St Igny de Vers holiday farmhouse rental, St Bonnet des Bruyers with walking, log fire, rural retreat

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Villemartin (farmhouse)

Home description

Villemartin, a picturesque hamlet in the mountains of Haut Beaujolais, is 2000ft up Mont St Rigaud.
Explore Cluny, La Clayette (M. Dufoux's chocolates, Chateau Dree). Swim in the lake at St Point and visit village markets, restaurants, chateaux, vineyards and churches in the area.

There are many activities for children: ponies, apiaries, watercolour painting, available and excellent swimming facilities for all ages at Matour. Peaceful, quiet, an area of exceptional beauty, wonderful walks.

The property from the road	A view from the village
Bedroom with double bed that can become two single beds	The salle de sejour has a woodburning stove and grand piano

To see more photos please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/79881

The Rhone / French Alps / Rhone region

The house is in the mountains above the Beaujolais vineyards, very close to the southernmost Burgundy, Maconais and Charolais vineyards. Every where you walk or drive there are Spectacular views over green fields, goats, charollais cattle and little streams meandering and tumbling through them.. Gentle mountains are covered in deciduous trees and higher up, forests of Douglas firs have wild boar and chevroy (small wild deer) in them.

Swallows, housemartins, owls and long eared bats take their turns above the house and every valley seems to have its buzzards hovering overhead The sound of water is never far away. Lichens cover the wooden gates and fences. The clean air is amazing. In spring time the fields and road sides are covered in wild flowers, in the summer we love to look for glow worms as the night falls and the autumn colours are a blaze of reds oranges and vermillion. In winter the hoare frosts turn every tree and blade of grass to glass, the little stream is frozen and dead leaves crunch under foot......It is a charmed landscape.

Winter is very cold at night but days can be sparkling, the sun becomes quite warm and you can look down on the freezing fog in the valley. The weather is very changeable...sometimes it snows at Easter, but I have eaten outside at the end of February for a friends sunny birthday. Usually it is very hot for four or five weeks in July and August. In August there are short but very spectacular, localized thunderstorms that can wreak havoc in the vineyards with their hail. Often it can be raining in one valley and you go ten minutes to the next one where the sun is shining in a blue sky.

St Igny de Vers / St Bonnet des Bruyers area

Cluny is a small, picturesque town. It is charming to walk about and explore the old houses, small shops, visit the remains of the famous Abbey and eat and buy some delicious food.

Mâcon is the largest local town. There is a good selection of shops and restaurants as well as a large church. It very dramatic views over the river Saône.

Azé and Blanot are west of Cluny, they have spectacular caves that are being excavated. There is a long history of human occupation, a museum and guided tours are available..

Beaujeu , the heart of the beaujolais, is an attractive little town, a perfect place to start exploring the vineyards. The region is very beautiful, there are innumerable vineyards with caves (cellars) where you can taste and purchase wine.

Fleury, one of the highest vineyards,is blessed by a small chapel at its highest point, it also has a restaurant
'Le Cep' considered by the New York Times as 'one of the best restaurants in the world'

Mont St Rigaud is the tallest mountain in the area. As you drive over the pass to Monsols there is a road to the right. This leads to a car park from where there is a steep but short walk to the summit. An observation tower has been built, giving a panoramic view of the landscape.

Col de Crie, (take the road south from Monsols) is a small tourist centre for the area. It has a selection of local produce as well as maps for local walks and advertising the numerous celebrations that are held in each village throughout the summer. It is open Wednesday to Sunday from March to October.

Avenas is a little village on the edge of the mountains with a remarkable small church. It has an excellent accoustic and occasionally there are chamber concerts there. Near Avenas is La Terrasse, a restaurant from where there are stunning views over the vineyards and the Saône valley to the Alps rising up in the distance. On a clear day you can see Mont Blanc.

La Clayette is a small town with a large lake and a château. Situated at one end of the lake is an area with outdoor activities, including a pool, crazy golf and boats. A highlight here is the shop of M. Dufoux one of the top chocolate makers in France. His shop is a pleasure to visit, not only because of his wonderful creations but because he is such an enthusiast about his art. It is possible to attend tasting sessions or a chocolate making course.

Beautiful Chateau Dree and its gardens are just outside La Clayette as is the famous 'Laine Plassard' where wools are spun for the couturiers. They can be bought. at the factory

Possible day trips include Charolles, Lyon, Genève and Mont Blanc. .

Excellent facilities for swimming are available at Matour (12 minutes away) and La Clayette (20 minutes) and in the lake at St Point. (30 minutes) It should be noted that to enter a swimming pool men have to wear Speedo style trunks rather than any form of shorts.

Other activities in the area include walking, riding, water colour painting and visiting apiaries. Cycling is also very popular (although hard work).

How to get there

Good motorway links from Calais, Paris & Geneva

Fly to St Exupéry - Lyon
TGV to Macon Loche

Car hire available at both.

Activities near St Igny de Vers

Facilities

Further details indoors:
Fully equipped large kitchen with a table that sits 14
A large sitting room with wood burning stove, sofas and a grand piano
Two twin rooms and two doubles.
Extra singles or a cot can be put in the doubles on request

Further details outdoors:
Garden table and chairs available. Garden with scented roses, peonies, lavender, small trees.
Inflatable paddling pool. Portable barbecue.

Further details

Garden is shared with the owner of the house when they are staying in the attached barn.

Conditions

Available April - October and Christmas

Rental rates

Period	From	To	Weekly	Nightly rate		Minimum  stay
				Weekday	Weekend
Minimum Tarif	4 Apr 09	31 May 09	400£ 400	6565	6565	3 Nights
Mid period	31 May 09	19 Jul 09	550£ 550	8080	8080	3 Nights
High season	19 Jul 09	23 Aug 09	700£ 700	100100	110110	3 Nights
Mid perioid	23 Aug 09	20 Sep 09	550£ 550	8080	8080	3 Nights
Minimum Tariff	20 Sep 09	3 Nov 09	400£ 400	6565	6565	3 Nights
minimum tariif	10 Apr 10	30 May 10	500£ 500	8080	8080	3 Nights
Mid Period	30 May 10	11 Jul 10	700£ 700	100100	100100	3 Nights
High Season	11 Jul 10	12 Sep 10	800£ 800	115115	115115	3 Nights
Mid Period	12 Sep 10	26 Sep 10	700£ 700	100100	100100	3 Nights
Minimum Tarrif	26 Sep 10	7 Nov 10	500£ 500	8080	8080	3 Nights

The property's weekend rates apply to: Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights

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

The above is the minimum rate. Please contact us as this will vary depending on the time of year

Availability

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

Send Enquiry

To contact this advertiser please visit: http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/79881

Contact details for the advertiser of home 79881
Name:	Faith Whiteley
Tel:	+44 (0)1227 721463
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Advertiser joined: Jan 2009