Sitting/dining room 'Le Four du Boulanger'

Les Ecuries Kitchen/Dining Room

Two sensitively restored stone cottages set in the grounds of a beautiful 18th century Charentaise farmhouse, each having their own private walled garden. A shared above ground wooden swimming pool (6m x 4m) has been carefully chosen to integrate harmoniously into the natural environment. Surrounded by beautiful French countryside, your hosts have set out to create an unspoilt haven of peace and tranquility, enabling guests to enjoy the simple pleasures of rural living. Many of our visitors are struck by the tranquillity of life here, ‘the rural charm of England 50 years ago’! Set amidst fields of sunflowers in the summer and chestnut coppice, the tiny, friendly village of Mandegault with its honey coloured stone walls and and canal tile roofs seems to sleep and shimmer in the heat of the day. Both cottages have been selected by Alastair Sawday in his guides, ‘Special Places to Stay’ and ‘Green & Organic Europe’.

'Le Four du Boulanger'

Les Ecuries private garden

 

Le Four de Boulanger (2 Bedrooms, Sleeps 4) Prices Currency Conversion

 

Les Ecuries (1-2 Bedrooms, Sleeps 2/4) Prices

 

Changeover day
Saturday. Arrival 4pm. Departure 10am.

Accommodation

 

 

Notes on accommodation
Freshly laundered pure white cotton bedlinen and towels available on request. For example, one double bedlinen and two sets of bathroom towels cost 28€ per full change. Beds made up ready for your arrival. Use of bikes and safety helmets free of charge. Full baby kit available for use at no extra cost. Fans, hairdryer, iron and ironing board supplied in each cottage. Heating is by means of electric radiators in both cottages with the added benefit of a wood burning stove in 'Le Four du Boulanger'.

Outside
Each cottage has it's own enclosed, private lawned garden with gravel sun terrace, herb garden, wisteria covered pergola, barbecue, wooden or iron garden tables and chairs and teak sunloungers and cushions. A shared above ground wooden swimming pool (6m x 4m) has been carefully chosen to integrate harmoniously into the natural environment. We provide an exterior table tennis table, a range of bikes and safety helmets and in true french style, a lovely pétanque court along with boules.
Guests are very welcome to stroll the grounds; enjoy the rose covered arbour, the fish pond and waterfall and the vegetable gardens and orchard. Help yourselves to home grown organic fruit and veg or join in to feed our rare breed sheep, hens and ducks and collect freshly laid eggs.
There's a magnificent linden tree in the grounds, where we set out a long table for outside dining. Many guests enjoy joining us on the Saturday evening for a home cooked French style meal using much of our own produce.

Coast/Beach
The fashionable, historic port of La Rochelle is only 90 minutes drive from Mandegault. There's a sandy beach just a few minutes walk from the many chic boutiques in 'centre ville', art galleries, museums, visits of the harbour towers and the superb Aquarium or just relax and absorb the atmosphere in one of the many quayside cafés or restaurants. Try to visit the nearby Ile de Ré, absolutely bursting with charm (and people!) or the Ile d'Oleron, famous for its oyster beds and sandy beaches.

Golf
There's a good range of 18 hole golf courses, mostly under an hour's drive from Mandegault. The closest is Niort, only 40 minutes drive, followed by St.Cyr & Beauvoir near Poitiers, Angoulême, Saintes and Cognac with a 27 hole course at Le Forges, Ménigoute.

Special interest holidays
Before they turned to restoring ruins, rearing animals and producing organic fruit & vegetables, your hosts, Francis & Alison, were lecturers in Art & Design. They are very happy to offer help and support with drawing and painting on an informal, relaxed basis rather than offering formal group tuition.

Travel
Although many of our guests choose to 'voyage vert' (eco travel) by train with Eurostar or SNCF/ TGV & hire a car from Poitiers, we're also within easy reach of the channel ports of St.Malo (4.5 hrs), Caen (5hrs), Cherbourg (6hrs) and Calais (7hrs). Alternatively our nearest airports, Poitiers or Angoulême are only 45 mins from Mandegault followed by La Rochelle (90 mins), then Limoges (1hr45 mins) Bordeaux & Tours (2hrs) Times are approximate and are based on driving within the speed limit.

Distances
Our nearest boulangerie and restaurant, is in Melleran, less than 2kms from us... a pleasant walk or if you're in a hurry for freshly baked croissants then take one of our bikes. Visit the 12th century church there, noted for its elegant stone spire and set in a beautiful tree lined village green. Chef Boutonne, our nearest town, (4kms) with its fairytale château and 'lavoirs', has a bustling market with stalls of freshly caught fish and local produce, pavement cafés, restaurants & supermarkets.

Further details
Chef Boutonne, our nearest town, with its fairytale château and ‘lavoirs’, (ancient washhouses) which bubble with ice cold spring water, has a bustling market with stalls of freshly caught fish and local produce. The regional speciality, ‘Pineau des Charentes’ a wickedly delicious aperitif is served in pavement cafés in the town square. Fishing permits can be easily obtained for a day’s fishing at Chef Boutonne in the well-stocked lake at the Château de Javarzay. The château and museum are open to the public and are well worth a visit.
Without moving far from home at Melle you will discover no less than three magnificent Romanesque churches, which during the Summer months become venues for the prestigious Festival of Classical Music. Whilst at Melle, take time to visit the Silver Mines which date back to Vth century. The Royal Abbey with its formal gardens at Celles sur Belle is an imposing testament to Renaissance architecture and hosts a Baroque Music festival in late August. This whole area is peppered with exquisite little XIth & XIIth century churches, Medieval heritage, pre-historic remains and Roman settlements. Further afield, although mostly under an hour’s drive, there’s boating through the leafy waterways of the Marais Poitevin also known as the Venise Vert or visit the renowned (rightly so, it’s absolutely amazing) Futuroscope at Poitiers, or Cognac (for obvious reasons) or Saintes with its Roman amphitheatre. If ever you feel the need to cool down - bearing in mind this region is second only to the Côte d'Azur for it's sunshine scores - just dip your feet into the water of any of the beautiful stone ‘lavoirs’. It’s also an ideal area for gentle cycling, especially as there’s so little traffic on the roads, lots of interconnecting lanes through fields and woodland… lovely spots for picnics but perhaps the best way to enjoy the countryside here is on horseback. So why not go for a hack 'en famille' with our highly regarded local Riding School.

Booking notes
30% non refundable deposit required to secure booking. Payment must be received within 7 working days of provisional booking. Balance payable 6 weeks prior to the start of your holiday. £100 damage deposit required per cottage.

Guest comments
‘Well we really fell on our feet this time-not sure what we can add to all the other glowing entries. Just to say thankyou - it was all really lovely and we look forward to coming back’.
Jill & Jeremy. Sussex. September 2009

‘We’ve had a wonderful time. Many highlights; feeding chickens, collecting eggs and vegetables. Our urban children loved every moment. Our little girl learned to ride her bike here and she and I will never forget it. Francis and Alison are generous, inspiring people’.
Paul & Carol and their children. Brighton. August 2009.

‘Thankyou for all your attention over the last week. The children have really enjoyed the pool, table tennis, boules and the endless fun of picking fruit and vegetables and visiting the chickens. We have all had a wonderful time and the meal on the last night was a perfect end to the week’.
Aru & Keith and their children, Adella and Torrin. Leeds. August 2009.

.....don’t leave without trying Alison’s home made jams!

For booking and further information

 

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and has advertised this property with us since May 2005.

Property Ref FR617
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