Les Marronniers

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Property Type: Gite Sleeps Max: 10 Bedrooms: 4 Swimming Pool: Yes Town: Crozant Region: Creuse Reference Number: Major towns and distance from property: Argenton 25 Kms Gueret 35 Kms Limoges 80 Kms

The nearby villages of Crozant with its castle ruins, and Fresselines made famous by Monet, boast spectacular views of the Rivers Creuse and Sedelle. Lake Chambon with its safe sandy beaches, fishing, water-sports, and lakeside restaurants and bars is only 10 minutes away. There is a large equestrian centre open to the public the same distance in the other direction, and golf and tennis are also catered for. For the determined sightseer, the ancient cities of Poitiers, Châteauroux and Limoges are within 90 minutes, and there are historical towns and villages with mediæval quarters closer by at Argenton, Guéret, La Souterraine, St. Benoît-du-Sault, and Gargilesse-Dampierre - favourite of writer George Sand. We offer the use of a spacious 200 year-old farmhouse, comfortably sleeping 8/10 people in 4 large bedrooms (one wheel-chair accessible on the ground floor), with two bathrooms, dining room, lounge, fully equipped kitchen, and satellite TV. The house has lawned gardens to front and rear, a sun terrace overlooking the pool, and far-reaching views of our valley. At night, the low light pollution affords a fascinating panorama of stars – they don’t call this ‘the forgotten France’ for nothing; the Creuse is one of the most uncrowded parts of the whole country. There are also two cosy gîtes, stone cottages each fully set up for a family of four, with heating for winter lets. The 12 x 5 metre pool with Roman steps and built-in jacuzzi was completed in June 2004 and is surrounded by a spacious lawn and loungers. It is checked and cleaned frequently, and complies with the stringent new French safety standards. There is also a full-size trampoline, barbecues, boules, and a large selection of bicycles (and safety helmets) for you to use at no extra charge. There is a library of books and DVDs, a games room and free WiFi broadband access. We live in our own separate accommodation on the premises - there to provide friendly help when required, but discretely out of your way.

The farmhouse at Les Marronniers is simply a delight, offering spacious and comfortable accomodation in country style. Starting from the top, there are three generous bedrooms upstairs, one with a double bed and two with twins. If you need to cater for an additional small child, just let us know and we can provide a cot or extra bed at no additional charge. Also on this floor is a full family bathroom with WC, bath and separate shower. A fourth large (double) bedroom on the ground floor overlooks the pool and gardens, and is ideal for those who find stairs difficult*. Also on this floor is the second WC and shower room (reached à la mode française via the dining room.) There is a comfortable sitting room with satellite TV, DVD player, free WiFi Broadband, books and family board games, in case you ever feel like relaxing indoors. The dining table seats 8, and can be extended to 10 if required, and there is a big country kitchen where cooks of all standards will be happy - even washing up is surprisingly popular because of the stunning view from the sink! There is a large gas-fired range cooker, fridge, freezer, microwave, and dishwasher. (Washing machines have their own separate room in the next-door storage block, and are available free of charge.) It almost goes without saying that everything you need for cooking, eating, drinking and cleaning is provided. There are outside tables and chairs for alfresco dining, and Eskimo cold boxes and plastic glasses are also provided for picnic use, or in the pool area. Wide hallways serve both floors, connected by the attractive original wooden staircase. Character features include exposed beams, stone and oak floors, and wood-burning stoves. Two large cool cellars, with doors at ground level on the pool side of the house, complete the accommodation. There is a private terrace down here too, positioned to catch the evening sun then linger to watch the stars come out. Bed linen is provided within the rental, and changed weekly - or more often on request at a nominal charge of €10 per person. Please bring your own towels. A hair drier is provided.

Places of Interest

We are just two hours from the chateaus of the Loire, based in the beautiful rural Creuse département (23) of the Limousin region, close to the borders of Indre (36) and Haute-Vienne (87). All three départements contain a wealth of attractions for every taste, from the simple pleasures of quiet country life to the lively nightlife and student scene in the regional capital, Limoges. Within a very short distance, you will find breathtaking scenery along the banks of the River Creuse; cultural sites with strong local connections to George Sand, Chopin, Monet, Guillaumin and the other impressionists; historical towns, chateaus, ancient churches, and fortifications dating back to the days of the crusaders and even earlier; tennis, water-sports, fishing, horse-riding, nature walks, and farm visits; lake-side restaurants and bars, outdoor cafes, gourmet auberges, a state-of-the-art discotheque (4 miles from us - well out of earshot!) and even a “cottage pub”. Delicious seasonal produce is available direct from the farms, and from weekly markets in Eguzon and Dun-le-Palestel. Specialist shops in several local towns and villages offer art and craft items, bric-a-brac and antiques at reasonable prices, and there are also regular open-air markets for these goods in the larger towns. You won’t find a Tesco or a Sainsburys, but the supermarket at Eguzon has recently been expanded, and now stocks a fair range of everyday needs, including many international items. There is a good selection of French wines at very reasonable prices, an excellent fresh fish counter, superb meat served by a friendly and understanding butcher, and fresh fruit and vegetables – but if you must have baked beans or Branston Pickle, please bring your own! Moving around by car is easy, with excellent uncrowded local roads, convenient parking, and for longer trips, a toll-free motorway running North-South through the region and numerous well-maintained Routes Nationales. For the more energetic, cycling is a popular way of getting about, whether on organised tours or just as the fancy takes you. Everywhere you will be passing through woods and lush rolling green countryside, populated by the world-famous Limousin cattle, as well as sheep, goats, ducks, horses and donkeys. Wild and cultivated fruit and nut trees abound, and wild-flowers now rare in Britain pop up on the field margins. Herons are a frequent sight, poaching fish from the many well-stocked étangs – somewhere between a small lake and a large pond – as well as hawks, kingfishers, and many other birds. Further afield, excursions to Limoges, Châteauroux, Guéret, Aubusson, Bourganeuf, Lac de Vassivière, Valençay, Issoudun, and even Poitiers are all within range as day trips, and all bring their own rewards too numerous to list here. Worthy of mention are the Brenne and Perigord-Limousin Regional Nature Parks and the Martyrs Village – site of a notorious Second World War massacre – at Oradour-sur-Glane, just West of Limoges.

Low Season	Mid Season	High Season
£ 430 € 539 $ 852	£ 770 € 965 $ 1,526	£ 1090 € 1,365 $ 2,160

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