"1786 is my place.
You know, that place. It's where your mind goes when you need an escape from a world that's moving too fast. You close your eyes and imagine soft surroundings, wide, open spaces, and streams of gentle sunlight washing over you. Your breathing slows, and you begin to feel brand new.
That's the feeling I got when I first stepped into 1786 last fall.
The photographs don't lie. It's a beautiful place. But to really get a sense of what makes this spacious stone house so special, you really have to be there. I loved waking up in our comfy bed, as the church bells were nudging the little town from its sleep, and heading down the gently creaking stairs to see the morning light slipping through the curtains. I can still smell the scones baking in the oven in that cozy, well equipped kitchen. I can hear the laughter rising up towards those soaring ceilings during long, lazy dinners, gathered around that roomy dining table. I can taste the spicy sausage fresh off the barbecue, and feel the warmth from the wood stove on a chilly night.
And then there were the days spent adventuring to neighboring towns and villages... enjoying market days and sidewalk cafés, elegant abbeys, and breathtaking views.
And always... that warm feeling on returning home at the end of the day to the open arms of that big, beautiful stone house... We hope we'll be back, one day. Until then, I'll return there in my mind. It's my place.
We will forever treasure you, dear 1786! Thank you, Jenny and Phi!"
July 2018 from the Turners, the Kavanaghs and the Coulters
We are 6 Australians, 3 couples, all in our early 60’s who jointly decided to have the trip of a lifetime by basing ourselves in France for 9 weeks and taking side trips to other destinations.
We chose ‘1786’ after an extensive internet search based on reviews, value for money, images of the house and an email exchange with the owner, Jenny. The reviews proved to be spot on, it was great value for money and the house is as good as it looks. Mansonville is a French village. The images and the reviews didn’t fully elaborate on how pretty it is. It’s on a hill, surrounded by rolling hills and small valleys, many other small and beautiful villages, and farmland.
In May, June and July, when we were there, it is bedecked with flowers, as are many of the surrounding villages. The French seem to take flowers more seriously than other nations. The house could be called ‘hummingbird lodge’. None of us had ever seen hummingbirds before and I’m ashamed to say that the first time I saw one I thought it was a big moth. We then saw 1 to 3 of them just about every morning at breakfast time. While we were eating our cereal they’d be taking the nectar from the flowers outside the front door (on the ‘wagon wheels’).
It’s a 10 minute drive to Valance d’Agen, a sleepy town on the two canals that run beside the Garonne river. My wife and I love hiking and walking and we walked along the canals every other morning for an hour or so, never tiring of the view. Even in July, when it was 28-30 degrees, the enormous plane trees shaded almost the entire length of the canal, keeping us cool. We did different stretches and really loved the stretch from Pommevic bridge eastwards (which is a truly rural walk through countryside). We always walked from a bridge to one of the canal locks or to another bridge (so you can sort of break it up into walks to and back from a bridge or a lock, or using two cars, from one lock or bridge to another). You’ll have to say ‘bonjour’ to many ‘cyclists’, but it is by no means busy or congested, even in July. If you’re a cyclist yourself then you’re going to love it.
During those walks we saw: hundreds of fish ranging from tiny to 16 inches long; 10 hawks; 2 green snakes (harmless and they scooted away when we approached); a couple of frogs, and a tiny, red squirrel, while listening to all the birdsong.
Several of us had never really experienced country life and it was fascinating to watch the various crops grow, guess what they were and then see them being harvested. The masses of sunflowers made for spectacular views, as did the fields of poppies that preceded them. If you are patient you could sit and watch the corn grow.
The six of us bought flowers, for the ladies who run the Saturnin restaurant, on the last night of our stay, so I guess that tells you what we thought of it and them. They also run the tiny shop where we got our two fresh baguettes and litre of milk each morning. It remains a mystery to us how the villagers knew the baguette delivery to the shop had occurred but suddenly they’d start appearing, baguettes in hand, and we’d follow suit. I’ll miss those baguettes for the rest of my life.
