Fabulous vacation rental, mini breaks and excursions in Poitou-Charentes | EUROtoday

Whatever you need from a French vacation, the 2 neighboring departments of Charente and Charente-Maritime, les deux Charentes (previously Poitou-Charentes), can virtually actually ship, from quiet countryside and rolling vineyards to historic heritage cities, lovely seashores, and wine tourism. Discover fabulous vacation rental, mini breaks and excursions in Poitou-Charentes.

A alternative of vacation experiences within the Charentes

Stay close to the world-famous city of Cognac and you’re properly positioned to discover this addictive space; stick with Cottages and Classics and you are able to do it in fashion. From their lovely nation residence within the Charente Maritime, house owners Lyn and Graham supply a alternative of vacation experiences that will help you benefit from your keep from luxurious self-catering cottages, B&B minibreaks, to bespoke escorted excursions for small teams of 4-12 visitors. Their “Cottages and Classics Experience” additionally contains the usage of an iconic 4-seater Morgan sports activities automotive throughout your keep.

Home for the couple is La Rose des Vents at 19^th century manor home with two luxurious 3-bed cottages. A former Cognac domaine, hidden from view on the sting of a sleepy hamlet, the properties stand in 2.5 acres of gated grounds simply 5 minutes from the market city of Matha and quarter-hour from Cognac. Surrounded by rolling vineyards and fields of sunflowers, this excellent location can be inside simple attain of Atlantic Coast points of interest equivalent to La Rochelle and Ile de Ré and the Bordeaux vineyards of the Medoc.

Luxury Holiday Cottages

Manor Cottage is, in-built conventional Charentais fashion and former residence of the property supervisor. Rose Cottage is transformed from the previous stables and includes a lofty 'cathedral' fashion ceiling in the lounge. Each property sleeps six (plus a cot) and is classed 4-star by the French Tourist Office in addition to that includes in Sawday's Special Places to Stay information.

Expect inside décor combining the most effective of English and French nation fashion, with high quality furnishings, en-suite bedrooms, and high-speed web connection. In the kitchen all the things is provided from a tumble dryer to an oyster knife and if you wish to cook dinner up some contemporary native produce, you’ll be able to even hearken to your favourite tunes on the music system while you’re employed.

It may be very quiet with simply the sound of birdsong and the occasional tractor. In summer time, chill out by the heated pool within the orchard, and revel in al fresco BBQs and meals in your non-public gardens. In cooler months, cozy up indoors – electrical energy, fuel and WiFi prices are all included within the rental value. Lyn and Graham have considered all the things to raise your keep out of the extraordinary – Egyptian cotton bedlinen, fairly Provencal bogs, pool towels and cooler containers in the event you fancy a picnic. A bottle of wine, home-made jam and fruit from the natural orchard are included within the welcome basket; and to get your self-catering vacation off to a calming begin, in your first evening you’ll be able to reserve a candlelit dinner to be served in your cottage, or below the celebs. Plus, all their visitors are supplied a complimentary tour by means of the vineyards of their 4-seater Morgan sports activities vehicles.

Fabulous B&B Mini Break

Only have time for a brief break? Then go for a B&B minibreak, both a protracted weekend or midweek keep for no less than three nights in May, June or September in one of many luxurious cottages. Your vacation begins with afternoon tea and home made desserts on arrival, adopted by a 4-course dinner with wine, espresso and cognac served within the Manor House. Breakfast is delivered to your cottage every morning and you’ve got a tour by means of the vineyards in 4-seater Morgan sports activities vehicles to go to one of many world-famous Cognac Houses, to stay up for.

Signature and Bespoke Tours

Lyn and Graham have owned traditional sports activities vehicles for over 30 years – therefore the 'Classics' ingredient of their hospitality enterprise – and so they often welcome traditional automotive house owners for his or her Signature or Bespoke Tours. These small and pleasant relaxed home occasion fashion affairs are organized on demand (the group issues the date) for no less than 4, to a most of 12 visitors. For teams of 10-12 visitors, extra lodging is on the market within the Manor House.

