La
Principale gite
- The lounge
La
Principale gite
-The kitchen
| Gites
Cognac - Cognac Gites. Chambes d'hôtes and self-catering holiday accommodation Cognac, Charente, Poitou Charentes, France |
Le
Moulin de Chazotte |
A
magnificent French watermill dating back to the 15th century with
four exclusive self-catering holiday gites available to let all year
round and five chambres d'hôtes (bed & breakfast). |
La
Principale (Gite 4) |
A luxury gite sleeping up to 7 in three bedrooms |
|
|
La
Principale gite
- The lounge |
La
Principale gite
-The kitchen |
| Summary: La Maison Principale is the jewel in the crown at Le Moulin de Chazotte. It is the biggest of all four of the gites and has a wealth of exceptional features which make it a holiday dwelling of an unusually high standard.. The house was built in the 1750s and has been totally renovated to incorporate the latest technology as well as retaining traditional Charentais architecture. The staircase, for example, was custom-made by local craftsmen with a lovely curved design which has been the authentic Charentais-style for centuries. The gite is only available for letting from mid-June to mid-September. |
 |
 |
La
Principale gite
-The kitchen fireplace |
La
Principale gite
-The kitchen (Who
let the cat in?) |
| ACCOMMODATION: Access: La maison Principale is approached by a long driveway through the grounds and parking is about 10 metres from the front door. The terrace: The terrace is elevated and has an impressive balustraded surround. It is in two parts with a table, chairs and sun parasol to one side and hardwood reclining chairs on the other. The terrace is south-facing with panoramic views over the vines. The hallway: The heavy oak front door leads to a small hallway with a coat cupboard and doors leading off to a toilet, the lounge and the kitchen. The kitchen: First impressions are of the classic tiled floor with it's decoratice inserts and also the heavily beamed ceiling. The massive stone fireplace houses the Godin wood-burning cooker and one entire wall has exposed stonework. The kitchen itself is easily large enough for the table and chairs at one end and the coffee table and chairs at the other. The fitted kitchen has a microwave, built-in electric oven, dishwasher, fridge, gas hob with an extractor hood, toaster and coffee-maker. The washing machine is downstairs in the utility room via a staircase off the kitchen. There are windows at the front and back with views to the south over the vines and to the north over the millraces at the rear of the mill into the woods. The lounge: Here too one is impressed at first glance by the oak-strip flooring and the beamed ceiling. At the far end of the lounge is the Charentais stone fireplace which was rescued in pieces from an outhouse and which now belts out heat in the winter from a wood-burning stove. To the left is the lovely sweeping Charentais staircase leading up to the first floor. Three windows overlook the river and the millpond and a fourth has southerly views over the vines. There is a comfortable seating and a tv with French terrestrial channels and free-to-view satellite channels. There is a hifi system, a DVD player and a video too. |
 |
 |
La
Principale gite - The
main bathroom with separate shower |
La
Principale gite - The
Charentais curved staircase |
|
The landing: As
with so many French houses, the first floor area of La Maison Principale
was never really designed as living accommodation. The original timber
roof beams and trusses were so low that you had to limbo to get under
them! These roof beams have been specially and expertly modified to allow
the first floor area to become completely usable so that there are now
three bedrooms, a bathroom and a landing area. The floors at first floor
level are all varnished pine floorboarding with rugs. |
 |
 |
La
Principale gite
- The south-facing terrace
|
La
Principale gite
- The front (the nearest building)
|
 |
La
Principale gite
- The east side overlooking the river
|