Bring the whole family together for the holidays, without squeezing in
Every year, the same questions: whose house is Christmas at? Where does everyone sleep? Who gets the sofa? Domaine du Dahu, in Sablons in the Gironde, answers all three at once: the place is yours alone, with 18 beds between a charming gîte and five floating chalets, one big table for everyone and a 3-hectare private lake.
Grandparents in the gîte, by the stove; couples and teenagers in the chalets on the water; the children running between the two. Nobody at anybody's house: everyone at yours.
The two festive packages
2 nights, around 24 and 25 December
Christmas with the family
€2,795 for 2 nights
Christmas Eve by the gîte's wood stove, nights in the chalets on the water, and a walk around the lake on Christmas morning.
- ✓Up to 18 guests
- ✓Christmas Eve by the stove
- ✓Children sleep "on the water"
- ✓3rd night at -30%
2 nights, around 31 December
New Year's Eve
€2,990 for 2 nights
With friends or family, no neighbours and no curfew in the function room. Midnight is celebrated on the pontoon.
- ✓Up to 18 guests
- ✓Dinner and party in the function room
- ✓Covered terrace facing the lake
- ✓3rd night at -30%
Exact dates on quote, reply within 24 hours. The rest of the winter, the place can be rented from €1,990 on weekdays.
Who sleeps where?
A charming gîte and five floating chalets moored on the lake, each with its own terrace and shower room: 18 beds in doubles, 11 in singles.
- Charming gîte — 170 m², 4 bedrooms, large living room with wood stove, 75 m² kitchen facing the lake6 people
- Premium Family — Floating chalet, 54 m² panoramic terraceup to 5
- Crique — Floating chalet with mezzanine3-4
- Premium Duo — Intimate floating chalet, 38 m²2-3
- Boat Couple — Floating chalet, large bay window over the lake2
- Boat Friends — Floating chalet, beds can be separated2
+ outdoor chalet with kitchenette. Pets welcome for a supplement.
What Christmas by the lake looks like
On the 24th in the evening, the table is laid in the gîte, in front of the stove, or in the large function room if you would rather keep the gîte for the living room and the presents. The kitchen, facing the lake, is equipped to feed everyone. After dinner, everyone walks a few steps along the pontoon to their chalet — children love sleeping "on the water".
On the morning of the 25th, mist on the lake, coffee on the covered terrace, and a walk around the lake before lunch. In the afternoon, board games in the function room, a nap by the stove, or a trip to Saint-Émilion and its Christmas market, 20 minutes away. The anglers in the family cast straight from the chalet terrace, day or night.
For New Year, same setting, different mood: dinner in the function room, music, and midnight on the pontoon without a neighbour for hundreds of metres. The party carries on under cover in the function room and on the covered terrace. Parties and events are possible under certain conditions, to be agreed when the quote is drawn up.
Good to know
- ✓ Parking and toilets on site
- ✓ Covered terrace facing the lake
- ✓ Heating in the gîte's 4 bedrooms
- ✓ Meals available from Limnades, the estate's restaurant (opening early November 2026)
Around the estate over the holidays
- Saint-Émilion (20 min): UNESCO-listed village, Christmas market and lights, cellars open during the holidays.
- Pomerol and Fronsac vineyards (10-15 min): tastings by appointment, ideal for the afternoon of the 26th.
- Libourne (20 min): Sunday morning market, quays of the Dordogne.
- Saint-Pardon tidal bore (20 min): the wave travels up the Dordogne with high coefficients from 24 to 27 December 2026.
- Bordeaux (40 min): Christmas market on the Allées de Tourny, ice rink, Grand Théâtre.
Frequently asked questions
Is the estate open at Christmas and New Year? +
Yes. Domaine du Dahu opens all year round on request, including between 20 December and 3 January. The festive season is booked as a full private hire: the estate, its 5 floating chalets, its gîte and its lake are reserved for your group alone.
How much does Christmas or New Year at Domaine du Dahu cost? +
The Christmas with the family package is €2,795 and the New Year's Eve package €2,990, for 2 nights, the whole estate with its 18 beds. Preferential rate from the 3rd night: the extra night is at -30%. Quote within 24 hours, no commitment.
How many people can sleep on site? +
Up to 18 people in double beds (11 in single beds), spread between the 170 m² gîte for 6, the 5 floating chalets for 2 to 5 people each, and the outdoor chalet with kitchenette.
Is the accommodation heated in winter? +
Yes. The gîte has a wood stove and reversible air conditioning in the main living room, and space heaters in the bedrooms; the floating chalets have reversible air conditioning. Christmas dinner is served in the warm, in the gîte or in the 75 m² function room, with drinks on the covered terrace facing the lake.
Can we bring a caterer or cook ourselves? +
Both. The gîte kitchen is equipped for a meal for 18; you are free to cook or to call on the caterer of your choice — no supplier is imposed. Limnades, the estate's restaurant, opening early November 2026, can also take care of the meals, and the lakeside chalet has a back-up kitchenette.
What is there to do around the estate over the holidays? +
Saint-Émilion and its Christmas market 20 minutes away, the Pomerol and Fronsac vineyards, Libourne 20 minutes away, Bordeaux 40 minutes away. On site: a walk around the lake, fishing from the chalet terraces (including at night for chalet guests), games in the function room, evenings by the stove. The Saint-Pardon tidal bore also passes 20 minutes away, with high coefficients from 24 to 27 December 2026.
What are the booking and cancellation conditions? +
Booking on quote, deposit on confirmation. Cancellation possible at any time (please refer to the T&Cs). The festive season is in demand: book from the autumn to secure your dates.