Luxury 12th Century Priory

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Converted chapel |5 bedrooms |Sleeps 12

Saint Gengoux-de-Scisse in Burgundy

£unknown / week

1 night minimum stay

Changeover flexible

5 out of 5

19 reviews | Write a review

Key info  Balcony/terrace, car advised, private garden, may take pets - please enquire

Check availability and book

About the home

Our home

Historic 12th century priory and chapel converted into luxury home, within the vineyards of Burgundy.

This beautiful house is located in a quiet rural setting, with easy access to a myriad of excellent local or Michelin stared restaurants and famous Burgundy cellars. The surroundings are bucolic and provide for easy trekking and safe cycling to many medieval fortresses, old churches and chateaux, where our Guests enjoy the pure air and beautiful views.

The layout of the house is designed to enhance enjoyment of the important being-together time with family and friends; that is why in the very spacious, 950 m2 built area, there are only 5 bedrooms. More than half of the house is made up of noble areas: music and theater room, chimney and home cinema room, library, wine tasting area, French kitchen, dining areas and an outside breakfast and evening terrace. There is excellent HI FI equipment for listening to music in the whole house—and in the gardens, plus a home cinema with a fireplace which enhances the at home atmosphere.

The outside area is composed of two gardens, private parking area for 8 cars, and the courtyard around the tower La Tour next to the vegetable garden which is ideal for a quiet breakfast.
The back garden is very secluded and romantic; it is ideal for private sunbaths, quiet reading and daydreaming and shady lunches.
The front garden is spacious, with open views of the surrounding vineyards and the faraway houses. Here you can enjoy family gatherings, al fresco eating, ping-pong and badminton competitions.

Three quality French bakers within 5 minute drive, top quality fruits and vegetables within 15 minute drive and several good supermarkets and a golf course in the 15-20 min driving range.
We are happy to introduce our Guests to our friend the owner of France´s best wine shop and to other friends who are owners and chefs of small quality French restaurants.

Unforgettable memories will be created with your family, children and friends at La Tour de Bassy.

Facilities

Further details indoors:
The converted chapel was used as a concert hall and has an amazing acoustic. Now, as living room, it enjoys the old beams, 6 meters (20 ft) high ceilings, open chimney and a stage, which is an ideal entertainment when children and friends show their talents.
The kitchen is the preferred place of many of our friends and guests. It is a warm, cosy place, with huge old beams, professional La Cornue kitchen and is equipped with heavy old copper pots, Japanese steel utensils, Riedel glasses, Villeroy & Boch plates, beautiful tea pots and cups. The coffee lovers will enjoy the Nesspeso machine and the choice of more than 20 select coffees, offered to you by the owners.
The sitting, library, kitchen and lounge rooms are warmly decorated with antique and modern furniture collected by owners in Spain, Brazil, Japan, Philippines.
Home cinema room, with large collection of movie and opera DVD´s.
There are 5 bedrooms: 4 doubles and 1 single. In 2 of the double rooms there are additional single bed or sofa-bed. Two of the double rooms are en suite.
In addition to the 3 bathrooms, there are 2 guests WC's on ground level - very convenient while you are in the public areas of the house or in the gardens.

Further details outdoors:
Two shaded gardens in front and behind house. Kitchen vegetable garden. Table and chairs in garden for leisurely breakfast and lunch, and romantic candle light dinners. Double doors leading from music room provide music for garden, from 12th century restored chapel.
Ping-pong table, petanque balls, 3 bicycles.

Photos

 

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The house

 

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Breakfast on the terrace

 

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Yellow sofa room

 

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Kitchen

The Burgundy / Saone-et-Loire region

From the times when the Dukes of Burgundy were more powerful than the Kings of France, until today Burgundy is a destination for lovers of beautiful countryside, refined wines and excellent gourmet food. On a short visit you can explore the world famous Cote d'Or wines or taste the superb Pouilly-Fuisse and Saint Veran of Southern Burgundy. There is abundance of refined small local restaurants and a long list of Michelin stared restaurants, with several 3 stars restaurants in an easy driving distance.
This area is also home to some impressive Romanesque and Medieval remains: The Monastery of Cluny, The Abbey of Citeaux, The Abbey of Fontenay, alongside with many Romanesque churches dating from the 9th to the 12th century, as well fortresses and Renaissance chateaux.

The Saint Gengoux-de-Scisse area

There is plenty to do in this wonderful area.
In the spring and summer this part of Burgundy is flooded by small, enthusiastic groups of cyclist who enjoys the views and the rolling terrain.
There is also a very well developed network of trekking paths throughout the vineyards and the surrounding forests.
Close to the house is a 18 holes golf course with a nice club house.
In a short distance there is a pony riding school and a riding school for adults.
Very close is the Prehistoric cave of Aze, where some 400 000 years ago the cavemen were inhabiting an amazing network of caverns with its own flowing underground river.
You can opt for visiting some of the Festivals at Beaune: classical music and wine festival; or visit chateaux, fortified castles, Romanesque churches.

