Gite Loge Fougereuse

Gite Loge Fougereuse 4/5 Bedrooms, sleeps 7/9 Property Ref: FR173

A very warm welcome awaits you at our beautiful holiday home.
It was built in 1899 and has been lovingly renovated to become a comfortably furnished period home situated in the village of Loge Fougereuse, in the Vendee, France.
Originally it was the home of the village school master and attached to it was the Mairie or Mayor’s office.
When we first saw the house we were immediately taken by the spaciousness of the Salon (Mayor’s office) – the
ceiling is 4 metres high! We also loved the tall windows which are so typical of the period. They afford attractive
scenic views from the hill top position.
Outside there is a decking area with table & chairs and a sizeable area laid with white chippings. This is surrounded by shrubs & flowers and in the centre a large pollarded Lime tree (tilea europaea) provides good shade on those hot Summer days.
We hope you will have a memorable holiday whether you simply relax at the house or explore the area.
A plunge pool approx 4 m diameter and 1.5 m deep

GUESTS HAVE EXCLUSIVE USE OF ALL FACILITIES ON SITE.

ACCOMMODATION

This property has been lovingly restored to a very good standard throughout.
The entrance hall (with a toilet) leading to the dining room with an extending dining table, chairs and a sideboard.
The kitchen is modern and fully equipped with a gas hob, electric oven, microwave, refrigerator/freezer, electric kettle and wok, plenty of cooking utensils, crockery, glassware and cutlery. There is also a dishwasher, washing machine, tumble dryer, iron and ironing board.
The spacious Salon (formerly the Mayor’s office) is a room in which to relax. It has attractive country views, a bookcase stacked with books, games and a variety of literature relating to the the Vendee. There is satellite TV in English and a DVD player. There is a wonderful chandelier which is a great feature to the room. WIFI
A door leads to the outside decking area.

Upstairs situated on two floors, you will find four bedrooms:
On the top floor there is double bedroom with good views across the valley, and a small bedroom with a single bed. From this window you may see a stork on top of a chimney pot.
Situated between the rooms is a shower room, with basin and toilet.
On the middle floor there is a double bedroom with a toilet & basin en-suite that looks out over the front garden, a twin bedded room with a garden view and also a shower room with basin and toilet.

The house has electric thermostatically controlled radiators in all rooms with exception of the Salon which has a large wood burner.

You will find logs in the store if needed.

There is a separate 1 bedroom gite available if more space is required, ideal for perhaps grandparents who would prefer a little privacy. The gite has a living area, small kitchen area, shower room and mazzanine bedroom. The gite will not be let separately, it is only to be used if required in conjunction with the main house. An extra £100 per week if required.

This property is completely private and you will have exclusive use of all facilities.

OUTSIDE LEISURE

Outside there is a decking area with table & chairs and a sizeable area laid with white chippings. This is surrounded by shrubs & flowers and in the centre a large pollarded Lime tree (tilea europaea) provides good shade on those hot Summer days. A perfectly quiet situation, ideal for relaxing whilst enjoying a glass of wine or two!
A PLUNGE POOL is installed - approx 4m diameters and 1.5m deep.
Ample off road parking and private access to the cottage.

NO PETS ALLOWED
ALL ACCOMMODATION IS NO SMOKING

PRICES 2016

1 January – 27 May £500
28 May – 08 July £600
09 July – 02 September £750
03 September –07 October £600
08 October – 03 January £435

Changeover day is a Saturday, though this can be flexible outside of the main season.
Prices are per week and include hire of bed linen and house towels (please bring your pool/beach towels).
We also provide a welcome pack on arrival for which there is no additional cost.
Security deposit £200 is payable, this is fully refundable if no damage to property and left in a clean and tidy condition.
If the 1 bedroomed gite is already required for extra space this will be an extra £100 per week.

Our English house keeper lives locally and will be delighted to help you with anything you may need.

GUESTS HAVE EXCLUSIVE USE OF ALL FACILITIES AT THIS PRIVATE PROPERTY

CUSTOMER REVIEWS

"Home from home with a touch of luxury"
A spacious, comfortable family home with all mod cons so no washing up to argue over. With two teenage boys and silver surfers (wi-fi greatly appreciated) we had no difficulty in finding something to suit everyone. Mike had left a booklet detailing everything about the house and numerous leaflets on places of interest, a good selection of books, dvd's etc and the plunge pool (which scored 10 out of 10 with the male element of our party!) Just 10 minutes drive away the village of Vouvant had pleasant restaurants which also do take-aways. We recommend hiring a boat on the lake in the nearby Forest of Mervent and a day out in La Rochelle and the Ile de Re, both very enjoyable. A treat for the boys was finding the Karting at Angles, a treat for us was discovering quiet roads next to fields of corn and sunflowers. 2014

