Villa Mont Joie, Beynac-et-Cazenac, Dordogne, France - Spectacular Views, Private Reviews

Bottom line, Villa Mont Joie is equal to our best villa experience in 40 years of extensive traveling and my 20 years of travel consulting . VIEW: Magic. Certainly the best villa view in Beynac and equal to the best overall take-in villa view of our travels. We always seek a stunning view in a villa. Mont Joie is true magic and the pictures just cannot do it justice - 180 degree view of the Dordogne, castles, boats, hot hair balloons, swans - that is changing and mesmerizing dawn to dusk. The huge top floor window and large covered second floor deck with table/chaises/bbq are focal points to this. INSIDE: This is a beautifully renovated medievel era home with the finest touches of period interior design and furniture and lighting. Many of the walls are the glowing honey color stone of the region. The master bath is spectacular with the glass sink set against the local stone. KITCHEN: Equipped at the highest grade with stainless steel appliances, granite, and extensive dishes, serving and kitchenware, and accessories. As cooks, we were in heaven. BEDS: Among the most comfortable of all our travels. SETTING: Mont Joie is in the fairy tale town of Beynac, consistently one of the most beautiful villages in France. The key sites of the area are all within easy reach by car (chateaux, Sarlat, etc).

We were a party of 4 - myself and husband and daughters 9 and 15.

We found Mont Joie as close to perfection as a rental could be. The owners use this home as their own for their vacations which speaks volumes to the quality. As renters of Mont Joie, we stepped in as "residents" rather than mere villa renters for the week due to the quality and beauty. The ultimate compliment to a rental is that you want to stay there rather than venture out as it is so nice. Mont Joie is truly a rare gem . .and we were lucky to experience it. A week of magic moments in a magic villa in a magic setting - what more could you want from a vacation?

We had a great stay in Mont Joie- a lovely, well furnished and comfortable home overlooking the Dordogne river, with patio and garden to enjoy as well. We had everything we needed, a well stocked kitchen with good knives, several pots and pans, big bowls and plenty of utensils to cook meals. The beds were quite comfortable and the bathrooms modern and big. Something to note: the bedrooms and bathrooms are downstairs one and two levels down. The lower level is quite cool- great in summer but needing the heater in the fall, and is a bit of a hike to get back up to the living area. So not only are there a lot of steps up and down in the house, but also a quite steep walk up to the house on the street. We loved getting all that exercise, so did not mind it. We did not get a chance to enjoy the lovely gardens because the weather was too cold, but the view outside the living room is beautiful. All in all , a lovely stay.

We could not imagine a more satisfying vacation than our 2 weeks at Mont Joie in picture perfect Beynac. Having spent 3-4 weeks annually in most European countries from Norway to Hungary, Turkey and Sicily over the past 30 years, this year we wanted something special for our family's return to the Dordogne and indeed we found it in Mont Joie. Everything about it was superb including the spectacular setting, the architecture, the tastefulness of its furnishings, the privacy and tranquility, the high level of comfort, the proximity to excellent resources and nearby attractions, the owner's extraordinary attention to detail and responsiveness. We must also mention the exceptionally warm, friendly and helpful Martine who greeted us and was repeatedly helpful to us during our stay and, if you are interested in wildlife, you'll be very pleased with the swans, herons, egrets, ducks and the constant aerial display of the swallows in full view from the great room, the balcony and terraces. Mont Joie is a great value and we are most grateful to the owner for this truly exceptional, most rewarding and memorable experience.

My girlfriend and I stayed at Mont Joie for 17 days in July. This provided a great base for both general relaxation and active exploration of the many great villages and sites that this area of France has to offer.

The property was entirely consistent with the listing description and pictures on the HomeAway website. It has extraordinary views, is very roomy and comfortable, is clean and well maintained and is very well equipped with everything one might need for a rental property. The owner, local manager and housekeeper were all very helpful and responsive to any and all questions/needs that we had prior to and during our stay.

We had breakfast on the main terrace every morning and, for lunches and dinners, alternated between eating in on this magnificent part of the home and going out on a roughly 50/50 basis.

