Chez Meunier (PC002710) - 3 Bedroom - House - Barbezieux-Saint-Hilaire
(9km) Barbezieux-Saint-Hilaire - Charente - Poitou Charentes
PROPERTY SUMMARY
Secluded Millers House with Private Pool
Property Location
| Reference: | PC002710 |
|---|---|
| Brochure: | Page 41 |
| Location: |
(9km) Barbezieux-Saint-Hilaire - Charente - Poitou Charentes View location map Plan your route to this property |
| Area: | Rural |
Amenities
- Child Facilities
- Cleaning
- Cycling
-
Golf
NearbyName and address of nearest golf course: Golf de l'Hirondelle, Angouleme
Distance: 40 km -
Horse riding/Trekking
On-site or NearbyName and address of nearest stables: Angouleme
Distance: 30 km
- Internet Access
- Linen
- Meals
- No Smoking
- Private Pool
-
Walking
Name/number of nearest marked trail: Le Chappelle des Templiers
-
Watersports
Nearby -
Wine Tasting
Name and address of nearest wine producer: Le Maine Giraud
Distance: 15 km
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Special rates with Brittany Ferries. Routes direct into Brittany and Normandy plus Bilbao and Santander, Northern Spain
About The Property
| Property | Type | Bedrooms | Sleeps | Arrival | Bathrooms | Availability | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chez Meunier |
1 dble + 1 single sofabed
|
Self Catering | 3 | 9 | Sat | 2 | Check availability |
Dating from the 11th century, La Commanderie des Templiers is a beautiful stone mill resting on the banks of the River Ne, surrounded by forest and the local vineyards. As the name suggests, the original building housed the command post of the Knights Templar during the Crusades. Chez Meunier, our gite accommodation, was the millers home and is a deceptively spacious house. With 3 double bedrooms, a big airy sitting room and a huge kitchen/diner with the largest oak table you have ever seen, there is plenty of space for 6-9 adults.
Outside the setting is tranquil woodland, with just the birds, red squirrels and deer for company, because the surrounding area is protected, the wild flowers and animals flourish here. The local countryside is ideal for walking and cycling, the roads are quiet and the gentle rolling hills and valleys of this part of the Charente are very welcoming. Its just 4km from the house to Blanzac where you can enjoy a coffee or lunch at one of the typical French bars, or just sit and watch village life and the local men playing boules next to the church.
If you long for the sea, the west coast and the huge beaches of Royan are just 40 minutes drive away. In the opposite direction and only 30 minutes drive away is Angouleme, the capital of Poitou-Charentes and the most beautiful city, famous for its connections to the cartoon industry and with an artwork on every corner.
If you just want to relax and soak up the sun, there can be no better place than the private pool right outside your door. Surrounded by trees and a backdrop of birdsong, it is a suntrap all day long. We fell in love with this region, its friendly people and slow, stress free pace of life. We think we have found a bit of paradise here and we are confident our guests will feel that too.
2010 TESTIMONIALS
2010 is our first year and we did not take bookings until July, so we realised that to receive a couple of congratulatory messages would be a bonus. To receive the praise and encouragement we have had from all our guests is a triumph indeed and we cannot thank them enough for being so appreciative.
Proud to say we were the first visitors to Chez Meunier! Harry and Steve gave us such a warm welcome we felt at home straight away. Our 2 weeks have flown by and we wish we had longer. All our family have enjoyed the house and pool and can honestly say Chez Meunier is the best place we have stayed in for a long time!
Family McNulty, Barnet, England. July 2010
Sadly only one week in this beautiful house! Can't remember being more comfortable in a holiday home- in fact we'd like to take the bed home with us! The pool is great and although it's very peaceful, the house is in a great location for nipping back on the D5/N10 or meandering around the minor roads. We loved it, thank you Steve and Harry- what a great job. Wishing you every success. JB
Thanks Steve and Harry for a wonderful holiday, we shall certainly recommend you to our friends, Good Luck. PB
The Boltons, Esher, Surrey. Aug 2010
We've had a fabulous week in this beautiful house- completely luxurious! The peace and the wildlife are quite something and we're going home with more pictures of lizards than people on the camera!
We will definitely be back. Thank you so much Harry and Steve, it's been a pleasure to get to know you.
The Walker Family, Blackheath, London. Aug 2010
What a great holiday. We had everything we needed at the house, so didn't venture out too far for things to do. A big thank you to Steve and Harry for a great holiday home! and for all the advice regarding restaurants etc. Wishing you a very happy and successful life in France.
Mr and Mrs Phipps and family. Aug 2010
Harry and Steve, thank you so much for being great hosts and for providing everything we needed to enjoy a fantastic holiday! We have had a wonderfully relaxing week in your fabulous house and the children have loved the pool. We wish you lots of luck and success here in France, many, many thanks! Our very best wishes.
