£1000 - £2300
(€1185 - €2726)
Per property per week
Country house, sleeps 6, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Contact the owner
Contact the owner directly
Eileen Gravelle
(Advertising since November 2014)
Tel: + 44 (0)1730 816387
Tel 2: + 44 (0) 7535 484407
Please mention French Connections.
Elegant Stone House in Idyllic Countryside Surrounded by Vines
Beautifully decorated traditional stone country house with a large heated swimming pool flanked by lavender, roses and jasmine in a large private garden. Set in lovely countryside mid-way between Saintes and Cognac and with easy access to the coast. The nearby village of Burie has a well-stocked supermarket, baker, butcher, chemist, bank with cash dispenser and all-hours petrol station.
Our 18th century Charentaise stone house is the last one in a pretty hamlet at the end of a country lane giving it a delightfully tranquil setting surrounded by the vines below.
A short stroll out of the front garden brings you to the lovely grounds of the historic 12th century Abbey de Fontdouce. Sit in the garden or by the pool and you are unlikely to hear anything other than birdsong or the occasional sound of French voices in the fields. Take a short car drive and you can be shopping in the pretty pedestrianised streets of the old Roman city of Saintes. Truly the best of both worlds!
This lovely stone house is full of original features including beamed ceilings and a Charentaise fireplace and has been completely restored by the British owners. Work on the property has included the installation of a new kitchen (with completely new equipment and appliances) and redecoration and restyling of interiors throughout. Outside, the pool terrace has been retiled and recently the old pergola around the pool has been completely rebuilt. At the top of the garden there is now a large deck area overlooking the vines with a shaded pergola surrounded with planting.
The house is professionally managed by English agents who live locally and are on hand if problems arise. They also undertake pool cleaning and maintenance and organise gardening so guests can completely relax.
The house is decorated and equipped to a very high specification offering guests luxury and comfort combined with practicality. Decoration is light - white painted walls and some revealed old stone with original beams picked out in neutral Farrow and Ball colours. Original old shutters and window fittings and tall windows flood most rooms with light.
The kitchen in particular is a lovely light living space with a full length glass window to the front and a double french window giving access to the pool terrace at the back and the shaded dining gazebo overlooking the pool and the vines beyond. The original Charentaise fireplace in the salon has been fitted with an efficient and beautiful Chesney cream wood burner for early Spring/Autumn bookings. Upstairs the rooms are light and furnishings simple - high quality laminate and painted wooden stairs provide clean, cool flooring.
- Picnic equipment includes cool box, bottle coolers, rugs and beach chairs
- Swing ball
- Outdoor table tennis table
- Bose portable speaker system in sitting room for all blue-tooth enabled devices + CD player/radio
- Free sat for most UK channels
- Quality high thread count white cotton sheets and towels including pool towels
- Quality white china, glassware and cutlery for 12
- Separate well equipped utility room with Bosch washing machine, clothes airer, steam processor iron and large ironing board
- Outside clothes line
- non-breakable glassware and 'china' for the poolside
- Large selection of fiction and reference books including cook books
- Wide selection of games, DVD's and box sets
Geographically the house is mid-way between the lovely Roman city of Saintes and world famous Cognac, both of them less than a twenty minute drive away. The sandy beaches of Royan and Isle d'Oleron are within easy range (around 40 minutes) and there are beautiful visits to the ports of the Gironde estuary (Mortagne, Meschers and Talmont) within a half hour drive.
Further afield the wonderful sea port of La Rochelle with its sandy beaches, beautiful harbour and fantastic fish restaurants is an easy day out (just over an hour's drive). The chic and tiny Ile de Re is accessible by bridge from La Rochelle and worth visiting for its pretty beaches and gorgeous seaside villages.
For longer stays Bordeaux is a 90 minute drive and is among the most beautiful cities in France. All in all the location and quality of the house offers the best of all worlds for a holiday in the Charente Maritime - one of the sunniest regions in France.
Further articles about the area, photographs and other information about the house can be found on the owners website and you will find the live link included on this listing.
There are several lovely gold courses within easy reach of the property: Fifteen minutes away is Saintes with 18 holes, an elegant stone building amid lovely countryside. St Brice Cognac is 30 minutes drive and has 18 holes with stunning vineyard views and pretty clubhouse. Other beautiful 18 hole golf courses at Royan (dune course), La Rochelle (Atlantic views) and Angouleme. The area has a very long playing season due to the high number of sunny days in the Charente Maritime.
For sea swimming, and other beach activities there are long sandy beaches at Royan 40 minutes drive away (St Georges de Didonne particularly pretty). Isle d'Oleron one hour away with numerous sandy beaches, pine forests and network of cycle tracks (Four bikes available at the house for guest use or for hire at beaches). Just over an hour's drive the old harbour at La Rochelle and the lovely beach just to the south. Pretty Ile de Re is fringed with beaches and chic villages - drive over the bridge from La Rochelle.
There are numerous walks out of the house through vines and fields and connections to green routes. Four all terrain bikes are available at the house for use on the road or cycle tracks direct from the house or elsewhere.