One of the things the reviews didn’t tell us was how many great places there are within ‘our’ driving range. As Australians (and if you’re Canadian or American) a drive of 150km isn’t an onerous journey. Within a range of 8 to 160 km we loved:
A lady called Marie acts as the local contact and washes and returns bed linen and towels each week plus assists with any issues. The ‘sejour’, a mezzanine above the main room, was where we gathered to watch the football world cup, and two of us had an ongoing billiards competition (ended 6-6 with a magnificent final finishing burst by yours truly). It’s a small pool table but large enough to have fun. One of the other things we loved was having the sejour windows open: insects fly in but then fly out again, without really bothering anyone. That might be normal for people from other countries but it’s not something we can do in the part of Australia we all live in.
The six of us made our way through a number of the 1,000 books on offer. The beauty of the place was such that we didn’t watch any TV at all, other than the football world cup, preferring to sit outside (it doesn’t get dark until 10pm) or in the main room or sejour.
This was our experience, I hope yours is as rewarding.
REVIEW FROM L CORNER IN MELBOURNE:
We couldn't be happier about 1786. The website snaps, excellent though they are, fail to convey a full impression of the whole. Our only disappointment is that we failed to book your fabulous house for the twelve months following our departure.
Marie et son fils were helpfulness personified. We found our way to Intermarche in Valence, pioneering a route somewhat different from that clearly indicated on the map you left. Rosario, who has not been to Europe before, was fascinated by the range of French delicacies. She likes balut (look it up if you haven't heard of this Philippines favourite) and I may persuade her to try tripe.
Many thanks for the terrine, jam, wine and coffee. We've made a start on all of them. We travelled with some entertainments of our own, but the range and quantity of books, CDs and DVDs you've provided makes this luggage superfluous to requirements.
We are charmed by Mansonville. The people here have been very patient with my limited ability to understand French spoken at normal speed and to construct sentences of my own. I'm reasonably fluent as a reader of French but not attuned to aural and oral forms.
We went for a short circular walk this morning past the cemetery, up the hill to what I assumed was a fenced-off water facility, then down a track through some fields and back to Mansonville along the C10. Rosario is keen on plants. She's not used to anything like a European spring and looks forward to watching the leaves and flowers as they emerge. We stopped to speak to an old gentleman engaged in what seemed a Sisyphean task of attending to a large field of onions with a sort of hoe. He introduced us a sa chienne and politely responded to a minor joke I attempted in French.
So far so good, and we know it can only get better. Fantastique! Formidable!
*****
REVIEW FROM Audrey and Adrian in Canberra:
'A Perfect Family Holiday Home
We chose '1786' as a holiday place for our family get together last summer and when we all arrived there, from Beijing, London and Canberra, we were not disappointed. It was perfect! It was everything we had hoped for and more.
The house is beautifully comfortable, very well maintained and equipped to a high standard, and the village is lovely. Our family ranged from two years old to seventy and '1786' had something for everyone. We enjoyed walks in the surrounding countryside, meals in the village restaurant, drinks in the courtyard at dusk, exploring villages and towns nearby, cycling along the canal towpath, playing in the games room and just relaxing with a good book from '1786's impressive library. Our days were filled with summer pleasures.
Jenny was in touch with us in the lead up to our arrival (thank you again for the wonderful welcoming hamper of goodies!) and during our stay, to make sure that all was well. At the end of our magical month there we reluctantly left with wonderful memories of '1786' and Mansonville.
We would all definitely recommend this beautiful house and we hope to return for a longer stay - it's such a special place to be!
Audrey & Adrian
Canberra'
*****
REVIEW FROM Jim and Judy Bryden in Brisbane:
'A wonderful year in 1786
My wife and I spent 12 months in this beautiful house from July 2014. "1786" ticked all the boxes, and then some.
We were met on arrival by the owners Jenny, and Philippa who showed us around, and ensured we were comfortable before leaving us to settle in at our own pace.
We had viewed 1786 on the website prior to arrival, and photo's don't lie. The property was everything we had hoped for.
If somewhere can be described as both spacious, and cosy at the same time then 1786 is the place.
