La Barn - La Petite Ferme gîtes

Converted stone barn in the heart of the charming village of Dampierre-sur-Boutonne. With a grocery store, bar/café and Renaissance château less than 400 metres away. Perfect for 2 people, but sleeps 4. With heated pool and games barn. La Grange is one of three gites at La Petite Ferme Gites, Dampierre-sur-Boutonne, which was originally a working farm in the heart of the village. The barn has been lovingly restored, retaining its original stone walls, exposed beams and even the rings where the animals were tethered. You enter the barn via the large private terrace. The front door opens onto a large, airy (and cool in summer) kitchen/lounge area. The kitchen is fully equipped with all the equipment and utensils you will need during your stay, including oven, hob, microwave, fridge, toaster, kettle and filter coffee machine. The lounge has a double sofa bed, armchair, coffee table and TV, as well as a dining table and 4 chairs. Upstairs is a large bedroom with stone walls and exposed beams. There is one super king-size bed and two single beds. The single beds are in the eaves, with a lower ceiling height, and are therefore more suitable for young children. With the sofa bed in the living room, there are plenty of sleeping options. There is room for a cot if required. There are wardrobes and two sets of drawers, bedside tables and bedside lamps. The shower room opens onto the bedroom. The private outside terrace is large and airy, with a table, chairs and barbecue. There is plenty of space for sun loungers if you wish to relax. The back half of the terrace stays in the shade all day, so it's the perfect place to stay cool and relax. It's a lovely place to relax and eat in the evening. There is a lovely 10 x 5m heated swimming pool, recently refurbished, with plenty of sun loungers and parasols. The pool area is exposed to the sun all day. There is a large patio and pebbled area around the pool, with rattan sofas and parasols, making a lovely sitting area, perfect for relaxing during the day or watching the sunset in the evening. There is also a large games barn to keep children and adults entertained. This is equipped with a pool table, table tennis, table football, darts and a number of board games, books and DVDs. We also provide equipment that can be used on the lawn such as badminton, football, boules, mollky and frisbee. Excellent Wifi and English (freeview) or French television are available in the gite. We have a friendly cat who lives with us on site. Towels and bedding are provided, but we ask guests to provide their own pool/beach towels. There are laundry facilities on site, including a washing machine, tumble dryer, iron and ironing board. There is also a freezer and ice maker available. The Barn is one of three gites at La Petite Ferme Gites, the other two being The Farmhouse (sleeps 6) and Fig Tree Cottage (sleeps 2). Each cottage has its own private terrace, dining area and barbecue and does not overlook the others, allowing you to feel isolated. Guests share the heated swimming pool, play barn, sun terraces, lawn, laundry room and car park. The three gîtes can be rented together if you wish. The gîtes at La Petite Ferme offer the tranquillity of a gîte in the French countryside, but with the advantages of being in a small, busy village. It's just a two-minute walk to the village shop in the morning to buy fresh baguettes and pastries, or to stock up for the day. The shop serves breakfast, hot drinks and freshly baked pizzas and stocks a range of local produce and delicatessen items. Bread and pâtés can be ordered in advance, guaranteeing a delicious, fresh French breakfast. Château de Dampierre is a magnificent Renaissance château open to the public, with beautiful gardens to explore. It offers daily guided tours, as well as allowing you to explore freely. Throughout the year, art exhibitions and musical events are organised. The River Boutonne flows through the village and around the château. Fishing, walking and cycling are all available in the village. We can provide information on local routes and fishing spots. We can organise bike and canoe hire or fishing trips. In summer, Dampierre is fortunate to have a small brocante (antique shop), an art exhibition showcasing the work of local artists, a community shop of local artisans selling their wares and a second-hand clothes shop. It's a vibrant but tranquil village. An 8-minute drive away is Aulnay, a charming little market town with bars, restaurants, shops, a twice-weekly market and a large supermarket (Intermache). The larger and prettier town of Saint Jean d'Angely is a 15-minute drive away. Here you will find a number of supermarkets, bars, restaurants, a twice-weekly market, an abbey and a cinema, as well as a range of leisure activities such as go-karting, boating, canoeing and swimming. Both towns are on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela and have some superb churches and other historic buildings to visit. Both towns have useful tourist offices. During the summer, there are a number of free evening concerts and gastronomic events in the local villages, open to all. We'll keep you up to date with what's going on in the area during your stay. Water sports, including paddle boarding, water skiing, kayaking and canoeing, are a 25-minute drive away. We are ideally situated within a 60 minute drive of the beautiful beaches of the Atlantic coast, a number of historic and beautiful towns and a range of activities. We have produced an online guide, which we email in advance of your trip and which provides each gite with information about the area and a range of maps, including cycling and walking routes which we can share with you. La Petite Ferme Gites is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the tranquillity of the beautiful Charente Maritime, but there is plenty to do and see in the area for those who want to explore.