How to get there

Luxury 12th Century Priory What's nearby: Attractions Restaurants Click map icons for more information

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Our home is located between the wine capital Beaune and and the food capital Lyon in Southern Burgundy, and is close to the city of Macon.
You can fly to Paris, Lyon or to Geneva (Switzerland) airports and then use bullet train or directly rent a car.

1. From Paris it takes 2 hours by train to Lyon and then 1 hour by car to the house. If you prefer to drive from Paris to the house it takes about 4.5 hours.

a) Paris Train + car
From Paris, Charles de Gaulle Airport, Terminal 2
There is a direct connection from Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris to the city of Lyon, Gare Part Dieu. The high speed train leaves from Terminal 2 inside the airport and takes 2 hours to reach Lyon. There is a train approximately every hour. You can purchase tickets at the TGV ticketing website (http://www.raileurope.com/us/rail/point_to_point/triprequest.htm?).
At Lyon airport you can rent a car and drive to the house for around an hour.

2. From Lyon airport. You can check the low cost Easyjet for good connections within Europe.
Rent a car at the airport and it takes an hour to get to the house.

3. From Geneva it takes about 2 hours by car and there are no delays nor formalities in crossing the frontier.
If you prefer to cross by train, the high speed train leaves from Geneva airport and takes 1.45 min to reach Lyon, Gare Part Dieu. There is a direct train 3 times per day and several connected trips. The direct trip takes 1.45 to reach Lyon and the connection trip takes about 2 hours. You can purchase tickets at the TGV ticketing website.(http://www.raileurope.com/us/rail/point_to_point/triprequest.htm?).
From Lyon you can rent a car and drive for an hour to the house.

Activities near Saint Gengoux-de-Scisse

Reviews

Review: 1 to 3 of 19

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19 Sep 2012

“A lovely, atmospheric property equiped with the finest of everything” Loved the property,it's position and facilities. Equipped with the finest of everything. Owner was very helpful.

17 Aug 2012

“Imagine a house with a soul...” Imagine a house with a soul… Imagine an ancient house with high ceilings and old bars, meticulously renovated and stuffed with beautiful antiques and pieces of ethnic art of around the world, lots of space and cozy corners, huge chimneys, a real concert hall, unbelievable high-end music installations, music all over the place, a house surrounded with vineyards, far from the crowd… I didn't know that this exists, until we found la tour de Bassy. We spent a week with our family, 4 couples and 5 young children. It became an unforgettable week. If there have been some minor (practical) points, like in every old house, we will certainly not remember them. In fact, we have already forgotten them. But we will never forget the wonderful evenings on the covered terrace, the delightful BBQ's or lunches and afternoon tea in the shaded secret garden. And the owner? Well, he is a very nice polyglot man, who gave us the really good addresses of this splendid region of southern Burgundy: wineries, restaurants, food shops. We liked his sense of humour. But he must be a bit crazy to let a house like this. Luckily for us!

08 Aug 2012

“Character Haven for Wine and Food Lovers” This is a fantastic character filled property with wonderfully expansive living areas where large groups can get together, or alternatively find a quiet corner for yourself to read a book. Mel is a great host and provided many fantastic tips for places to go, people to meet and wines to drink! We particularly enjoyed the macarons from a recommended bakery and the milk machine that goes Moo! If you are a Chardonnay fan then you are right in the middle of some amazing cellar doors and 'Caves' selling excellent value quality wines.

Review: 1 to 3 of 19

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Review: 4 to 6 of 19

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04 Jul 2012

“Better than ever expected!” Come ready to relax and enjoy yourself! Well placed to explore the vineyards and dining sites of Burgundy, pleasant walks, interesting historical and prehistoric sites within easy reach, yet in a quiet country setting. The hosts were marvelous with a multitude of excellent suggestions and ideas to complement our wishes and interests.

25 Jun 2012

“Nothing beats this in Southern Burgundy” My wife and I spent a week with Mel and Elena Thompson at their historic chateau La Tour des Bassy. Grand mixture of the old and new. One becomes immediately a friend, not a client. He has cultivated friendly relationships with wine growers, sellers, chefs, and restaurant owners for some ten years. His kitchen is modern and lined with as many cookbooks as the eye can see. If you are a music lover, as am I, you will love one of the best private collections I have ever seen (CDs/DVDs). Our 33rd anniversary was the best. Spent in Beaune with a 2000 magnum of Savigny Les Beaunes for lunch and a 2003 Magnum of Volnay by the same wine maker. The beautiful weather throughout did not hurt. There was beauty in every way: landscape (both at Priory and the countryside), taste, and warm relationships. I would have added a star if possible. Such escapes are rare in our cynical modern world.

