Long term lets (over 1 month) Short-breaks (4 days or fewer) Corporate bookings
Changeover day:
Sat
Access:
Car advised Nearest amenities: 2 km
Notes:
No pets allowed Suitable for children No smoking at this property Self-catering
Home description
Le Bucher is probably one of the most characterful gites here retaining its charm with original limestone walls and beams yet offering today's modern comforts. It is quite tranquil & perfect for couples or families alike. Immediately outside on the side of your terrace is the Millstream & very pleasant to while away an evening or two with your BBQ & wine in hand watching the fish & wildlife around you Mosquitoes are very rarely seen here due to an abundance of returning "Hirondelles" (swallows as we know them!) who consume their weight daily in Mosquitoes we were told by the previous owner so no worries here plus they are fun to watch skimming over the river at dusk!
Offering 5 gites in total, Le Moulin du Champ is an 18th. century house and watermill, set in peaceful countryside yet only 30 mins from the beaches at La Rochelle . This four acre site contains a 10m x 5m swimming pool (fenced) and safe children's play area with large sandpit. Set within attractive gardens with shady trees and small woodland leading to the river. Perfect for fishing, birdwatching, cycling & walking too.
View of LE BUCHER from the River Bruant
Swimming pool in sunny West gardens
Idyllic setting of the Moulin and gites in Charentes countryside
To see more photos please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/18265
The Poitou-Charentes / Vendee / Charente Maritime region
The Charente Maritime, the region in which we are situated, is the 2nd sunniest in all of France, after the South and we know as we have lived here for over 11 years! The Summers are long and hot but there is plenty of shade if required in our gardens with lots of trees and parasols outside each gite. From May & June you will find the evenings stay quite light until at least 10 pm so perfect for dining outside, especially after the little ones are tucked up and you can sip your wine peacefully over candlelight & watch the sun going down!
The region is full of Roman history and our nearest Roman town is Saintes, on the River Charente and less than 20 mins away. This is an interesting and lively town, popular with locals and holidaymakers alike, as there is so much on offer - from the wide choice of restaurants offering traditional French cuisine, Creperies, Italian, Indian, Chinese/Asian and even a Moroccan one too, you will be spoilt for choice. For those of you with families there are a number of "pedestrian only" roads in the centre and many restaurants offering terraces with outside dining. With theRiver Charente running through the centre of the town there is opportunities to hire electric boats as well as enjoy one of the pleasure boats linking Saintes to Cognac or to the excellent Restaurant at Chanier "Le Moulin du Baine" - not to be missed! Its greatest asset & well worth a detour is its Roman Amphitheatre - still in a fine state of preservation and in August several musical & cultural events are held in the Arena for the general public's pleasure - but far more pleasurable than was its original entertainment of course!! An excellent town for shopping too with large hyper markets and many interesting boutiques in the centre.
We have an abundance of small villages close by most offering a weekly Market - Saintes itself has an excellent daily Market with a Fish market too and a big Foire on the 1st Monday of each month.
Bordeaux and the wine region can be reached in just over 1.30 hours and St Emilion makes for a super day out Of course the Charente Maritime also produces its own local wines both Red, White and Rose and there are many local producers where you can stop and visit where they will be delighted to show you around plus you can do a little sampling too (for the non-drivers in your party of course!) Pineau de Charente, is the locally produced Aperitif and is delicious served chilled or in Fresh Charentais Melon - the French also use it in their sauces too! It is not available outside of France yet so worth buying in a few bottles - we have a cellar full should you forget to buy some or wish to stock up!!
For the beachlovers amongst you our nearest beach is at Fouras - a charming, former bathing town in the 20's which has not become too touristic and has maintained some of its original charm along with many of the old seaside houses - now much in demand with prices to match alas!!
