Chef Boutonne holiday gite rental with walking, log fire, rural retreat, DVD

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Le Four de Boulanger (gite)

Home description

Charming 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.

Private rear garden with shady pergola	Double Bedroom
Sitting/dining room	Secluded garden of 'Le Four de Boulanger'

To see more photos please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/42621

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’.

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

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

*Fly to 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

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 also a children's pool, shallow but 3m diameter (which is fully fenced for children's safety) and we provide 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 enjoy the rose covered arbour and wildlife pond.

Further details

Bedlinen and bathroom towels available for hire.

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 (subject to satisfactory property inspection)

Rental rates

Period	From	To	Weekly	Nightly rate		Minimum  stay
				Weekday	Weekend
Low Season	23 Nov 07	22 Dec 07	230£  230	0-	0-	1 Week
Mid Season	22 Dec 07	5 Jan 08	310£  310	0-	0-	1 Week
Low Season	5 Jan 08	3 May 08	230£  230	0-	0-	1 Week
Mid Season	3 May 08	28 Jun 08	310£  310	0-	0-	1 Week
High Season	28 Jun 08	30 Aug 08	410£  410	0-	0-	1 Week
Mid Season	30 Aug 08	4 Oct 08	310£  310	0-	0-	1 Week
Low Season	4 Oct 08	20 Dec 08	230£  230	0-	0-	1 Week
Mid Season	20 Dec 08	3 Jan 09	310£  310	0-	0-	1 Week
Long Let	3 Jan 09	28 Mar 09	150£  150	0-	0-	2 Months
Low Season	28 Mar 09	30 May 09	230£  230	0-	0-	1 Week
Mid Season	30 May 09	4 Jul 09	310£  310	0-	0-	1 Week
High Season	4 Jul 09	29 Aug 09	495£  495	0-	0-	2 Weeks
Mid Season	29 Aug 09	3 Oct 09	310£  310	0-	0-	1 Week
Low Season	3 Oct 09	7 Nov 09	230£  230	0-	0-	1 Week

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

* Babykit 16€ for the duration of your stay.

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

* Bedlinen hire 20€ double, 12€ single

* Bathroom towel hire 4€ per set (please bring your own leisure towels)

* Free Bike hire

Guestbook

As soon as we turned into the drive and saw the beautiful house and gîtes we knew everything was going to be fine! The gîtes are wonderful and the attention to detail in their design is a testament to the hard work and vision of Francis and Alison.
Simon, Fionnuala and their children, Kitty & Pia. Radcliffe-on-Trent, Nottingham. August 2007.

Once again, it is with great sadness that we leave 'Le Four de Boulanger' and it's wonderful hosts. We had a wonderful week looking for what will hopefully turn out to be a new life in France and made the most of Alison and Francis's advice and time! Thankyou again du fond du coeur.
Myriam, Rees and their little ones, Evan and Noah. Leeds, West Yorkshire. February 2007

What a lovely relaxing holiday. The gîte is perfect - Edward and Isla have loved the chickens, sheep and trampoline especially. Cycling in the lanes has been great and well worth the time spent slowly meandering and exploring and looking for creatures in the hedgerows. Thankyou for a great holiday, the basil wine was lovely as was all the fruit, veg and eggs you brought over.
Tim, Rachael, Isla and Edward. Darlington, Co. Durham July 2007

Availability notes

To see availability please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/42621

Contact owner

To contact this owner please visit: http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/42621

Contact details for home 42621 Please mention Holiday Lettings
Name:	Alison Hudson
Tel:	+33 (0)5 49 29 65 31
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Contact Notes: Telephone or email any time
Advertiser joined: 22 Nov 2007 This property added: 22 Nov 2007

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