Jean and Ioana Cézard have opened an atypical gîte inside a restored 18th-century dovecote at Quissac-en-Quercy in the Lot department.
The couple relocated to the commune four years ago, leaving their former careers in Aveyron to acquire and renovate an 18th-century manor estate known as Le Mas de Coursac.
Before moving to Lot, Jean Cézard served as the deputy departmental director of Agriculture and Forestry in Aveyron, while Ioana Cézard worked as an osteopath and nurse. In Aveyron, the couple had already managed a gîte created from a renovated former barn before deciding to launch a broader hospitality project.
A gîte is a traditional French self-catering holiday home, typically located in rural countryside regions. The Lot department, situated in southwestern France, is widely known for its limestone plateaus, historic stone villages, and protected natural landscapes within the Causses du Quercy region.
The Quissac-en-Quercy domain previously belonged to a family from Paris who used the property solely as a seasonal secondary residence for a few months each year. Jean Cézard said he and his wife fell under the charm of the estate as soon as they saw it.
Renovation of the manor and guest rooms
Renovations across the estate lasted nearly two years. The owners chose to restore the primary residence first, where they now live, before turning their attention to developing guest accommodations.
Inside the main house, the couple established two distinct guest rooms. One option is a family suite containing two bedrooms, while the second is a double bedroom created inside a former stone bread oven.
Conversion of the 18th-century dovecote
After observing an abandoned 18th-century dovecote on the estate grounds, the owners decided to tackle the challenge of converting the standalone tower into an independent, fully self-contained gîte. Jean Cézard said they wanted to create an unusual lodging option while preserving the original identity of the building.
Work on the dovecote required almost a full year of construction. The owners hired exclusively local craftspeople to construct the custom kitchenette, living area, interior staircase, and upstairs bedroom, maintaining the exposed timber beams and original structural height.
To rebuild the entire roof frame, the couple employed a specialist artisan based in Cahors, the principal town and administrative center of the Lot department. The completed independent gîte has been available for short-term and mid-term rentals since late 2024.
Equestrian certification and visitor feedback
Alongside standard guest accommodations, Ioana Cézard said the couple wanted to create facilities linked to horse riding. In 2024, the French Equestrian Federation awarded the domain its official Cheval étape label.
The Cheval étape certification is a national designation given to French accommodations equipped to host traveling riders and their mounts. The estate features dedicated paddocks capable of accommodating up to five or six horses at a time.
Since opening to guests, the dovecote gîte has accumulated nearly 100 online reviews from international travelers. The accommodation holds a five-star rating on Airbnb and a score of 9.4 out of 10 on Booking.com.
Location, stargazing and seasonal adaptations
The owners noted that guests frequently praise the sense of quiet disconnection and access to natural surroundings. Positioned geographically between northern and southern Europe, the gîte serves as a regular stopover point for tourists traveling through France.
Le Mas de Coursac sits within the Quercy black triangle, a recognized zone in the Lot department celebrated for its absence of light pollution, offering clear views of nocturnal stars and the Milky Way. Visitors arriving during May can also observe blooming wild orchids and local wildlife around the property.
To adapt to recent regional climate shifts, the owners installed air conditioning throughout the unit and made their private swimming pool accessible to all residents. Jean Cézard noted that these features provide guests with cooling options during high summer temperatures.