We had many visitors during the summer months, and this is where the spaciousness was appreciated. However we most enjoyed the winter months in front of the wood heater on our own. A roaring fire, and a glass of local red... heaven.
We cannot say enough about the location in Mansonville. A beautiful tiny village, who's locals will make you feel welcome from the first day until the last.
We have no hesitation in recommending this home to anyone who wishes to experience true French rural life.
Enjoy your stay.
We guarantee you will love it.
Jim and Judy Bryden. Australia.'
*****
August 2017 from Frederique Desfontaines, Paris
Une belle maison où il fait bon vivre dans une belle région ! La maison est bien équipée et très agréable à vivre. Nous avons découvert cette région avec ces beaux villages et charmantes randonnées. Un vrai plaisir ! Merci à Jenny et Marie qui s'occupe de la maison pour leur gentillesse et attentions : le petit panier avec les spécialités locales offertes en cadeau de bienvenue est une charmante surprise.
*****
October 2017 from Henry Clesham, Ireland
Spent a wonderful week in this stunning property. Its online description seemed too good to be true, but it delivered! It is very well equipped, both internally (cooking, kitchen equipment, bedrooms and bathrooms etc.) and externally where there is a patio across which the sun travels over the course of the day. There is plenty of comfortable seating and a large dining table. The property was clean and tidy upon arrival. The village of Mansonville is quiet with a small restaurant and bar which was convenient - as was its adjoined small shop where one could order fresh bread and croissant etc as well as buy most staples. There are many restaurants, including some very good ones, within a short drive. Mansonville is virtually midway between Agen and Toulouse. Booking and subsequent communication with the owner was both prompt and helpful. A place to recommend...
*****
You know, that place. It's where your mind goes when you need an escape from a world that's moving too fast. You close your eyes and imagine soft surroundings, wide, open spaces, and streams of gentle sunlight washing over you. Your breathing slows, and you begin to feel brand new.
That's the feeling I got when I first stepped into 1786 last fall.
The photographs don't lie. It's a beautiful place. But to really get a sense of what makes this spacious stone house so special, you really have to be there. I loved waking up in our comfy bed, as the church bells were nudging the little town from its sleep, and heading down the gently creaking stairs to see the morning light slipping through the curtains. I can still smell the scones baking in the oven in that cozy, well equipped kitchen. I can hear the laughter rising up towards those soaring ceilings during long, lazy dinners, gathered around that roomy dining table. I can taste the spicy sausage fresh off the barbecue, and feel the warmth from the wood stove on a chilly night.
And then there were the days spent adventuring to neighboring towns and villages... enjoying market days and sidewalk cafés, elegant abbeys, and breathtaking views.
And always... that warm feeling on returning home at the end of the day to the open arms of that big, beautiful stone house... We hope we'll be back, one day. Until then, I'll return there in my mind. It's my place.
We will forever treasure you, dear 1786! Thank you, Jenny and Phi!"
July 2018 from the Turners, the Kavanaghs and the Coulters
We are 6 Australians, 3 couples, all in our early 60’s who jointly decided to have the trip of a lifetime by basing ourselves in France for 9 weeks and taking side trips to other destinations.
We chose ‘1786’ after an extensive internet search based on reviews, value for money, images of the house and an email exchange with the owner, Jenny. The reviews proved to be spot on, it was great value for money and the house is as good as it looks. Mansonville is a French village. The images and the reviews didn’t fully elaborate on how pretty it is. It’s on a hill, surrounded by rolling hills and small valleys, many other small and beautiful villages, and farmland.
In May, June and July, when we were there, it is bedecked with flowers, as are many of the surrounding villages. The French seem to take flowers more seriously than other nations. The house could be called ‘hummingbird lodge’. None of us had ever seen hummingbirds before and I’m ashamed to say that the first time I saw one I thought it was a big moth. We then saw 1 to 3 of them just about every morning at breakfast time. While we were eating our cereal they’d be taking the nectar from the flowers outside the front door (on the ‘wagon wheels’).
