Country house in Indre, France

Le Four a Pain details

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The pool

1.5 acres of lovingly maintained gardens

NEW Pictures for 2008 See teh difference!

Fabulous Garden and Enclosed Pool Area

Garden

Wonderful Conservatory in the early & late season

Home description

Le Four a Pain has a heated pool and is set in 1.5 acres of lovingly maintained gardens in the middle of the sleepy hamlet of Thais. A 2 minute meander brings you to the bubbling river Creuse, where many of the locals either fish or swim.

Accommodation detail

The spacious lounge

The double bedroom

A bathroom with cast iron bath and shower

Kitchen restored with pine furniture

Another double bedroom

One of the spacious bathroom

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Le Four a Pain, which means the bread oven, is over 100 years old and has been lovingly restored and cared for by the owner. It was once the bakers for the entire village, hence its size which is at least double of the normal type of bread oven to be found on most properties. The owner has many stories from the elders of the village, from when they were children and used to dry fruit in the front of the oven to keep over the winter. The oven is situated in the cottage and is no longer in use, but the owner will be shortly taking on the task of removing it from the house and reinstalling it in the garden, so that it can be used once more.

• The kitchen - has its original fireplace, which is in full working order and deliciously warm and cosy in the winter. It has its original tiles and beams and contains all modern kitchen conveniences. Also in character, it has been restored with pine dressers and kitchen table.
• The lounge - is spacious (70 square metres) and flows round to the
• Glass Conservatory - and
• Dining Room
• Bedroom 1 - A double bedroom - has a hand painted cast iron bed and is the centrepiece of this 30 square metre Granary bedroom.
• Bedroom 2 - A charming double bedroom - overlooking the conservatory.
• Bedroom 3 - Double bedroom - which is very spacious and interestingly decorated.
• Bedroom 4 - The children's bedroom - with 2 single beds and hand painted wall murals is a real treat! This overlooks the lounge.
• Bedroom 5 - A twin room - overlooking the Bread Oven.
• All the bedrooms are spacious and warmly furnished.
• Bathroom 1 - large and is equipped with a deep cast iron bath and shower. There are storage facilities for clothes and towels.
• Bathroom 2 - also spacious and has a fabulous cast iron bath and shower, with storage facilities.

Outside

The completely enclosed garden is large and spacious and there is a private entrance for off road parking. There is garden furniture and barbecue for guests use. The new heated pool is perfect for relaxing and taking in the sun!

On your arrival you will be able to browse through the 'House Book' at your leisure, which provides you with more information of things available in the area - restaurants, doctors, dentists, chemists, opening hours of the supermarkets and banks, market days, places to visit and comments from past guests.

The owners also have a second Gite available, which sleeps 4, in the same commune of Neons-sur-Creuse, 5 minutes from Le Four a Pain.

Both houses are fully central heated and are available to rent all year round.

About the location

The property is situated in the middle of France, where you are surrounded by the magnificent Chateaux and gardens of the Loire. Le Four a Pain, is in the commune of Neons-sur-Creuse, and is ideally placed within easy reach of many of these famous attractions, rich in French history and tradition. A 15 minute drive away is the famous spa town of La Roche Posay, renowned throughout Europe for the spring waters healing properties and where it can be freely collected at the town's source.

Le Blanc is approximately 15 minutes in the other direction from La Roche Posay, where the road to this pretty French town is sided by high cliffs with curious openings on its face. The river Creuse runs along this road and when the sun shines onto it, creates a wonderful sight. There are some good spots to sit and paint or take photographs. Before arriving in Le Blanc, the road goes through the village of, Fontgombault, where it is possible to visit a working monastery and take Mass.

Once in, Le Blanc, there are many bars, and boutiques to browse around, as well as being able to hire canoes and mountain bikes for the more adventurous amongst us. It also has a market that takes place on Wednesdays and Saturdays, where many of the locals sell their wares.

Angles-sur-L'Anglin has been voted one of the most beautiful villages of France, (as well as being the last outpost of the English in the Hundred Years War). It is indeed a beautiful village, with its ruined castle and abundance of flowers and if you know where to look, there are some quiet secluded spots to fish or relax and paint, where the only thing likely to break the silence is the sheep grazing near by. It also has some Brocantes brimming with Bric a Brac and authentic French Antiques, which are just waiting to be discovered.

Another feature of this area is the, Parc Natural Regional de la Brenne. It is an awe inspiring area full of valleys, hills, vast lakes and expanses of forest as far as the eye can see. This in turn offers beautiful walks, cycling, horse riding, climbing, golf, fishing, hunting, gliding, water-skiing and canoeing. The Blue Guide to France or the Michelin Green Guide can tell you all you need to know about the area, the Chateaux and the wine.

Chinon is one of the better-known and closest wine growing villages in the area. An hour away, it welcomes visitors to its wine caves and, of course, to taste. It offers good red wine along with another village, Bourgueil. The area of Vouvray and Montlouis just east of Tours, offers a crisp Muscadet from Sevre et Maine. Sancerre and Pouilly offer a fruity dry wine.
Many of the surrounding villages and towns offer excellent but inexpensive menus and the owner can recommend personnel favourites!

One of the most popular attractions is the amazing site at Poiters, Futuroscope. A high tech futuristic and modern approach to technology and it is a big hit with children and parents alike.

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

Activities near by

Fishing, Swimming, Tennis, Wine tasting, Walking, Cycling, Canoeing, Water skiing, Horse riding, Golf, Boating, Mountain biking, Photography, Drawing and painting, Rock climbing

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

How to get here

Access could not be better. The Paris/Bordeaux auto route (A10) is less than half an hour away and the owner can provide a direct route if you require. The journey from, Le Havre or Caen, is approximately 5 hours away.

The TGV (high speed train), stops at Chatellerault, which is half an hour away from the Cottages.

It is now possible to fly with Buzz Airlines from Stanstead to Poitiers, which takes approximately 50 minutes and is also 50 minutes from the Gites.

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