Maison du Partage France

In the rolling hills of beautiful Burgundy, this wonderful six bedroom holiday home welcomes families or groups of friends looking for a relaxing stay in tranquil surroundings.
The owners have renovated this mid 19th century house with great style as you can see from the carefully chosen furnishings, both antique and contemporary, the bright bathrooms and the rustic yet well-equipped kitchen. Throughout the house traditional features such as wood beamed ceilings and original fire-places contrast with modern bright décor bringing light into the rooms. In the bedrooms space has been utilised cleverly with mezzanine levels and small but useful shower rooms alongside a more spacious en-suite bathroom. Sleeping up to 17 guests, the ground floor living space allows family and friends to take breakfast in the conservatory, chat on the sumptuous sofas or dine in the elegant dining area or outside under the starry sky.
The glorious gardens offer serene views and privacy in very tranquil surroundings. Kids can play by the swing and slide or kick a ball around on the vast lawns and the swimming pool is a delightful place to cool off or bathe in the summer sun on the poolside terrace. Dip into the outdoor jacuzzi or simply relax in the gardens whilst the kids are busy playing table tennis. The al-fresco terrace is the perfect place to catch up on warm evenings over long meals with good local wines and fine food from local markets.
The maison is just a five minutes drive from the local village where you will find a well regarded restaurant and there are other places to eat scattered across the surrounding countryside. The nearest town, Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye (10km), has pretty shops and art galleries and is well known for being the home of the famous writer Colette. A town museum is dedicated to her work and there are some lovely hiking trails in her name.
Exploring further afield will take you to charming villages and market towns such as Sancerre or Chablis with their fine wines, Briare on the banks of the Loire or the famous hilltop town of Vézelay. The spectacular cities of Auxerre, Nevers and Orléans can be visited within a day or you may prefer to spend your time exploring magical castles, discovering idyllic vineyards or taking a boat trip down the Loire or Yonne rivers.
With hikes, mountain biking and horse-riding nearby, as well as other family activities such as tree-top adventures, castles and farms, it’s up to you to decide how active or relaxed you wish to be in this slow-paced yet delightful part of Burgundy.Maison du Partage is set in a hilly, rural and wooded area in the Yonne department in western Burgundy, 10km from the little town of Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye. You are also near the borders of the Cher, Nievre and Loiret departments, each one with charming villages and market towns, fascinating art and history and fine wines to sample. This part of Burgundy offers undulating landscapes of woodlands, vineyards and small lakes as well as the Loire and Yonne rivers only a short drive away.
The villa is just outside a tiny village which has an excellent restaurant. Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye (10km) has further restaurants, a supermarket and other town facilities you would expect as well as antique shops and art galleries. Here you can visit the house lived in by the famous female writer, Colette, who was born in the late 19th Century. The town also has a museum dedicated to her and her work and there are two hiking trails dedicated to her from the museum.  Also nearby you can visit Château de Ratilly (10km) with its working pottery productions and an interesting history dating back to the 11th Century.
Just north of the Maison is the town of Saint-Fargeau (20km) with its remarkable castle open from Spring to Autumn, sometimes featuring special events such as re-enactments. There’s also a lovely farm nearby in Saint-Fargeau, Ferme du Château, open at the weekends, where visitors can get hands on with the animals, a brilliant place for families. Kids will also love the nearby Parc Naturel de Boutissaint (17km) where you can see many animals in their natural surroundings. Another local attraction is Guedelon (13km) where you can watch a 13th century castle being built using only authentic tools and locally sourced materials, taking many years. Finally, don’t miss the Saturday morning market in nearby Toucy (22km) which has been voted Burgundy’s most picturesque market!
There’s a great range of activities in the local area with beautiful hikes, canoeing on nearby lakes or rivers (Lac du Bourdon is 20km away), horse-riding nearby and some brilliant opportunities for cycling and mountain biking. Tree-top adventurers should head to Nature Adventure (16km) with all sorts of activities on offer including paintballing.
The capital of the Yonne department is Auxerre (42km), on the Yonne River, is a protected Historic Town in France with an impressive town centre with its towering cathedral and churches, attractive squares and cafes, medieval narrow streets full of ancient houses and its 15th Century clock tower. Combine with a visit to Chablis (60km), a pretty village with some of the region’s most famous wines.
Wine-lovers will appreciate being under an hour to Sancerre (50km), a picturesque village with more than 300 vineyards or wine caves in the surrounding area where you can often sample and buy the white wines of this region. If wine isn’t your thing, the local goat’s cheese is also held in high esteem!
Back in Yonne, the famous and charming hilltop town of Vézelay (47km), on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, has been loved by Christians, writers, artists, historians and lovers of Romanesque architecture. Visiting the 12th century Basilica is a must and afterwards stroll through the beautifully preserved streets full of colourful flowers in the summer months. Walk the circular route around Vézelay with access to some of the highest points and stunning views of the surrounding Burgundy countryside.
Heading across to the Loiret department, explore close to home in the stunning gardens of Château de la Bussiere (52km) or the attractive town of Gien (66km) on the Loire River with its weekly market. Briare (52km), also a market town, is where the Loire River crosses with the Canal de Briare with lovely riverside walks, boat and canal trips and wonderful flower filled streets in the late spring and summer.  You can also take a day trip to the home of Joan of Arc, Orléans (107km), with its stunning medieval centre and cathedral.
Alternatively, head over the border to the Nievre department, following the Loire south to Nevers (72km), a city full of art and history on the banks of the river, well known for its pottery and you can visit open workshops in the summer months. Combine with a trip to Apremont-sur-Allier (90km), one of France’s Plus Beaux Villages with its attractive gardens. At Excellence Luxury Villas we pride ourselves on going that little bit further for our guests. From private chefs to babysitters we can help you arrange those little extras that make it a truly memorable holiday. Simply fill in the concierge request from below or contact Excellence Luxury Villas Concierge Team who will be happy to help. We can typically help you arrange any of the following:
– Maid service/extra cleaning – Private chef/cook/catering – Welcome hamper/pre-stocked fridge – Local day-trips or tours – Airport pick-up/drop-off
Extras available at this property:
– Extra cleaning – Baby-sitting – Catering
Please note that all extras are subject to availability and must be requested in advance of the holiday (prices on request). Due to some rural/remote locations, not all services will be available at all properties. However, we will always do our best to fulfil your requests.