It’s a 10 minute drive to Valance d’Agen, a sleepy town on the two canals that run beside the Garonne river. My wife and I love hiking and walking and we walked along the canals every other morning for an hour or so, never tiring of the view. Even in July, when it was 28-30 degrees, the enormous plane trees shaded almost the entire length of the canal, keeping us cool. We did different stretches and really loved the stretch from Pommevic bridge eastwards (which is a truly rural walk through countryside). We always walked from a bridge to one of the canal locks or to another bridge (so you can sort of break it up into walks to and back from a bridge or a lock, or using two cars, from one lock or bridge to another). You’ll have to say ‘bonjour’ to many ‘cyclists’, but it is by no means busy or congested, even in July. If you’re a cyclist yourself then you’re going to love it.
During those walks we saw: hundreds of fish ranging from tiny to 16 inches long; 10 hawks; 2 green snakes (harmless and they scooted away when we approached); a couple of frogs, and a tiny, red squirrel, while listening to all the birdsong.
Several of us had never really experienced country life and it was fascinating to watch the various crops grow, guess what they were and then see them being harvested. The masses of sunflowers made for spectacular views, as did the fields of poppies that preceded them. If you are patient you could sit and watch the corn grow.
The six of us bought flowers, for the ladies who run the Saturnin restaurant, on the last night of our stay, so I guess that tells you what we thought of it and them. They also run the tiny shop where we got our two fresh baguettes and litre of milk each morning. It remains a mystery to us how the villagers knew the baguette delivery to the shop had occurred but suddenly they’d start appearing, baguettes in hand, and we’d follow suit. I’ll miss those baguettes for the rest of my life.
One of the things the reviews didn’t tell us was how many great places there are within ‘our’ driving range. As Australians (and if you’re Canadian or American) a drive of 150km isn’t an onerous journey. Within a range of 8 to 160 km we loved:
- Gouffrey de Padirac, a cave complex with an underground river that all six of us thought astonishing.
- kayaking downstream along the Dordogne river from St Sozy to Peyrac, 10 km/1.5 hour, shooting the very gentle rapids or letting the current take us (my favourite and I wished I’d done it earlier in our holiday because then I could have done it again).
- My wife and I, impromptu, spent a night in Rocamadour, just because it was so beautiful that we didn’t want to rush the visit. It is a village that is perched on and descends a cliff face (google France’s prettiest villages)
- St Cirq de la Poppie, Chateau de Chevriers, Lauzerte, Larresingle (when a medieval recreation was on), Auch, Condom, Auvillar (8km from Mansonville) and many others.
- The Tuesday market in Valence d’Agen, the other markets in surrounding villages and towns and the Musee de Beaux Arts in Agen.
A lady called Marie acts as the local contact and washes and returns bed linen and towels each week plus assists with any issues. The ‘sejour’, a mezzanine above the main room, was where we gathered to watch the football world cup, and two of us had an ongoing billiards competition (ended 6-6 with a magnificent final finishing burst by yours truly). It’s a small pool table but large enough to have fun. One of the other things we loved was having the sejour windows open: insects fly in but then fly out again, without really bothering anyone. That might be normal for people from other countries but it’s not something we can do in the part of Australia we all live in.
The six of us made our way through a number of the 1,000 books on offer. The beauty of the place was such that we didn’t watch any TV at all, other than the football world cup, preferring to sit outside (it doesn’t get dark until 10pm) or in the main room or sejour.
This was our experience, I hope yours is as rewarding.
REVIEW FROM L CORNER IN MELBOURNE:
We couldn't be happier about 1786. The website snaps, excellent though they are, fail to convey a full impression of the whole. Our only disappointment is that we failed to book your fabulous house for the twelve months following our departure.
Marie et son fils were helpfulness personified. We found our way to Intermarche in Valence, pioneering a route somewhat different from that clearly indicated on the map you left. Rosario, who has not been to Europe before, was fascinated by the range of French delicacies. She likes balut (look it up if you haven't heard of this Philippines favourite) and I may persuade her to try tripe.
Many thanks for the terrine, jam, wine and coffee. We've made a start on all of them. We travelled with some entertainments of our own, but the range and quantity of books, CDs and DVDs you've provided makes this luggage superfluous to requirements.
