Maison Kismet is an enchanting 18th Century Maison de Ville: Character abounds in this lovely village home situated perfectly for exploring the historical and sunny Charente Maritime. From the moment you open the front door into the tiled and limestone foyer, you will believe you have stepped back in time. Settle infront of the open fireplace that is the focus of the inviting Renoir Salon, that opens onto the walled garden. Dine in the adjacent formal dining room (seats 10), or al fresco on the private courtyard - a great place for having breakfast or evening drinks and meals. The well-equipped kitchen features a 5-burner, gas cooktop with double-width oven, dishwasher, microwave, full refrigerator, as well as all acessories for preparing meals. The breakfast area is next to the kitchen, and opens to the couryard. Up the winding staircase, 4 extremely spacious and restful bedrooms await our guests. All beds are fitted with luscious cotton linens. The Chambre des Rois and the Empire Suite have queen mattresses nestled into antique beds, while the Salle de Roses has twin beds, which can be pushed together to create a king-sized bed. The Empire Suite is 2 rooms, & is the perfect place for a family, since there is a "day room" containing a single bed and space for another single bed or crib. The American-styled bath has a deep garden tub (perfect for soaking) and a separate shower. The WC room is separate. Downstairs there is also a half-bath containing a toilet and sink. Parking is available behind the house. Across the street is the picturesque Chateau de Ville, a boulangerie is 5 doors away, the charcuterie lies around the corner, and a Super U market is 5 minutes away. Gemozac has a Friday market, offering local produce, seafood, meats, and fromages, as well as household items and clolthing. If you prefer not to cook, excellent restaurants abound in the immediate vicinity.
Vintners of Charantaise wines, cognac and pineau offer degustations, and their signs can be seen all along the roadways, so be sure to stop in for a taste and demonstration of how the wines are made and the cognac distilled.
Charente-Maritime is a region of South West France. From Marignac to the North La Rochelle (approx 45 mins away), to the West the Atlantic coast and huge sweeping beaches of St. George and Royan (approx. 30 mins away), to the East Cognac (20mins away) and to the south, Bordeaux an impressive city surrounded by the pretty wine producing villages.
Charente has a mild climate and is the second sunniest part of France receiving up to 2600 hours of sunshine a year. The area is perfect for a peaceful and relaxing holiday.It is ideal for those who enjoy walking, cycling,and those who have an interest in history,not to mention the bon viveurs who enjoy good food and wine. A 13th Century church, on the route to Compestello, is at the heart of the town of Gemozac, which also has a refreshing public swimming pool and park, just two blocks from Maison Kismet.
Places to Visit and Things to See
Pons: The attractive medieval town of Pons is built on a hillside, its keep and ramparts overlooking the the river Seugne. This was staging post on the road to Santiago de Compostela in the middle ages.
Jonzac: In the heart of Haute Saintonge, Jonzac is a pretty town and is the home of the thermal spa. The original Chateau is in the middle of the town and well worth a visit.
Saintes offers all attractions of a regional capital with the charm and history of the old town, not forgetting the Roman amphiheatre.
Beaches: Huge sweeping beaches of Meschers, St. George de Didonne, and Royan with many watersports. North of Royan is the Grande Cote with several miles of sandy beaches. Cote Sauvage is a favourite spot for surfers with big rollers from the Atlantic.
Cognac: You need to spend a day exploring the old town of Cognac and visit one of the famous distilleries,Martell,Hennessery,Otard or nearby Remy Martin.
La Rochelle: Very pretty old town and port. Superb shopping and sea food.
Bordeaux : This fascinating city which is surrounded by the wine producing villages of the gironde Estuary, internationally famous for the superior quality of the Bordeaux wines.
Ille d'Oleran: Fresh oysters and mussels, local sea salt.
Local vinyards: offering degustations of delicious local wines, cognac and pineau (a fortified wine unique to this area). We can arrange degustations wtih some of our favorite vintners.
Poitiers: Home of Futuroscope, a great place to entertain children and adults, alike, this beautiful city on a hill has several cathedrals, and many Medieval pedestrian streets lined with timber buildings and filled with contemporary fashions, delectible chocolates and pasteries, bistros, and cafes for watching the world go by.
Loire Valley: Only 2 hours up the motorway, you can visit some of the most reknown chateaus of France, including Azulay de Rideaux.
Froires and Brocantes: On the weekends, be sure to find the towns in which there's a Brocante, a bargain-hunters dream. Festivals and froires abound in the area, so be sure to check the calendar when you arrive.
House Hunting? Whether purchasing your primary residence, a holiday home, or an investment property, we can assist you with finding just the right property, or with referrals to immobiliers who provide exceptional service. Don't wait to make these arrangement until you have arrived as it is very time-consuming to visit all the various immobiliers to see all the available property. We can save you time and much of the struggle by prearranging showings of property that meet your criteria. We preview properties and select only those that would truly interest you.
We have excellent vendors and referrals to notaires who will give up the highest level of professionalism and representation, as well as advice about the legal considerations in structuring your purchase.
