Chateau Caillac, Fongrave, Lot et Garonne, France

Château exclusive rental. Books up fast. Seen on Channel4 - Escape to the Château DIY series 2 and 3. Tandem cycling holidays: adults only, fully catered. Planned routes with an experienced and qualified leader, use of brand new electrically assisted tandems. Please see website for tour dates.

Chateau Caillac is on the edge of the traditional village of Fongrave in Lot et Garonne. The area is quiet and rural and the Chateau is surrounded by plum orchards and farmers fields. The large gardens are ideal for relaxing or playing games, with 100 metres of riverside frontage and use of the private jetty. There is a small row boat and canoe for you to enjoy the river which is great for fishing too. The river is fenced and the gate can be locked.

The Chateau dates from the 1850s when a successful farmer built it to show off his wealth. It is believed that the barn and pigeoniare predate the Chateau and it is rumoured that there is a secret tunnel under the house.

The Chateau is ideal for families of mixed generations with something for everyone to enjoy and plenty of space to spend time together or to find a private escape. Guests tell us that the children never want to leave, preferring to spend their days enjoying the pool and the grounds or playing table tennis, football or imaginary games in the tree house.

Well maintained, and furnished with a mix of antiques, vintage and contemporary pieces, we aim to stay true to the age and style of the Chateau whilst enabling guests to enjoy the comforts of modern life. Bedrooms are elegant with super comfy beds and most are en suite. Many of the toilets are in the turrets and the baths are indulgent roll tops.

We take great pride in our kitchens and try our best to provide everything you need to enjoy the cooking as well as the dining. The Chateau kitchen is designed so that everyone will want to get involved.

Should you venture away from the grounds there are plenty of Bastide towns to visit, local markets and in July and August there are night markets too. We have several bikes, including tandems, for exploring the local area.