Saintes / Romegoux area
Le Moulin du Champ is mid-placed (18mins) between the Cathedral City of Saintes and the ancient Naval – now Pleasure – Port of Rochefort. We sit in a small valley between 2 small villages of Geay and Romegoux. Romegoux itself is purely residential and has a Romanesque Church, a Primary school, Library and Town Hall plus, of course, a Boule area! Geay, has a small Post Office open 3 times a week and an "Epicerie/Bar" a little like a village shop but which is in a bit of a time warp actually! You have to go there to see what we mean though! Just 4kms away on the Route Nationale 137 is the small town of Beurlay which has a Baker, a small Co-Op (selling almost everything!) a friendly Post Office, a Hairdresser, Town Hall and an Electricians, Kitchen shop & so on - just on the outskirs is a "Truckers' Restaurant" - the well-known Routier Restaurant where you can be served an excellent value 4 course lunch plus the obligatory bottle of red wine for about Euros 11 with a help yourself buffet to start with! You can't find value like that anymore in the U.K. anymore can you?
The local area is ideal for walkers, cyclists and birdwatchers as having the River Bruant in our grounds plus the mightier River Charente only 5 mins away attracts lots of water birds including Kingfishers (we have a regular pair in our garden!), Herons, Storks and various birds of prey - some of which could easily be mistaken for Eagles! Good walking too along the local canals only a few minutes from our home offering some delightful fishing spots as well as for pic-nics! Do bring your binoculars and cameras as well as fishing rods although the latter we have a few at hand should you forget!
St. Porchaire, a local Market town is just 7kms, and offers a Post Office, Bank (with cash machine), Ecomarche, Chemists, doctors, dentists, Newsagent (selling at least 5 different British papers!), Co-Op, Bars and an excellent restaurant for that "special" meal (preferably without the kids if they are younger as they really will not appreciate the superb cuisine!) - don't worry we can offer baby-sitting (depending on demand).
We are in an ideal cycling and walking location so do bring your bikes or bikes can be hired locally at St. Savinien, just 9kms from our home
How to get there
By Air *You can fly into La Rochelle Airport, only 30 mins away with daily flights with Ryanair (see www.ryanair.co.uk) from Stanstead or Flybee from Southampton & Birmingham (daily flights) Collect an hire car at the Airport. *Bordeaux Airport is just over 100 kms and from there you can get onto the A.10 motorway Bordeaux To Saintes and then only 20 mins on the RN 137! By Car and Train *From Paris it is about 5 hours drive or you can take the TGV (France's fastest train) which goes via Poitiers and get off at La Rochelle. *The A.10 has exits at both St Jean d'Angeley (just 23kms from us) and Saintes (about 22kms) and then an easy 20 mins drive onto to us - we are happy to provide you with precise directions . By Ferry *St. Malo is our closest port in less than 4 hours, then Cherbourg 5 hrs. Roscoff and then Calais about 8+ hours in peak Summer.
Nearest Travel Links
Airport:
La Rochelle: 32 km
Railway:
St. Savinien or St Jean d'Angeley: 9 km
Ferry:
St. Malo: 395 km
Activities near Saintes
Sports: Tennis in town Horse Riding Golf within 30 mins drive Fishing
Great for: Walking holidays Rural / countryside retreats Cycling holidays
Sofabeds (1), Single beds (2), Double beds (1), Cots (1), Dining seating for 4, Lounge seating for 5, Sleeps maximum of 4
Other:
Please check with the advertiser regarding linen and towels. Highchair available.
Outdoors:
Balcony / Terrace, Shared outdoor pool (unheated), Shared garden, BBQ
Access:
Secure parking
Further details indoors: The former Mill was an important flour Mill in days gone by and dates back to early 18th century - in fact "Le Bucher" used to be the wood storage barn & there are some old writings on one of the walls in the kitchen still! It was converted in early 2004 and has been regularly occupied by people (not wood!) since. Being a 2 bedroom this is the smaller of the 3 gites in the former Mill but if wishing to bring family or friends why not rent the 3 and 4 bedroom i the Mill too!
On 2 floors the ground floor is split on 2 levels and opens into the lounge area with a corner sofa suite & coffee table & looks down through glazed double doors onto the terrace and river beyond. Up a couple of steps to the kitchen/diner with large window (you can actually fish from this window and fish have been known to be caught here - honestly!) Near the window is the oval Oak dining table & matching chairs and the fitted Oak kitchen to the right with a fridge/freezer, electric eye-level oven & gas hob & extractor, as well as microwave & coffee machine etc. An interesting & historical centre piece in the kitchen is the large rustic wood "thresher" which was found in the property before it was converted & was used to sift the grains - we decided to bring it back to life & varnished it and installed lights and glass panels so it is now a characterful kitchen wortop as well as serving as a useful divider from the lounge! Of course there is a radio/CD player for your enjoyment - so do bring your own although we have a selection too! This property is ideal for low season lets especially if house-hunting in this charming region.
