Bed and Breakfast - An Art Form

Whether as a base for your holiday in the Dordogne, a weekend break taking advantage of the cheap flights from the UK into Bergerac, or like me, house-hunting, 'La Maison des Vitraux' has turned bed and breakfast into an art form.

(PRWEB) March 27, 2005 -- Taking the plunge and buying a house in the Dordogne was the first challenge, finding somewhere as a base whilst I did this, another. I needed somewhere I would be relaxed, comfortable and able to put my feet up and unwind at the end of each day, if not then my task would be all that more difficult.

Imagine my delight therefore when I checked out www.bed-and-breakfast-in-the-dordogne.com
the website for 'La Maison des Vitraux,' the House of Stained Glass, in the picturesque village of St. Nexans, only 5 minutes from Bergerac airport and a mere 10 minutes from the medieval centre of the town.

The website is impressive, with stunning photographs illustrating each of the en-suite bedrooms, beautifully decorated in the style of famous Art Nouveau artists', and complemented by prints of their work.

The website however, does not prepare you for the surprise in store. I had the Charles Rennie Makintosh room, which, like the other four rooms gave a welcoming glow as you entered, with afternoon sunlight flooding the room through a beautiful stained glass window. This was the secret of 'La Maison des Vitraux.'

Complementing their successful bed and breakfast business, Richard and Ann Mahoney also have a stained glass studio-workshop, and gallery. Richard is an internationally renowned stained glass artist who can boast commissions made for the Royal Household, amongst others. Examples of his art not only decorate the house, the gallery also has a stunning collection of his work, all for sale.

Fresh croissants and an endless supply of coffee each morning got my day off to a good start. At the end of the day a relaxing glass of wine in the garden with students attending one of Richard's stained glass courses, or a beer in the village pub discussing the merits of buying a house in France with the locals, made my stay at the La Maison des Vitraux more like a holiday than the stressful house buying exercise I had imagined it would be.

Whether as a base for your holiday in the Dordogne, a weekend break taking advantage of the cheap flights from the UK into Bergerac, or like me, house-hunting, 'La Maison des Vitraux' has turned bed and breakfast into an art form.

Alan Barton
Alan Barton is a travel journalist who has visited over 60 countries during the course of his work.

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