Le Four de Boulanger

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Gite |2 bedrooms |Sleeps 4

Chef Boutonne in Poitou-Charentes/Vendee

From £150 per week

7 nights minimum stay

Changeover Saturday

Be the first to write a review

Key info  Swimming pool, beach or lakeside relaxation, car essential, private garden, no pets allowed

About the home

Beautifully restored stone bakery on two floors housing the original vaulted bread oven. Accommodates four to six people. Features include pretty external steps and authentic diamond shaped ‘œil de bœuf’ windows. Furnishings and decoration have been carefully chosen to exploit the existing architectural charm.

Set in the tiny, friendly village of Mandegault and surrounded by beautiful French countryside, we have set out to create an authentic environment allowing you to appreciate the simple pleasures of rural France. Many of our visitors are struck by the tranquillity of life here, ‘the rural charm of England 50 years ago’! The village farms have goats and cart horses and you can buy fresh milk direct from the farm. Set amidst fields of sunflowers in the summer and chestnut coppice, Mandegault with its honey coloured stone walls and canal tile roofs seems to sleep and shimmer in the heat of the day.

We produce our own seasonal fruit and vegetables, including cherries, strawberries, figs, walnuts, sweet peppers, garlic, aubergines, and of course the famous Charentais melon. We keep a rare breed of sheep and a variety of free-range hens and ducks. They are kept well away from the cottages although children are welcome to participate at feeding times. Whilst each cottage offers private and independent accommodation, access between the two private gardens can be arranged for family groups ‘holidaying’ together who wish to take both cottages.

Facilities

Further details indoors:
Kitchen: French windows onto private garden. Natural stone floor and custom built range of kitchen cupboards. Gas hob, electric oven, electric food mixer, stainless steel saucepans, plain white crockery. Bathroom: Bath with shower, washbasin and toilet. Sitting/Dining Room: Original oak beams, exposed stonework and beautiful stone bread oven/fireplace, wood burning stove in the winter months. Circular old pine dining table & chairs, double bed/settee and comfy armchairs. Internal wooden staircase to Bedrooms 1 & 2: Exposed oak beams and wooden floorboards, one room has two single original iron beds, the other, a pretty French antique bedroom suite with double bed.

Further details outdoors:
The private walled garden has a shady pergola planted with wisteria & climbing roses, a barbecue and a set of wooden garden furniture, which makes a perfect setting for outdoor eating & drinking. The gravel sun terrace with its potted plants and lawn along with trees, flowers and herb garden, offer an ideal relaxing environment. If you don’t feel like stirring out of the garden, stay 'at home' and enjoy our discrete above ground, solar heated swimming pool (6x4m) - carefully chosen to integrate harmoniously into the natural environment - or simply watch the migratory hoopoes or listen to the song of the nightingale in the evening. There's an exterior table tennis table, a selection of bikes and safety helmets and finally, in true French style, a lovely pétanque court. Guests are very welcome to stroll the grounds, help themslves to fruit and vegetables, say 'bonjour' to our rare breed sheep and hens and cool down in the rose covered arbour by the wildlife pond.

Further details

Bedlinen and bathroom towels available for hire.
Baby and Toddler Friendly Home.

Conditions

A Booking Deposit of 25% is required to secure a booking. Bookings can only be confirmed upon receipt of payment.

The Final Balance is payable six weeks before rental period commences.

A Refundable Security Deposit of £100 is required as a separate cheque along with the final balance. This is refunded within two weeks of your departure.

Photos

 

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Secluded garden of 'Le Four de Boulanger'

 

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Double Bedroom

 

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Sitting/dining room

 

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Above ground 6 x 4m swimming pool

The Poitou-Charentes / Vendee / Deux Sevres region

Niort, our nearest large town and capital of the Deux-Sèvres is just 45 mins from Mandegault. Steeped in history and daing back, to the middle ages, Niort's imposing fortressed castle keep, the 'Donjon', which overlooks the ‘Sèvre Niortaise’ river is well worth a visit. Make time to visit the ‘Pilori’ as well and don’t miss market day at Niort (Thursday, Saturday and Sunday mornings) a cornucopia of fresh local produce, baskets of fresh walnuts, goat’s cheeses, regional specialities and freshly caught fish from the ‘Isle d’Oleron’.

