Beautiful 100m2 cottage set in 5 acres of meadow with only the owners on site. Wonderful location with great views over the surrounding countryside for this holiday home which has one enormous bedroom and is ideal for a couple. It is also ideal for autumn, winter and early spring holidays as it has double glazing, warm air central heating and a wood burning stove that is not only economical but keeps the whole house warm and cosy. For those long hot summers the heating is reversible to provide air conditioning throughout the cottage.
We have converted this gite from part of a barn, retaining all the original features and as far as possible using traditional materials. It is set in 2 hectares (5 acres) of meadow with only the owners on the same site. The owners' house is on the opposite side of the large courtyard making the gite very secluded and private. Access is from a lane leading off a quiet road and you can walk for miles without having to do more than cross a metaled road.
The accommodation comprises a large open plan living room of 50m2 with a corner kitchen and fireplace. The kitchen is fitted with a microwave, dishwasher, washing machine, refrigerator with freezer section, plenty of cupboard space and of course, oven and gas hobs with extractor fan. Upstairs there is one enormous bedroom of 50m2 with large windows and a balconette. The bathroom and toilet is ensuite. There are beams everywhere but plenty of headroom even for tall people. Outside there is a private terrace with a barbecue. The terrace faces west and gets the sun all afternoon and evening and provides superb views of the sunsets. There are also lots of other areas you can sit, which catch the full sun in the morning, so you can have your breakfast al fresco. If it too hot to sit in the sun there are plenty of shaded areas as well.
There is a large pond well stocked with local carp, frogs, newts and other wild life. There is also a large area of grass for playing games. You can amuse yourselves with boules (pétanque) in the gravelled courtyard or even in the covered area if you should be unlucky enough to get some rain during your stay. 2 adult size all terrain bicycles are provided free of charge, a jogging track, golf practice range (bring your own balls and clubs), badminton and table tennis.
The area & activities available
The surrounding countryside is typical Bourbonais bocage – small meadows with hedgerows, woodland and forest with rivers and lakes. Wonderful for walking, cycling, riding, fishing, and canoeing – yes we can arrange canoeing trips on the Allier River for a charge of 25€ for one canoe (2 people). We drop you with the canoes in Le Veurdre on the banks of the River Allier and you drift down stream to Apremont, one of the most beautiful villages in France about 20kms away. You can be energetic or you can simply drift downstream with current. On the way you can picnic on one of the numerous islands and then have tea in the beautiful garden of the chateau in Apremont while waiting for us to pick you up with the canoes. There are several large lakes with sandy beaches in the area for swimming, sailing and windsurfing. These include the well-known nautical centre of the Etang de Goule.
There are two 18 hole golf courses within 30 and 45 minutes and the stunning courses of Les Volcans, Les Dryads and Sancerre (also famous for its wine) are only 1 hour 30 minutes away. Tennis courts are available in several local villages and there are numerous other activities both sporting and cultural in the area. Every village has a 'brocante' or 'vide grenier' at some time during the spring and summer. These comprise lots of stalls selling anything from antique furniture, old books, old tools, food and wine to absolute junk. There are also two local medieval festivals, one in the moated chateau of Bannagon, the other, which lasts a whole week in the small medieval town of Souvigny. There are also many musical and theatrical events including the famous Footsbarn theatre in Hérisson and the Son et Lumière in the ruined chateau of the lovely spa town of Bourbon l'Archambault, which is only 16 kms from here.
There are also some excellent and inexpensive restaurants locally. There is the Burgundy vineyard of Le Rioussat just across the Allier River which produces some excellent red Pinot Noir, Gamay and white Chardonnay wines at 4 – 6 euros a bottle.
Prices
Our prices vary from €400 per week in the off peak season to €500 in July and August, for 2 people. There is a supplement of £100 per person for larger groups to cover the cost of extra beds, bed linen, towels, laundry, wear and tear, etc.
Prices include bed linen and towels, use of the bicycles, badminton, darts, pétanque, table tennis, jogging track, and golf driving range (bring your own clubs and balls). Gas for cooking is also free but we charge of electricity at cost (the house has its own meter), and wood for the fire in the colder months. During the summer, if you need the occasional fire in the evenings we don't charge for the wood..
There is a cleaning and laundry charge of €30 for making the gite ready for the next guests. This saves you the bother of having to spend the last few hours of your holiday cleaning. There is also a refundable deposit of 50€.
WiFi Internet access is free of charge.
Terms: 25% deposit on booking. The balance to be paid 4 weeks before
start of your stay. The cleaning charge and deposit are payable in cash on arrival.
The gite will be available from 4.0 pm on the first day of your stay and must be vacated by 10.0 am on the day of departure. We may be able to vary these times by arrangement. Our aim is to be as flexible as possible and to make your stay an enjoyable one.
House hunting?
We are excellently placed if you are considering purchasing a house in France and we can introduce you to local Estate Agents, interpret for you if your French is not up to it, and give you advice on purchasing and renovating houses in France from our own lengthy experience.
