Claire Barn France

The house benefits from a large living area including a dining area with an open fireplace. Two sets of french doors lead on to a patio, 1 acre of mature and secluded gardens, fenced heated pool (10m x 5m) and covered patio/barbeque area. The garden has a southerly aspect, the sun remains at the back of the house all day, and is surrounded by fields which grow corn or sunflowers. The garden itself is dotted with bramble bushes, bamboo, bunches of lavender and scented rosemary.
The dining table will seat 8. A high chair and Ikea wooden toddler stool are also provided. You can relax in the living area by listening to music or watching TV which has a DVD and video player. The TV is satellite linked and receives BBC channels along with CNN, ITV news, music and children channels. The bookshelf is full of books, videos and DVDs which you are invited to share, but make sure you take care and return them after use.
The large farmhouse kitchen is fitted with gas cooker, microwave, washing machine, dishwasher, fridge and freezer. The kitchen table sits in the middle of the kitchen. A set of French doors lead to the garden.
The closest town, Saintes, is a large provincial town, with designer shops, cafes, markets and restaurants and is only 10mins from Retaud.
At Royan you can laze on long stretches of safe sandy beaches on the Atlantic coast, which is only 20 mins away from home. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants along the promenade and local shopping too, such as Timberland, Esprit, D&G, Christen Lacroix and Benneton. There is also a beautiful Carousel for the children and a small fun fair. Further beaches can be found at Meschers with secluded coves and children play areas.
Further along you will find a wonderful zoo at Palmyer for a whole day out. There is a wide range of animals and they provide good entertainment with regular shows. The seal and whale show is particularly amusing.
La Rochelle is home to a large and exciting aquarium and has plenty of designer shops and galleries to keep you occupied, as well as many cafes and restaurants. There is also a large Casino, beautifully kept gardens and a park in which you will come across a children’s mini zoo.
As you leave La Rochelle, you will see signs for the toll bridge directed to the Ile de Re. This is a beautiful island with sandy beaches and clear sea. It is easy to cycle around, as bikes can be hired and the island caters to the cyclist with plenty of cycle lanes.
Cognac is within half an hour by car and is worth a visit.
Supermarkets can be found in nearby Saintes. Many supermarkets opening on a Sunday will close at midday and they are very prompt.At Excellence Luxury Villas we pride ourselves on going that little bit further for our guests.  If there is anything you would like to arrange for your stay, please contact the Excellence Luxury Villas VIP Concierge Team who will be happy to help. We can usually help you arrange any of the following:

Cook/catering
Maid service/extra cleaning
Local day-trips or tours
Airport pick-up/drop-off
Babysitting service
Welcome hamper/pre-stocked fridge

This is by no means an exhaustive list, so please just contact Excellence Luxury Villas VIP Concierge Team to help you arrange any of those little extras that can really make the difference.