I would highly recommend Beynac as a base location and this property in particular for a memorable stay in the Dordogne region.

We have stayed in so many places over the years and this is by far, the most welcoming, beautiful and comfortable yet. The owners have set the house up with everything you could possibly need. The UK TV was great and to discover the board games was a bonus. Plenty of books, movies and comfy furniture & the wood burning heater was atmospheric & wonderful. My husband, our 9 yr old and I booked Mont Joie after researching the the various home sites and the reviews were absolutely accurate!!...Actually, it was even better than the reviews. Beynac and the surrounding area is picturesque and enchanting.

We rented at the beginning of winter and, despite the cold weather, the home was warm, inviting and the views were breathtaking. Many people avoid touring during the colder seasons but we loved the fact that the area was quiet and the weather was not uncomfortable. As the previous reviews have commented, the information included in the house manual gave so much useful, local information. (& easy to read/understand instructions for everything)

Martine, the housekeeper, was charming and helpful and one can feel assured that if there were any problems or anything you needed, help was on hand. Our daughter fell in love with the kids bunk room with artfully drawn medieval theme and, despite her sleep issues, couldn't wait to climb into bed each night. This house would be perfect for anyone (except with disability or age issues-due to the steep path) A special place indeed !!!

I cannot tell you how much we enjoyed Mount Joie!!!!!!!!!!

There are no adequate words to describe it. I tried to put my thoughts in your guest book but in a nutshell, stepping into your place was like stepping back into time. I am sure you have heard that before. It was a fantasy. You and Michelle have done an absolutely fantastic job of creating a charming home with a wonderful atmosphere. We are so glad that we got the chance to visit especially after that delays last fall.

We had a couple of days of challenging weather but other than that it was superb. I took your advice: we’d often sit on the balcony and simple absorb the wonders around us. It was so relaxing and tranquil. The visit to the Perigord now ranks as our #1 vacation of all time. We’d go back in a heartbeat!

Thank you.

Jim & Bev

This is our first experience with renting a home in France. The owner made it very easy with quick responses to our inquiries, useful information, and a home, that if anything, is understated. The home is in wonderful condition and outfitted well. The local contact people speak excellent English and seemed happy to help. The views from the terrace and balcony are better than the pictures on the website and the terrace became our favorite spot each evening to watch the sun go down and the hot air ballons drift by. All this accompanied by drinking some fruit of the vine. We were in Baynac the first week of October and had wonderful weather with highs in the 80's and lows around 50 and only one day with a little percipitation. Beynac is well situated and we didn't need to do a lot of driving to see what we wanted to see. Please tour Font du Gamma, enjoy a canoe ride, visit a open air market, and drop into a country restaurant. We would go back in a minute and stay at Mont Joie.

We had a wonderful time in Mont Joie. It was just what we needed. We had had a very difficult trip up until that point and arrived exhausted and stressed. What better place to unwind than in this lovely, serene environment!

We spent a week during October 2010 at Mont Joie. The Dordogne is a fantasy land and staying in Beynac just adds to the depth of the dream. Mont Joie is the icing on the cake. The vila is so well equiped and so very comfortable. The view of the river, the surrounding countryside and the castles only heightens the feeling that you have taken a detour to another century but have managed to drag along all the conveniences of the current one. We would highly recommend Mont Joie if you are planning a stay in the Perigord.

A wonderful vacation full of memories for a lifetime. The views, the house, the people, the history, the countryside, the food, the wine, the markets all were incredible and exceeded our expectations. The experience of having dinner at La Borie Blanche farm with Christine was one of the highlights of our trip and should not be missed. The markets at Sarlat and St. Cyprien are fantastic and enable you to have a great meal on the Villa Mont Joie terrace overlooking the Dordogne. Would also suggest going native and having lunch " French style " in small towns.......it is a great experience and an incredible value. A total surprise was the town of Les Eyzies and the prehistoric museum and nearby cave drawings, simply amazing! Would recommend this property very highly.