The house offers a large open plan living room/dining room/kitchen with wood burning stove in an imposing original fireplace, south-facing French doors, a Hi-Fi system, DVD, video player and the major UK and French television channels. The kitchen area is well-equipped with electric double oven, grill, ceramic hob and freezer, together with ample worktops and storage.

There is a utility room/pantry with further storage, fridge, washing machine, microwave and toaster. There is also a downstairs shower room/WC.

The middle floor offers a charming salon with south-facing window above the original stone guard seat and a double futon. This room has double doors opening onto the private roof terrace, which overlooks the River Vienne and offers patio furniture for dining al fresco.

The master bedroom is on this floor. It is west facing with a double bed, feature fireplace, stone washbasin and panelled ceiling.

On the top floor you will have two further double bedrooms. The south facing room has a double bed, exposed roof trusses and features the stone seat used when the house was a guard post. There is a further west facing double bedroom with bunk beds, ideal for children. This room includes a games console, TV, books and toys.

There is also a further room with WC and basin.

La Poste des Gardes offers all the charm of living in old rural France whilst still providing all necessary amenities. The house and the village are steeped in history - why not come and be part of it?

Internal features

The ground floor of the house can be accessed from both the street and the seating area to the side. An entrance vestibule from the street leads down a few steps to the substantial open-plan living room / dining room / kitchen.

The living area boasts an efficient wood burning stove housed in the original imposing feature fireplace. There is a comfortable leather sofa and leather armchairs and plenty of side tables. A television is provided which receives the major UK and French channels. There is also a video player and a good selection of films, a Hi-Fi system and DVD player. The sideboard holds stationery items and a wide variety of games for entertainment.

The dining area features a large oak dining table with six traditional French chairs. This is a delightful open and airy room featuring original beamed walls and ceilings, exposed stonework and a stunning tiled floor. The full-height French doors to the south let the sun stream into the room, making this a most enjoyable dining experience. An imposing staircase leads to the upper sitting room opening onto the roof terrace.

The kitchen is located in the corner of the open-plan living area. It has an electric double oven cooker with ceramic hob and full-sized grill. There is a large oak chef's buffet with inset granite worktop and storage and a further tiled top free-standing buffet. There is a sink unit and a small freezer. Rustic French wall units provide extra storage.

A door from the kitchen leads into the separate utility room which has plenty of storage shelves, a large original French butcher's table, fridge, microwave, toaster and washing machine.

The main double bedroom on the middle floor faces west and is beautifully warm and bright in the evenings. It has a panelled ceiling, exposed stonework and the original feature fireplace with tiled hearth. A niche houses shelving and the original stone washbasin. There is a traditional French bateau lit, bedside tables, chaise lounge and chest of drawers.

Two further double bedrooms can be found on the top floor. The south facing bedroom has wonderful views up the River Vienne with the original guard post stone window seat. This room has a double bed, triple wardrobe, bedside tables, large chest of drawers and occasional seating.

The west facing bedroom is bathed in light in the evenings with views over the village up to the church. There are bunk beds in this room, a chest of drawers and a large table and chairs. A television is also available and a games console is provided with a large selection of games. An assortment of books and toys are also available in this room and it would be perfect for any children in the party.

The downstairs shower room is accessed from the utility room. It has fully tiled walls and floor, a large shower cubicle, WC and wash basin over a vanity unit offering ample storage. A large mirror and hanging space is provided.

There is a further "wet room" on the top floor with a WC, a hand basin and further storage units.

Plenty of magazines, fiction and non-fiction books are provided throughout the house, along with books and magazines specialising in French décor and antiques.

The middle floor of the house features a galleried area which forms a charming salon. Under the south facing window you will find the original stone seat used by the guards. This is a comfortable seating area with a futon that can also be used as a double bed. The TV receives the major French channels and additional seating is provided, making this a charming room for entertaining or relaxing. Double French doors lead onto the private roof terrace.

External Facilities

The house was used as a guard post in centuries gone by due to its prominent location by the river and its views to three sides.

The south side offers a small area under the wisteria and vines that can be used for seating. Beyond this is a parking area for several cars.

