Perched on top of rolling hills, close to the border between Charente and Dordogne, our charming 17th Century Charentaise self-catering properties, in the tranquil heart of rural South West France, are the perfect setting for a very special holiday.
Both properties
Maison d'Amis and La Chaumière can be booked together as Les Chauvins ensemble to offer five Bedrooms - three doubles (one ensuite), two twins, a further two bathrooms.
Maison d’Amis sleeps six, La Chaumière sleeps four (plus a day bed).
Alfresco cooking and dining
Two sets of BBQ equipment and plenty of different options in the shade and sunshine for enjoying your meals or drinks in the stunning grounds surrounded by breathtaking views. Each property has its own alfresco areas and when booked as one there is space to seat ten people together. There is also an abundance of nature to enjoy in and around Les Chauvins and the foragers among you will enjoy our figs, walnuts, grapes, blackberries and hazelnuts!
Swimming pool
A lovely, large pool (9m x 8m) refurbished in 2020 and sheltered within the walls of an old barn, with a jet to swim against and a covered pool house with seating and access up to the top garden and play area.
If the two houses are booked separately, the pool is shared, otherwise you’ll have exclusive use.
Games and activities galore
The top garden offers a large grassy area for cricket, badminton or a kick about. There are also swings and a Wendy House for the younger ones. There is a pétanque court, and bicycles may be hired nearby.
The games room and barn have table tennis, pool, fussball and darts. For the gym enthusiasts there is also equipment available including a treadmill, weight machine, free weights and more.
All that you need
There is parking on site, and as an ensemble they offer: a dishwasher in Maison d'Amis, refrigerators, one gas hob and oven, one gas range cooker, two microwaves, cafetières, two washing machines, ironing facilities, bed linen, bathrobes and bath towels, baby equipment if required, Wifi, televisions, DVD players, DVD collection, fans in rooms, wood burning stoves, books, board games, gym equipment, sun-loungers, Hamman (lightweight) pool towels, parasols, coolboxes, and a vintage piano!
We want you to have a wonderful holiday, so if there is anything you do need which hasn't been made available, please do let us know and we will do our very best to accommodate you.
Private chef options
Perhaps you just fancy a night off or maybe you have a special occasion to celebrate - we can help you do that in style.
We are delighted to have collaborated with Martina at Orangette. Martina brings family-friendly, locally sourced and honest, delicious, homemade food to people's tables. She will also come and cook for you at the gîtes.
Orangette offers a variety of services which will reduce some of the catering work for you, while adding a really superb ingredient (pardon the pun) to your holiday.
Suitability
The properties are 400 years old and they have solid but steep old staircases and varying levels, so unfortunately we regret that the gîtes are not wheelchair friendly.
We welcome well behaved children, and while we can accommodate a well behaved dog in La Chaumière unfortunately Maison d'Amis is not suitable to do so as the outside spaces for this gîte are not enclosed.
Groups celebrating anniversaries and birthdays, touring cyclists, and other small groups are welcome but we do say a polite 'no thank you' to stag or hen parties! Please note there is no smoking permitted inside the gîtes.
Sustainability
Whilst maintaining consistently high standards of cleanliness, quality and attention to detail, we are proactively committed to lower-impact living and being more socially responsible, in realistic but meaningful ways. We have a growing range of measures starting with environmentally friendly cleaning products and locally sourced, sustainable, Fairtrade, handcrafted or antique and vintage furniture, furnishings, equipment and homewares.