21 May 2012

“Impressive !” A spectacular historic house , with huge living space , even if with relatively small bedrooms. Well placed between beautiful vinyeards and excellent restaurants. Remarkably equipped in terms of furniture, audio equipment as well as kitchen dishes, utensils, even cooking books - great quantity and quality , you will have anything you may need. Beware of low temperature downstairs out of the season , you will be fine if you use the wonderful fireplace or simply spend time in other very welcoming areas. Extremely hospitable and available owner, use his knowledge of the area.

Review: 4 to 6 of 19

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Review: 7 to 9 of 19

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07 Dec 2011

“Wonderful holiday in stunning home” We came from Australia to celebrate a wedding of French friends. We enjoyed visiting the beauties of Burgundy and coming home every night to the beautiful yet comfortable 12th century priory. Every detail was thought of, even down to the remarkable lighting which comes on as you walk through the rooms - very necessary as this home is LARGE. Our Host was very keen to make sure we had a lovely time and showed us the best local shopping, sites and even introduced us to warm French neighbors. Our young children especially enjoyed exploring every room of the house, and especially dancing for their parents and grandparents on the stage in the music room. Thank you for sharing this peace of paradise with us.

14 Nov 2011

“Perfect Home and Hosts for complete Enjoyment of Peace and Activities in all Four Seasons” We chose the wonderful and exciting La Tour de Bassy because it offers both an idyllic place to thoroughly relax, and the ideal home from which to explore the wonders of Burgundy. While here, we decided to return in all Four Seasons - Christmas, Spring break, Summer vacation, and Fall Harvest. We know first-hand the beauty and tranquility which this historic and warmly decorated home provides, as well as its great location from which to enjoy very active days and weeks - walking through the vineyards, riding bicycles, visiting pre-historic caves, buying our bread daily from six local bakeries, driving on small country roads to small restaurants. We are especially thankful to our gracious hosts who warmly welcomed us, and who took great care to introduce us personally to their local friends to recommend their carefully selected places to visit…including wine tasting inside local wine cellars, the owner for 43 years of a restaurant serving world class dishes from local ingredients, and the Best Wine Merchant in France - a dear friend of our hosts who opened his best bottles for us to taste between telling us about outstanding young wine producers. We have more to do at La Tour de Bassy, and are sad today to be packing our bags - but very very happy to be selecting which friends we will return in each of the coming Four Seasons.

10 Oct 2011

“Perfect for Romance and Relaxation between Paris and Provence” Our hosts warmly welcomed us in the front garden upon arrival, with their best wines, which we enjoyed very much after our leisurely drive from Paris and stop in Beaune. Stories and travel experiences were exchanged over a delicious home cooked dinner served with four different breads, two types of butter, five cheeses, and a single desert!! As our minds and hearts are full of exciting memories of our first stay at La Tour de Bassy, we have already planned to return this winter season in order to spend time in front of the upstairs open log fireplace with lazy days and long walks in the countryside. Dpending on our schedules we would also love to visit with our friends upon the arrival of springtime in order to refresh ourselves when the buds and flowers begin to show themselves to the blue sky of lovely Burgundy, and to visit special winemakers and restaurant owners well known to our hosts.

Review: 7 to 9 of 19

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Review: 10 to 12 of 19

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26 Sep 2011

“superb stay in every way” The estate is quite beautiful and the countryside around it fascinating and full of surprises. the owner recommended several great local restaurants that we tried and each was great and not the usual tourist place. He also guided us to local vineyards and sites that we never would have known about on our own. The "castle" is very luxurious and spacious and you have the sense you are in a movie. the kitchen was equipped for a gourmet but even amateurs like us had no problems. The only problem we had was that we couldn't stay longer.

18 Sep 2011

“Unforgettable Christmas” We were staying at La Tour with friends for a week during Christmas. It was amazing! The house is very charming with beautiful common areas. The spaces are really big but incredibly proportional. It... more

07 Sep 2011

“Heaven for a honeymoon” We chose this historical home for our honeymoon. We will always remember how that our host gave us introductions to friends and neighbors. We felt like vineyard owners. We used this enchanting and romantic home for our base to visit Burgundy. We had quiet diners together as newlyweds, with delicious cheese from the region and amazing wine, mountain bike in the vineyards. We also used the owner's car. We visited a lot of small villages. Our honeymoon in this gracious home will always be remembered forever, as it changed our lives!!!!

