Stunning Farmhouse with Private Pool in Sleepy Hamlet

Home description

Where is it

• Location:  South West France  >  Poitou Charentes  >  Charente-Maritime
• Closest town/village: Sonnac (Charente-Maritime) (Central)
• Closest airport: Angouleme Airport (24.3 miles *Direct distance, road distance may vary. Please refer to detailed area map for local roads.)
• Access: Car Essential, Taxi from airport Car hire
• Property highlights: Barbecue, Garden, Scenic views, Swimming pool (exclusive use)

 

Maison des Lilas is a beautiful, traditional Charentaise detached stone farmhouse with a private pool situated in the quiet farming hamlet of La Touche, near the village of Sonnac. The hamlet is surrounded by row upon row of vines, sunflowers and corn fields studded with poppies. It is ideal for families or for anyone wishing to experience a restful, relaxing retreat.

The house is just five minutes drive from the town of Matha, which has a good range of shops, supermarkets and a covered market. Within two minutes drive is the village of Sonnac with its bar, shop and bakery. Twenty minutes to the south is the city of Cognac, home to the world's leading Cognac Houses and the Romanesque city of Saintes is roughly half an hour's drive away.

The house is full of character and has quarry tiled floors, original stone fireplaces, exposed stone walls, oak beams and pale blue 'Bleu Rivage' wooden shutters. To the front of the property is a large enclosed courtyard behind imposing wrought iron gates. The courtyard is planted with lavender and hollyhocks and houses a beautiful 8 x 4 metre private swimming pool with semi circular steps leading down to it. Sun loungers are provided and there is a raised terrace adjacent to the pool with an al fresco dining area under the shade of a vine. The pool has underwater lighting for night-time swimming and an alarm to comply with French law. Adjacent to the pool is an open barn for shady parking which leads to the games room. The games room has table tennis, a darts board and bicycles for the use of clients, including three adults bicycles, a tag-along and child's bicycle. To the rear of the house is a pretty walled garden planted with lavender and roses, shaded by a trailing vine growing over an arched pergola.

The house is furnished with French country furniture and is fully equipped with everything you need including a washing machine, oven and hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, coffee maker, iron and ironing board.  A cot, high chair a Z-bed are also available.

Accommodation detail

Ground floor

• Kitchen/breakfast room - with its stone fireplace and exposed beams this light, spacious room overlooks the walled garden and is equipped with a dining table which extends to seat up to ten people.
• Sitting room - this large, comfortable room has a stone fireplace, exposed stone walls, oak beams, comfy sofas and armchairs, CD player, television/video and French doors leading to the walled garden.
• Bathroom - large family bathroom tiled throughout with limestone effect tiles with full size bath, separate shower and hand basin.
• Cloakroom - with hand basin and WC.

First floor

• Bedroom 1 - large family room painted in restful ‘Gentle Sky’ blue with lovely exposed beams and a dual aspect over the courtyard and the walled garden. It has two single beds, a French wirework cot bed suitable for a baby or small child and a Z-bed.
• Bedroom 2 - pretty children's bedroom with a wrought iron single bed, a second fold-away single bed and built in wardrobe.  This bedroom has an aspect over the walled garden.
• Bedroom 3 - double bedroom decorated in cream with pretty blue Toile de Jouy soft furnishings. This bedroom has a view over the walled garden and a king size bed.
• Bedroom 4 - double bedroom decorated in cream with a hand painted 4'6" bed, large built in wardrobe and shelving.

Outside

Maison des Lilas has a beautiful 8 x 4 metre private pool with ‘escalier Roman’ semi-circular steps at the shallow end.  There is ample space around the pool for sunbathing and sun loungers are provided.  The pool is located in an enclosed courtyard to the front of the property set behind imposing wrought iron gates.  There is an old stable (l’écurie) to one side of the courtyard, which is currently undeveloped. There is a large covered barn where cars can be parked, which leads to a games room with table tennis.

To the rear of the property are the old barns and a pretty walled garden with an arched pergola and trailing vine under which you can dine seated at the French café-style wrought iron table and chairs. At the back of the garden is a shady spot with a large tree and wooden child's swing.

Additional equipment

Barbecue, table tennis, badminton equipment, darts board, three adult bicycles, one of which is equipped with a child seat.

About the location

Maison des Lilas is situated in a rural hamlet five minutes dirve from the town of Matha and two minutes away from the village of Sonnac with its bar, shop and bakery. Within one hour's drive are the smart resorts of La Rochelle and Royan, and the Atlantic coast beaches of La Grande Cote and La Cote Sauvage for those who like their beaches a little wilder. Royan has plenty of water sports facilities including windsurfing, jet skiing and sailing. Saint Georges de Didonne and Saint Palais sur Mer cater perfectly for families. The ancient walled city of La Rochelle has wonderful fish restaurants, a well-designed aquarium and several interesting museums.

Aulnay de Saintogne is less than half an hour away and has a beautiful Romanesque church. Saint Savinien is a charming medieval village on the banks of the Charente river.

Cognac needs no introduction – home to the world's famous brandy houses it is a fascinating city. Tour the Cognac distilleries, take a ride on the little train around the cobbled streets, take a boat trip down the Charente river or visit the fabulous Francois 1er Park with its open air swimming pools and excellent children's playground.

Further afield (roughly 75 minutes from the house) is the exciting Futoroscope theme park, near the ancient city of Poitiers. Bordeaux and its famous vineyards and wineries is approximately two hours to the south.

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

How to get here

Location: La Touche, Sonnac, is situated 5 minutes drive from Matha in the Charente-Maritime department (17) of Poitou-Charente.

By road: The A10 autoroute from Paris to Bordeaux via Poitiers. Exit at junction 34 for St Jean d'Angely. Approximate driving times from Calais: 6-7 hours and from St Malo 4-5 hours.

By air: Regular flights from Stansted, Bristol and Southampton to La Rochelle and Poitiers with Flybe and Ryanair.

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

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Facilities

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Additional price information

• November - April prices available upon request.
• All prices are per week Saturday to Saturday arriving at 4pm and departing at 10am inclusive of electricity.
• Cot, high chair and Z-bed available free of charge. Extra cleaning can be arranged on request.
• A deposit of 33 percent is requested on booking with the remainder payable two weeks before arrival together with a refundable damage deposit of £200.

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