We are charmed by Mansonville. The people here have been very patient with my limited ability to understand French spoken at normal speed and to construct sentences of my own. I'm reasonably fluent as a reader of French but not attuned to aural and oral forms.
We went for a short circular walk this morning past the cemetery, up the hill to what I assumed was a fenced-off water facility, then down a track through some fields and back to Mansonville along the C10. Rosario is keen on plants. She's not used to anything like a European spring and looks forward to watching the leaves and flowers as they emerge. We stopped to speak to an old gentleman engaged in what seemed a Sisyphean task of attending to a large field of onions with a sort of hoe. He introduced us a sa chienne and politely responded to a minor joke I attempted in French.
So far so good, and we know it can only get better. Fantastique! Formidable!
*****
REVIEW FROM Audrey and Adrian in Canberra:
'A Perfect Family Holiday Home
We chose '1786' as a holiday place for our family get together last summer and when we all arrived there, from Beijing, London and Canberra, we were not disappointed. It was perfect! It was everything we had hoped for and more.
The house is beautifully comfortable, very well maintained and equipped to a high standard, and the village is lovely. Our family ranged from two years old to seventy and '1786' had something for everyone. We enjoyed walks in the surrounding countryside, meals in the village restaurant, drinks in the courtyard at dusk, exploring villages and towns nearby, cycling along the canal towpath, playing in the games room and just relaxing with a good book from '1786's impressive library. Our days were filled with summer pleasures.
Jenny was in touch with us in the lead up to our arrival (thank you again for the wonderful welcoming hamper of goodies!) and during our stay, to make sure that all was well. At the end of our magical month there we reluctantly left with wonderful memories of '1786' and Mansonville.
We would all definitely recommend this beautiful house and we hope to return for a longer stay - it's such a special place to be!
Audrey & Adrian
Canberra'
*****
REVIEW FROM Jim and Judy Bryden in Brisbane:
'A wonderful year in 1786
My wife and I spent 12 months in this beautiful house from July 2014. "1786" ticked all the boxes, and then some.
We were met on arrival by the owners Jenny, and Philippa who showed us around, and ensured we were comfortable before leaving us to settle in at our own pace.
We had viewed 1786 on the website prior to arrival, and photo's don't lie. The property was everything we had hoped for.
If somewhere can be described as both spacious, and cosy at the same time then 1786 is the place.
We had many visitors during the summer months, and this is where the spaciousness was appreciated. However we most enjoyed the winter months in front of the wood heater on our own. A roaring fire, and a glass of local red... heaven.
We cannot say enough about the location in Mansonville. A beautiful tiny village, who's locals will make you feel welcome from the first day until the last.
We have no hesitation in recommending this home to anyone who wishes to experience true French rural life.
Enjoy your stay.
We guarantee you will love it.
Jim and Judy Bryden. Australia.'
*****
August 2017 from Frederique Desfontaines, Paris
Une belle maison où il fait bon vivre dans une belle région ! La maison est bien équipée et très agréable à vivre. Nous avons découvert cette région avec ces beaux villages et charmantes randonnées. Un vrai plaisir ! Merci à Jenny et Marie qui s'occupe de la maison pour leur gentillesse et attentions : le petit panier avec les spécialités locales offertes en cadeau de bienvenue est une charmante surprise.
*****
October 2017 from Henry Clesham, Ireland
Spent a wonderful week in this stunning property. Its online description seemed too good to be true, but it delivered! It is very well equipped, both internally (cooking, kitchen equipment, bedrooms and bathrooms etc.) and externally where there is a patio across which the sun travels over the course of the day. There is plenty of comfortable seating and a large dining table. The property was clean and tidy upon arrival. The village of Mansonville is quiet with a small restaurant and bar which was convenient - as was its adjoined small shop where one could order fresh bread and croissant etc as well as buy most staples. There are many restaurants, including some very good ones, within a short drive. Mansonville is virtually midway between Agen and Toulouse. Booking and subsequent communication with the owner was both prompt and helpful. A place to recommend...
*****