Their 7-night “Taste of Cognac & Bordeaux Tour” began as a bespoke tour for a gaggle of Aston Martin house owners, and has turn out to be so in style that for 2024 Lyn & Graham have determined to supply it to small teams who could haven’t any curiosity in any respect in traditional vehicles, however wish to discover this lovely area with the emphasis on gastronomy, sampling the most effective native specialties, cognacs, positive Bordeaux wines and connoisseur eating places.

On arrival relaxed with tea and desserts within the gardens, have a dip within the heated pool and settle in, earlier than having fun with a welcome 4 course dinner with aperos, wine, espresso and cognac served within the Manor House. During your keep you’ll:

Take a scenic drive to the stylish il de Re, driving over the well-known toll bridge to soak up the ambiance of the heritage whitewashed villages, bustling harbors lined with artwork galleries and boutiques, cafes and eating places. Explore the award successful “most beautiful market in the Charente Maritime” in La Flotte and revel in a scrumptious seafood lunch in a gastronomic restaurant overlooking the harbour. There can be time to drive into close by La Rochelle and uncover the “Vieux Port” guarded by magnificent towers and wander by means of the traditional, arcaded streets.

Visit Cognac, the birthplace of Francois I, who declared it essentially the most lovely river within the kingdom. At the world well-known Remy Martin Cognac House, your private ambassador will take you on a 4 hour go to to find the historic home, the abilities of cognac manufacturing, get pleasure from a tasting of two cognacs accompanied by connoisseur appetizers/canapes, and a 3 connoisseur course lunch served in a non-public eating room or at a neighborhood Michelin starred restaurant. An unforgettable expertise.

In the afternoon, get pleasure from a guided stroll by means of the traditional streets of the medieval previous city of Cognac, with its mansions, museums and Romanesque structure. Stop off for a espresso in one of many many cafes clustered across the fountain within the middle of city or browse the boutiques and outlets.

The space is dotted with Romanesque structure and this tour takes you to Les Bouchards one of the lovely and largest Gallo Roman websites in France. On prime of a hill, the amphitheater has an incomparable view over the countryside. Then on to Verteuil sur Charente, the place the magnificent Chateau, with its' breathtaking turrets, looms over the village the place you’ll get pleasure from lunch in a pleasant bistro overlooking the river.

You may even head west, by means of the Saintonge countryside and picturesque villages to go to Rochefort, a gem of a city tucked in a meander of the Charente. It was this strategic place out of sight of seafaring opportunists that led to the event of this as soon as sleepy farming village into Louis XIV's state-of-the-art arsenal within the seventeenth middle. Visit the Corderie Royale in-built 1666 to make the rigging for the nice warships, and tour the Hermione, the full-size reproduction of General Lafayette's frigate that sailed the Atlantic in 1780 to assist the Americans towards the English. The ship has been constructed within the oldest masonry dry dock on this planet, utilizing conventional strategies.

One of the highlights of this tour is the chance to spend a complete day exploring the Medoc, well-known for it's nice Bordeaux wines. From Royan you’ll take a 30-minute journey by ferry to the Pointes de Graves within the Medoc to drive by means of the countryside well-known for its' nice Bordeaux wines. Private guided excursions and tastings at Chateau Lynch-Bages and both the fairy story Chateau Pichon Longueville (each Grand Cru Clase) or the Chateau du Tertre (Grand Cru Classe Margaux) have been reserved and lunch within the gastronomic restaurant in St Julien won’t disappoint . The return journey takes the ferry to Blaye, with it's well-known citadelle designed by Vauban within the 17^th century.

A soothing final day features a drive following the river Charente, with sweeping vistas of vineyards and delightful chateaux, stopping off to go to Jarnac residence of Courvoisier and Chateau de Bouteville, a nationwide monument the place the Black Prince stayed through the 100 years warfare. Here you’ll study from the producers about Baume de Bouteville, and revel in a tasting of this balsamic condiment aged in Cognac barrels, which is a favourite of Michelin starred cooks and cherished by gourmets. And within the night a farewell dinner has been organized at a shocking restaurant in a 5-star resort in Cognac.

For full particulars of all excursions and mini-breaks see www.cottagesandclassics.com