Self Catering Gites & Bed and Breakfast at The Courtyard at Sainte Catherine, Angouleme, Charente Maritime, South West France
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Property Summary (FR244)
The Courtyard at Sainte Catherine is a family- friendly Gite and Bed and Breakfast in the Charente region of France. We are not just about a "nice gite", however, we do strive to make you comfortable. The Courtyard is about great food, beautiful and peaceful surroundings and wonderful experiences. Located near Jarnac, Cognac and Angouleme, surrounded by sunflowers and vineyards, yet still within easy access to all of the family friendly facilities and attractions you expect for your perfect family holiday.
The town of Rouillac with all amenities and swimming pools 2 mins away including an outdoor swimming pool with 4 pools, diving board, lap pool, childrens pool, baby pool, picnic area, swings 2 minutes away by car. We do have our own above ground splash pool that is ideal for children. Horse riding, swimming, canoeing, golf, fishing, cycling, skating, water skiing and other sports nearby. River & Jarnac 10mins. 20 mins to historic town of Cognac. 25mins to Angouleme for shopping and TGV and airport. Beaches at Royan and La Rochelle 60-90 minutes away. Man made beach and lake at Plan D'Eau de La Grande Prairie 20 minutes away. River swimming at beautiful Jarnac 10 minutes away.
Outside at The Courtyard there is a sunny gravelled area and garden surrounded by roses and hollyhocks with tables, chairs, umbrellas, loungers and BBQ. Small children are welcome to use the wooden climbing frame, sandpit and trampoline in the main garden. There is also a 3.5 metre, filtered above ground childrens splash pool in the main garden. There is gated parking in the courtyard. Bicycles and a canoe can be made available by prior arrangement. There are also quiet places in the main garden to sit and guests benefit from the fruit and veg from our organic potager - we offer a full catering service if required, not just for our Bed and Breakfast guests but also evening meals for our self catering guests.
We offer two types of accommodation at The Courtyard at Sainte Catherine - self catering gites or Bed and Breakfast en suite rooms:
La Maison Cachée Gite (sleeps 4); formerly the buttery & kitchens serving the Priory of Saint Catherine of the Field. Tucked away at the far end of the main house, Maison Cachée is a two bedroomed gîte that will comfortably accommodate up to four people. Upstairs there are the bedrooms and shower room with large corner shower, wc and hand basin. Downstairs you can take advantage of a fully fitted kitchen with all the appliances that you will need, a half gas and half induction ceramic hob, a fridge freezer, a dishwasher and washing machine. The kitchen doubles as a family room as there is a comfortable sofa where you can spend lazy winter days in front of the wood burning stove or perhaps sit around the dining table and take time to plan a summer outing along the river.
Le Pressoir Gite (sleeps 4-6): is a luxury gîte for 4 people, although 6 could be accommodated available from 1 May 2012. It features a bedroom with a king-sized bed and antique wardrobe. An enchanting mezzanine sleeping loft has twin beds, an ideal den for the children, whilst a quality sprung sofa bed is provided in the open plan living room for larger parties.The tiled bathroom has a sunken bath, large corner shower enclosure, hand basin and wc. The kitchen features all the appliances you will need for your stay including a fridge freezer, microwave, dishwasher and washing machine. Of course all the other kitchen and dining essentials are provided. On cooler days why don’t you snuggle up in front of the wood burning stove and enjoy a film on the LCD television and DVD player.
Chambre d’hote (or bed and breakfast) offers you a light and airy room with a spacious en-suite shower room. Both of our rooms have lovely views over the gardens or courtyard and over vineyards and sunflower fields. You will be assured of a peaceful night’s sleep as the windows are double glazed and the shutters block out all light if you like it nice a dark! We are in the countryside so there is virtually no traffic noise. Occasionally a nightingale or a barn owl will call if you are lucky too!
Family Friendly Holiday Accommodation
Being family friendly is more than about providing a few toys, it’s about understanding and addressing the needs and concerns of families travelling with pre-school children. Having taken our son to Greece for six months at the grand old age of 10 weeks we do understand! Our accommodation has the following extras to try and make your stay as luggage, stress free and comfortable as possible;
“Proper” cot with bumpers, bedding and mosquito nets; Hand blender; Steriliser; Bottle warmer; Slip mat for the shower; Changing mat; Plenty of sun umbrellas; Maclaren quest buggy with sun and rain shade; 4 car seats inc. Maxi Cosi Priori; Hop up/Step up; Childs loo seat; Potty; Rug for garden; Climbing frame; 2 Swings; Covered sand pit with lots of sand toys.
The garden in front of the house and Maison Cachée is enclosed by a fence separating it from the courtyard. Parking is away from the gardens. In the main gardens which are fenced there is a 3.5 metre splash pool. It is above ground and has a pump and filter system. It is really quite good for kids, our son has learned to swim in it this year. We hope these things will make your stay with little ones a little easier so that you can relax and enjoy your holiday too! |
Holiday Reviews from the Owners’ site
We had a lovely holiday as a family. The gite was beautiful and perfect for us as it has such a warm, homely feel yet has all the space needed for two young children to be entertained. We took advantage of the wonderful service, offered by Steph and Charlie, of a beautiful home cooked evening meal. This really made the experience for us as it is so hard to dine out of an evening when you have a young family and it was lovely to enjoy fine dining in such a beautiful setting.
What a wonderful place, and it has been restored to a high standard. The facilities are perfect for a family with children or without. Canoeing, pony riding, outdoor swimming pools, shopping and markets all on your doorstep. Charlie and Steph are great hosts and their passion to create a true french Gite experience is apparent. We will return and look forward to seeing the progress of the new Gites in 2012.
We had a lovely stay! Thanks so much for the bread, the cake, the chats and all your help. You’ve worked really hard, we do hope to see you again.
Thank you both for a lovely long weekend – wonderful company, fabulous food and superb location. Lovely to see you again.
So happy to have been able to return once more to your wonderful hospitality and kindness. Just this one further week here has quite refreshed us and confirmed it as our nicest retreat. To come back after a busy day to such exquisite food every night beats anything the more telling could convey. I hope those who have enjoyed their stay with you will spread the word; to see you acknowledged as such remarkable hosts.
Many thanks for a wonderful time. We really enjoyed our time in your beautiful home. Our only regret is that we should have stayed longer! You are very privileged to live in such a lovely part of the world, hopefully we will see you again.
You are the best we’ve ever met, selfless care and kindness, we count ourselves most blessed to have found you and this great gîte. When so much is put in to all you do for strangers, how fortunate are then your friends. We see that all your lucky guests are in for a treat. Maybe too the quite unbelievably superb cuisine! Our fondest best wishes and grateful thanks.
We simply cannot find the words to express to you what a truely wonderful honeymoon/holiday we have had staying with you. We truly feel that we have made and met some wonderful friends in you both. From the moment we arrived you have made us feel so welcome. Steph; out heartfelt thanks for the way you took care of Lyla on day one, the utterly fabulous cooking and your friendly and warm generosity and amaxing attention to details. We sincerely hope to come and stay again and will follow with eagerness the developmemnts to The Courtyard. We have never felt so relaxed and at ease on holiday so from the bottom of our hearts THANK YOU! |
