Holiday cottage near Saintes in the Charente Maritime in France.

Holiday cottage near Saintes in the Charente Maritime in France. Self catering holiday gites.This pretty renovated stone farmhouse is located in the hamlet of Les Tards,

Holiday cottage near Saintes in the Charente Maritime in France. This pretty renovated stone farmhouse is located in the hamlet of Les Tards, which forms part of the commune of La Clisse; we are conveniently located 10 km from the market town of Saintes and 25 km from Royan's sandy beaches. The house, formerly a barn, was entirely rebuilt in 2001 and combines a modern kitchen and bathroom with traditional stone, beam and tile decor. The thick stone walls combined with good insulation materials keeps this house cool in summer but warm in winter. There is electric heat throughout the house with individual room controls.

The house is located on the edge of a hamlet of twelve houses, and the main rooms look out on farmers' fields with cows and sunflowers. The large garden is completely enclosed, and bordered by a hedge and stone wall, giving a good sense of privacy, but at the same time the security of not being isolated in the countryside.

The main floor is a spacious open-plan design, with a kitchen and living room. The kitchen has a sunny south-facing window and opens directly onto a tiled terrace. One can eat at the table in the kitchen, but in the warmer months most people prefer the terrace, which is furnished with table and chairs and parasol as well as sun loungers.

The British-made fitted kitchen is a cook's delight, with a large refrigerator, gas cooker, electric oven, overhead fan extractor, dishwasher and ample counter space. There is a good selection of dishes and pots and pans, and if you need a special dish or pot, just come over to our house and borrow ours! The washing machine is conveniently located in the kitchen, and there is both a drying rack and a clothes line in the garden.

The living room is spacious and comfortable, and includes a chesterfield that can be used as an extra double bed. There is a desk forthose who cannot leave their work at home, as well as a television, VCR and telephone. A small library of books is provided.

The second floor has two bedrooms - one with a double bed and a second with bunkbeds. The bathroom has a WC, sink and shower and a hairdryer is rpovided, as well as two sets of bed linens and towels.

The enclosed garden is particularly appreciated by families with small children, as they can play in security while being watched from the kitchen or terrace. It features a large lawn as well as flowering trees and plants, and a developing orchard with cherry, plum, fig and quince trees, as well as grapevines, raspberries and currants.

The house is ideally located for exploring the region during the day and returning for a quiet meal in the evening. The nearest supermarket is 8 km. Public swimming pools can be found in Pisany (4 km) and Saintes (10 km), and the best beaches in France begin 25 km away and continue on for a hundred kms. The region is known for its cognac distilleries, farmers' markets, seafood markets, Roman ruins and fascinating antique shops.

Our names are Christina and Jean Claude Roy. I am English Canadian and my husband is French, but also speaks excellent English. We live in the same hamlet, and we will be delighted to welcome you and assist you with information on the area or translation. Guests are provided with a map and brochures in English, and a more extensive reference library on the area is available.

My husband is a landscape artist (www.jcroy.com), and his studio is in the village. Visitors are welcome, and artists among you may want to borrow an easel during your stay.

Please see our second property in the village  also suitable for 4/6

http://www.franceonecall.com/properties/west/charentemaritime/96/details.html 

Special arrangements can be made for longer or off-season stays.

We are available by email or telephone - (33) 5 46 93 00 46.