Les Gites du Vigneron is a collection of fabulously renovated family friendly gites, situated in the heart of a sleepy village in the Charente Maritime region of France. Easily accessible from the UK either by car (4 hrs from the ferry port of Caen) or by plane (1hr15 from Bordeaux airport or 1hr from La Rochelle airport) this property offers a comfortable base for families wishing to experience real French country life amongst the vines and sunflowers.
Planning a Family Reunion?
Look no further! Les Gites du Vigneron can host a total of 22 people in 4 gites and a bed and breakfast room. In addition to the on-site facilities, the owners can also offer their beautifully renovated‘chai’which can comfortably seat 50 people for a sit-down meal . This is a former cognac barn, full of character with stone walls, a bar, tables and chairs, and the original wine vats – a perfect venue for a party or any other celebration! This function room can easily seat your party and catering can be arranged with a local, highly recommended traiteur. Rental of this unique venue is by separate arrangement, so please do let us know if this would be of interest, and we can forward more details.
At a glance:
- 4 independent recently renovated gites, sleeping between 2 and 8 guests.
- set in enclosed grounds, in a charming small village in the Charente Martime.
- each property has a private terrace with outdoor seating and BBQ for easy alfresco dining.
- secured heated shared salt water pool onsite.
- under 5’s secure covered play area.
- over 5’s games room, with table tennis, table football and many other games
- all bedroom windows have blackout blinds
- gorgeous rambling garden with shady and sunny spots
- babysitting available
- Less than 10 mins by car from a town with shops and restaurants, Cognac 20 mins, Saintes 20 mins, Bordeaux 1hr20 mins
- short breaks available, outwith July and August
- flexible changeover day throughout the year – tell us what suits you!
In more detail
This delightful collection of 4 gites, each offering flexible accommodation, is ideal for families of all ages and sizes! Each property has been tastefully renovated to a very high standard, combining French style with modern design, to create welcoming and relaxing environment. Each property has a private terrace for outside dining, and easy access to the gorgeous garden, with its trampoline and heated salt water pool, and the Play-barns.
The Toddler’s Play-barn is situated in the former tractor hanger, which is securely fenced and boasts a slide, swing, sand pit, Wendy house, rocking horses and much, much more! This area is open sided and is a shady haven from the afternoon sun. Parents can relax on the squashy sofa while the littlies play and meet new friends. Although intended for the under fives, at the owner’s discretion, older children can use this barn to play with younger siblings or friends. Older children will love the Games Room, with a full sized table tennis table, the classic French BabyFoot (table football) table, and other indoor and outdoor toys for all ages. Local bike hire can be arranged and for a small weekly fee, guests can use the tennis courts in the neighbouring village. Guests wishing to brush up their French have an ideal opportunity to do so, as Vanessa runs a language school on the premises and offers tailor made French classes for all ages.
Each gite is only a few steps away from the garden, which offers both sunny and shady spots to wile-away some holiday ‘me time’ with a glass of the excellent local wine! For the more energetic, there is a full-sized trampoline, a petanque court and of course the pool, which securely fenced. The pool has been designed with families in mind – the depth is a constant 1.4 metres, meaning there is no deep end. The first step into the pool has been extended, which provides a ‘beach’ area for the little ones to splash and play.
Holidaying with the family does of course mean that access to a washing machine is a priority! The on-site laundry has 2 washing machines for guests to use, as well as pegs and airers to enable you to dry your clothes in the warm Charentais sunshine. The Laundry also houses an extensive book and DVD library together with tourist information for guests’ use.
Location
The gites are located in the heart of a pretty village in the Charente Maritimeregion of France. This region is very easily accessible from the UK – either by car (4h30mins from Ouistreham, 4h from St Malo) or by plane – Bordeaux and La Rochelle airports are an easy hour or so’s drive away. Pons, the nearest town, is less than a 10 minute drive away, with a good selection of shops, cafes and restaurants for all budgets.
There is absolutely loads to do for all ages in this great location – that is, if you can tear yourself away from the activities and comforts offered at the gites! Head to the world-famous town of Cognac, and sample the gorgeous brandies, on the banks of the Charente river, a mere 20 minutes drive from the gites. The Roman town of Saintes is also 20 minutes away – take the family back in time with a visit to the fabulous Roman amphitheatre.
Everyone loves a day at the beach and you are spoiled for choice at this location! Choose from the either the sandy beaches of the Gironde estuary, a lovely 35/40 minute drive away, or those of the Atlantic coast, 45/50 minutes away. Closer to home, the Carribean-themed water park, Les Antilles, at Jonzac is a good choice for water-based fun for all the family. There are also plenty of chateaux to visit – younger children will love the Chateau des Enigmes, which has a small theme park and treasure trail and isconsidered to be one of the top 10 theme parks in France.
Accommodation
Each gite has a private outdoor terrace with shared access to the grounds, pool, and play barns. They all have double glazing and independent electric heaters in each room. Some of the bedrooms can be arranged with either king size or single beds, offering flexible sleeping arrangements, and all bedding is hypoallergenic.
