Holiday house in Moncontour, Poitou Charentes, France
Substantial Town House with Enclosed, Private Garden
Walk to Local Wakeboard Lake Along Pretty Path Following Stream
Sleeps 8 (4 Bedrooms)
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We have been sharing our beautiful holiday home for 17 years, altering it slowly to reflect our own and visitors' requirements. We collect old furniture, pictures and English books for all ages. There are excellent, inexpensive local restaurants, pools, markets and supermarkets. Communications are good. Ryanair flies to Tours and Poitiers (car rental), TGV from Lille or Paris to Poitiers, Approx 4-5 hours drive from western ports or 7-8 hours from Calais. Phone for incoming calls (card needed for outgoing calls). The enclosed garden has a large part shaded terrace. Covered parking, garden furniture, swings and table tennis. Children can walk to swim or wakeboard in the local lake along a pretty path following the Dive stream. At Thouars, Loudun and Airvault there are summer pools. At Chatellerault and Poitiers there are large leisure pools. There is local horseriding golf, fishing and tennis. The village boasts its own 12th century Donjon (delightful view from main bedroom).
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| Rental periods | Per night (min 3 and 7th free) | Per week |
| 15 September - 31 December 2007 | £60 | £360 |
| 1 January - 23 May 2008 | £60 | £360 |
| 24 May - 20 June 2008 | £79 | £474 |
| 21 June - 13 July 2008 | N/A | £474 |
| 14 July - 29 August 2008 | N/A | £540 |
| 30 August - 5 September 2008 | N/A | £474 |
| 6 - 12 September 2008 | £79 | £474 |
| 13 September 2008 - 22 May 2009 | £60 | £360 |
| 23 May - 19 June 2009 | £79 | £474 |
| 20 June - 10 July 2009 | N/A | £474 |
| 11 July - 28 August 2009 | N/A | £540 |
| 29 August - 4 September 2009 | N/A | £474 |
| 5 September 2009 - 25 May 2010 | £60 | £360 |
Notes on prices
Prices are for the property per day and per week in UK Pounds. Payment required in Euros to French Account at remitter's cost. Discount for 10 or more weeks.
Changeover day
House lettings run from Saturday 5pm. at earliest to Saturday 9am. at latest and from and to similar times for shorter stays. The objective is to achieve sequential lettings and to establish a consistent cleaning schedule.
Accommodation
| Bedrooms: | Bedroom 1 - King sized bed (5ft), phone, TV, (Sky Freesat and French), en-suite. Bedroom 2 - King sized bed (5ft). Bedroom 3 - Double sized bed (4 ft 6 inches). Bedroom 4 - twin beds (3 ft) and desk. All bedrooms are totally separate. |
| Bathrooms: | Bathroom (ensuite to bedroom 1) - bath/shower over, basin, bidet, WC and tumble drier, night storage heater, heated towel rail. Shower Room - shower cabinet, basin & WC, heated towel rail |
| Kitchen: | 20' kitchen/dining/family room - Double ceramic sinks, double oven stove with ceramic hobs, microwave, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, washing machine. Dining table for 8, sofa, arm chairs, radio/cassette/CD, French windows to terrace, night storage heater. |
| Living Rooms: | Lounge - Sofa, arm chair, floor cushions, TV (Sky Freesat & French), small woodburning stove Approx 1,000 books - mostly crime and reference. |
| Other: | Hall - phone, night storage heater, large woodburning stove with back boiler linked to radiators throughout the house, cane sofa & armchairs (for terrace use in summer). French windows to part open and part covered terrace. |
| Cleaning/towels/ linen/maid service: |
You will need to supply your own towels and bedding (Duvets on all beds (summer and winter weights) + 2 x UK size pillows per person). The property is cleaned between lets. |
Notes on accommodation
Heating: We can arrange for night storage heaters to be turned on some days prior to arrival. The wood burner heats the whole house via radiators but needs regular attention. There are additional elecric heaters throughout the house.
Cooling: There are fans in all the bedrooms and shutters to the bedroom windows keep the rooms cool.
Children: Children are welcome but parents should be aware that many first-floor windows open to a low level and have safety railings.
- hob/stove,
- oven,
- fridge/freezer,
- microwave,
- dishwasher,
- washing machine,
- tumble dryer,
- iron/ironing board,
- satellite tv,
- tv,
- telephone,
- central heating,
- room fans,
- cot,
- high chair,
- barbecue
Accessibility
Not suitable for those with severe mobility problems as there are ground floor steps and Wcs, bathrooms etc are on first floor.
Outside
There are huge double wooden gates to a covered parking area. This opens onto an enclosed garden laid to lawn and herbaceous borders. The terrace is well shaded, partly by a roof and partly by a beautiful old vine. Garden furniture includes bench, table and chairs. There are two outbuildings. One contains a full-size table-tennis table whilst the other contains wood for fires, gardening tools and charcoal burning barbeques. There are grapes and peaches for those staying in September/October.
