La Marée

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Cottage |2 bedrooms |Sleeps 4

Les Monards in Meschers-sur-Gironde

from £69 / night

This is the estimated nightly price based on a weekly stay. Contact the advertiser to confirm the price - it varies depending on when you stay and how long for.

£480–£740 / week

7 nights minimum stay

Changeover Saturday

5 out of 5

2 reviews | Write a review

Key info  Beach or lakeside relaxation, balcony/terrace, car essential, private garden, no pets allowed

Check availability and book

About the home

Summer or winter, this carefully restored coastal cottage set in rolling farmland will give you a taste of French rural life, whilst still providing all the home comforts. Self-contained, with its own pretty walled garden, "La Marée" is in a quiet hamlet not far from the wide sandy beaches of Meschers and St Georges de Didonne.

The cottage comprises two bedrooms, both with views of the Gironde estuary; with a new shower-room and separate toilet. Downstairs there's a comfortable sitting room with open fireplace, leading into a dining area and fully-equipped kitchen.

Facilities

Further details indoors:
Downstairs the cottage is open-plan, retaining its original beams, exposed stone walls and terracotta floor tiles. There is a spacious kitchen and dining area to one side, with a log-burning stove to make it cosy in winter. The sitting room is on the other side of the entrance hall - with an open fire for cold nights - and also benefits from a window to the garden, giving it a light and airy feel.

Upstairs there is a wooden landing, with new shower-room at one end (including double basins) and separate toilet at the other. In between are the two bedrooms: one with double bed and windows looking out over the garden and across to the Estuary; the other has two single beds and overlooks the garden to a small windmill opposite . Both rooms have radiators, wardrobes and bedside cabinets.

The cottage is comfortably furnished, kept very clean, and decorated in French country style. (Unlike many properties in France, all windows are fitted with mosquito blinds to keep any insects at bay and ensure you get a good night's sleep!)

Further details outdoors:
La Marée has its own enclosed garden, which is south-facing and sheltered by a mulberry tree in high summer.
In addition to table and chairs, there are sunloungers and a built-in barbecue for al fresco meals. Flowers include hollyhocks, pinks, poppies, hibiscus, roses, jasmine, lavender and other culinary herbs. There is also a small lawn and woodshed with logs for use by winter guests.

Further details

A welcome pack is provided - containing breakfast items and a bottle of wine!

An extensive library of books and DVDs is available for guests. There's also a large file of information on the local area, providing maps and details of where to find the best beaches and restaurants.

English owners, Caroline and Christina, will be on hand to welcome you and offer assistance.

Conditions

- Pets are not allowed as our cat is rather territorial!

- Smoking is OK in the garden but not in the house.

Photos

 

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Cottage and garden in springtime

 

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Dining area with woodburning stove

 

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Double room (views over garden and Estuary)

 

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Nearest beach is 7 minutes drive

Video

View of Chenac village and the Gironde Estuary, panning over fields of grain and sunflowers... you can hear how noisy the birds are!

Cottage rental accommodation in Meschers-sur-Gironde

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The Poitou-Charentes / Vendee / Charente Maritime region

This coastal region enjoys a mild climate and long sunny days from spring through to late autumn. The area is ideal for couples or families looking for unspoilt countryside not far from amenities.

Historically it was on one of the main pilgrimage routes to Spain and is dotted with ancient villages, abbeys and exquisite Romanesque churches. In the slow passing of the seasons, there is still a great feeling of timelessness, suffused with the warm vibrant light of the South.

The Meschers-sur-Gironde / Les Monards area

The property is situated by the Gironde Estuary, amongst rolling fields and vineyards and overlooking water-meadows where ponies graze in summer. The little fishing port of Les Monards is only 3 minutes' walk and boasts 2 popular, friendly restaurants with outdoor seating areas. Our neighbour is restoring the lovely nearby flour mill and now offers canoe rides on his lake and river.

Gentle hills and coastal scenery make this ideal country for walking or cycling - two bikes are available free of charge - whilst the mixed terrain of farmland and marsh attracts a wide variety of birds, including migrating flocks along the Estuary. Fine sandy beaches are just 10 minutes away.

One of France's prettiest villages, Talmont, can be reached by bike along a spectacular coastal route. Its 12th century church stands high above the Gironde, surrounded by colourful hollyhocks in summer.

Known locally as the "Cote de Beaute", this stretch of coast where the Gironde meets the Atlantic is popular for its calm waters and soft sand. The village of Meschers is 10 minutes by car and offers several sandy coves or longer stretches of pine-fringed beach, ideal for swimming and sunbathing, with restaurants close at hand. Here the limestone cliffs are riddled with caves, once used by pirates and refugees, some of which are still inhabited today.

Continuing up the coast, there are prize-winning beaches at the towns of St Georges de Didonne and Royan, as well as wide stretches of sand dune and pine forest on the "Cote Sauvage", which is popular with surfers and has areas set aside for naturists. Whether it's swimming, sunbathing, enjoying a meal in the open-air, collecting driftwood, or messing around in rock-pools, there's a beach for everyone somewhere along these shores!

The thriving town of Royan offers a wide selection of shops and restaurants, in addition to an extensive daily market. The famous zoo at La Palmyre is nearby, where there's an active breeding programme and you're even encouraged to feed some of the animals.

