Maisons de maitre for sale in the Dordogne

Perhaps second only to a chateau in terms of a prestigious French address is a Maison de Maître (Master’s House). The Dordogne is the department with the highest concentration of these elegant 18th and 19th century properties - where wealthy landowners once collected rents from their tenant farmers. A typical Maison de Maître has a pleasingly symmetrical façade of tall (traditionally sash), shuttered windows positioned around a central front door. Inside, the tall windows and ceilings make for light and airy reception rooms radiating out from an imposing central hallway. The interiors – less austere than those of chateaux – require less work to ‘soften’ them for modern tastes. They typically require less renovation work and have lower running costs than a chateau so some lenders look more favourably on them for mortgages. Sometimes very little separates a Maison de Maître from a Chateau so make sure you don’t miss out on the perfect property by visiting Chateaux for sale in the Dordogne. Or if you’re open to other character homes continue your search with our Dordogne property listings.