La Poste des Gardes

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Townhouse |3 bedrooms |Sleeps 8

Availles-Limouzine in Poitou-Charentes/Vendee

£43–£71 / night
£300–£500 / week

7 nights minimum stay

Changeover Saturday

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Key info  Beach or lakeside relaxation, balcony/terrace, car advised, pets welcome

About the home

Welcome to our charming fully restored 16th century maison de bourg in the historic quarter of a small riverside town.

You will have a large open plan living room/dining room/kitchen with wood burning stove in an imposing original fireplace, south-facing French doors, a Hi-Fi system, DVD, video player and a UK Sky satellite TV system. The kitchen area is well-equipped with electric double oven, grill, ceramic hob and freezer, together with ample worktops and storage.

There is a utility room/pantry with further storage, fridge, washing machine, microwave and toaster. There is also a downstairs shower room/WC.

The middle floor offers a charming salon with south-facing window above the original stone guard seat and a double futon. This room has double doors opening onto the private roof terrace, which overlooks the River Vienne and offers patio furniture for dining al fresco.

The master bedroom is on this floor. It is west facing with a double bed, feature fireplace, stone washbasin and panelled ceiling.

On the top floor you will have two further double bedrooms. The south facing room has a double bed, exposed roof trusses and features the stone seat used when the house was a guard post. There is a further west facing double bedroom with bunk beds, ideal for children. This room includes a games console, TV, books and toys.

There is also a further room with WC and basin. We look forward to welcoming you into our home for your holiday.

Facilities

Further details indoors:
The ground floor of the house can be accessed from both the street and the seating area to the side. An entrance vestibule from the street leads down a few steps to the large open-plan living room / dining room / kitchen.

The living area boasts an efficient wood burning stove housed in the original imposing feature fireplace. There is a comfortable leather sofa and leather armchairs and plenty of side tables. A television is provided along with a video player and a good selection of films. There is a Sky freesat satellite system installed to receive UK TV channels. There is also a Hi-Fi and DVD player. The large sideboard holds stationery items and a variety of games for entertainment.

The dining area features a large oak dining table with six traditional French chairs. This is a delightful open and airy room featuring original beamed walls and ceilings, exposed stonework and a stunning tiled floor. The full-height French doors to the south let the sun stream into the room, making this a most enjoyable dining experience. An imposing staircase leads to the upper sitting room opening onto the roof terrace.

The kitchen is located in the corner of the open-plan living area. It has an electric double oven cooker with ceramic hob and full-sized grill. There is a large oak chef's buffet with inset granite worktop and storage and a further tiled top free-standing buffet. There is a sink unit and a small freezer. Rustic French wall units provide extra storage.

A door from the kitchen leads into the separate utility room which has plenty of storage shelves, a large original French butcher's table, fridge, microwave, toaster and washing machine.

The main double bedroom on the middle floor faces west and is beautifully warm and bright in the evenings. It has a panelled ceiling, exposed stonework and the original feature fireplace with tiled hearth. A niche houses shelving and the original stone washbasin. There is a traditional French bateau lit, bedside tables, chaise lounge and chest of drawers.

Two further double bedrooms can be found on the top floor. The south facing bedroom has wonderful views up the River Vienne with the original guard post stone window seat. This room has a double bed, triple wardrobe, bedside tables, large chest of drawers and occasional seating. The west facing bedroom is bathed in light in the evenings with views over the village up to the church. There are bunk beds in this room, a chest of drawers and a large table and chairs. A television is also available and a games console is provided with a large selection of games. An assortment of books and toys are also available in this room and it would be perfect for any children in the party.

The downstairs shower room is accessed from the utility room. It has fully tiled walls and floor, a large shower cubicle, WC and wash basin over a vanity unit offering ample storage. A large mirror and hanging space is provided. There is a further "wet room" on the top floor with a WC, a hand basin and further storage units.

Plenty of magazines, fiction and non-fiction books are provided throughout the house.

The middle floor of the house features a galleried area which forms a charming salon. Under the south facing window you will find the original stone seat used by the guards. This is a relaxing seating area with a futon that can also be used as a double bed. Double French doors lead onto the private roof terrace.

Further details outdoors:
The house was used as a guard post in centuries gone by due to its prominent location by the river and its views to three sides. The south side offers a small area under the wisteria and vines that can be used for seating. Beyond this is a parking area for several cars.

For guests who prefer more privacy the fully covered roof terrace on the middle floor is ideal. This is a spacious terrace with both easterly and southerly aspects overlooking the river. The terrace is fully tiled and covered and can be enjoyed even in inclement weather. It offers a dining table and chairs as well as comfy bench seating. The stone walls have been restored to reveal several intriguing niches!

Further details

We would ask that guests do not smoke inside the house but we are perfectly happy for guests to smoke on the roof terrace or on the outside seating area and we provide an ashtray. We would simply ask that all debris is disposed of properly and not left anywhere on the property.

Conditions

On arrival you will find a comprehensive property brochure with information on the caretakers, the house and its facilities.

Plenty of current local tourist information and maps of the area are provided.

Reliable, efficient local English caretakers are available at all times. They are very experienced in gite management and will do their best to ensure your stay is trouble-free and enjoyable.

