Restored Country House with Swimming Pool

La Folly details

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House viewed from the front

Swimming pool

La Folly

Home description

La Folly is a charming holiday house in the middle of vineyards and sunflowers, with a large garden, heated swimming pool, two terraces and a barbecue. Although the house is located in a quiet rural hamlet, it is a short 10 minute drive to the picturesque port town of Mortagne-sur-Gironde, with its distinctive Marina, port-side cafes and restaurants.

La Folly is located in the hamlet of Cormeille. A feature of the region is its extensive wildlife and its agricultural character. Visitors to Cormeille are able to witness rural activities at first hand that include cultivation, wine-making, cognac production and hunting. In fact, a hunt master and his pack of hounds live in the hamlet. The hunt master is respectful of guests in the house, however visitors with an aversion to dogs need to be aware that they are in the vicinity

20 minutes from the house is the historic 12th century Roman fortified town of Talmont, with its famous church located on a peninsula jutting out into the Gironde estuary. A further 5 minutes away are the golden beaches of St Georges de Didonne, and for those who like nightlife and the busy bustling life of a seaside resort, Royan is an easy 30 minutes drive from the house.

The region is rich in history and culture and is criss-crossed by well sign posted walks through vineyards, forests, sunflower fields and cornfields. Extensive wildlife including deer, boar, sea birds and birds of prey are common sights in the immediate vicinity of the house.

Accommodation detail

Second living room

La Folly is fully furnished and equipped to comfortably cater for eight or nine people. The house was renovated and modernised a few years ago and the furniture and equipment was largely newly purchased at that time.

The generously sized bedrooms are arranged to form two quite separate areas, therefore being very suitable for two families or two groups of friends wishing to share the house.

The bedrooms on the first floor are full of character with exposed beams or unusual shapes, giving very cosy and intimate accommodation. The two bedrooms downstairs have a brighter, more modern aspect, again with exposed beams and Velux rooflights.

Ground floor

• Kitchen / dining room - large room has an open-plan kitchen corner with counter, stools and a dishwasher. The large room has an open-fire place, dining table and comfortable armchairs.
• Second Living room - is cosy with low ceilings.
• Bedroom 1 - sleeps 3 with one single bed and a bunk bed
• Bedroom 2 - the larger bedroom with double bed, has its own wash-hand basin and shower located within the bedroom area.
• Bathroom - with shower, wash hand basin and toilet. Also accomodates the washing machine.

First floor

• Bedroom 3 -  has two single beds
• Bedroom 4 - large double bed (and a cot for babies).
• Bathroom - with bath and shower attachment. This is positioned between the two bedrooms.

Outside

The entire house is very comfortable with doors opening out to a terrace at the front and the side.
The front terrace has a barbecue area and open views across the hamlet to the fields and forest beyond.

The garden is divided into two distinct areas, one a large open grassed area with a swing in one corner and some fruit trees, the other with a swimming pool for the exclusive use of tenants.

The swimming pool is heated and is therefore useable from May to October inclusive. The pool is 12m long and 6m wide and is 2.5m deep at the deep end. The shallow end has a level area, which is approximately 40cm deep and ideal for young children or those who are not very confident in the water.

About the location

For those with a taste for the good life it is a very short ferry trip across to the Medoc region where the most famous of Bordeaux wines are produced. Bordeaux itself and the other wine regions such as St Emilion are just over one hour's drive from the house.

Travelling North along the coast there are other famous places to visit, such as the zoo at La Palmyre and the ancient fortified port of La Rochelle. For those with a taste for island life the islands of Oleron, Re and Aix are a short day trip away.

See Local guide and map for information on nearby towns and facilities.

Activities near by

Ballooning, Bird Watching, Fishing, Golf, Horse riding, Rambling, Sailing, Sea excursions, Sightseeing, Swimming, Walking, Water sports, Wind Surfing, Wine tasting, Wine touring

See Activities and attractions for more information on nearby activities and places of interest.

How to get here

The house is well located, being a short (20 minutes) drive from the A10 motorway. It is a 70-minute drive from Bordeaux airport and, being so close to the motorway, is convenient for those who wish to self-drive across the Channel. The owners find that the average journey time from any of the Channel ports is 8 hours.

See Local guide and map for information on nearby towns and airports.