“As good a rental property as you are likely to find”
The owner has taken great care to ensure that his lovely old property has been maintained and restored both sympathetically and to a very good standard. Ample space, well furnished and comfortable to boot. All kitchen appliances worked effectively. There is little that can be added to the previous review - it can be highly recommended to anyone who enjoys property rental. Whilst there are virtually no facilities with sensible walking distance, within a very few minutes drive, on easy roads, there a number of sensibly priced restaurants, a boulangerie (offering prefou - a delight not to be missed for those with good appetites, a small general store and at very nearby Chataigneraie a very well stocked supermarket. There are an excellent number and variety of walks which can be explored in close proximity. The scenery is not dramatic, but extremely pleasant and on a very human scale. For a quiet, comfortable holiday, without stress and drama - it takes some beating. Like Arnie "We will return".

23 Aug 2012 “Superb holiday house.”
A beautiful house with high ceilings, well proportioned rooms. We were a party of 7, 3 adults and 4 children and had plenty of room. House located on a corner plot with a large secluded front garden. Ample parking. Loge Fougereuse is a small village very pleasant and the locals very friendly. Local swimming pool only 5 km away in La Chataigneraie. ideal house to use as base and visit the area. Very helpful English house keeper.

LOCATION

Loge Fougereuse is a small rural village in the southern Vendee with its own Church, village school and Mairie.
It is on the edge of the Mervent -Vouvant area which is very attractive with its forests, rivers and larger picturesque villages, but still relatively unknown.
Depending on the time of year you will see fields of sunflowers which so epitomise this area.
Just down the road from Number 9 is the village of St Hiliare de Voist. Here you will find the Lion
D’or, a popular bar and restaurant, the village bakery (boulangerie), and shop.
The nearest small town is La Chataignerie (5km) with supermarkets, restaurants and shops as well as the tourist office.
About 9km from the house is the Mervent – Vouvant Forest of 5000 hectares through which flow the Mere and Vendee Rivers. It’s ideal for walking (over 200km of footpaths), mountain biking & riding and there is also the fun park of Pierre Brune. Here there is a nautical centre where you can hire sailing and electric boats, canoes, kayaks, and bicycles. There is also the Natur’Zoo de Mervent an animal park in the forest. In Mervent village you might like to take in the panoramic view of the forest and river whilst you sip your aperitif on the terrace of the Bar Rondo.
Vouvant is said to be one of the most beautiful villages in France. It sits atop a hill by the side of river Mere.
As you wander up through the Postern Gate along the cobbled streets you may hear a story about the ancient Watch Tower, which according to folklore, was created in 1242 by the fairy Melusine - in just one night!
There are several local markets but the best is held on Saturday mornings in Fontenay le Comte (pop. 14500) 12km from Vouvant. It is an attractive town with some good restaurants and shops, while in the old quarter there are some fine Renaissance houses. Francis Viete was born here in the 15th century, and credited with the invention of modern algebra. The Chateau de Terre-Neuve is worth a visit. Writer Georges Simenon lived here using Fontenay as a backdrop for a Maigret novel.

Between Fontenay and Niort, on the south side of the N148, is an area called Marais Poitevin (and sometimes Venise Verte on account of canals and
lush green area). There are some pretty villages by the water where you can hire punts or be punted. Head for Coulon or Damvix.
The property is within easy driving distance of the Atlantic coast beaches (approx 1 hours drive) Most beaches are backed by sand dunes and pine forests with large areas for picnics and scenic coastal walks. The Vendee coast stretches for 120km and boasts many blue flag awards. There is also a large man-made beach/activity park within 10-15 mins drive at nearby Xanton-Chassenon.
The historic port of La Rochelle is 75km away with its famous aquarium, numerous bars and restaurants and great shopping.
Le Puy de Fou, the famous French historical theme park is just 38 km away - a fantastic day out which is well worth a visit. There is also a nightshow - Cinescenie which needs to be booked in advance.
Or you may like to visit Parc du Futuroscope (the European Cinema Park) near Poitiers where children will enjoy state of the art entertainment.

For wine lovers, the nearby cave at Pissotte produces and sells direct to the public well-known local red and white wines.
Every 2 years (June 2010), Fontenay-le-Comte holds a magnificent carnival with floats and dancers from around the world. The whole event is finished with a magnificent firework display on the third night.

Travel
Nearest airports are La Rochelle and Nantes, 45 mins and 1 hours drive respectively. Poitiers is also accessible by car in 1 hour 15 mins. The driving times from the channel ports are St Malo (3 hours), Caen (4 hours) and Cherbourg (5 hours). Use of a car is advisable.