"Our stay at Coeur de Lion was truly extraordinary. The house is magnificent... spacious and comfortable, the feel of a medieval dwelling but with first-rate contemporary appliances and tasteful furnishings....
"The beds are comfortable; the bathrooms are modern with fantastic showers and soaking tubs; and there are many other small but wonderful touches... "
from recent VRBO Review
"The beds are comfortable; the bathrooms are modern with fantastic showers and soaking tubs; and there are many other small but wonderful touches... "
from recent VRBO Review
A Home Away from Home
View from one of the bedrooms.
With lots of light and wonderful views from its many windows, this historically-'listed' stone house, with its red terra cotta roof, was built in the late 12th Century and renovated in the 21st Century. This is a village house, a townhouse, not a castle or chateau-- just the skilled conversion of beautiful 12th to 15th Century stones and wood into one large, comfortable, modern living space.
A tall glass arch offers day-long southern exposure, and its entry door, fashioned from an oak wine vat found in the cellar, delivers you into the loft-style main floor, with its excellent kitchen, dining area, fireplace, and living room. The layout makes it a very comfortable stay for just two or three people, and with warm light from its many windows, it is an especially romantic venue for two. But with bedrooms on the top and bottom floors, there is also plenty of room for several couples, extended families, or a reunion of friends.
A tall glass arch offers day-long southern exposure, and its entry door, fashioned from an oak wine vat found in the cellar, delivers you into the loft-style main floor, with its excellent kitchen, dining area, fireplace, and living room. The layout makes it a very comfortable stay for just two or three people, and with warm light from its many windows, it is an especially romantic venue for two. But with bedrooms on the top and bottom floors, there is also plenty of room for several couples, extended families, or a reunion of friends.
General Layout
The main floor is an open design: the roomy kitchen has excellent amenities, including a six-burner stove and an island counter for preparing meals or just enjoying a coffee and croissant.
The dining area, with lovely views from the adjacent arched window, has a solid oak table with enough chairs for a large dinner party.
The living area, with its cozy chesterfields and chairs, is a great place for hanging out after a day of wandering or bicycling or market shopping. Cognac glasses are there to be used.
The dining area, with lovely views from the adjacent arched window, has a solid oak table with enough chairs for a large dinner party.
The living area, with its cozy chesterfields and chairs, is a great place for hanging out after a day of wandering or bicycling or market shopping. Cognac glasses are there to be used.
Oak stairways take you up and down between floors, including up to the attic bedrooms. Each of two bedrooms sleeps two people.
All the bedrooms have bureaus, all the beds have comforters, and each room has windows that bring in good sunlight and offer interesting views. There is also a full bathroom between the rooms.
All the bedrooms have bureaus, all the beds have comforters, and each room has windows that bring in good sunlight and offer interesting views. There is also a full bathroom between the rooms.
On the floor below, one flight up from the kitchen, is the 'master' bedroom (see photos just below) with its king-size bed and vintage tub and windows that look out to the hills.
You'll also find a study on this level, for relaxing with a book or watching a dvd or just finding a quiet space away from the main living area. And between the bedroom and the lounge is a full-size bathroom.
You'll also find a study on this level, for relaxing with a book or watching a dvd or just finding a quiet space away from the main living area. And between the bedroom and the lounge is a full-size bathroom.
On the lower level are large and smaller bedrooms-- one with a king-size bed, the other with a full-size bed, and each with an armoire and mirror. Both have plenty of sunlight, and one has a door that opens on the alleyway that leads to the public garden
out back.
On this same floor is the large bathroom with shower and vintage tub, the ironing board and iron, a clothes rack, and the washer and dryer.
Each of the floors has plenty of windows and ceilings about 9 or 10 feet high. The main floor gets good light from the huge arch window, and there's a fireplace for extra warmth on cool fall evenings. Bedroom windows also bring in good light. There are three and half bathrooms, and excellent water pressure in the showers.
Additionally, there are books, a television (for dvd movies--we have a collection and/or you can bring your own-- the dvd player is 'multi-zone'), a telephone, and internet service.
Additionally, there are books, a television (for dvd movies--we have a collection and/or you can bring your own-- the dvd player is 'multi-zone'), a telephone, and internet service.
Two gardens at your service.
Along a narrow alleyway beside the house and just behind it, you'll find a public garden, overlooked by most of the folks walking the main street. The Andre Breton house abuts the garden, and during a restoration process of the Breton house, ancient Roman ruins were discovered. So for the moment, archaeologists are digging up parts of the garden as they uncover more of these ancient ruins. Fascinating to see.
A second private garden is yours to use alone. Due to the strange vagaries of land division in France, the private garden is about 75 paces from the house, a short, easy, walk, towards the ancient gate. It has been transformed from an abandoned stretch of grass and weeds into a multi-terraced garden.
The lower terrace has a table and chairs and is a great place for enjoying a meal, a glass of wine, or just gazing across the valley. On the upper terrace, you can improvise a game of petanque (boule) or spread your yoga mat for sunrise stretching.
The lower terrace has a table and chairs and is a great place for enjoying a meal, a glass of wine, or just gazing across the valley. On the upper terrace, you can improvise a game of petanque (boule) or spread your yoga mat for sunrise stretching.
Windows, windows, windows.
While the house is in the midst of this charming village-- a short stroll to wonderful restaurants, the galleries and shops, or down to the river beach--you'll probably spend some time enjoying the views from our many windows.
