La Grange des Hirondelles - Converted barn Holiday Rental in Bournan, Indre-et-Loire, France

Where is it

• Location:  Central France  >  Loire Valley  >  Indre-et-Loire
• Closest town/village:  Bournan (Indre-et-Loire) ( 1.1 miles *Direct distance, road distance may vary. Please refer to detailed area map for local roads. )
• Closest airport: Tours Airport (26.0 miles *Direct distance, road distance may vary. Please refer to detailed area map for local roads.)
• Access: Car Essential Car hire
• Property highlights: Barbecue, Garden, Scenic views, Swimming pool (exclusive use)

 

Spacious Stone Gîte with Pool in the Heart of Chateaux Country

La Grange des Hirondelles is a detached converted milking parlour and one of several barns on a former small farm, situated alongside the owner’s farm house. It gets its name (Swallow Barn in English) from the delightful swallows that visit the area each summer to build their nests. In its original state the large ceiling beams of the milking parlour had been the support for the nests of many generations of swallows. The barn is newly restored, maintaining its original exposed stone walls and limed ceiling beams.

La Grange des Hirondelles is situated in a quiet hamlet of a dozen houses, 800 metres from the village of Bournan. The hamlet of La Soultière is on a rise, and has superb far reaching views over the countryside. One can see Cussay and Ligeuil, both of which are about 8 kilometres away.

La Grange des Hirondelles is the only gite on the property.  It is reached by a private drive way leading off the nearby public minor road, so traffic noise is almost non-existent, a fact many of our guests comment on.  It also means that children can play safely around the gite, although parental supervision is always advisable.

The Grange has its own large lawn (1000 sq m) with a children’s swing and a petanque (boules) court.  To the rear of the building there is a planted courtyard where visitors can enjoy a secluded barbecue, an alfresco meal by candle light; or simply soak up the sun. Visitors can also share the peace and tranquillity of the owners' garden by the swimming pool, and the extensive orchard of cherry, apple, pear, nectarine, quince, plum, and walnut trees.

The swimming pool is 10m x 5m, with a maximum depth of 1.9m.  It is surrounded by a paved area within a stone wall, which was constructed to satisfy the French pool security standards, but also provides additional privacy.

There is an internet wifi zone around the owner's house, extending to the swimming pool and the orchard.  However, the thick stone walls of the gite prevent the signal extending into the gite itself.

Holiday Accommodation at La Grange des Hirondelles

The barn conversion still retains many of its original features. It has been transformed keeping its rustic charm, but ensuring a high standard of comfort. Much of the original stonework has been exposed on the walls, and all the ceilings are beamed. The rooms are tastefully furnished, some of the furniture being French antiques. The house has oil fired central heating.

The accommodation is as follows:

Ground floor

• Large sitting room (45 sq m) - with unrestricted views over surrounding countryside
• Dining area with fitted corner kitchen
• Bedroom one - with twin beds, opening out onto the courtyard
• Luxury bathroom
• Utility area

First floor

• Bedroom two - large room with a double and a single bed, and en-suite shower room

It is equipped with: under counter oven with ceramic hob, dishwasher, washing machine, fridge/freezer, microwave, toaster and electric kettle, ironing board and iron, TV and DVD, barbecue and garden furniture including sun loungers.

Outside

• Large lawn with swing
• Large orchard and garden
• Secluded patio and planted courtyard
• Exclusive swimming pool

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About Bournan in Indre-et-Loire, Loire Valley

The gite is situated in the South Touraine part of the Loire Valley in Central France.  It is an excellent base for discovering this delightful and very famous area of France, with its many well known châteaux, beautiful countryside and numerous vineyards.

The immediate area is renowned for its wonderful Sainte Maure goat’s cheese. Just a few minutes drive away, on the other side of the valley, you can purchase this cheese from a farm and also see the goats and other farm animals.

Many of the world famous Loire Valley châteaux, e.g. Amboise, Chenonceaux, Loches, Chinon, Azay-le –Rideau, Villandry, are all within 45 minutes drive. Chambord, Cheverney, Saumur, and Angers are a bit further, but easily accessible.

For children, who may get bored with chateaux, there are several theme parks and other places of interest, among them being Futuroscope, Amboise Aquarium, the excellent zoo at Beauval, the monkeys at Vallée des Singes, and the adventure park at Mosne.

For golfers there are two excellent 18 hole courses within 45 minutes drive.

For the more adventurous it is possible to take helicopter or hot air balloon flights over the châteaux.

The village of Bournan is very small, but does have a bar and a boulangerie. There is a larger boulangerie / patisserie at Sepmes, 4 kms away. Within 12 kms there is a choice of 4 supermarkets, the largest being at Ste Maure de Touraine. Ste Maure is also renowned for its market on a Friday morning, which attracts many people from the surrounding area. Other local markets are at Ligeuil (Monday morning), Loches (Wedesday and Saturday mornings), and Descartes (Sunday morning).

There are very good restaurants at Cussay, Saint Branchs, Sainte Maure, and Loches, all within a twenty minute drive. Loches has a good selection, ranging from fast food and pizzerias up to fine dining.

Tours is an excellent shopping centre, as well as having an interesting old quarter full of pavement restaurants. Even a day visit to Paris is possible as it is only 55 minutes away from Tours with the TGV high speed train.

For wine lovers the white wine areas of Vouvray and Montlouis are 40 minutes away, and the red wine area of Chinon is an equal distance to the west. Both areas offer the possibility to visit different vineyards, and taste and buy wine on the premises.

The owners love their life in the South Touraine. They love the unspoilt villages, the majestic chateaux, the Loire and other rivers that meander through the area, the excellent restaurants, and the local wines. But most of all they love their home with its beautiful views, the orchard filled with bird song and the hum of bees from spring to autumn, and the timeless charm of the old stone buildings. They feel sure you would love it too!.

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

How To Get To Bournan in Indre-et-Loire, Central France

As the Grange des Hirondelles is situated in a quiet rural area, a car is essential.  The nearest Channel ports are Caen and Le Havre, both about three and a half hours drive away using the excellent French Motorway network.  Calais is about six hours drive, and the recent opening of the A28 motorway means that you can avoid Paris.  From the A10 motorway junction at Sainte Maure it is 15 minutes to the gite.

For those coming by air from the UK,  the gite is situated approximately half way betwenn Poitiers and Tours airports, both served by regular flights from Stansted.  Car hire facilities are available at both airports, which are 45 minutes drive away from the property.

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

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Facilities at La Grange des Hirondelles

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Availability at La Grange des Hirondelles

Changeover day: Saturday

Availability last updated on: - Thursday, May 10, 2012

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Rates

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