L'Ecurie

Situated in the old stables of an 18th-century Charentaise house in the peaceful village of Migron - the heart of the Cognac/Pineau producing area. Renovated with great care, L'Ecurie enjoys a beautiful, planted terrace leading directly on to the pool - perfect for breakfast in the sunshine - as well as an orchard for guests' exclusive use.L'Ecurie retains much of its original character, with solid oak beams, exposed stonework and plenty of rural architectural features.

The private driveway and entrance are alongside the fruit garden of the main house (help yourself to whatever's in season). The kitchen/living/dining area is open plan, and double doors lead directly on to a private terrace and the beautifully landscaped pool area beyond. Upstairs are two loft bedrooms, one with a double bed, one with twin beds and both with fitted cupboards and shelves. A French day bed, situated in a mezzanine level upstairs, can also be converted into a night bed to accommodate a fifth person if required. Facilities at L'Ecurie include: satellite TV (including BBC and ITV); French terrestrial TV, DVD player, stereo cd mini hi-fi, full-sized dishwasher and washing machine.

The property has fibre broadband wifi at download speeds of 380Mbps.

The 9m x 4m pool is solar-heated during the cooler months, has a level floor, and full steps. It is fully fenced and has childproof gates. It is the only area shared with the adjoining house.

Alongside books, maps, board games and tourist leaflets are many suggestions for days out and information on local shops, restaurants and markets. Wireless Broadband is available at no cost. L'Ecurie can also be hired with Thouvenin (Property Reference 1300) to provide accommodation for up to 15 people.

The small village of Migron, with its pretty, 11th Century stone church, is perfect for those who don't want to be too remote, with a bar, butchers, hairdressers and post office. A pizza, a fresh fish and a vegetable van all visit the village weekly. The village of Burie is just a five minutes drive with a magnificent bakery, coffee shop, bar, restaurant and a mid-sized supermarket that also sells petrol.Excellent markets can be found nearby on just about every day of the week - in Saintes, Cognac, St Jean d'Angely, Matha, Burie, among others. Brocantes (or flea markets) are held in local villages on most weekends, and artisans fairs - such as the annual Foire aux Vins in Migron held in June - are frequent throughout the summer. Migron and the surrounding area is excellent for cycling - miles and miles of level countryside with virtually traffic-free routes through vineyards, fields, woodland and villages. Other activities include river trips, antiques markets (large brocantes held in surrounding villages regularly throughout the summer), visits to chateaux, churches and museums, walking, cycling and birdwatching (74 hectares of lagoon nature reserves in the area).

Sport and leisure in the area include golf (18-hole courses in both Cognac and Saintes which are 20 minutes away), horseriding, all types of fishing, tennis (including a court in the village), canoe-kayaking (boats to hire at various places along the Charente in Cognac and Saintes), and plenty of space in and around the village to kick a football.

The region is littered with historic villages, cosmopolitan cities and some of France's most beautiful beaches with miles of white sand. Its not a heavily populated area, with a real sense of space, but with good motorway links that makes travelling quick and easy. It's a wonderfully varied landscape, with seemingly endless vineyards and sunflower fields stretching to the horizon all around our village. Head towards the coast though and you encounter beautiful sea marshes, packed with wildlife and a bird watcher's paradise.

And then there are the islands.. Ile de Re, home to celebrities and feeling more like Greece than France... and Ile d'Oleron a two mile ride across an amazing bridge and miles and miles of undeveloped beaches backing onto pine forests. And if you want a taste of them all there's no better than the preserved steam railway that runs throughout the summer.The beautiful sandy beaches of Royan are just forty minutes away from the house and those islands just a bit further. Also within an hour's drive are Rochefort and La Rochelle with its historic port, world class aquarium and fantastic shopping