L'Ancien Cafe, Aubigné, Poitou Charentes,
2 Adjoining Family Cottages, Sleeping 16 / 20 People
Cafe Cottage, 2 Bedrooms, Sleeps 8+  People
Cave Cottage, 3 Bedrooms, Sleeps 8+ People

L'Ancien Café is a large, old, country farmhouse, built in stages beginning in the 18th century.  It is a series of pleasant, French cottages, located in a rural setting, built of thick, stone walls, and  is located in the village of Aubigné, in the  Poitou-Charentes region of south western France.  It is situated at the edge of the Aulnay Forest, approximately 4 hours from Paris, one hour from the Atlantic coast, 90 miles to Bordeaux and about 20 miles from Cognac. You are truly in a small village out in the country, although shopping and restaurants are just a short drive away. There are supermarkets in Chef-Boutonne and Brioux, and open-air markets are held on weekend mornings in some of the larger villages and towns.  The market day in Chef-Boutonne is Saturday, Lezay is on Tuesday and Melle is every Friday.  They have a carnival-like atmosphere and are a great place for buying fresh seafood and cheeses. There are some very nice restaurants, just a short drive from the cottage, and public swimming pools  in many of the smaller towns.

The area offers a multitude of things to do, with the nearest beaches being Chatillon Plage, located immediately south of La Rochelle on the Atlantic coast.  As you cruise along the coast down to Royan, you will find other, pleasant beaches. Recently opened in Les Gours, is a man-made mini-lake and beach. There are two fine golf courses located in Cognac and Angoulême. The country roads are very inviting to the cyclist, with freedom of routes and accessibility to the local culture makes cycling a wonderful pastime. There are plenty of Chateaux throughout the region, including Château Javerzay, a 16th century structure and located right in Chef Boutonne,  and Château La Roche Courbon, located to the west and south of Surgeres; in fact, within a radius of 90 miles from the cottage, there are over 100 châteaux, all open to the public and some of them, free. Futuroscope is located just north of Poitiers, and is well worth a visit.

Limoges is the porcelain capital of France, and is about 90 miles away, and  Oradour sur Glane, the Village of Martyrs, is a must.  This historical icon is a living memory of the many residents who were victimized by the Nazis in 1944 when a troop of SS soldiers stormed the village, accosted and killed its inhabitants and burned the buildings to rubble. To the southwest of Niort you may visit the "Venice of France" known as the Marais Poitevin. The Marais is a strange, lazy landscape of ferns and meadows shielded by poplar trees and crossed by an elaborate system of canals, dikes and slow flowing rivers. La Rochelle, Royan and Rochefort are the closest beach communities to the cottage offer everything from the freshest seafood (fruits de mer), bathing, people watching and some of the finest sidewalk cafés without the fast pace of the Champs-Elysées in Paris.  In La Rochelle, you can take the ferry to Ile de Ré and from Rochefort you can visit Ile d’Oléron. From Royan, take the ferry to the Médoc peninsula to the south and explore some of the beaches between Royan and Bordeaux

The Farmhouse: has two, self-contained, self-catering cottages, each having very large bedrooms, a full kitchen and living room (which also can be used for sleeping purposes, of course), and private toilet/shower facilities. The cottages are newly remodelled, decorated and furnished to enhance your comfort while preserving much of their original charm, and the furnishings are comfortable but simple.  They are designed to be able to stand up under the use by numerous groups of guests, including children.  The gently rolling countryside, beautiful beaches, excellent dining and all of the comforts and privacy of your own country cottage are yours.  The extensive grounds and orchards will add to the pleasures of your holiday. There is a telephone in each cottage.

In the Cave, there are three large bedrooms (1 downstairs and 2 upstairs) which are furnished with 3 double beds, 4 single beds and bunk-style beds.  In the Café, two large bedrooms upstairs are equipped with double and single beds, and an additional room with a sleeper sofa.

In each bedroom, you will find a choice of either single, double, or bunk beds.  The bedrooms have plenty of space to unpack and store your things without tripping over your baggage. Your group will have the choice of sleeping in any of the bedrooms or using the sleeper sofas outside of the bedrooms.

Bathroom has space galore, with sink, tub/shower and toilet, and plenty of counter space. A reasonable amount of paper goods, bar soap and cleaning materials are also provided.  A huge water heater (one for each cottage) will provide plenty of steamy water for your shower.  Across the courtyard, attached to the garage building, is a door that faces the street.  Inside you will find an additional toilet and sink to help when there is a line for the bathroom or for when you are dining or relaxing outdoors (reserved for guests of the Cave Cottage).  The Café Cottage has an additional toilet room within.

The living room  has sofas, some of which can convert into double beds.  Halogen and incandescent lighting provide the warm ambiance desired for the French setting.  The fireplace and a variety of regional and national tour books and maps finish out the room.  For your listening enjoyment is a stereo with cassette and CD player with a variety of recorded French music.

The kitchen is among the best equipped we have seen in the area. The large fridge and butane stove/cooker (and microwave as of autumn 2000) are the tools you can use to prepare your at-home meals.  Substantial counter space, breakfast-bar, a double sink are for your use.  Within the cupboards and drawers you will find service for 10+ hungry folks including pots, pans, flatware, dishes and of course, the all important corkscrew!  An electric toaster and coffee maker are there to use and enjoy. In one cupboard, you will find a variety of “usables” including plastic bags, wraps, canned goods, coffees, teas, cereals, soups condiments and other assorted goodies.  The selection varies from day to day.  Also, you will find extension cords, light bulbs, limited tools, scissors, tape, fuses and some materials to use if a fly should get in. Upstairs in each cottage, you will find a variety of toys and games to please an extended age group. Heating and cooling is never a problem at l’Ancien Café.  The 28” thick walls provide a “cave-like” cool and comfortable temperature during the summer.  For the winter and the cool nights, wood burning fireplaces and gas heaters are there for your use.

There is a laundry room with an electric washing machine, for your use. 

Outside, you will find furniture including tables, chairs, lounge chairs, barbecues and the like, and there is large swing and play set is in the rear garden. There are two orchards on the property with fruit trees bearing cherries, pears and apples.  On the back of the house (the end furthest from the street) are numerous grape and elderberry vines that are abundant with fruit, in season.  Please sample them to your heart’s content. The courtyard is enclosed on 2 1/2 sides.  The ends open to a huge open garden and a country road.  Each self-contained cottage and all of its amenities are yours to enjoy   All of the shutters and doors open so you can enjoy the fresh air and sunshine, or close them in the event of a springtime sprinkle.  On a clear night (which most of them are) the sky opens to a dramatic blanket of astronomical beauty. Don’t miss the nightly display.

The bells of the nearby church will remind you of the time and the days gone by.  Most guests really enjoy them. 

Contact:

Self Catering in France, quoting ref:#4196F

Tel: +44 (0) 1206 273 762

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