Further details outdoors: Facing both North & West is the decked wooden terrace just outside the lounge overlooking the river - please note it is railed but is not child-proof so if you have very adventurous tots you might be better with "DElice du Berger" also 2 bedrooms and without stairs too!
The grounds comprise a large walled garden �clos� with lawns, shrubs, rose garden & fruit trees including Plums, Apples, Fig & Cherry, plus an enclosed private in-ground Swimming Pool, children's rustic playground and sandpit, all fenced off from our shady waterside woodland of Plane trees and little private island�..wild-life, freshwater shrimps and fish abound, including Carp, Trout & even a Pike has been spotted! Bring your rods although we have a few available for use.
Further details
The fenced swimming pool (10m x 5m) unheated is normally open from May to the end of September.
Obligatory end of stay cleaning of gite Euros 45. Payable on arrival in cash please.
This gite is available for longer, out of season lets at very preferrential "monthly" rates so please enquire asap as demands starts early! Min. 2 months. Please enquire now!
Conditions
FACILITIES AVAILABLE Bedlinen hire (not towels) 10 Euros per person per week
COT and/or hgh chair available for hire Eu 15 per item. Please prebook Babysitting possible subject to demand
Rental rates
Rental prices originally quoted in: British £
Convert to:
Period
From
To
Weekly
Nightly rate
Minimum stay
Weekday
Weekend
18 Apr 09
23 May 09
355£355
0-
0-
1 Week
23 May 09
27 Jun 09
425£425
0-
0-
1 Week
27 Jun 09
11 Jul 09
625£625
0-
0-
1 Week
11 Jul 09
29 Aug 09
795£795
0-
0-
1 Week
29 Aug 09
26 Sep 09
425£425
0-
0-
1 Week
26 Sep 09
31 Oct 09
355£355
0-
0-
1 Week
31 Oct 09
19 Dec 09
295£295
0-
0-
1 Week
61
NB: Prices may be subject to change at the advertiser's discretion.
Last minute!
All 2 week bookings for 2010 confirmed by 30 November will include hire of bedlinen (no extra charge)
May & June - Couples only? 10% discount for all 2 week bookings (excluding Whitsun week)
*SPECIAL MONTHLY RATES (Min. 2 months) in low season, ideal for Househunters from Euros 700 monthly inc. water & electrics. Please enquire as now booking for 2009/10!
Guestbook for La Bucher
Very relaxed and peaceful - absolutely great for kids and adults alike!: Boating, fishing, pool, birdwatching . . . In house food was greater - wine even better!!! Mr. & Mrs. S. Clake & Ethan & Render family, Buckden, Cambrs. UK (Aug 05)
A week just hasn't been long enough to make the most of this fabulous part of France! We feel we have only just begun to discover the delights on offer. La Praire has been perfect wih a wonderful view & the boys would have been content to live in the pool & sandpit & playing with their new found friends. Dereck, Julie & family have created a wonderful, tranquil haven through all their hard work & vision. Tremendous hospitality - thanks! The Grimwood family, Bucks, UK (Aug 05)
Truly experienced the ambiance of the Charente Maritime - unforgettable! Add to this the pleasure of staying in this gite at Le Moulin du Champ with hosts Dereck & Julie & the result is a wonderful, full and memorable family holiday. Thank you! Neil, Ewan, Tricia & Callum Reid, Alberta & Ontario, Canada (July 05)
Availability
See below for next 9 months' availability - to see the next 24 months click here
Key:
11
12
Booked
11
12
Available
11
12
Unknown
11
12
Arrival/Departure dates
Send Enquiry
To contact this advertiser please visit: http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/18265
Contact details for the advertiser of home 18265
Name:
Julie Carter
Tel:
+33 (0)5 46 90 67 71
Be aware of time-zones Please mention Holiday Lettings when contacting this advertiser
Print this page
Email to friend
Be aware of time-zones
