Traditional 19th Century House

Maison Des Reves details

Home description

This 19th Century house with spacious orchard gardens is located in the peaceful village of Varennes Sur Fouzon.  When you take a stroll in the orchard garden you can either enjoy the smell of blossom or help yourself to the peaches, plums, apples or pears, depending on the season. The delightful garden is completely enclosed.

From the gates you can easily stroll to the local bar/restaurant, the Post Office, butchers' and the boulangerie (bakery). This bakery has such a reputation for its delicious croissants that people travel some distance to buy them. As in all French villages the Mairie (town hall) will be able to give you maps and tourist information. You can also purchase your fishing permit from here.

In less than ten minutes you can walk to a delightful riverside picnic area where you can rest or carry on along a sign-posted bridle type path. Another feature of all French villages are the beautiful churches, and Varenne's church is no exception.

External features on site

• Barbecue
• Fishing lake
• Garden
• Scenic views

There is lots of space for off road parking. The orchard garden is completely enclosed which makes it very safe for children (and well behaved pets). There is an old pressoir to the rear of the house, which is well preserved. There is a well with an electric submersible pump for filling paddling pools for children. There is a climbing frame and slide for children.

Accommodation detail

Maximum occupancy of 7 persons + a baby

The beautiful house centres round a large kitchen. This was the traditional meeting room of the family and is an ideal opportunity to try out your French culinary arts and enjoy typically French social meal times. It has recently been fitted with light oak cupboards and work surfaces. Your meals can be served on an antique rosewood and mahogany circular table with six carved chairs.

As you enter the house through the front door from the orchard garden the long central hallway gives access to all the rooms.

• Kitchen - modernised and fully equipped including a dishwasher, gas hob with extractor hood, electric waist level cooker, large fridge/freezer and microwave oven. There is sufficient tableware for twelve.
• Dining area - large room (high chair available).
• Lounge - large and comfortable room with period leather chairs, sofa , recliner and double bed settee has a beautiful marble fireplace and hearth and is a very comfortable room to relax in. Or you can watch satellite TV, a video or DVD.
• Double bedroom - which has an antique mahogany wardrobe and a writing desk and chair. Plus a travel cot.
• Twin bedroom - with one single and bunk beds. It has an oak floor and a full picture window.
• Bathroom - recently modernised it offers a full size bath, a walk in shower cubicle, wash- basin, toilet and washing machine.
• Separate WC.

Outside:

There is plenty of car parking space with a courtyard, barbecue, and outdoor table and chairs. There is a table tennis table for guests to use (bring own bats and balls).

About the location

A five minute drive will bring you to the busy little town Chabris which has a large supermarket and fuel station. It also has a variety of shops including restaurants, hair dressers, newsagents and a bank. There is also a small market on a Saturday morning.

An excellent typical French market town is Selles sur Cher which is easily reached by a pleasant car journey of about 15 minutes. Market day is Thursday when it's full of the hustle and bustle of people shopping and tasting some of the local foods like goats' cheese and black pudding, honey and olives. There are two lovely bridges spanning the River Cher. There are a couple of pavement bars where you can take a drink, rest for a while and absorb the atmosphere, as well as restaurants and a variety of shops, a small chateau and an impressive church.

Due north of Varennes is Romorantin Lanthenay which is an interesting town with old buildings, shops and just out of town is a shopping area which has a very good wet fish shop, for all you sea-food lovers! There is also a huge shopping complex here including a 'Champion' hypermarket.

In Varennes village there is a sign post at the little roundabout pointing to "Caves Co-operative". A drive along a minor road for about 10 minutes will take you to the local Valencay wine makers. You can sample the local wine either from bottles or from huge vats, (make sure you decide who is going to drive back after!) The boxed local wine is very good and is just under ten euros for five litres. Price checked in August 2003.

Maison des Reves is within about an hours drive of all the main Chateaux of the Loire, and of course all the major Loire Valley wine growing areas. There are many small vineyards and wine producers where you can stop by and sample their own wine. This makes for a very good day out. Take a fresh baguette, some cheese and pate and sample wines with a picnic lunch - well recommended!

Besides châteaux, there is much else of interest in the Loire Valley and surrounding districts. There are magnificent 13th-century cathedrals in Chartres and Tours, as well as abbeys and mansions and charming riverside towns and villages. Other places of outstanding interest include Orléans, famous for its associations with Jeanne d'Arc, with a beautiful cathedral, the Musée des Beaux Arts and 16th-century Hôtel de Ville; and Bourges, a 15th-century town, complete with old houses, museums and the Cathedral of St Etienne.

The charming little town of Loches, southeast of Tours, has a fine château and an interesting walled medieval quarter. It was in the heartland of the Touraine where the true cuisine of France developed (Touraine was given the name 'the garden of France').

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

Activities near by

Ballooning, Bird Watching, Canoeing, Cycling, Fishing, Go karting, Gourmet dining, Horse riding, Photography, Photography, Pottery, Rambling, Riverside activities, Shopping, Sightseeing, Swimming, Table tennis, 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

Nearest airport is Tours-70 mins drive. Limoges airport 120 mins drive. We are about 350 miles from Calais. You can take the autoroute for most of the journey. We send detailed directions & maps when you book.

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