Country house in Charente-Maritime, France

Maison Brives details

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front of house

Swimming pool 8 x 5 mtrs

terrace

salon

Home description

The presbytery was built in local stone in 1830 on the corner of a small village and is a very comfortable and elegant home furnished with antiques, comfortable beds and all mod cons. There is a salt swimming pool (8x5m), a large garden with games and plenty of space to run around and park cars and a 40' stone terrace for al fresco eating. The views over the countryside are spectacular as are the sunsets.

Inside there is a large sitting room with carved stone cheminee, antiques, English TV, stereo. VD etc. and indoor games and a piano. It has two French Doors leading onto the terrace and is connected to the dining room which also has access to the terrace and kitchen. The curved elm stairs lead from the spacious entree to the landing and 3 double ensuite bedrooms, one kingsize bed, one twin room and one double. All have  showers, basins and loos and the master bedroom has a pink marble  bathroom, 6' Victorian bath, and double basins. Also a separate dressing room. The kitchen has very modern appliances and equipment though it is rustic in appearance - dishwasher, electric and gas (bottle) cooking, fridge/freezer and a large microwave/oven.

There is plenty to see and do in the area and the sea is about 28km away with fabulous beaches. There are many excellent golf courses, dozens of Romanesque and Roman sites, good restaurants, fabulous daily markets in Saintes and Cognac as well as large local supermarkets and boutiques.

4 bicycles are provided and the surrounding country is undulating or one can cycle along the bank of the River Charente or through the vineyards to picturesque villages many of which are on the old pilgrim route to Santiago di Compostella. 

Accommodation detail

Living room

Double bedroom

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A stay at Maison Brives is a chance to re-charge the batteries in a period home full of charm. The antique furniture, rugs on the floor, terracotta floor tiling in the hall, all these conspire to offer the visitor a warm and inviting French country house experience.

• Kitchen - is fully equipped including a dishwasher, gas and electric cooker and fridge-freezer.
• Living room - decorated with comfort and elegance equally in mind, it is large and features a magnificent carved stone fireplace. Two French windows open out onto a 40ft long terrace and the garden. There is cable TV with english Freeview channels, including BBC plus a video and hi fi.
• Dining room - with double doors extends from the salon and there are three french doors leading to the terrace and the extensive garden.
• Bedroom one -  master bedroom has an en-suite bathroom with bath, shower, 2 basins and a bidet. It also has a walk-in dressing room, and comfortable double bed.
• Bedroom two - twin bedroom comprises 2 single beds (which can be put together). It has an en-suite bathroom with shower, and wash basin.
• Bedroom three - has a standard double bed with an en-suite bathroom featuring a washbasin, w.c. and a shower.

In addition a cleaner will visit once in the week.

Outside:

The property has a salt water swimming pool, large terrace, car parking for at least 3 cars.

The swimming pool is salt-filtered (i.e. not chlorine) and set to one side of the of the house, perfect for a little Dead Sea style floating and swimming.

Next to the pool is a WC and a changing room for those who have had a dip. The pool is available for use between 1st May and 30th September each year.

Also in the garden is a sturdy barbecue just waiting for some local cuts you have picked up in the markets of Saintes. And with a 40ft terrace there's plenty of room for al fresco dining.

There are 4 bikes (for adults), which means you can take wheel into the beautiful undulating countryside countryside.

About the location

Brives-sur-Charentes is a quiet village of some 200 people located between Saintes and Cognac, deep in vineyard country above the Charentes river. Though it has just a post-office and traditional local Mairie, visitors to Maison Brives take advantage of a visiting van from a local bakers drop off croissantes before 10 each morning. A similar service exists for meat and a fish  van on Fridays  For more extensive shopping there are supermarkets such as Carrefour and Leclerc are in easy striking distance for those with a car (rentable from Saintes).

Despite (or perhaps because of) its small size, Brives has a vibrant local community. From art classes to its bridge club, the village is overflowing with traditional French character.

Set in the delightful, Eleanor-of-Acquitaine countryside of the Cognac region, Brives and its local big sister town of Saintes offer the tourist a bounty of traditional French experiences. Saintes, an ancient Roman town, has fabulous markets, full of fruit and fresh fish, local produce, charcoal-grilled beetroot being one typical speciality.

The sea is about three quarters of an hour away by car, boasting a coast famous for its oysters, and the beautiful beaches at Royan in summer. The timeless chic of La Rochelle is of course also within easy striking distance.

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

Activities near by

Bird Watching, Cycling, Fishing, Golf, Gourmet dining, Horse riding, Pottery, Rambling, Riverside activities, Sailing, Shopping, Sightseeing, Spa, Swimming, Table tennis, Theme parks, Walking, Wine tasting, Wine touring

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

How to get here

Thanks to the twin benefits of low-cost airlines like Ryan Air to LaRochelle and, in spring, to Angouleme, BA has very regular flights to Bordeaux . With Eurostar, getting to anywhere in France from the UK is a synch (St Pancras - Lille-TGV  -  Angouleme - Cognac.The French domestic rail network SNCF is highly subsidised and reliable. The car journey from St Malo takes about 4 hours and there are motorways all the way from Calais, Boulogne, Le Havre, Caen to Saintes which is 16 Kms from the house along the banks of the river Charente on the D24.

By ferry and car:

Brittany Ferries operate a service from the Poole and Portsmouth in the UK to St Malo in France. It is then a four hour drive by car to Maison Brives. You can park on the grounds at Maison Brives. The car journey from Northern France (Calais, Le Havre, caen) is an easy motorway drive all the way to Saintes then 16K on the D24 to Brives sur Charente.

By air:

Ryanair: From London Stansted to Rochefort - from 99p single, excl. tax. Prices vary from British Airways but you have more airport flexibility from around the UK to Bordeaux.

Or, for those with their own private plane, why not arrive in style at the local Pons airfield!

By train:

Take the Eurostar to Lille, then switch to a TGV service continuing as far as Angouleme then finally to Cognac. Either pick up your hire-car or a taxi for the final leg to Brives-sur-Charentes.

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