Elegant House on the Banks of the Saône River

The House details

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The house amid its large garden

Rear View of the House

Sunrise on the River

View Down to the River

View from the Bottom of the Garden

View of the Garden

Home description

This is a spacious, elegant house sleeping 6 with comfortable furnishings and up-to date appliances. 'La Symphorine', named after one of the bushes in it's large orchard garden, slopes down to the river Saône where you can watch passing barges, herons and swans. It is situated in the charming village of St Symphorien about six kilometres from St Jean de Losne where you can find supermarkets, shops, cafés and restaurants as well as the ’Gare d’Eau’, the largest inland marina in France. This is a superb location, whether you are looking for an active holiday or a ‘get away from it all’ break.

For those of you interested in taking a fishing holiday in Burgundy, the Saône river is noted for it's carp fishing as well as pike, roach, rudd, bream, tench and babel. Perhaps it is best known for the magnificent catfish (silure) growing up to 6 feet and weighing 200lb-honest!  Less than 10 minutes away you can find both the canals de Bourgogne and du Rhône au Rhin which also provide excellent fishing sites. Night fishing is also available as well as lake fishing.

St. Jean de Losne is the nearest town about six kilometres away to the west. There is a towpath at the bottom of the garden, which provides a pleasant walk to either the town or the canal.
The town is reputed to be the smallest in France and has an interesting history. The tourist office is open six days a week with internet access and friendly staff who can provide information on the local area, including a guided tour of the town on Friday afternoons during the summer.

There is an interesting walk around 'La Gare d’Eau' with its boats, barges and waterfowl.
Close at hand we also have the Abbaye de Cîteaux, the Château et Écomusée de Pierre-de-Bresse and the Musée Bonaparte in Auxonne.

External features on site

• Barbecue
• Garden

Accommodation detail

Large sitting room

Open plan kitchen/dining area

The Dining Area

The Kitchen

The Green Bedroom

The Rose Bedroom

The Bathroom

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Ground Floor (entry level)

• Porch and front door leading to hall.
• Sitting Room large room with separate seating areas for watching TV/DVD/VCR tapes and a quiet area for reading with a good selection of books and board games. Two balconies looking out onto the garden. Telephone (incoming calls only). 
• One double bedroom with large spacious fitted wardrobe.
• Two twin bedrooms with wardrobes.
• Bathroom with raised bath giving a view across the garden and down to the river. Shower and washbasin.
• Separate WC.

Stairs, down to lower floor

Lower Floor (garden level)

• Kitchen and Dining area fully equipped with microwave, dishwasher, fridge/freezer, electric oven with gas hobs and extractor fan, toaster, kettle and coffee machine, telephone (incoming calls only) and access to the Terrace and Garden. Pantry area with vacuum cleaner, ironing board and iron, brushes and cleaning products.
• Shower/Toilet/Laundry room with hand basin
• Garage large single with access from within the house.

The House is most comfortable and well equipped with a modern oil central heating system as well as remote controlled window blinds.

Outside

A barbecue, garden table, chairs and sun loungers, are provided on the terrace area whilst the well maintained garden plays host to a large variety of wildlife including woodpeckers, hedgehogs, frogs and many species of butterfly. Access to the river is via a gate, which is kept locked making the whole garden secure for children.

There are many apple, pear and plum trees, and you are welcome to pick the fruit at the appropriate time of the year. 

About the location

The property is situated at the western end of the village of St. Symphorien. Two kilometres away at the other end of the village, you will find a small marina and three locks where the canal du Rhône au Rhin joins the river Saône. It is an interesting area for walking, and watching the boats and barges pass through the locks.

St. Jean de Losne is the nearest town about six kilometres away to the west. There is a towpath at the bottom of the garden, which provides a pleasant walk to either the town or the canal.

The town is reputed to be the smallest in France and has an interesting history. The tourist office is open six days a week and the friendly staff will provide all kinds of information on the local area, including a guided tour of the town on Friday afternoons during the summer.

There is an interesting walk around 'La Gare d’Eau' with its boats, barges and waterfowl.
Close at hand we also have the Abbaye de Cîteaux, the Château et Écomusée de Pierre-de-Bresse and the Musée Bonaparte in Auxonne.

Region

Those who have visited the area will know just how well the house is placed. St Jean de Losne and St. Symphorien are situated in the middle of the Saône river flood plain with Beaune in the heart of Burgundy just 35 minutes drive away to the west. Beyond is the famous Cote d’Or, a line of hills running south from Dijon to Lyon. It is along the east side of these hills that you will find the vineyards of Burgundy. This is a fascinating and beautiful area to explore with plenty of opportunity to enjoy the gastronomy and wines for which Burgundy is renowned.

To the east, about 1 hour’s drive away, is the area known as the Jura which leads to the foothills of the Alps. There are all kinds of activities here from kayaking, horse riding and walks to cross country skiing in winter. Distinctive wines and cheeses are also produced here. There is a very pleasant route through the Jura to Geneva, which takes about 2½ hours to drive.

Several towns are well worth visiting. Dijon, the historic capital of Burgundy, is perhaps, best known for mustard! However, it is an exciting city to explore on foot with its interesting architecture and coloured roof tiles. Other local towns include Beaune, known as the wine centre of Burgundy, Dole, the birthplace of Louis Pasteur, and Auxonne, where Napoleon was an Army Staff Officer. Each has its own market day, and you will find the hours of trading along with other places to visit in your information file in the house.

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

Activities nearby

Canoeing, Fishing, Horse riding, Kayaking, Rambling, Skiing, Swimming, Walking, Water sports, Wine tasting, Wine touring

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

How to get here

Some notes regarding travel in France, and to the Burgundy area:
 
There are excellent autoroutes from both the north and south. Alternatively, you can take it easy, avoid the tolls and use the “N” and “D” roads, which enable you to enjoy a better aspect of the lovely French countryside and their charming villages.

The village of St Symphorien can be reached easily from all directions and full comprehensive details will be forwarded upon request.

TGV:
A very good service is available from Paris, Gare De Lyon to Dijon and takes 1 hour 40 minutes. All major car hire companies are available at Dijon station. There is also a daily TGV service from Lille passing through Charles De Gaulle.                                            

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