Saintes is a lovely city witha large range of cultural activities and sight seeing options including: a Roman arch and amphitheatre, pedestrianised shops, restaurants and river trips. Of particular note is the wonderful market in Saintes on Saturday and Wednesday mornings (get there before 10.00 am) at the base of the Cathedral with wonderful displays of fresh vegetables, fruits and all sorts of food products.
Cognac has distillery tours, markets, shops, restaurants and river trips and s well-known for its annual blues and jazz festival usually in July. Wine, pineau and cognac can be bought locally direct from producers. From May onwards many villages and towns have "brocantes" and "vides greniers" (attic sales) for those interested in acquiring a bit of old France.
The Abbaye de Fontdouce within a short walk of the property is a ruined 12th century abbey with wonderful vaulted ceilings and a pretty restored garden. Open air candlelit concerts are held in the main season festival with picnics in the garden. Also within walking distance is the Parc d'Aventure (part of the Abbey) with tree walks and zip wires for the adventurous.
Bird and wild life abound in the peaceful garden and on walks around the property with many birds not commonly seen in the UK.
Local amenities
Nearest bakery: 2 Kilometres To An Artisan Baker With Delicious Bread
Nearest supermarket: 2 Kilometres To Carrefour Connect
Nearest market: Local Villages Or Saintes Main Markets Every Day
Nearest pharmacy: 2 Kilometres
Nearest bar: 2 Kilometres In Burie
Tourist information: Saintes Or Cognac 12 Kilometres
St Bris Des Bois on the map
Property 160366 – Nearby place of interest
How to get to Charentaise Country House
There are airports at La Rochelle, Bordeaux, Bergerac, Angouleme and Limoges with the nearest being La Rochelle which is just over an hour and Bordeaux a little further.
The nearest ferry ports are St. Malo (approximately 4.5 hours drive), Caen just under 5 hours and Le Havre just over 5 hours. Car hire is recommended because of the many opportunities for sight seeing inland and day trips to the coast and estuary ports.
Access options
Car Essential, No public transport available
Nearest airport
The nearest serviceable airport is Angouleme [ANG]
Property type | Country house (Self-catering) |
Bathrooms | 2 |
Bedrooms |
2 double bedroom(s) 1 twin bedroom(s) |
Occupancy | 6 |
Suitability | Suitable for children, Non-smoking |
Linen | All linen (bed linen, bath towels and pool towels) included in the price. A change of bed linen but not towels is provided mid stay for stays of 2 weeks or more. |
Kitchen facilities | Dishwasher, Freezer, Fridge, Cooker, Ironing facilities, Microwave, Washing machine, Electric hob, Electric oven |
Internal facilities | CD player, Central heating (electric), DVD player, English satellite TV, Exclusive rental, Hi-fi system, Internet access (broadband), Owner not on site, Telephone, TV, Wood burning fire or stove, Fans in rooms, Hairdryer, Board Games, Wi-Fi Broadband Internet, Tea/Coffee making facilities |
External facilities | Garden, Scenic views, Swimming pool (exclusive use), Barbecue, Courtyard, Heated Pool |
Activities nearby | Water sports, Walking, Tree adventure park, Table tennis, Swimming, Sightseeing, Shopping, Sea excursions, Sailing, Riverside activities, Museums, Golf, Cycling, Canoeing, Boating, Bird Watching, Adventure park, Wine tasting, Wine touring |
Changeover day: Non-applicable
Last updated on: 11th April 2024
Available | Booked/Unavailable |
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Accommodation rental period | Price |
---|---|
06 July 2024 – 06 September 2024 |
£2150 Per property per week
(€2548 / $2767) |
07 September 2024 – 28 September 2024 |
£1950 Per property per week
(€2311 / $2510) |
29 September 2024 – 26 October 2024 |
£1000 Per property per week
(€1185 / $1287) |
01 April 2025 – 10 May 2025 |
£1400 Per property per week
(€1659 / $1802) |
11 May 2025 – 07 June 2025 |
£1950 Per property per week
(€2311 / $2510) |
08 June 2025 – 05 July 2025 |
£2100 Per property per week
(€2489 / $2703) |
06 July 2025 – 06 September 2025 |
£2300 Per property per week
(€2726 / $2960) |
07 September 2025 – 30 September 2025 |
£2100 Per property per week
(€2489 / $2703) |
01 October 2025 – 31 October 2025 |
£1400 Per property per week
(€1659 / $1802) |
Additional price notes
Please note these rates are for the house booked on its own for up to 6 people. There is an additional cottage for up to 2 guests at the entrance gates which can be included in the rental at a higher rate (see separate tab). The cottage will never be booked separately to the house. Rates per week to include the cottage are usually £300 in the high season and £200 outside
Bookings are on a flexible basis with no set changeover day and a minimum 7 night stay
The house may be available for rental outside of these dates - please enquire
Booking deposit is 25% of total rental price with balance payable 10 weeks before arrival date
No additional payment for electricity or utilities
Refundable security deposit of £300 on payment of balance