Les Granges is a traditional Dordogne farmhouse, which has been in our family for 50 years. When my parents bought it in 1967 it had not been lived in for some time. The main part of the house was built over 200 years ago and the barn was added in 1920’s. From the various ruined buildings nearby, you can tell that there was a small hamlet on the site with several families living in close proximity.

Tobacco was the main cash crop in the area for many years and you can still see where the wires ran across the beams and roof trusses for drying tobacco leaves upstairs.

During the 60’s and 70’s basic renovations were carried out by my parents, with some help from friends and local builders. Originally, rain water was collected in an underground cistern (below the pergola) but once mains water was available, my mother wasted no time in installing the swimming pool which was completed in 1981. More extensive renovations were done in the mid 1980s resulting in the current layout of the property.

In the early days Commarque was not a tourist attraction and the road was a dirt track. It became a stream in wet weather, and was very uneven. We used to drive through the field, to avoid the pot-holes. The ruined house next door has been empty for more than 60 years.

More information

On the info page you can find links to the 2018 Handbook, and to a PDF containing detailed instructions on how to get to Les Granges.