The Family Smith. Wokingham, Berks. Aug 2010
Facilities
| Property Type: | Houses |
|---|---|
| Nearest market: | Barbezieux 9km |
| Nearest restaurant: | Le Diapason 4km |
| Kitchen: | Huge oak table to seat 12 comfortably. Electric oven with 4 burner gas hob. Microwave, washing machine and dishwasher. Full crockery and cutlery. All kitchen utensils. Toaster, coffee-grinder and coffee-maker. Mugs, teapot and storage jars. Fridge-freezer, water filter. |
| Living area: | Very large sunny living room with 3 piece suite containing double bed-settee, plus a very comfortable single bed-settee and 2 more armchairs. Ample seating for 10, plus sideboard and bookshelves containing games, books and films. Tv with satellite connection, dvd, |
| Bedrooms: | Master bedroom, with super king sleigh bed under a magnificent vaulted ceiling showing the ancient oak beams. The views from here are east over the mill stream and Le Ne and into the rising sun. With a double wardrobe and chest of drawers in this room, there is plenty of space for all your luggage including your cases. The en suite wetroom is fully tiled and has a 'cloud-burst' shower head for a really exhilarating shower. At the opposite end of the hall are 2 further bedrooms, a double and a twin. Both have views over the forest and both ample storage for all your bits and pieces. |
| Bathrooms: | The family bathroom is opposite the 2 double bedrooms. This bathroom is fully tiled in the style of the en suite and has all the same high quality fixtures and fittings, except it has a full sized bath with shower over, should anyone need a soak after a hard day sightseeing! |
| Entertainment on-site: | There are tv, films, books and games provided for indoor entertainment but the outdoors is where you will want to be. |
| Garden and outside: | The barbecue is just to the side of the 10 x 5 metre pool on a beautiful terracotta patio and a large awning is provided over the dining table for some shade. We have a childs slide on the grass and a table tennis table for some fun. There are numerous inflatables for the pool and 6 sunbeds with cushions for soaking up the rays. The pool is fenced to French security certificate standards for the safety of children. The mill stream is not directly accessible from the gite. Pool/beach towels are provided. |
| Parking and garaging: | We are situated on our own private lane so parking is not an issue. We can offer secure parking for motorbikes in our courtyard, but we do not have garage facilities. |
| Suitability: | We do have steps to the bathrooms so wheelchair access is not ideal. The countryside and situation is ideal for friends or families wanting to have some peace and relaxation with the option to visit lots of interesting places. The city of Angouleme is stunning and only 30 minutes drive away and the huge beaches of Royan are about 40 minutes in the opposite direction. |
| General: | The local area is protected so is ideal for animal lovers and birdwatching. Fishing is possible on the local rivers with a pass from the Marie. The area is surrounded by vines and a trip to a local producer or indeed into Cognac itself is a great way to spend an afternoon. |
| Heating: | The property has recently had a new roof which is fully insulated and so it stays cool in the hot months and comfortable in the cooler evenings of spring and autumn. Mobile heaters can be provided in the unlikely event that the rooms upstairs feel chilly. |
Chez Meunier - Sleeps: 9, Bedrooms: 3
| Start Date | End Date | Price |
| 31 Mar 2012 | 13 Apr 2012 | £750.00 |
| 14 Apr 2012 | 25 May 2012 | £500.00 |
| 26 May 2012 | 29 Jun 2012 | £750.00 |
| 30 Jun 2012 | 07 Sep 2012 | £1,350.00 |
| 08 Sep 2012 | 14 Sep 2012 | £750.00 |
| 15 Sep 2012 | 12 Oct 2012 | £500.00 |
Enquire and Book
To book this property use the contact details below quoting Holiday France Direct ref: PC002710.
| Contact: | Mrs Stephanie Hope |
|---|---|
| Postal Address: | La Commanderie Pereuil France 16250 |
| Telephone: | (00 33) 5 45 91 57 50 |
| Email: | Email the Owner » |
| Owner's website: | www.chezmeunier.iowners.net |
| Shortlist: | Click here to add this property to your shortlist |
What to See and Do
Owners Recommendations
'For the more adventurous, there are a number of activities available:'
"Golf enthusiasts can play the championship course at Cognac, beautifully designed around a Chateau and its vineyard. There is also an 18 hole course in Angouleme and a pleasant 9 hole course at nearby Pillac. The Charente river offers numerous opportunities to hire canoes and kayaks, for an hour or for a day. Aubeterre sur Dronne, with its underground cathedral and voted one of the most beautiful villages in France has a range of options and is 25 minutes away. For the ramblers and cyclists, the quiet lanes and rolling hills provide a perfect setting. There are waymarked paths and bridleways, or you can explore the valleys of the Ne and the Boeme yourselves with local maps.
Other activities and experiences which are available include:
In Angouleme, the annual Cartoon Strip Festival ( Bande Desinee ) in February and the Rampart Rally ( vintage cars from all over Europe racing round the city streets ) in September
In Cognac, the annual Blues and Jazz Festival in the summer, which attracts internationally renowned artists every year
In Barbezieux, the Music Week, where local and regional musicians play a variety of styles in the bars and around the streets. There are also organised live concerts and exhibitions throughout the summer.
Throughout the region, almost every village offers weekly markets, fares and occasional exhibitions. "
'The Area'
"The local countryside presents a mosaic of colour, with sunflowers, maize and wheat and the occasional family group of Limousin cattle grazing happily in the fields, but the area is best known for its vineyards, supplying grapes for Cognac and our own local delicacy Pineau. The Charente region has many attractive towns and villages and a sightseeing holiday could include:
The town of Cognac and a visit to one of its world famous Brandy Houses – Hennessey, Courvoisier – watch the process and sample the product!
Angouleme, with its beautiful Cathedral in the heart of the Old City, where a wander through the maze of narrow streets offers a delightful range of pavement bars and gourmet restaurants to suit every taste and pocket.
The famous and fascinating Chapelle des Templiers at Cressac – just a healthy bike ride away from the house. Soak up the aura of its frescoes before pedalling on to Blanzac for a coffee.
The pretty town of Jarnac, which straddles the lovely Charente. Here you can enjoy a boat trip on the river, looking out for kingfishers and coypus along its banks.
The city of Bordeaux is less than an hour away and a visit to the vineyards of St Emillion and the Medoc region is a great way to spend the day.
"