"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, but fully renovated in the 21st Century. This is a village house, not a castle or chateau-- just the skilled conversion of beautiful 12th to 15th Century stones and wood into one large, comfortable 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 gourmet 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 (five in all), there is also plenty of room for four couples or two 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 gourmet 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 (five in all), there is also plenty of room for four couples or two 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 beautiful views from the adjacent arched window, has a solid oak table with enough chairs for a good-size crowd.
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 beautiful views from the adjacent arched window, has a solid oak table with enough chairs for a good-size crowd.
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. One large room has three twin beds. The other room has a king-size bed.
All the bedrooms have bureaus, all the beds have thick, cozy comforters, and each room has windows that bring in good sunlight and offer excellent views. There is also a full bathroom between the rooms.
All the bedrooms have bureaus, all the beds have thick, cozy comforters, and each room has windows that bring in good sunlight and offer excellent 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 over the street into 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 two fair-sized bedrooms, one with a king-size bed, the other with a full-size bed, and each with an old 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 (currently being excavated for Roman ruins that were partially unearthed a few years 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 excellent 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.
The Renovation
For a brief slideshow (with music) of the renovation, including a dozen before and after photos, click on this link: (click here)
Two gardens at your service.
Behind the house, and beside the Andre Breton house, you'll find a public garden, overlooked by most of the folks walking the main street. It has an old stone picnic table, views across the valley, and there is even a hidden pathway that takes you down to the river Please Note: recent renovation work on the Andre Breton house uncovered archeo-logical finds, and thus the stone table has been disassembled until the archeologists have finished their analyses.
This is the lower terrace. In addition to this small table, there is a larger one with ten chairs (in the background). From here you can look up to the ancient cathedral or down over the beautiful river valley. On the upper terrace we often play a modified game of pétanque.
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, towards the ancient gate. It has been transformed from a stretch of grass into a multi-terraced garden.
There is a table and chairs and is a great place for enjoying a meal, a glass of wine and the magnificent views. We provide the picnic basket, utensils, and wine glasses.
There is a table and chairs and is a great place for enjoying a meal, a glass of wine and the magnificent views. We provide the picnic basket, utensils, and wine glasses.
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 may spend much of your time enjoying the views from our many windows.
