Loire Valley: 200 yr old stone cottage renovated to high standard

James (Jim)

Joined

Jan 2010

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: 3 Bedrooms
: Sleeps 8
: 2 Bathrooms

About our home

Our gorgeous house is over two hundred years old, and is built in the traditional style of properties of that age in the Loire valley, of tuffeau stone. We have renovated it, so the bathrooms are modern, and the kitchen well-equipped, BUT IT IS RURAL FRANCE! Downstairs there are two living rooms, one with a tv/dvd/video and a sofa bed, the kitchen/diner, a double bedroom, bathroom and a toilet, and upstairs one twin bedroom, one double bedroom, a shower room and a toilet. The living rooms and downstairs bedroom have exposed beams and most main rooms have some exposed stonework. The garden is enclosed and has a parking area, a swimming pool with sliding plexiglass cover and terrace, a shaded terrace to the front of the house, and a large covered terrace with gas barbecue and dining facilities to the rear. There is a Maison des Amis (guest house) attached, but we will try to avoid this being occupied at the time of the exchange.

Features

Vacation Home
Cable TV
Dish washer
Washing machine
Dryer
Parking
Garden
Car optional
No smoking
Pool

More about us

Jim is a semi-retired Chartered Accountant (CPA) and part time university teacher and Jan a no-longer-practising lawyer living in Brussels and this is their second home. They use the house frequently with their 13 year old daughter, dog, cat and guinea pig (allergy sufferers, please note). We love this house and the area, and will be delighted to give you lots of hints on how to get the best out of it. We enjoy travelling (why else would we be here?), and now that Jim is semi-retired see house exchanges as a great way to see the world. The contents of the house reflect our interests, so there are lots of books, a well-equipped kitchen, a happy garden, and comfortable furnishings. This is a our second home rather than a "holiday house" and has lots of treasured possessions; we would treat your home with the same care and respect we would know you will give ours.

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Where is it?

Neighbourhood

Our house is situated on the edge of a tiny hamlet, population about 140, roughly 15 kilometres south of the River Loire. In the immediate vicinity of the village is farmland, with fields of melons, sunflowers, and the occasional vineyard. The main towns in the locality are Saumur and Chinon, both 20 to 30 minutes drive, depending on how used you are to French country roads. There is a wealth of history in the area, and within an hour's drive are the chateaux of Saumur, Chinon, Azay-le-Rideau, Villandry, Angers......The Royal Abbey of Fontevraud, the largest in France is 10kms to the north. The closest TGV (high speed train)station is at St Pierre des Corps, about an hour's drive to the north east, and Paris can be reached from there in an hour. This area suits lovers of history, food and wine and peace and quiet (tractors apart).