Le Tilleul is a spacious Charentais farmhouse set in a small hamlet in south west France, near Chalais and Aubeterre sur Dronne, on the border of the Dordogne and Charente (the 2nd sunniest department of France). Comfortable, modernised and furnished to a high standard, this self catering house sleeps 8 plus a baby, in 4 attractive bedrooms with an additional sofa bed in the living room.
The grounds include a large private 12x6m swimming pool with Roman steps and a deep end and two pool terraces offering space for loungers, tables, ice coolers, parasols and reclining chairs. The pretty landscaped garden provides a range of dining areas in sun and shade and a beautiful wild flower meadow, plus wonderful open views over rolling countryside to distant farms.
Inside, the impressive double height living room is arranged into 4 areas for reading, dining, relaxing overlooking the garden and watching TV. The Smart 40” HD TV has both satellite and internet channels including free Netflix and YouTube. The farmhouse kitchen is sympathetically updated with modern fitted units, a dining table, range cooker, dishwasher, storage and a log burner. Beyond the kitchen the utility room houses the washing machine, 2 microwaves and 2 fridge freezers.
The tastefully furnished ground floor bedroom opens directly into the garden. It contains a five foot double oak bed and matching furniture, and the ensuite private shower room also contains a loo and basin.
The three generous upstairs bedrooms are all individually styled with views over the garden and/or pool to the rolling countryside beyond. All are newly decorated and furnished. Each sleeps 2 in a combination of double, and king-size/twin options. An additional 3 foot single bed is available for a child wishing to share a room with others. 1 upstairs bedroom is fully ensuite while the other two have bath and/or shower/wash basin facilities and share a first floor toilet. A cot is provided. Guests must, however provide their own cot linen.
The location is peaceful and unhurried, surrounded by woodland and fields. Beautiful country walks may be enjoyed directly from the door.
Chalais, the nearest town, is just 4kms away and holds a bustling weekly market. Heretooyou will find a railway station with direct trains to Bordeaux and Angouleme, linking to the TGV, and a good selection of shops and services including an Intermarché supermarket, excellent boulangeries and boucheries, petrol station, banks, car wash, restaurants, bars and tea rooms.
Eating out on Market Day is a treat with a variety of stalls selling hot and cold food, from home-made sweets to spit-roasted chickens. Le Bonne Humeur bar and restaurant occupies prime position in the centre of town where tables and chairs in the square offer shade from the sun in a pleasant location for whiling away time over coffee or drinks. Evening meals and good value lunches are also available. The Bodega, in a cool spot by the river, open for delicious tapas on certain days. Chalais has two further bars open all day for coffee, meals, drinks and outdoor seating. An impressive chateau dominates the town. Tearooms, bars and patisseries also offer snacks and meals.
Aubeterre-sur-Dronne (one of the loveliest towns in France),is only a short drive. Each visit brings new discoveries, including a wide choice of restaurants, some filling the square beneath the trees. The steep lanes and shady alleyways offer unexpected attractive views over the town and down to the River Dronne.
Here, a riverside beach offers fun on the sand, boating, swimming and family activities through the summer months. The ancient monolithic church, castle, delightful shops, bars and craft workshops attract 250,000 visitors annually,
Other attractions close by include a host of pretty villages, some with Romanesque churches; fascinating bastide towns like St Aulaye; the Double Forest; Riberac; Verteillac; Bergerac (famous for its attractive old town on the river and its Cyrano associations) and Brantôme (Venice of the Dordogne). From Le Tilleul you are also a short drive from Domaines, vineyards, chateaux and wine and brandy tasting tours in Cognac, Bordeaux. and the Unesco site of Saint-Émilion.
The area hosts numerous special events throughout the summer. These include the renowned Sud-Charente International Show Jumping Competition held in Chalais each August, summer exhibitions, firework displays, falconry shows, night markets, food festivals, boating, kayaking and canoeing, beach fun, feasts and much much more.