If you’re curious to know who’s behind the gîtes and the little welcome notes, make yourself comfortable – we’d love to tell you our story.

We’re Julia and Baptiste, both in our early forties, and parents to Aubin, a young boy who’s absolutely mad about tractors (he can name all the brands in order before he’s even finished his breakfast!). By his side is Leika, our loyal and enthusiastic dog who shares his passion, along with Lino the cat, a calm observer of the world, and a small group of rescue hens whose eggs you may get to enjoy during your stay.

These hens, known as “retired layers”, were rescued from industrial farms after being considered too old for commercial egg production. Though no longer “profitable”, they’re still perfectly happy scratching in the grass, soaking up the sun, and laying eggs at their own gentle pace. Giving them a second life is a small gesture that makes sense to us – and it means we can offer our guests fresh, ethical eggs every morning.

A fresh start, a long-held dream… and a love at first sight

Our story changed course in 2020, during lockdown. At the time, we were living in the city and working in digital and crafts – yet we increasingly felt out of step with that life. Eventually, we asked ourselves the big question: what if we completely changed everything?

We’d always dreamed of living in the countryside, but never quite dared to make the leap. Then one day, we came across this charming property on the edge of a village, with three beautiful gîtes, a house full of character, endless skies and fields all around. It just made sense.

At the end of 2021, we moved here together, as a family.

Four years on… and we still love it more every day

Now, four years later, our love for this place has only grown. Each season brings something new to appreciate – a new idea to develop, a new guest to meet, a new corner of the garden to fall in love with.

One of the things we value most here is the warmth of the local community. People in the Périgord are welcoming, open, and genuinely kind. The local life is full of energy – from passionate farmers to talented artisans, village festivals, and neighbours who greet you like old friends. That generosity of spirit is something we deeply cherish, and it’s what we hope to share with our guests.

A family gîte in the Dordogne – and so much more

We have lots of plans for improving the gîtes and the land: a shared vegetable garden, a reading nook under the trees, an outdoor kitchen, and maybe one day even a little wellness area. But more than anything, we simply want to welcome you like we would welcome friends.

Whether you’re here for a peaceful weekend, a family holiday, or a foodie escape, we’re happy to share tips if you need them – or leave you to enjoy the calm if that’s what you’re after 😉

👉 Explore our gîtes and book your stay here

La Petite Auberge is our home, our adventure, and the dream we made real.
And we truly hope that when you stay here, you’ll feel just as good as we do 💛