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. There’s the delightful historic port of La Rochelle (90 minutes drive to be realistic) with its harbour towers, art galleries, museums and superb aquarium or simply relax and absorb the atmosphere in one of the many quayside cafés or restaurants or stretch out on the sandy beach, a mere stone’s throw from ‘centre ville’.The royal naval port of Rochefort is a must; witness the meticulous reconstruction of the 16th century frigate, the ‘Hermione’.

The Chef Boutonne area

Chef Boutonne our nearest town, (3km) 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. Again, on a musical note, Operas of outstanding quality are staged en ‘plein air’ in August in the Roman amphitheatre at Sanxay. This whole area is peppered with exquisite little XIth & XIIth century churches, Medieval heritage, pre-historic remains and Roman settlements. Of particular interest is the ‘Tumulus de Bougon’, one of the oldest Neolithic burial grounds in Europe.

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’ often situated at river sources. For swimmers there’s a wide choice of open air pools, manmade lakes with sandy beaches and river swimming all nearby. The Lac du Lambon (25 km) is a large swimming and boating lake with restaurant and 'acro-branche' activities.There's the sea near La Rochelle for beach combing, swimming and body boarding. 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.

How to get there

Le Four de Boulanger What's nearby: Attractions Restaurants Click map icons for more information

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*Within easy reach of the channel ports of St.Malo (4.5 hrs), Caen (5hrs), Cherbourg (6hrs), and Calais (7hrs)

*Fly to Angoulême or Poitiers and hire a car. Mandegault is just 45 mins drive from the airport

*La Rochelle and Limoges airports are a 90 min drive and Bordeaux airport is 2hrs approx

*Cheap flights available from Easyjet, Ryanair, Flybe and Bmibaby

*Car hire available from all airports.

Activities near Chef Boutonne

Guestbook for Le Four de Boulanger

'What an amazing place to stay and a fantastic venue! Our 16 month son loved it here – especially feeding the chickens and seeing the sheep. The gîte was so very well considered and Alison & Francis are the perfect hosts and were fantastic with Dylan. Our meal with them was absolutely delicious. We hope to return here one day'.
Darren, Jo and their toddler son, Dylan. Manchester. June 2010

'Great hosts, fantastic gîte. We especially loved all the animals and the fresh eggs and strawberries. The pool was so needed to cool us down and has really got Megan & Isaac into swimming. It's been a fantastic holiday'.
Simon, Leanne and their young children, Megan & Isaac. Suffolk. June 2010

'Thank you so much for your trailblazing vision, which has gifted us such a wonderfully relaxing and peaceful holiday, as well as inspired us to somehow seek to create a similar lifestyle sometime in the future! Know that we sincerely appreciated your thoughtfulness with Malachy and being so encouraging in your many conversations with him'!
Stephen, Andrea and their 3 year old son, Malachy. Brighton. July 2010

'Beautifully decorated gîte & gardens. Loved harvesting courgettes, basil, tomatoes & raspberries from the garden and chatting to the hens. Rediscovered cycling which was lovely, as was lazing with a good book in the garden'.
Andrea and David and their teenage daughter, Isobel. Hertfordshire. July 2010

'Well we're back again! Again the holiday was a success. We saw a lamb being born in the Summer! Thank you Alison for cooking a delicious meal'.
Sam aged 9, his parents, Simon & Fiona, his sister, Evie (6) and his brother, Isaac (2) Heathfield. August 2010

'Thank you so much for a truly wonderful holiday, you have both given us all a very special time. We love your home and hope you don't have to work too hard, inorder to enjoy the sanctuary you have created. Restaurant in Melle recommended by Alison & Francis for a night out without les enfants. Thank you it was heaven'.
Alex, Colin,Jessie (7), Charlotte (5) & Ellie (19 months). Middlesex. August 2010

'This place has exceeded our expectations – all down to the years of hard work, perseverance and attention to details of Alison & Francis. We admire the way you have sensitively restored the buildings to achieve authentic and comfortable accommodation perfect for our family (and an inspiration for our cottage back home!) Many thanks for your hospitality and time and in particular, the most welcome basket of produce (etc!) on arrival – a real treat. We would love to return....parents staying in 'Les Ecuries' same week which worked out really well too'.
Helen, Giles, Edward (16) and Lydia (13) Sadler. Devon. August 2010

