Frequently asked questions

Sol du Mazel is a five-bedroom stone property near Saint-Pompont in the Périgord Noir, Dordogne. It comprises two interconnected gîtes — Rose Barn and Hope Cottage — sleeping up to 10 guests. The property has a heated private pool (12×5m), four acres of private grounds, and is 20 minutes from Sarlat.

Up to 10 guests across five bedrooms — three in Rose Barn (one king double, one twin, one bunk room with four full-size berths) and two in Hope Cottage (one king double, one twin).

Yes — entirely. When you book Sol du Mazel, you take the whole property. No other guests share the property, the pool or the grounds at any time. In July and August, both gîtes are let together only. Outside peak season, each gîte is also available individually for a single group.

Yes. Rose Barn has a vaulted open-plan kitchen and living area with bifold doors to the terrace. Hope Cottage has a separate kitchen and sitting room with a wood-burning stove. A connecting door between the two means the group can move freely between both spaces.

Yes — 8Gb WiFi throughout both gîtes. Suitable for streaming, video calls and remote working.

Yes. The pool is heated to 28°C throughout the season — May through the end of September.

Yes. The pool is exclusive to Sol du Mazel. It is not shared with any neighbouring gîte or rental. Your group is the only group using it.

12 metres by 5 metres, south-facing, in full sun from morning to early evening. Deep end is 1.8 metres. Fenced perimeter.

Yes — there are no time restrictions. Evening and night swims are a regular feature of stays at Sol du Mazel.

A stone-paved terrace with six sun loungers, a timber abri pergola with hammocks, and a long outdoor dining table seating 10 with a gas BBQ. The pool faces south and is sheltered from the prevailing wind by the building. Fire pit in the grounds for later evenings.

Yes — particularly for groups of adults who want to combine doing things with long evenings by the pool. The region has excellent canoeing (16km past five medieval castles), one of the best Saturday markets in France (Sarlat), original prehistoric cave paintings (Font-de-Gaume), a Michelin-starred restaurant and two Bib Gourmands within 20 minutes, and a landscape that genuinely rewards driving around it.

Canoeing the 16km classic route from Carsac to Beynac (around €20 per person, 3–4 hours, five châteaux). Font-de-Gaume original cave paintings near Les Eyzies (tours limited to 13 — book ahead). Dawn balloon flights over the Dordogne valley. The Saturday market in Sarlat. Exploring the bastide towns — Domme, Belvès, Monpazier. Visiting Castelnaud and Beynac châteaux.

Le Grand Bleu in Sarlat holds one Michelin star (20 minutes). Ô Moulin at Daglan (15 minutes) and La Belle Étoile at La Roque-Gageac both hold Bib Gourmands (2025). Book Le Grand Bleu well ahead in July and August. The Sarlat Saturday market is also one of the best places to buy foie gras, walnut wine and charcuterie directly from producers.

Yes. Hire bases are 30 minutes away at La Roque-Gageac and Carsac. The classic 16km route to Beynac passes five châteaux and takes 3–4 hours. No experience required. Around €20 per person. Book ahead in July and August — June and September are quieter and easier to arrange.

Font-de-Gaume is one of the last original polychrome decorated prehistoric caves still open to visitors — 12,000 to 17,000-year-old paintings of bison, horses and mammoths in the actual cave where they were made. Tours are limited to 13 people and require advance booking at sites-les-eyzies.fr. It is 50 minutes from Sol du Mazel and one of the most extraordinary experiences available in France.

July and August are warmest (25–27°C) and busiest. September is often the best month for groups with flexibility — 24°C average, all attractions fully open, crowds drop significantly after French school returns, and the restaurants that were fully booked in August become bookable. May and June offer warm, uncrowded conditions with the pool heated from the start of May.

Bergerac Airport is 55km (50 minutes) — the nearest airport, served by Ryanair, easyJet and others from multiple UK airports. Bordeaux Airport is 140km (1 hour 30 minutes) with more flight options. Channel Tunnel to Sol du Mazel is approximately 8 hours by car via Calais.

Yes. There is no reliable public transport in the area around Saint-Pompont. For a group of ten, we recommend enough cars to split for days out — most activities involve driving 15–55 minutes from the property. Two or three cars between ten people is typical.

Saint-Pompont, 24170, Périgord Noir, Dordogne, France. 20km from Sarlat (25 minutes), 8km from Domme, 15km from the Dordogne river.

Saturday. Arrival from 4pm. Departure by 10am the following Saturday.

7 nights (Saturday to Saturday) in June, July and August. 3 nights minimum in shoulder and low season, subject to availability.

For July and August, as early as possible — ideally 6–12 months ahead. Peak weeks fill early. For May, June and September, 3–6 months ahead is usually sufficient.

35% deposit secures the booking. Balance due one month before arrival. Payment by bank transfer. A refundable £500 security deposit is held, returned within 14 days of departure.

Full week-by-week 2026 pricing is on the dates and prices page. Prices range from £1,200 in shoulder season to £4,490 at peak.