV in the bar area.
The pool was pristine and a huge hit with my boys, they were in it two or three times each day, even on the days were were out exploring as it is open from 9.30am to 9.30pm, perfect for my water babies. Sam goes for the tennis courts. We are something of a competative family and a family tournement took place of the week we were there. We would sit on the picnic table just outside the courts and watch the boys place with a baverage or two.
Rather than take pictures of the mobile home at the begining og the week, I wanted to share it with you after we had lived in it for a week, a wet week at that. It was perfect for the four of us, with a hob, microwave oven, fridge, kettle and the ever imporatant frech press for coffee.
Our home for the week. The site was pretty traffic free as people parked away from the central area, making it perfect for the children to run around safley.
The dining area and kitchen was great. Plenty of plus for charging and a great size for the four of us. There is no TV, bit the wifi was great and we managed to watch Netflix (we are part of the Stream Team) and it as great for the evenings.
This is the boys bedroom at the end of the week. It took them a whle to get used to continental pillows! The nightlight was great a great touch.
As I said earlier, it was the little things and thought that had gone in to everything that make Domain de Mathevies such a great place. Each mobile home or cabin comes with a clothes line and pegs.
Just look at these beautiful new cabins, the boys have already requested that we go back next summer for two weeks in one. They have an indoor/outdoor living area, leather sofa, full sized fridge freezer and much, much more.
It really is a beautiful place and we didnt want to leave.
Domain de Mathevies is 7km outside of Sarlat making it the perfect place to explore the magical lanscapes, flamboyant chataus and prehistoric world. Thank you to Natalie and Patrick for inviting us to spend our family holiday with them.
Disclosure: We were invited to spend a week at Domain de Mathevies in exchange for this review.
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