Les Chapelles - Le Cadran Solaire

BFB's Overview.

Sunshine, sandy beaches, a stunning indoor pool and horses in the paddock - it’s easy to see why the owners of No. 11, Les Chapelles have fallen in love with the place! With fantastic features like the large, lawned play area, which is all part and parcel of the family ethos of sharing their good life with others. This also means the gîtes are well geared up for babies and toddlers.

The owners’ house, or ‘maison de maître’, is somewhere between 125 and 200 years old, with a number of ancient outbuildings which they have transformed into a 3 bedroom gîte (Le Cadran Solaire), a 2-bedroom gîte (La Cachette) and a funky indoor pool designed by a local architect. The gîtes are a modern and minimalist take on the traditional buildings and the owners have tried to equip them with everything needed for an enjoyable and relaxing holiday.

The living rooms are large and comfortable, with wood-burning stoves, satellite TV and DVD players and the modern fitted kitchen are well equipped, from coffee machines, dishwashers and microwaves to the range cooker and double Belfast style sink in Le Cadran. The bedrooms are smart and contemporary, with feature wall decor and big comfy beds, plus there’s a classic slipper bath in Le Cadran for parents to enjoy an indulgent soak.

Les Chapelles is set in 3.5 acres of land, some of which is a paddock for the horses but mostly providing plenty of space for children to play with the ride-ons, discover the mini tree house and clamber over the large climbing frame with slide. Le Cadran also has a private shaded dining terrace and lawn, while La Cachette has a sunny patio, both with barbecues for eating outdoors and catching some rays. Everyone will love the fab indoor pool, with walls of glass doors that open onto the outdoor sun terrace overlooking the lawn, so parents can chill out while the children burn off some energy.

Accommodation Overview - Le Cadran Solaire
Le Cadran Solaire is the largest of the two guest gites at Les Chapelles. It sleeps six people in three good-sized bedrooms - two with double beds and one with twin beds. The gîte has a large lounge, kitchen, upstairs bathroom and downstairs shower room. There’s a pretty terrace and private garden overlooking the rest of the grounds. Both gites have ovens, hobs, fridge freezers, dishwashers, washing machines, microwave ovens, coffee machines, satellite TVs, DVD players and barbecues.

Location Information

The tiny hamlet of Les Chapelles is just over half way down the west coast of France, approximately 20km inland, in the Charente Maritime region, which is nicely undiscovered and authentically French.

The region has a warm and sunny micro climate on a par with the South of France, so families can take full advantage of the beautiful beaches just 25 minutes drive away at St Georges-de-Didonne and the seaside town of Royan (20km). The sweeping beaches of the Côte Sauvage are also only 40 minutes drive.

Les Chapelles is about 1.5km from the villages of Montpellier-de-Medillan and Meursac which have butchers, bakers, convenience stores, newsagents and, in Meursac, a superb restaurant. There are slightly more amenities in the small town of Cozes (9km) and plenty of shops restaurants and things to do in Royan and the historic Roman town of Saintes. Royan boasts the best market in the Charente Maritime, open most days, and oysters are a local speciality – well worth trying grilled with cheese, if half a dozen on ice with a slice doesn’t appeal! From Royan, a ferry across to the Medoc vineyards is also a handy way to sample some of the region’s world famous Bordeaux wines.

The Ile de Re and Ile d'Oleron, within an hour's drive, make a great day out and are ideal for exploring on bikes as the islands are very flat, with criss-crossing cycle tracks through the fields and around the coast to chic harbour towns, fishing ports and fabulous sandy beaches. The Ile de Re is accessed by a huge bridge from La Rochelle which itself makes a great day out as a historic maritime port and walled town, crammed with shops, cafes and restaurants.

Getting There: The nearest airports are La Rochelle (1 hour by car), Bordeaux (80 mins) and Poitiers 90 mins.) The channel ferry ports of Cherbourg, Caen and St. Malo are about a 5 hour drive, with Calais and the Eurotunnel about a 7 hour drive.

Nearest Medical Services (GP & A&E): In local village, 5 mins drive