Cosy and Charming Gite Au Marcassin - La Chandurière, St Paul en Gatine, Deux Sèvres

If you're looking for a cosy gite in the French countryside, you've found it. This gite sleeps up to 5 guests and benefits from a pool, games room, boules pitch and play area. It's the perfect place for walking, fishing, cycling, exploring the local countryside or simply whiling away the hours by the pool.

Gite Au Marcassin faces South (lounge and double bedroom) and West (lounge and triple bedroom) The patio is in the sunshine from late morning until dusk. The main bedroom has a double bed. The other bedroom has 2 single beds, a child's bed (140cm long and 75cm wide) and a cot.

The downstairs bathroom has a shower, sink, bidet and the WC is off the bathroom.

The rest of the ground floor is L-shaped and comprises the kitchen, dining and lounge areas. The kitchen has an electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge, freezer, dishwasher, toaster, kettle, coffee maker and double sink. The dining area has a round table and 4 chairs. A 5th folding chair is stored in the bathroom. The lounge area has a coffee table, 2 seater sofa and 3 easy chairs.

There is satellite TV with a DVD player and a CD player / radio. There is a fan for the summer, a radiator from the central system for the winter. Each room also has electric heaters and there are extra blankets for cold nights. There is a small enclosed patio outside with 4 garden chairs, a table with parasol and a BBQ. The games room is in the barn along with a selection of bikes and helmets that guests can borrow.

The laundry/drying room is in the barn and has 3 washing machines and a dryer. There is a double sink, buckets, bowl, laundry baskets and a drying rack. However, washing can be dried outside for most of the summer on the drying lines outside each gîte.

The Pool

The natural, chemical-free swimming pool is surrounded by tiles and there are plenty of tables, chairs, loungers and parasols. There is even a hammock. There are games and toys, rackets, bats and balls in the pool hut. There are also various inflatables. Because the water is fresh (cleaned by the plants in the filtration area) frogs hide in the reeds and waterboatmen skim the surface. If you are quiet, birds come down to drink. If you have allergies to pool chemicals then this is where to swim! There are swimjackets and armbands. A safety pole is by the poolside BUT children must not be allowed in the pool area unaccompanied so you must take care to close and lock the gates when you leave.

Below the pool is a sandy area with swings, extra wide slide, balance beam and somersault bars. 

There is always a little something in the wine rack to welcome guests and sometimes a pot of jam if the fruit trees have been producing well. Sunday opening is better than it used to be and the nearest supermarket is now open until 1 pm. For those who have not had time to stop and shop on the way and do not want to have to rush out shopping on your first morning, the owner is happy to do you a first shop and have it ready in the gîte. Just let them have a list of what you need and they will charge you the cost plus € 5 for the service.

If you are coming to celebrate a special occasion then it might be nice to have the champagne and chocolates ready waiting for you!

La Chandurière is a tiny village overlooking a wooded valley. The source of the Vendée river is just up the road and the stream in the valley is the beginning of this big river. We are in the parish of St Paul en Gatine in the county of Deux Sèvres, but we are actually right on the border with the county of Vendée. It is peaceful and rural with beautiful rolling farmland and scattered hamlets. We are situated between Puy du Fou (40 mins) and Futuroscope (90 mins) which are the two biggest attractions in this part of France. The nearest town is L'Absie.

La Chandurière Gites rank in the top 10% of the most dog friendly accommodations in the world. Perfect if you want to bring your four-legged furry family member along!