For guests who prefer more privacy the fully covered roof terrace on the middle floor is ideal. This is a spacious terrace with both easterly and southerly aspects overlooking the beautiful River Vienne. The terrace is fully tiled and covered and can be enjoyed even in inclement weather. It offers a dining table and chairs as well as comfy bench seating. The stone walls have been restored to reveal several intriguing niches. This is the perfect space for relaxing with a glass of wine and watching the river flow by at any time of the day.

The Vienne Region

Confolens, 10km away, is an ancient Roman town with a number of prehistoric sites. It has now developed into a typical French, bustling market town and has a good variety of supermarkets and shops. The broad River Vienne splits the town in two and provides perfect opportunities for water sports enthusiasts.

Montmorillon, 30km away, is a wonderfully charming medieval city with winding streets, pavement cafés, pretty river banks and beautiful buildings. It is called 'The City of the Written Word' and is a haven for writers and calligraphers.

The theme park of Futuroscope is only an hour away and absolutely must not be missed. It combines theme park with big screen cinema and illusion. The sound and light show when dusk falls is a magical experience.

The sophisticated coastal towns of La Rochelle and Royan can be reached in just over two hours.

The grand Romanesque cities of Poitiers and Limoges are exciting cosmopolitan experiences, offering everything you would expect with magnificent architecture, a fabulous variety of shopping, antiques and fine dining.
 

The Availles-Limouzine Area

Availles-Limouzine is a pretty medieval village on the banks of the beautiful River Vienne. It offers all the charm of living in old rural France whilst still providing all necessary amenities such as supermarket, newsagent, bakery, butcher, bar, restaurant and post office.

On the 17th of each month there is a large market selling a variety of goods and a farmers market visits every Sunday morning selling fresh local produce. The municipal park across the river has a small swimming pool, canoes, pedals, motor boats, miniature golf, a well-equipped playground and picnic areas.

International fishing takes place due to the easy access and the good river bank length: bolognese, English, feeder, and cane fishing are popular. The newsagent sells equipment and licenses.

The English Garden located in the north of the village is a local paradise and a haven for birds and frogs. A fragrant garden features over 600 varieties of roses and shrubs.

Deval Karts is the place to go for 4X4, quad, via ferata, Tyrolean cable slide and dog teaming.

Availles-Limouzine has a very rich historical past, including its long occupation by the English. The Tourist Office in the town can supply guided historical walks to highlight the many features of note.

Pricing structure (per week)

                     availability                                     currency conversion

On arrival you will find a comprehensive property brochure
with information on the caretakers, the house and its facilities.

Plenty of current local tourist information and maps of the area are provided.

Reliable, efficient local English caretakers are available at all times.
They are very experienced in gîte management
and will do their best to ensure your stay is trouble-free and enjoyable.

A starter bag of firewood is included in the price.

Children of all ages are welcome but All children require adult supervision at all times.

We are happy to accept one well-behaved dog.
An additional supplement of £50 per dog per week applies per booking to cover the additional cleaning required on departure.
We reserve the right to charge an enhanced security deposit.
Please contact us first if you wish to bring your dog.

We would ask that guests do not smoke inside the house but we are perfectly happy for guests to smoke outside or on the terrace and we provide an ashtray. We would simply ask that all debris is disposed of properly and not left anywhere on the property.

A full and thorough cleaning service is included prior to your arrival.
We simply ask that guests leave the house in a clean and tidy condition on departure.

We are pleased to offer a discount of £100 off the full price of a two week booking.

We will be happy to consider a further discount for longer stays.

We ask guests to secure the booking with a booking deposit of 20% within one week of making a provisional booking. Various payment methods are available.

We ask guests to accept a rental contract for the protection of both parties.
This is available on the website as a printable document.

We ask for a security deposit. This is returned within two weeks of departure providing no damage has occurred. In most cases it is retuned within a week.

We ask guests to pay the full balance of the rental within eight weeks of their arrival date.

For availability and booking enquiries please contact:
Louise Grudgings
[contact owner]

owner’s website

Please quote reference 8626 hhf when making enquiries.

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