The television in the sejour receives both the major UK and French channels. The TV in the salon receives the major French channels.

A starter bag of firewood is included in the price.

Children of all ages are welcome. All children will require adult supervision at all times.

We are happy to accept two well-behaved dogs. A supplement of £50 per dog per week applies to cover the additional cleaning required on departure. We reserve the right to apply an enhanced security deposit. Please contact us first if you wish to bring your dog(s).

A full and thorough cleaning service is included prior to your arrival. We simply ask that guests leave the house in a clean and tidy condition on departure.

Photos

 

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Private Roof Terrace Overlooking River Vienne

 

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Middle Floor Salon Opening onto Terrace

 

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View over the River Vienne towards the House

The Poitou-Charentes / Vendee / Vienne region

Confolens, 10 km away, is an ancient Roman town with a number of prehistoric sites. It has now developed into a typical French, bustling market town and has a good variety of supermarkets and shops. The broad River Vienne splits the town in two and provides perfect opportunities for watersports enthusiasts. Montmorillon, 30km away, is a wonderfully charming medieval city with winding streets, pavement cafés, pretty river banks and beautiful buildings. It is called 'The City of the Written Word' and is a haven for writers and calligraphers.

The theme park of Futuroscope is only an hour away and absolutely must not be missed. It combines theme park with big screen cinema and illusion. The sound and light show when dusk falls is a magical experience.

The sophisticated coastal towns of La Rochelle and Royan can be reached in just over two hours. The grand Romanesque cities of Poitiers and Limoges are exciting cosmopolitan experiences, offering everything you would expect with magnificent architecture, a fabulous variety of shopping, antiques and fine dining.

The Availles-Limouzine area

Availles-Limouzine is a pretty medieval village on the banks of the beautiful River Vienne. It offers all the charm of living in old rural France whilst still providing all necessary amenities such as supermarket, newsagent, bakery, butcher, bar, restaurant and post office.

On the 17th of each month there is a large market selling a variety of goods and a farmers market visits every Sunday morning selling fresh local produce. The municipal park across the river has a small swimming pool, canoes, pedals, motor boats, miniature golf, a well equipped playground and picnic areas. International fishing takes place due to the easy access and the good river bank length: bolognaise, English, feeder, and cane fishing are popular. The newsagent sells equipment and licenses.

The English Garden located in the north of the village is a local paradise and a haven for birds and frogs. A fragrant garden features over 600 varieties of roses and shrubs.

Deval Karts is the place to go for 4X4, quad, via ferata, tyrolean cable slide and dog teaming.

How to get there

La Poste des Gardes What's nearby: Attractions Restaurants Click map icons for more information

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The house is very easy to reach if travelling by plane. Airlines fly regularly to both Poitiers and Limoges airports and both airports have car hire companies on site. It takes around 45 minutes by car from both airports to the house.

It is also feasible to fly to La Rochelle, although the journey time to the house is around 2 hours. Alternatively the Eurostar is a good option as the TGV (high speed train) has stations at both Futuroscope and Poitiers itself. Poitiers train station also has several car hire companies. The closest ferry port is St Malo, approximately 440km drive to the house.

Good alternatives are Le Havre and Caen, not too much further away. The Eurotunnel to Calais is a cheaper option and we recommend staying en route at one of the budget hotel chains in France. Rouen is a good overnighting stop.

Activities near Availles-Limouzine

Guestbook for La Poste des Gardes

"We enjoyed our stay in the property and particularly enjoyed sitting on the terrace watching the local wildlife."

"We would be very happy to recommend this property to others."

"Spotlessly clean on arrival."

"Extremely helpful caretakers."

"The best value for money we have had."

Rental prices

Prices for group size 8
Period	From	To	Weekly	Nightly rate		Minimum  stay
				Weekday	Weekend
High Summer 2011	9 Sep 11	17 Sep 11	500£ 500	-	-	1 Week
Autumn 2011	17 Sep 11	28 Oct 11	400£ 400	-	-	1 Week
Spring 2012	31 Mar 12	12 May 12	300£ 300	-	-	1 Week
Early Summer 2012	12 May 12	30 Jun 12	400£ 400	-	-	1 Week
High Summer 2012	30 Jun 12	15 Sep 12	500£ 500	-	-	1 Week
Autumn 2012	15 Sep 12	27 Oct 12	300£ 300	-	-	1 Week

The property's weekend rates apply to: Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights

NB: Prices may be subject to change at the advertiser's discretion.

We are pleased to offer a £100 discount off the full price of a two week booking.

Although the house is not let on a weekly basis over the winter period, we will be happy to consider a further discount for longer stays of one month or more.

We ask guests to secure the booking with a booking/security deposit within one week of making a provisional booking. Various payment methods are available.

We ask guests to accept a rental contract for the protection of both parties within one week of making a provisional booking.

We ask guests to pay the full rental price within eight weeks of their arrival date.

Availability

See below for next 9 months' availability - to see the next 24 months click here

Contact the owner

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You are contacting Louise Grudgings Landline 44 1757 288289 Mobile 44 7972 105911 Payment accepted Credit cards accepted PayPal accepted Languages spoken The owner is based in the United Kingdom and has advertised with Holiday Lettings since 2011. This townhouse has so far received no reviews.

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