Maison Charente France

Rural Charente doesn’t get much better than this. A sleepy stone hamlet, just three kilometers from the Charente River at Condac and only five kilometers from the historic market town of Ruffec.
Set off on foot or by bike and explore beautiful villages and châteaux nearby or discover Angoulême, Cognac or Poitiers only 45 – 60 minutes away. Exciting day trips to Bordeaux and Saint Emilion, to sample world-famous wines are also possible from this countryside idyll.
Guests will not feel isolated, with the classically French town of Ruffec nearby, bursting with character and offering plenty of amenities, including restaurants. The region is brimming with things to do; zoos, river boat trips, monuments, WW2 and Roman sites and lots of outdoor sports, Summer music and film festivals and even a vintage car race.
Just as the region offers a feast for the senses, so too does Maison Charente, which is an impressive, grand Maison de Mâitre full of character and original features in a rustic farm setting surrounded by hilly fields. The restoration has created an uplifting mix of old and new, offering guests the best of both worlds. Large, light-filled rooms modern, colourful furniture as well as vintage pieces. Outdoors there are formal gardens, an ornate grapevine arbor for dining under, a stone barbecue, roses, lavender and sunny terraces for sipping apéritifs. There is also a children’s play area with sand pit, table tennis, football nets, badminton net and boules set.
Maison Charente will delight guests with its charm and beauty in a region bursting with culture, nature and fun adventure for all ages. Maison Charente is set in a gorgeous sleepy hamlet just 5km from Ruffec, a popular, characterful, classically French market town with a not-to-be-missed historic covered market every Wednesday and Saturday.
The town itself offers a wide range of amenities such as three supermarkets, pharmacy, bakery, butcher, deli, patisserie, wine merchants, post office, banks, restaurants, bars and even a well-regarded hospital.
The riverside village of Condac is just 3km away, an excellent base to admire the Charente river.
The Licheres la Salle is a tourist centre for outdoor pursuits, there are also many hiking and rambling paths through the woodlands or along the Charente river. For those who like to be a bit more active, the Roc de Rosny has been adapted for rock climbing (Mansle – 22km/23mins).
Throughout the summer, there are music and film festivals taking place in the region, including the International music festival in Confolens (25 mins away), and the vintage car race in Angôuleme – the ‘circuits des remparts’ around the old walls of the city.
Angôuleme is a marvellous historical town sitting on a rocky promontory just above the Charente river and enjoying breath-taking views over the Charente Valley. Characterized by wide boulevards, ramparts, ancient churches and several museums, it is an interesting place to discover.
Just 5km east of Angôuleme, you can visit the Charente Grotte de Vilhonneur which host the world famous wall paintings of Lascaux. All along these beautiful caves dating back to over 27,000 years ago, there are also many places where one can practice kayaking.
Cognac is also within easy reach: explore its gorgeous old town and visit the big Cognac houses both in the city and in Jarnac (20 mins) where you can enjoy fabulous brandy tastings.
Poitiers is a further attractive city with over 100 church towers including “Notre-Dame-La-Grande”, good local shops, bars and restaurants and definitely worth a visit for its famous ‘Futuroscope’, France’s largest educational theme park.
The house is also superbly positioned, offering easy access to routes to discover  the World Heritage site of St Emilion and the cosmopolitan and elegant city of Bordeaux.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 form 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- Babysitting/childcare services
Extras available at this property:
– Nanny/babysitting service- Bike hire- In-house beauty therapist
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!