Le Fig Tree - La Petite Ferme Gîtes

A lovely space for 2 people. Lounge/kitchen/dining room and private terrace. Large double bedroom with king-size bed and shower room on the ground floor. Heated 10 x 5 m swimming pool with terrace and seating area, large games barn. Converted stone barn in the heart of the charming village of Dampierre-sur-Boutonne. With grocery shop, bar/café and Renaissance château 400 metres away. Fig Tree Cottage is one of three gites in La Petite Ferme Gites, which was originally a working farm. Fig Tree Cottage has been lovingly restored, retaining its original stone walls and exposed beams. Steps lead up to the property from the ground floor to the private terrace, where you have your own fig tree as well as a table and two chairs, parasol and barbecue. From the sun terrace, you enter the cottage through the kitchen/living room. The kitchen is equipped with microwave, oven, fridge, toaster, kettle, filter coffee maker and all the usual utensils you might need. There are two comfortable armchairs, a coffee table, a television and a small dining table with two chairs. Stairs lead up to the bedroom and shower room. The bedroom has a king-size bed, double wardrobe, chest of drawers and bedside tables with lamps. There is plenty of space for a cot if you need one. There are steps to the terrace and steep stairs inside the cottage, so it is not suitable for disabled guests. There is a lovely 10 x 5m heated swimming pool, recently refurbished, with plenty of sun loungers and parasols. The pool area is sunny 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, frisbee. Excellent Wifi and English (freeview) or French television are available in the gite. We have 2 friendly cats living with us on site. Towels and bedding provided, but we ask guests to provide their own pool/beach towels. There are laundry facilities on site including washing machine, tumble dryer, iron and ironing board. A freezer and ice maker are also available. Fig Tree Cottage is one of three gites at La Petite Ferme Gites, the other two being The Farmhouse (sleeps 6) and The Barn (sleeps 2/4). Each cottage has a private terrace, dining area and barbecue, and does not overlook the other, allowing you to feel isolated. Guests share the heated swimming pool, games 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.