Review: 10 to 12 of 19

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Review: 13 to 15 of 19

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01 Sep 2011

“An Exceptional Visit” Each of my visits to La Tour de Bassy have been exceptional and I long to for another opportunity to visit again. I have stayed there on three occasions: twice with my family, including my two... more

14 Aug 2011

“Excellent property in historic setting for a visit to the Macon Region” I have stayed at the Tour Bassy a number of times over the past two years. The visits were memorable in a beautiful and historic house with magnificent rooms fully renovated but maintaining the historic tradition. Lovely grounds in a small rural town surrounded by vineyards and close to a host of ancient towns and villages with historic memories and excellent restaurants and tourist attractions. Mel and Elena are incomparable hosts. I had the good fortune to be there for a birthday celebration with friends and neighbours in the historic Music Room of the Tour Bassy – a truly memorable occasion. On another visit the Tour Bassy and its surrounding area was the perfect setting for a quiet period for thought and reflection.

12 Aug 2011

“Relaxation with food and wine for the soul...” Amazing! Our stay was really revitalizing. The lush greenery and the gourmet adventures empower the soul and body. Amazing!

Review: 13 to 15 of 19

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Review: 16 to 18 of 19

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08 Aug 2011

“An excellent place for a family to enjoy their vacation” We have stayed at La Tour de Bassy during our summer vacation each year for a week over the last 10 years. Besides enjoying touristic sites of La Bourgogne (Cluny, Tournus, Macon etc) La Tour offers excellent opportunities for kids (lots of space, big garden, ping pong, football ground nearby, horse riding, nice neighbourhood with animals etc). The house has a nice kitchen with attractive space for cooking. If you want to enjoy the view of the vineyards you may eat outside in the garden or at the porch. It is an excellent place to rest, even at night thanks to peaceful sleeping. The owners are very nice people and helpful to make you feel at home during your stay at La Tour.

05 Aug 2011

“Elegance” Mel & Elena met us at Macon Loche and whisked us away in a comfortable Lexus to see the surrounding wine country, especially the tiny, but superior, chardonnay vineyards. Lunch at Augerge du Cep was a 4-hour exercise in loss of inhibition and restraint over quail and pigeon, with elegant local wines. The chateau is large and roomy, and I was most comfortable in all respects, although I went to bed early owing to jet lag. Breakfast of fresh eggs, orange juice, wonderful bread, and cheeses with our hosts who know the geography, history, and local culture made our brief one-night stay an experience of a lifetime. How soon can we return for a longer visit? I'd go tomorrow!

05 Aug 2011

“A very charming villa, the picture of a French house.” It was great to have breakfast on one of the porches that are available. You can view the vineyards which are adjactent to the property. It is very quiet and peaceful. Away from the crowds but close to markets, and tourist sights. Easy to travel to and from. The house is very authentic of a french villa with a photo in the hall of how the house looked long ago. The current living/great room was originally the barn where the farm animals were housed. The kitchen is my ideal of a french kitchen.... I could visualize Julia Child doing her thing in the kitchen!! I would definitely go back again & again!

Review: 16 to 18 of 19

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Review: 19 to 19 of 19

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20 Nov 2012

“Un lieu somptueux où l'on se sent chez soi” Nous avons séjourné quatre jours (et nuits) à la Tour de Bassy. Nous étions 10 (4 couples et 2 célibataires) et chacun de nous a été enthousiasmé. Au point d'envisager d'y retourner... more

Review: 19 to 19 of 19

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Rental prices

Prices for group size 12
Period	From	To	Weekly	Nightly rate		Minimum  stay
				Weekday	Weekend
2011	27 Sep 11	22 Dec 11	1500£ 1500	-	-	Flexible
Christmas/ New Y 2011	22 Dec 11	9 Jan 12	2500£ 2500	-	-	Flexible
2012	13 Feb 12	31 Mar 12	1500£ 1500	-	-	Flexible
Easter 2012	31 Mar 12	14 Apr 12	2000£ 2000	-	-	1 Week
April - May 2012	14 Apr 12	29 Jun 12	1500£ 1500	-	-	Flexible
Summer 2012	29 Jun 12	30 Aug 12	3200£ 3200	-	-	1 Week
Christmas /New Year/Jan	10 Dec 12	13 Jan 13	2500£ 2500	-	-	1 Night
	13 Jan 13	1 Feb 13	2500£ 2500	-	-	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.

Payment by bank transfer 3 weeks in advance of the rental.

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

1 year listed You are contacting James Melroy Thompson Landline 33 385 332468 Mobile 33 671 886298 Skype melthompson123 Payment accepted Credit cards accepted Languages spoken The owner is based in France and has advertised with Holiday Lettings since 2011. This converted chapel has received 19 reviews from previous guests.

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