Dog-friendly cottages to escape to in France
Pet passport? Check. Up-to-date jabs? Check. Microchip? Check. Then you’re all set for a holiday in France avec votre chien. To help get tails wagging, we’ve rounded up five of our favourite dog-friendly cottages and B&Bs in France, with walks from the door, local tips on dog-welcoming bars and restaurants, and a few spoiling touches for you and your faithful friend. Whether you’re planning a countryside escape or a riverside retreat, these pet-friendly French stays are all about making memories.
Les Rabauds
Marina and Daniel have restored their pretty hamlet of three houses with immense sympathy and beauty. Two are for guests (and their dogs), with oodles of original features, lovely antiques and buckets of charm. Surrounded by fields, ancient woodland and with La Brenne Natural Park close by, this is a lovely spot for couples or families to ramble through peaceful countryside. Spend sunny days kayaking down the river Anglin, go foraging for wild mushrooms in the woodland in autumn, or simply sit back and enjoy the glorious isolation and peace. Take a swim in the heated shared pool, then fire up the barbecue and sip while the sun sets. You may catch a glimpse of a grazing deer – this is a nature lover’s idyll.
Owners Marina & Daniel: The three valleys of the rivers Gartempe, Anglin and Creuse are ideal for walking.
Kergudon Gîtes
On the outskirts of tiny Saint Cadou in the heart of the Parc Naturel d’Armorique is a retreat of four beautiful gîtes (two dog-friendly, €20 per dog per stay). Groups will delight in the comfortable three-storey 1640s Priory with a spacious sitting room, dining room seating eight and a fabulous kitchen. The Hayloft is a charming single-storey bolthole for two. Everyone has private outdoor space, logs are on the house, bikes are available, breakfasts and dinners can be requested and owls hoot you to sleep. Your hospitable, professional and unfailingly generous hosts have two dogs of their own and know how to spoil your best friend. You can shop and eat in nearby Sizun, cycle on the Velo Vert, swim off golden-sand beaches and fly fish at Lac du Drennec.
Owners Ben & David: We provide dog towels, water bowls, pick-up bags and sofa blankets, as well as a little welcome gift to help your pet feel completely at home.
Rediat Cor
£20 per dog per week or short break.
Perched on a hill at the foot of castle ramparts sits a beautifully converted house with stunning valley and woodland views. Your dog will delight in diving straight into them for endless walks. Inside all is warm and friendly with two sitting rooms and two cosy bedrooms with higgledy-piggledy beams and sensational oak staircases that you’ll need to descend at night to reach the bathroom. Spend your days pottering up and down the steep, cobblestoned and flower-brightened streets of the village, through the château gardens, or to Wednesday’s market and river swimming 4 km away. Enjoy a quiet drink on the small terrace, then amble off to a restaurant or bar (many dog-friendly), or whip up supper in the rustic-contemporary kitchen.
Owner Amy: A few of our favourite rambles with direct access from the village, including the stunning Château Woods, are left for you in the house.
Old Presbytery Guest House
Surrounded by vineyards, plum orchards and views of the Dordogne River, this ancient presbytery is now a soul-soothing B&B where dogs are warmly welcomed. Adults-only and incredibly peaceful, it’s perfect for guests (and pups) in need of a reset.
Days are best spent reading in the shade shack, floating in the resistance pool, or walking the gentle countryside trails from the door. Breakfast is a feast of fresh breads, homemade granola and orchard jam, and Sunday night pizza from the wood-fired oven is a must. A dedicated wine cave and yoga studio round out the offer.
Owner Wayne: Our dog-friendly credentials include: a warm welcome for four-legged guests, miles of walkable countryside, and plenty of outdoor space to roam and relax.
Le Chalet
Tucked within the grounds of a grand château, this cream stone cottage is a dreamy hideaway for couples – and dogs are warmly welcomed too. The spacious terrace, with its sweeping vineyard views, is made for lazy breakfasts and long summer evenings. Inside, rustic terracotta tiles, exposed sandstone walls and a well-equipped kitchen set the tone for easy, laid-back living. You’ll find thoughtful touches everywhere, from a welcome bottle of local wine to a basket of regional treats.
Stroll through the gardens to pick your own fruit and asparagus in season, or wander out among sunflower fields and vineyards to the pretty village of St-Martin-de-Gurson. Wild swimming is on your doorstep at Lac de Gurson (a ten-minute cycle) or in the River Dordogne. At night, retreat upstairs to the roomy bedroom with vineyard views and watch the sun rise over the valley the next morning.
Vive la France
This article is part of Vive la France, the home of inspiring itineraries and stories from travel writers and our team, to help you plan your next French adventure.
Written by
Carmen McCormack
Carmen is a freelance writer specialising in travel. She once lived in a bus in north Wales, skipped off to study in Barcelona, and now calls Bristol home. When she’s not tapping away on her laptop, she can be found reading (a lot), lake swimming (a little), and pottering on the allotment with husband and two kiddos. She’s currently dreaming about cold cerveza and torta in Mexico.
