Renovated and enlarged, (two bedrooms created on the first floor), this traditional gîte is now an attractive character home with exposed beams, original bread oven, wood-burning stove and has a large level garden. In an old farm setting with distant views over the rolling Vendée countryside, the cottage is well placed for exploring the region, being central to la Rochelle/west coast beaches, Poitiers, Puy du Fou and Venise Verte.Accommodation: One double bedroom and one twin room (low head-height) for which a third bed is available. Lounge-dining room with sofa, easy chairs, dining table & chairs, radio/CD/cassette player, games & books. Bathroom with 'sabot' bath/shower and separate toilet. Kitchen with gas cooker, fridge-freezer, microwave, coffee maker, toaster, ample crockery, cutlery & cookware.The cottage is attached to the main house and, at the front, faces onto the old farm courtyard and, at the rear, the kitchen door opens straight onto the large level garden with table/chairs, sunloungers, barbeque etc. Childrens garden toys, boules and badminton are available. Parking is alongside the cottage.
Available April to November from £170 to £325 Peter & Christine Woodman
Tel: 00 33 (0)2 51 87 44 82 Website email the owner

The small hamlet of La Viollière is surrounded by gently rolling countryside made up of fields and small woods. A very rural retreat but easy to find and well connected for easy exploring. A relaxing environment but with plenty to see and do. Our nearest village, Breuil Barret (2kms) has a restaurant/bar (with outside seating) and a good boulangerie-épicerie, a pretty old church, tennis court and two hairdressers! The nearby town of La Châtaigneraie (6kms) offers three supermarkets, banks, bars and restaurants and the normal complement of small shops. It has a good outdoor swimming pool and tennis courts. The local leisure lake is just a few minutes away and is very popular for picnics and walks (fishing permits are available) there is also a children's play area. A café/bar opens in high season, with a small swimming pool adjacent which is very popular with children. Pedaloes and crazy golf are also available. Micro-lite flights, horse-riding, go-karting and treetop adventures are also nearby.

View from bedroom

window Rear garden

There are many nearby places of interest such as the medieval village of Vouvant with lovely views over the ancient ramparts, the forest of Mervent with walks, activity parks and large lake for swimming and boating, Mouilleron en Pareds - the birthplace of George Clemenceau, Bazoges en Pareds with its wonderful donjon (keep) and medieval garden, Fontenay le Comte, a rennaisance town and former capital of the Vendée. A little further away you will find the tranquil waterways of the Venise Verte and Puy du Fou - the amazing historical park of Vendée history. There are also several weekly markets in the area.

Further afield: the famous ancient port of La Rochelle is just 1h 10mins drive, or 1h 20mins drive to the wonderful west coast beaches between La Tranche sur Mer and Jard sur Mer for swimming, surfing or body-boarding. Poitier with Futuroscope and Saumur on the Loire can both be reached in 1h 30mins.

Holiday accomodation in North Mayenne
Bed & Breakfast or Self-Catering

As you overlook our 7-acre park, set with thousands of trees and shrubs, the atmosphere of La sablière oozes peace and tranquility.

Hidden among the trees are numerous leafy walkways winding around the beautiful 2-acre Carp Lake.

The area is a paradise for artists, nature lovers, or those wishing to fish. those seeking quieter times can merge with the calm of our Standing Stone Field and its ancient monument