8 Bedroom Holiday Home in St Jean d'Angely

Description|Rates|Photos|Availability

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Description|Rates|Photos|Availability

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An abandoned distillery near Cognac has been transformed into a charming holiday retreat by a Warwickshire family who are happy for others to enjoy their home in France when they can't. Chez Pineau has been designed to accomodate groups of friends who want to holiday together but still have personal space when they need it. Its mellow stone walls contain two large, adjoined cottages with a lockable, interior connecting door, available to let separately or together at a discount. Each has four bedrooms, two-ensuite, a family bathroom, a large kitchen and well stocked games salon. Outside newly landscaped gardens provide a choice of screened patio and barbeue areas, plus a heated pool( 11m x 5M ) with secure terrace, all enclosed in Charentaise stone. Up to sixteen people, or two parties of eight, are comfortably accomodated with room to spare. 
 
The interiors are simply beautiful rooms of exposed stone and oak beams, furnished in traditional French farmhouse style. Floors are cool white tiles or chestnut boards for practicality and panache. The kitchens are fully equipped with modern essentials - dishwashers, micro-waves, ovens, hobs, washing machines, utensils - and traditional comforts - fireplaces, wood burners and wine stores. Long and sturdy tables abound - eating and drinking, of course, a central activity of les vacances francais. A pool table sits in the games room while each salon also has facilities to play DVDs or videos, or numerous card and board games. Evenings are relaxing - lit by gentle wall light or overhead chandelier, or even moonlight if preferred. 
 
The 8 bedrooms provide cool refuge from the Sun and all but one overlook the gardens towards the pool and vine laden countryside beyond. Furnishings are quality old timber, iron or brass to complement the ageless charm of the old distillery. 
 
Outside the grounds are laid for gentle relaxation with tables and chairs on terraces edged by raised flower beds and specimen trees. Plenty of space has been left to perfect your boules technique and each house also has its own barbeque area.  
 
The pool rests in its own self contained terrace, stone walls on three sides create the perfect sun trap, and a safety fence faces the house and parental eyes. A solar heated pool shower is provided along with a selection of loungers and chairs. 
 
The more energetic may want to borrow one of the bikes from the "abri velo" to explore the village of Aujac and the tranquility of the surrounding countryside. Tennis racquets are also kept here for those who wish to use the village courts, all of two minutes stroll away. The over stressed will even find a punch bag. 
 
Aujac itself is a pretty little hamlet, boasting its own artisan boulangerie for hand crafted croissants, bread and cakes ( even nearer than than the tennis court) and a small garden centre with a "pick your own" vegetable patch offering staggering choice of fresh produce - including the justly famous charentais melon to drench with pineau. Truly, a marriage from heaven. 
 
The nearest bar is in Authon, a quiet walk less than a mile away. Great restaurants and supermarkets are to be found in the market town of Matha or St Jean d'Angely, with more sophisticated shopping in boozy Cognac, roman Saintes and chic La Rochelle. The whole region is alive with opportunities for gourmets, sportsmen, budding historians and those just looking for fun. The clean Atlantic coast is less than an hour away for a day trip, taking in a visit perhaps to the renounced zoo at La Palymyre?  
 
A holiday based in Aujac can be as laid back or activity filled as you like. Its all about easy living - just as you want it.

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The houses are comprehensively equipped with everything a large family has found it needs in a holiday home. Pillows and duvets are provided but not bed linen. However, this can be hired for an extra fee to cover laundry costs. The house can beheated by wood burning stoves and an open fireplace downstairs and electric heaters in bed and bathrooms - although probably unnecessary during the Summer. TV is not provided as such but there are screens with a selection of DVDs and videos, plus numerous books and games to keep the restless, young and old, entertained. One salon also boasts a pool table.

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A wide range of activities is in easy reach including golf, horse riding and a water sports centre in St Jean D'Angely. A small lake with facilities for young families can also be found near Matha. Impressive street markets and tastings of Cognac and Pineau are widely available and in Cognac itself. Saintes is a beautiful city blessed with Roman antiquities including an amphi-theatre. A nearby exhbition unveils the region's neantherthal origins and Matha hosts its own tribute to the past with a "festival hippie" - great tribute bands and the plea to "faire l'amour, pas le guerre!" Great Fun. 
 
Miles of sandy beaches and rolling Atlantic waves are not far away, nor is the French theme park, Futuroscope.  
 
Choice and quality of food are both superb with good family restaurants in Matha, remarkable value lunch in nearby Brizabourg and Augmagne, fine cuisine in Cognac, Saintes, St Jean. Matha also has a wonderful chocolatier !

Description|Rates|Photos|Availability

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Price Table				Season Rate
Whole Property 16 people 1700 4 bedroom Cottage 1 8 people 900 4 bedroom cottage 2 8 people 900 low season whole 16 people 900 low season cottages 8 people 500				Low Season Price:	£500 per Week
				High Season Price:	£1,700 per Week

The whole property is available for £1700 per week for up to 16 people during July and August. The houses can be rented individually for £900 per week for up to 8 people each duruing this period. A £100 secuity and confirmation deposit is required for each booking, to be returned within three weeks of the end of your holiday. Full rental is required six weeks before the start of your rental.

Description|Rates|Photos|Availability

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Description|Rates|Photos|Availability

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