A Luxury Manoir (plus two cottages) with heated pool and yoga studio

Set on its own hill with stunning views and surrounded by sunflower and maze fields, the estate dates back from the 16th century and was more recently used as a cognac estate with a distillery at the back of the house. The Manoir comprises a large 6 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms (all with showers) with a large heated swimming pool, games barn and yoga/fitness studio set within pretty grounds. There's a fully equipped kitchen, a large dining room which seats up to 18, a separate drawing room, library and TV room. For guests who require the full estate, there are two further 2 cottages - a 3 bedroom 2 bathroom cottage and a 4 bedroom 2 bathroom cottage each with their own private entrances and gardens. The estate can be rented in its entirety or just the Manoir itself. PLEASE NOTE: PRICES QUOTES ARE FOR THE MAIN HOUSE ONLY (SLEEPS 12-14). PLEASE CONTACT US WITH YOUR GROUP SIZE AND REQUIREMENTS FOR ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATION. All houses have been converted to provide spacious, comfortable and stylish accommodation. Central heating and log fires provide a cosy welcome in winter. The heated swimming pool (12m x 6m) is in a sunny corner, protected by an alarm. Next to the pool is a large barn with a table table tennis table, which can also be used as a shady space for barbecues. Next to the games barn is our yoga/fitness studio and fitness equipment with wood floors and views onto the pool. The lawns are large enough for active games such as football/cricket/boules. The barn next to the house, once the stables, can be used as an additional indoor eating area for large groups if required. The estate offers lovely views, peace and tranquility yet is within striking distance of the coast and historic towns such as Cognac, Bordeaux, St. Emilion and Angoulème. Closer still is the beautiful village of Aubeterre where you can easily spend the day sampling the lovely restaurants, art galleries and shops. The nearest town is Brossac, a 5 minute drive away, and has a market and plenty of shops and other services: banking, pharmacy, post office, hairdressers, tabac, bakeries, convenience store, butcher, garage and petrol station and a very good pizza restaurant. The village centre also has 2 tennis courts that can be rented by popping into the Pharmacy. For more shopping, the town of Chalais is only about 15 minute’s drive, and has a good Intermarché supermarket, and all the usual shops you’d expect in a small town, as well as a superb restaurant called le Relais du Chateau, perched high above the town, and a very friendly restaurant called la Bonne Humeur in the centre which has a wonderful outdoor grill. I have heard the creme brulee is the best in the region. Ten minutes' drive from the house just outside Brossac, you'll also find the Etang Vallier lake complex, where there is a lovely man-made beach surrounding the lake; you can sunbathe, swim, fish or picnic, and for a very small fee can hire kayaks to use on the lake, go wake-boarding, play mini golf, table tennis or squash, swim in the indoor pool, little children can play on the equipment or you can have a drink, ice cream, meal or snack at the bar/restaurant. On Friday there is happy hour where all the activities are free so the children can play while you relax in the bar, and chat to the very friendly locals, French, British ex-pats and a few Dutch and other assorted nationalities. There are biking and hiking trails all around through stunning countryside, and many of these also have little adventure trails with monkey bars, climbing frames etc; for children. The Dordogne, Charente Maritime, and Aquitaine are each no more than 15 minutes away. It is a beautiful rural area, with woodland, farms, vines and sunflowers everywhere you look and there is a huge amount to do in the area, if you’ve had enough of relaxation; historical areas to visit, museums and galleries and a multitude of water-parks, sports facilities and children’s activities within a short drive. There are many excellent restaurants in the area, some incredibly good value for money. The weather in the area is amongst the best that can be found in France, with the second highest annual level of sunshine in the country.