Coast/Beach
Although one can drive to the coast and back in a day we prefer to stay there for at least one night. The beach at Royan is very sandy. Rochfort and La Rochelle have fascinating naval histories.
Golf
There is a link on our web site to: Loudun - Roiffé, the nearest golf course which is on the road to Fontevrauld Abbey.
Special interest holidays
Local fishing, tennis and riding. In June 2006 a waveboard /wakeboad / teleski facility opened at the lake. Water skiers are pulled by a cable that provides a contiuous circuit around the lake. There are links on our website to: The teleski Loire châteaux such as Chinon, Azay-le-Rideau and Ussé Fontevraud Abbey. Oiron Chateau & Contemporary Art Museum. Futuroscope Theme Park. Pony Club La Buissonniere Maulay 86420 Mont Sur Guesnes. Zoo at Doué
Travel
Travel time from Le Havre (now served by LD Lines Ferries) is about four hours. From Caen, Cherbourg or St Malo (served by Brittany Ferries) is about four hours. Calais (served by P&O) is about six hours. There is virtually continuous motorway to the Loire river. Tours Airport (served by Ryanair) is about one and half hours drive (there are hire cars available). Poitiers airport (Ryanair) is about one hour (there are hire cars available).
Distances
Situated 60k south of Sammur and 45k north of Poitiers.
The nearest towns are Airvault 14k SW, Loudun 20k NE and Thouars 20k NW. There is a map link on our web site.
Further details
We can email detailed instructions about the house. There is a restaurant book in the house with comments about those we have visited. In summer Moncontour opens its Tourist Office and arranges events such as open-air cinema, walks to visit the numerous laundry buildings along the Dive, ascent of the Donjon tower, a summer festival etc. There is a camp site in the village which manages the lake - swimming, water-slide, pedalos, fishing, children's play equipment restaurant etc. There is no entry charge if you register that you are living in our house.
A guest has written: 'Moncontour catered for our everyday needs– boulangerie; cafes, general store. Everyone was very friendly and helpful. There’s a small but handy Office du Tourism just up the road - worth a quick visit. Recommend the local walk ‘Les Lavoirs de Moncontour’. It’s an easy walk, full of interest and well worth an hour of holiday time. There are also tours of ‘Le Donjon’.
Desmond and Pam’s large, interesting house is very comfortable, well-equipped and has a great book collection and an outdoor games room with table tennis
Thouars and Loudon are both within easy driving distance, offering shops; culture; good food. Both are worth a half day visit.
The nearby city of Poitiers can take up to a full day visit and has lots to offer for keen shoppers, site-seers and anyone seeking picturesque views of the locality. Lots of back streets to meander and take in the atmosphere as well as the central area with its grand architecture and numerous cafes. There is a very modern and well-stocked Office du Tourism in the central square
Chateau d’Orion is highly recommended for lovers of modern art; historic buildings and anyone with a sense of adventure. It has a fabulous art collection, laid out imaginatively over the length and breadth of the castle. Unmissable for all age groups and only a short drive from the house.
The ‘Relais du Chateau’ in Oiron is near to the Chateau and very good for an evening meal'.
Booking notes
Prices: Rates apply from the date of arrival at the property — if a holiday spans two seasons, prices will be determined by the date each week's rental starts (or by the date of each night booked).
Deposit: We offer a discount where ten or more consecutive weeks are booked and ask for a non-refundable £100 deposit at the time of booking — balance to be paid 6 weeks (42 days) before arrival. If we are not able to honour your booking for reasons within our control we will refund.
Guest comments
Between 1996 and 2006 we were listed by Brittany Ferries in their Holiday Homes in France brochure. We are also listed with Owners in France under reference PV002299 who offer discounted travel fares if you quote our reference number that we can provide for when you make your ferry booking.
The nicest letter we ever received from a guest said 'It is really refreshing to find a gite which is run as a 'borrowed home'...yours was a house in which we felt rapidly at home.... having books by their hundred is a unique treat. Because of your trust in us (leaving spices, flour sugar, tea etc) we reciprocated by leaving all sorts of things for the next incumbants'. Having said that, guests are however expected to leave the house as clean as possible and to remove all signs of their occupation.
For booking and further information
Desmond Hirsch
Tel: (UK) + 44 (0)1223 360200
Fax: (UK) + 44 (0)1223 329346
Mobile: (UK) + 44 (0)7748 601 036
Email: Click here
Owners Website: Click here
International Dialling Access Codes:
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This advertiser joined Owners Direct in February 2006,
and has advertised this property with us since February 2006.
Property Ref FR1016
When contacting the owner please mention that you saw this property on Owners Direct Website.