'A wonderful, sensitive restoration of a beautiful property – the use of natural materials and the thoughtful aesthetic consideration, such as the stencils on the bedlinen, curtains and the bedroom floors are superb! - Simply a beautiful and tranquil place to spend two weeks. We thank you for your friendly and easy-going attention, and especially for your generous invitation to avail ourselves of the produce from your vegetable garden. AND – the superb meal you prepared and served in your wonderful home. AND – the wall that we have watched Francis build with such skill and attention to authentic detail'. Lastly the area abounds with so many significant monuments and locations making it a wonderful place to spend a few weeks.
Judith & Neil. Australia. Oct 2010

Absolutely loved the fresh vegetables, cherries, raspberries, eggs etc and abundance of fresh flowers throughout the gîte. A fantastic place to recharge and escape. Most definitely will be returning without hesitation next year!
Charli & Bradley, Surrey. July 2008

'The love, time and effort that has gone into this lovely place simply oozes everywhere. We have loved staying in your 'house of secrets’ with lots of lovely little treasures, amenities, pots of garden flowers and fragrant herbs! Thankyou for providing such perfect luxuries that we love, tea lights & incense sticks, ambient music, crisp linen etc. A taste of the divine – a little piece of paradise. We will return!’
Alison & Louis, Nottingham. July 2008

'Wow ! Words cannot describe how amazing our stay in your gîte has been. We have never come across two more kind people that made such an impression in such a short time. Our 7 days of tranquillity & relaxation will never equal the [small] amount you charge!
Trevor & Shelley and their children Brittany (15yrs) Logan & LuLu (both 5yrs), Devon. July 2008

‘The new pool was a great bonus to an already beautiful location. Have enjoyed the table tennis ‘Olympics’, boules and animal experiences (sheep shearing and duck delivery etc) and cycling to Melleran for fresh bread’.
Chris & Vickie Watts. (Motocyclists) West Sussex. August 2008

'Thanks, Francis, Alison & Jack for your warm hospitality and fab gîte. A special thanks for the superb evening meals and to Jack for organising the horse riding’.
Phil, Claire and Jamie (5yrs). August 2008

'We have had a lovely time in ‘Le Four de Boulanger’, which is probably the best gîte we’ve stayed at – wonderful attention to detail. A perfect holiday & most relaxing environment.
Jan, Des, Emma & Adam. Birmingham. September 2008

Rental prices

Prices for group size 4
Period	From	To	Weekly	Nightly rate		Minimum  stay
				Weekday	Weekend
Long Let	30 Oct 10	26 Mar 11	150£ 150	0-	0-	1 Week
Low Season	26 Mar 11	30 Apr 11	295£ 295	0-	0-	1 Week
Mid Season	30 Apr 11	25 Jun 11	365£ 365	0-	0-	1 Week
High Season	25 Jun 11	3 Sep 11	595£ 595	0-	0-	2 Weeks
Mid Season	3 Sep 11	29 Oct 11	365£ 365	0-	0-	1 Week
Long Let	29 Oct 11	24 Mar 12	165£ 165	0-	0-	1 Month
Low Season	24 Mar 12	26 May 12	320£ 320	0-	0-	1 Week
Mid Season	26 May 12	30 Jun 12	390£ 390	0-	0-	1 Week
High Season	30 Jun 12	1 Sep 12	625£ 625	0-	0-	2 Weeks
Mid Season	1 Sep 12	6 Oct 12	390£ 390	0-	0-	1 Week
Low Season	6 Oct 12	3 Nov 12	320£ 320	0-	0-	1 Week
Long Let	3 Nov 12	30 Mar 13	165£ 165	0-	0-	1 Month

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

* Tuesday or Saturday changeover in Low and Mid Season

* Babykit supplied free of charge

(includes a cot and bedding, high chair, buggy, baby bath, changing mat)

* Free Bike hire

* Bedlinen hire 20€ double, 12€ single

* Bathroom towel hire 5€ per set

* Leisure towels 3€ each

* We can accept payment by cheque or bank transfer in GBP or Euros

Availability

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

Contact the owner

* Required fields Please check the following errors: First name * Last name * Email *   Did you mean ""? Yes / No Phone number Arrival date Departure date   Ignore calendar - enquire anway No. of adults No. of children Message * Email me special offers and holiday ideas T&Cs

4 years listed You are contacting Alison Hudson Landline +33 05 49 29 65 31 Mobile n/a Web Visit site Languages spoken The owner is based in France and has advertised with Holiday Lettings since 2007. This gite has so far received 0 reviews.

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