Chantegros, Southern Vendee, France - Charming Holiday Cottage

Our self catering holiday cottage has undergone complete renovation since we came to France in October 2003, including new tiled floors throughout, new fitted kitchen and new shower room. The kitchen has washing machine, electric cooker, fridge, microwave, toaster, coffee maker etc, and is fully equipped for up to 4 people. It has a lounge/dining room (with dining seating for up to 6), and one bedroom with double bed, plus full size bunk beds, (cot available if required).

Facilities include: Satelite TV; DVD player with a selection of movies; CD/casette player and a selection of CDs/tapes; books, games and toys. Outside there are garden chairs and bench seat, picnic table/benches.

The holiday cottage occupies a "petite maison" that was once an annexe to the main farmhouse.

It is the last dwelling on the edge of the hamlet, looking out towards an old barn or 'grange', over what would once have been the farm yard but is now mainly grassed over, with shrubs and a large, old cherry tree.

This front garden is available for se by guests, but the holiday cottage also has a lovely, shady private garden of it's own, planted with trees and shrubs, behind the house - very peaceful owing to the fact that the property is surrounded on three sides by fields, with just a small lane running behind the garden. Hence the most noise you will usually hear will be birdsong or the occasional passing tractor! Perfect for a really relaxing stay in this lovely part of France

Prices

2008 Jan 5th - March 14th March 15th - April 25th April 26th - May 23th May 24th - May30th May 31st - June 20th June 21st - July 18th July 19th - Aug 29th Aug 30th - Sept 12th Sept 13th - Oct 3rd Oct 4th - Nov 7th Nov 8th - Dec 19th Christmas and New Yr

(£180*) €234 (£212*) €265 (£296)  €370 (£340)  €425 (£296)  €370 (£340)  €425 (£399)  €499 (£340)  €425 (£296)  €370 (£212*) €265 (£180*) €234 (£296*) €370

(*Low season includes heating - €20 extra per wk if required at other times)
Bed linens & Towels are included in the prices. A cot is also available on request at an additional £15 per week. A small taxe de séjour (tourist tax) of 25 cents per person per night is also payable, from June to Sept

Places to see & things to do in and around this area

Chantegros is in the southernmost part of the Vendée department of France, which is in the region known as the "Pay de la Loire", being some 70 miles or so south of the Loire Valley. The Loire valley marks the northernmost edge of an area known for its "micro climate" consisting of long warm summers and mild winters.

The Vendée is adjacent to the Atlantic coast and adjoins the Deux Sèvres to the East and South East; the Charente Maritime to the South and the Loire Atlantique to the North. The department, like much of France, is home to many beautiful old villages and historic towns, with an abundance of churches, chateaux and of course, vineyards.

Here are just a few of the places of interest within easy traveling distance of Les Conifères:

10 mins north west: Forest of Mervent - Vouvant, and outstanding area of wooded valleys and reservoirs formed by the damming of the River Vendée. Perfect for cycling & walking, with pony trekking also available. The village of Mervent is set on the banks of the Vendée river beside one its lakes formed at a bend in the river, and Vouvant is a popular and pretty village boasting lovely views from it's old tower and rampart walks.

5 Minutes west: The local village of St Hilaire des Loges, a small commune with a large ancient church, Bar, Restaurant, Boulangerie, Pattiserie and Pharmacie and a small Super Market! (A nice walk of about 2.5 miles beside fields!)

5 minutes east: Bustling and interesting market town of Coulonges sur l'Autize, with it's renaissance chateau and lively Saturday market.

10 mins west: Near Chassenon le Bourg, the Plage or swimming beach with flume, formed alongside one of the River Vendée's many lakes.

10 mins south: Nieul sur l'Autize a charming village with it's Abbaye Royale and also an old, working, water poured flour mill.

25 mins south: The city of Niort on the banks of the River Sèvre, rich in Historical heritage, a characterful town centre and large market.

20 mins south west: The Marais Poitevin, also known as Venise Verte or "Green Venice" with miles of labyrinthine, peaceful waterways threading beneath tunnels of leaves and trees. Take a punt and glide gently through another world!

20 mins west: The historic large town of Fontenay le Comte, our local administrative centre, with parks and walks beside the River Vendée with it's grand bridges, a tempting variety of shopping pleasures as well as all mod cons such as large supermarket and shopping centres!
50 - 60 minutes west: The Atlantic Coast resorts of La Rochelle, with it's ancient twin towered harbour and marinas; plus Aiguillon sur Mer and La Tranche sur Mer.

60 mins North East: The City of Poitiers with it's outstanding architectural heritage, old streets and timbered houses. Plus Futuroscope - the fascinating European Park of The Moving Image - one of Europe's leading attraction parks.

And not forgetting, right on the doorstep, miles of pretty lanes and footpaths connecting the quaint and colourful hamlets dotted all around us..