A restored farmhouse with a swimming pool, set on an estate of 30 acres of farmland in rural Central France, in the Poitou-Charentes region.
Châtaignier is a finely-restored farmhouse, set in the 30-acre (12 hectare) estate of La Boulinière, and surrounded by a large walled garden of mature parkland, with a swimming pool and a private terrace.
The property also features a large games barn with pool, table tennis, football, traditional boules, and swings, slides, and a sandpit for the very young. There is also a well stocked fishing lake and a national hiking trail, GR48, nearby. The property is open all year.
Châtaignier is available in two configurations. For smaller groups of up to four, there's the "Petit Chataîgnier" option, with two double bedrooms, at a special low rate. For groups of up to ten, all five bedrooms are opened up for the "Grand Chataîgnier" option.
The entrance to the house leads into the beautifully restored sitting room and dining room, which are full of character, with exposed oak beams, orignal terracotta tile floors, and a large stone fireplace. French windows in the sitting room overlook a private terrace and lead into the shared walled garden. A pathway to the left leads to a private sun trap and the 10 x 5 metre swimming pool.
To the left of the sitting room is the kitchen, fully equipped with microwave, gas stove, fridge-freezer, washing machine and dishwasher. The colour tones are inspired by the Impressionists. To the right of the sitting room, is a corridor which leads up to the original flagstone stairway.
On the ground floor is the double bedroom with an en-suite bathroom and shower. A set of French windows opens onto the garden. Up the stairs to the right is the romantic master bedroom with a bed draped in traditional French style, exposed beams and en-suite bathroom with shower. To the left of the stairs, a long hallway leads to three more bedrooms, one of which has a double bed and two of which have a pair of twin beds. These bedrooms share a large bathroom. These three bedrooms are closed off for smaller groups who choose the "Petit Chataîgnier" option. Bed & Breakfast is also available from €50/€65. The property is open all year
This area is ideal countryside for walking, cycling, and horse riding, with miles of footpaths and bridleways to explore. For those who like hiking, the Grande Randonnée trail #48, a national walkway, passes through the property. The nearest village is Journet, which is within easy walking distance at two kilometres. Journet has a bakery, a bakery and a café. There's a larger range of shops and services 10 kilometres away, in the large medieval town Montmorillon. The town is cut by the river Gartempe which passes through and this stretch of the river is lined with chapels, churches, and abbeys. They all have an extraordinary range of ancient wall paintings, and the area has become known as "The Valley of the Frescoes".
Montmorillon has many historic sites worth visiting, including the Octagon, an 11th Century funeral chapel built by Crusaders; the Chapelle St Laurent and St Chatherine's Crypt with its fine frescoes; and its 12th Century bridge, le Vieux-Pont. Montmorillon was recently designated "La Cité de L'Écrit", and hosts the International Book Fair every year. An ancient street of "ateliers" leading up from the Vieux Pont is lined with shops and workshops on everything to do with books, from illustration, calligraphy, and book binding, to antique books and artwork. Also worth seeing are the châteaux Pruniers and Bois-Morand, the chapels at the riverside villages of Antigny and Jouhet, and the church at St Germain. Finally, the beautifully decorated 11th century Abbey of St Savin is just 20 minutes away. This abbey has been designated as a World Heritage Site, and must not be missed.
Châtaignier is also ideally placed for day trips to discover the beauty of the Loire Valley. Only one and half hours drive away are the world renowned chateaux of Chambord, Chaumont, Villandry, Ussé, also known an Sleeping Beauty's castle, and Blois. Twenty minutes from the property is the Abbey of St Savin dating back to the 11th century, and classified as a World Heritage Site. It is recognised for its Romanesque paintings, its typical Poitevine architecture, and its series of frescoes. Poitier's Futuroscope, the European "Park of the Moving Image" has an ever changing array of superb cinematic exhibits, and makes an excellent day out, to be topped off in the summer by a spectacular laser and firework display celebrating the history of film and cinema.
