Maison des Sablons
Marinated herby olives, goat’s cheese with pine ash, apricot tarts and puff pastries with fresh raspberries, rosemary honey and nougat with nuts, a few fresh oysters for dinner... You don’t even have to be particularly hungry to stroll through the pretty markets of the Charente and come back with such a sumptuous haul, because shopping there simply puts you in a good mood. When you get back to your accommodation laden with all these treats, it feels like coming home. This feels like a good place to stay for sure! Nestled in the hilly landscape are two lovingly renovated vacation homes. The people behind them are Katleen and Bart, who have succeeded in creating a casual “barefoot” atmosphere, yet where everything has been thought through to the very last detail. Making something look so incidental is a real art. The plastered walls in plain white, which do without decoration, the consistently used natural tones, the many cushions made of coarse fabric, the perfectly imperfect ceramics, the dried plants—everything just fits here, and is so unobtrusively beautiful that you can’t help but feel at home. Speaking of which, before you get to the food, you could take a quick dip in the cool water. The pool is just a few steps away from the two houses, hidden between lush greenery, surrounded by sun loungers and parasols and a covered terrace for those who prefer shade. The other tempting option is to set off to a pretty swimming lake with a sandy beach just a few minutes’ walk away. You could easily stay in either place until sunset—if it weren’t for those constant thoughts of the fine things from the market, which would certainly go very well with a bottle of white wine. Continue bathing or feast? Sounds like a win-win situation—or a vacation!
WHAT WE LIKE MOST:
- It’s so peaceful here. Between rolling hills and vineyards, forests and meadows, the two vacation homes are wonderfully quiet and the perfect retreat.
- Katleen and Bart have renovated the houses with great attention to detail. They’ve retained authentic elements and added durable materials, beautiful fabrics and soft earthy tones with a keen eye for design.
- Each house has its own garden with ornamental grasses, lavender bushes, rosemary and gnarled old trees.
- The welcome gift in the form of an engraved wooden spoon, which guests can take home with them as a souvenir
- The wood-burning stoves, which can be found in both accommodations, providing cozy warmth on cool evenings
- The terracotta floor in a herringbone pattern, which makes the Sablons 02 house even more beautiful (we’d love to take that home with us!)
- The many seating niches furnished with thick cushions which invite you to put your feet up inside or outside and finally start that summer novel you’ve been meaning to read for a long time
- A relaxation factor that should not be underestimated for anyone with small children: The pool is completely fenced in! And there’s an extra pool for the little bathers.
- In addition to culinary discoveries at the region’s markets, you can also shop for beautiful ceramics, wooden toys and home-woven baskets from local traders.
- Cycling, strolling through flea markets, enjoying a fantastic meal, exploring romantic places or taking a day trip to the sea—there are many ways to spend your vacation here.
GOOD TO KNOW:
- The vacation home Maison des Sablons 01 offers 120 square meters and two spacious bedrooms for two to a maximum of six people.
- Maison des Sablons 02 is more spacious, offering 180 square meters and three bedrooms for two to a maximum of eight people, perfect for a family with older children.
- The accommodations are located close to each other on the property and are ideal for spending quality time with friends.
- The fully equipped kitchens each have a Nespresso coffee machine plus milk frother, kettle, juicer, blender and toaster.
- A complimentary welcome pack awaits guests on arrival. This includes kitchen towels, a sponge, bath mat and dishwasher tablets.
- High chairs and children’s chairs can be provided on request for those traveling with children.
- The pool is open from mid-June to mid-September.
- Shopping can be done on foot, by bike or by car in the village of Brossac, one and a half kilometers away. There you’ll find a Spar supermarket, a butcher, a pharmacy and a bakery (where you can get really delicious tartes au citron!)
- The beautiful city of Bordeaux is around 50 minutes away by car and is definitely worth a visit. Almost car-free, you can stroll through a beautiful old town with great independent stores, restaurants and cafés.
- St. Emilion on the slopes of the Dordogne is about an hour’s drive away; the town is located on a rocky promontory and is on the World Heritage List—be sure to buy wine here!
- The historic town of Angoulême, where the world’s largest comics festival takes place every year, is just 25 minutes away.
- Cognac, the Ville d'art et d’histoire (city of art and history), is 30 minutes away. It goes without saying that you can taste and buy cognac there (or other delights such as salt, wine and schnapps).
- Swimming in the sea: You can get to the seaside in one and a half to two hours, so day trips are possible.
- Swimming in the river: for example, in the Dordogne in Aubeterre-sur-Dronne, 30 minutes away by car: Down at the foot of the village, children splash around in the river while the adults have a snack at the bar. It’s also worth taking a stroll through the town, where you‘ll find pretty antique stores and potteries.
- Swimming in the lake #1: It’s less than a 10-minute drive to Lac Bleu in Guizengeard. A nature reserve with imposing limestone cliffs and a lake with clear blue water.
- Swimming in the lake #2: In Montguyon (15 minutes away by car) you’ll find the Airs de Loisir de Beauvallon with a beach, pedalo hire and a bar.
- The nearest airports are in Bordeaux, 90 kilometers away, and Bergerac, 80 kilometers away.
Sleeping arrangements and amenities
- 2 holiday homes for 2-6 an 2-8 guests
- Yes
- Sorry, no
Rates
Start at €900 per week