Information about the house and Moncoutant
We have been successfully renting our house for 6 years and believe it is still good value, despite the strong Euro, compared with the cost of a holiday in Devon or Cornwall. A detached house for £375 per week for 4 people in July and August has to be a bargain! We can also provide a 6 or 12 month rental price.
Our detached house is light and spacious and situated in the second sunniest part of France, on a quiet back street 3 minutes gentle walk into the pretty village of Moncoutant with its bakeries, shops, supermarket and bars. Outside the double kitchen doors is a shaded area for your morning coffee and croissant on hot summer days, and beyond is a large garden with BBQ area. At the front is a balcony where you can sip your wine after a hard days relaxing and watch the sun go down!
The Hotel de Ville on the way to the village will supply you with details of the many festivals and events in the area. Two minutes down the road is the Pescalis Fishing and Nature Reserve for lakeside walks and restaurants. 20 minutes drive takes you to the ancient town of Bressuire with its chateau and twice weekly markets.
The house comprises a large lounge with 2 double settees leading through sliding doors to the kitchen which is fully equipped and is also used as the dining area. In summer we like to throw open the kitchen doors to the garden and enjoy the view, and eat outside as much as possible. There is a large bathroom and separate W.C.
The oak staircase takes you up to the main double bedroom which has 2 large windows with a view of the garden. There are 2 other bedrooms to choose from, one double and one single, again both very light.
Under the house is a double garage for secure parking, plus off street parking in the drive.
Food and Drink
The gastronomique St Pierre restaurant is 1 minutes walk from the house. The Carpe d'Or restaurant and bar overlooks the lakes of the Pescalis nature and fishing centre, 15 minutes walk away. In the village square is another lunch-time restaurant/bar, and there are several other excellent restaurants nearby.
Many of the vineyards of the Loire can be visited to try the local Muscadet and Pineau.
The large Super U in Moncoutant is of a very high standard - the local Parthenaise steak is the best quality, and there is a good fish, cheese and charcuterie counter, plus excellent seasonal vegetables and fruit, plus a wine section. The Moulin des Sevres boulangerie makes the best pastries and cakes we have ever tasted.
More about the area
The area is unspoilt and peaceful, with lovely rolling countryside, suitable for touring, walking and cycling. There are traditional markets in Parthenay, Bressuire, Coulonges and Fontenay, and an artisans market every Sunday in the summer at Pescalis fishing centre.
Heres some ideas for days out:
Walking & cycling routes – there are many in the area & guides are available at the property.
Parthenay (30 mins to the east): pretty medieval town with good restaurants. Market on Wednesdays. On the way back stop at the “plan d’eau” at Secondigny – lake, walking, fishing and picnic area. Or head north towards Thouars and visit the Chateau at Oiron with its modern art exhibition www.oiron.monuments-nationaux.fr/en.
Mervent Forest (30 mins): one of the largest woodlands in France with walks in the forest or by the lake where you can go boating or fishing. Continue on via Vouvant (a pretty artists’ town) to Fontenay-le-Comte, a larger town with good backstreet restaurants near the Church at the top of the hill. Market including fish market on Saturdays.
La Rochelle (1 ¼ hrs): Famous port is a must with its harbour-side sea food restaurants, quayside markets, cobbled streets plus museums, shopping and aquarium. Continue on to the Ile de Re with its beautiful beaches, or go south where there are more lovely sandy beaches, starting with Aytres.
Venise Verte (green Venice) (50 mins) – the Marais Poitevin national park – a network of canals and waterways stretching all the way to the coast. Coulon and Arcais are very pretty towns and you can either hire a bike, or take a canoe or punt and spend a relaxing afternoon amongst the leafy green waterways. On the way back visit the market at Coulonges sur l’Autize (Tuesdays).
Puy du Fou www.puydufou.com/uk (45mins to north west)
An incredible historical theme park by day with battle re-enactments by gladiators in a full-size colosseum, jousting medieval knights, Vikings, and hunting birds “dancing” to music. By night the population of 15 communes retell their story in a “son et lumiere” spectacle of fireworks, fountains, lasers and stunt riding against the flaming background of a ruined fortress. Advance booking required during the summer months.
Loire Valley: why not drive to Chinon or Saumur and then head east as far as you want, visiting chateaux and vineyards as you go!
Abbeys & Churches: Moncoutant & Bressuire have lovely churches. Also worth a visit are the abbeys of Maillezais and Nieul sur l’Autise to the south east.
Sport: fishing at Pescalis, 9 golf courses within an hour, windsurfing
Go-karting is available at nearby Chantemerle. Or go and see the ostrich farm and maize maze at Courlay. Futuroscope at Poitiers is a futuristic theme park with 3-D Cinerama and evening laser show www.futuroscope.com/eng/. There’s also a waterpark to the north at Massais.
There are also many "Plan d’eau" in the area – lakes with man made beaches for a relaxing day by the water.
Details of all the above and more are available at the house.
Reviews:
Summer 09:
The house was very homely and very comfortable .Everything we needed was available. We all loved the area and would return again .All the information you need is available and very detailed. We would like to thank the owners for making our stay rewarding and relaxing.The garden was very tranquil and ideal for reading and dining outside. Mr & Mrs Ellwood and friends
EVERYTHING WE NEEDED WAS AVAILABLE IN THE COTTAGE WHICH MADE OUR FIRST VISIT TO FRANCE A LOT EASIER THAN WE THOUGHT. THE INFORMATION FOLDER WAS A GODSEND AS WE WERE UNSURE OF THE AREA AND OF THE LOCAL ATTRACTIONS, OF WHICH THERE WERE MANY BY THE WAY. THE COTTAGE WAS VERY COSY AND THE GARDEN WAS IDEAL FOR EITHER SUNBATHING OR JUST RELAXING WITH A GOOD BOOK AND A COLD BEER.WE WOULD NOT HESITATE TO BOOK THE PROPERTY AGAIN IF WE RETURN TO FRANCE IN THE FUTURE AND WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE OWNER FOR PROVIDING US WITH A PERFECT HOLIDAY HOME IN FRANCE." A Moore, July 2008
We had a great holiday, weather was very good. Very good area for exploring and Puy du Fou was brilliant both day and night shows.Mr & Mrs Mazella. August 2008
"Thoroughly enjoyed it, we had sunshine until the Saturday we were leaving - it was so good we seemed to spend overlong at the Plan d-eau with the sand. I have enjoyed our dealings." Laurence Nash Aug 06