A little further up the coast you can explore the pretty oyster villages around Marennes, visit the atmospheric fortified town of Brouage out in the marshes, or drive across a long bridge to the lovely island of Oleron.

During summer there are numerous boat trips to outlying islands and lighthouses (like 17th century Cordouan), as well as a regular ferry to the Medoc peninsular which is home to many outstanding chateaux in the Bordeaux region. Bordeaux city itself is just over an hour away by car and definitely worth a visit now that it's reached the end of its costly restoration and is once again poised to become the "Paris of the South". Get there before the rest of the world wakes up to its charms!

Other popular day-trips include the lovely village of St Emilion, where you can tour several famous wine estates, or alternatively a 40 minute drive takes you to historic Cognac town and distilleries like Remy Martin. As in most of France, food and drink are high on the agenda!

How to get there

La Marée What's nearby: Attractions Restaurants Click map icons for more information

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BY ROAD:
- Situated just off the scenic "Route Verte" (D145)
- 30 minutes drive from Junction 36 of the A10
- If you use SatNav, enter the hamlet "Barabe" + postcode 17120

BY AIR (Fly-drive):
- Just over an hour from Bordeaux or La Rochelle airports (Ryanair, Flybe, BMIBaby, BA and Easyjet)
- Bergerac, Limoges and Poitiers airports a bit further afield but also popular
- Compare car hire prices on Holiday Cars website
- Budget Cars also recommended by guests
NB: In high season there may be queues for hire car companies recommended by airlines.

BY FERRY:
- about 4 hours' drive from St Malo (via Brittany Ferries)
- about 5 hours from Caen, Cherbourg or le Havre
- about 7 hours from Calais

Activities near Meschers-sur-Gironde

Reviews

Review: 1 to 2 of 2

14 Feb 2013

“A unique property located in a unique area.” This cottage is outstanding...5 stars for La Maree! The views in this area of coastal France are amazing, grape vineyards on rolling hills that meet the ocean. We were there in the low season, October, and the mornings were chilly but warmed up nicely. A 20 minute bike ride away are the remains of a Roman town called Barzon being excavated. A little bit more up the coastal road is a picturesque little seaside town called Talmont with a winery, local shops and quant cafes. Pristine beaches are everywhere. A short walk from the cottage is the little port town of Les Monards with a family restaurant called the Auberge des Monards where we had a four-course meal of beef, seafood, salad, wine, and dessert for much less than we have paid elsewhere in France. Our last night at the cottage we ate at the Le cheun a Quai, a pizzeria in town that is run by a young couple who make the best thin-crust pizza supreme this side of Philly! The cottage was such a cozy romantic getaway for the two of us with fireplace lit, local wine, bread and cheese, so private and quiet, and Caroline and Christina were absolutely the perfect hosts. We are a retired-age couple, and as the cottage sleeps four (with additional space for more), we plan on returning to La Maree with family or friends in the near future. Response: We love our transatlantic visitors for their enthusiasm - it's so infectious. Thanks for sharing your wonderful films of the local artisan bakeries and we look forward to publication of your research into rare-breed Poitou donkeys...(!) You covered a lot of ground in your short stay and left the place looking immaculate. (If there was a ratings system for guests, we'd definitely award you a full 5 stars.) One small point though: perhaps we should clarify that our local port is more of a sleepy hamlet rather than a 'town', despite its two busy restaurants!

11 Jul 2011

“A lovely holiday in a lovely cottage in a lovely part of the world.” This property more than met our expectations. It is a beautiful well maintained cottage which has everything you need for a perfect holiday. The welcome pack was a lovely touch upon arrival. The garden is a perfect spot to relax and unwind and you can find shade under the trees if the sun gets too much. The BBQ was an added bonus for outdoor cooking on the warm balmy evenings. We throughly enjoyed the local walks and the property is ideally situated for visiting the surrounding area. The information pack, that our excellent hosts had complied, was very detailed and proved to be very helpful when planning our days out. Response: Your comments are much appreciated. It was great to see you enjoy all the cycling and we hope you'll continue your exploration of this unspoilt coast!

Review: 1 to 2 of 2

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Rental prices

Prices for group size 4
Period	From	To	Weekly	Nightly rate		Minimum  stay
				Weekday	Weekend
Autumn	1 Sep 12	29 Sep 12	560£ 560	-	-	1 Week
Low Season	29 Sep 12	13 Apr 13	480£ 480	-	-	1 Week
Early Summer	13 Apr 13	6 Jul 13	500£ 500	-	-	1 Week
Peak Season	6 Jul 13	31 Aug 13	740£ 740	-	-	1 Week
Autumn	31 Aug 13	28 Sep 13	500£ 500	-	-	1 Week
Low Season	28 Sep 13	1 Jan 14	480£ 480	-	-	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.

Deposit of 50% with booking and security deposit of £100 required with final payment, 8 weeks prior to arrival date. (It is recommended that you purchase cancellation insurance.)

For winter occupation, the cottage has its own electricity meter and use of radiators will be charged at standard rate of 0.1Euro per kWh, to be settled at end of letting period. Similarly, logs used for fires will be charged at local rates.

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 anyway No. of adults No. of children Message * Send me ideas on where to stay

6 years listed You are contacting Christina Tooley Landline 33 0546 741370 Mobile n/a Web Visit site Languages spoken The owner is based in France and has advertised with Holiday Lettings since 2006. This cottage has received 2 reviews from previous guests.

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