Grande Maison des Tournesols is a 300 year old barn conversion in the beautiful Deux-Sevres countryside and takes its name from the many fields of sunflowers surrounding it most years.
Set in its own secluded grounds with magnificent views, the 5 bedroom house, which can sleep 11 people plus a baby, has been sympathetically renovated to an exceptionally high modern standard (including free Wi-Fi) but still retains many original features such as roof beams and exposed stone walls where appropriate.
Traditional dry stone walls surround the entire property, ensuring safety and security for our guests and their children, whilst still allowing unobstructed views of the countryside and grounds of the adjacent 11th Century Abbey of St Jouin de Marnes.
Entry to the property is via tall cream gates opening onto a large gravelled courtyard with secure parking for several vehicles. To the right is a lawn edged by immaculate gardens, a tiled and shaded terrace with outdoor tables and chairs, a heated 10 metre by 4 metre leisure pool with spa function that is cleaned daily, a poolside relaxation area for loungers and sunbathing, plus a poolside store for additional cushions, loungers, water games and floats. There is also a separate lockable garage for motor cycles and racking for bicycles.
The whole area, including the pool, can be lit at dusk to take advantage of the pleasant evening summer temperatures in this part of France. All these stunning facilities can be seen from the two storey 5 bedroom gite on the left as you enter the courtyard.
Entrance to the accommodation is via a bright tiled hallway with two wall to ceiling cupboards for coats, shopping bags, suitcase storage in the first, and household equipment such as ironing board and iron, mops, bucket, dust pan etc in the second.
From the hallway, on the left, is the family bathroom with standard bath and overhead shower attachment, separate shower cubicle, bathroom stool, vanity unit with mirror lighting, hairdryer, hair straighteners, and storage for guest’s toiletries. Adjacent to this is a separate toilet.
Opposite the entrance door is a modern fully equipped kitchen with large refrigerator, stainless steel sink and drainer, microwave, electric fan oven, induction hob with overhead light and extractor hood, dishwasher, table and 4 chairs plus copious cupboards and drawers for food and kitchen equipment.
To the right is the spacious lounge / diner, with table and chairs to seat 10 guests, bookcase containing a selection of books and DVDs and a traditional log burner. The lounge has 3 three-seater settees, 1 two seater and an armchair, plus a flat screen TV with UK and French reception, surround sound, DVD player, coffee table, side tables and reading lamps. Two pairs of double doors give access to a tiled shaded terrace with outside tables, chairs, gas BBQ, gardens and pool area.
On the first floor is Bedroom 1, the master bedroom, with King size bed, side tables with reading lights, air conditioning, walk in wardrobe, en-suite with large shower and double vanity unit. Also on this floor is Bedroom 2, a large double bedded room with ceiling fan, side tables and reading lights.
On the ground floor are three more bedrooms, Bedroom 3 with standard size double bed, side tables, reading lamps and a pedestal fan; Bedroom 4 with twin single beds, tables, lamps and fan and Bedroom 5 with a single bed plus 2 bunk beds. A cot is available if needed and will fit into any of the bedrooms. The second ground floor toilet, with handbasin, is next to Room 5. All, apart from Bedroom 5, look out onto the gardens, grounds and countryside.
All household linen and towels are provided, but guests are asked to bring their own beach and pool towels, which can be dried on the airers provided in the poolside store room next to the sun terrace.
The owners, Caroline and Darren, live in the grounds of the property, in a self-contained 4 bedroom house with their own gated entrance and private garden. They have been described as “being close enough for help and advice if needed, but separate enough not to intrude on guests privacy”.
The village of St. Jouin de Marnes, which is in the second sunniest region of France, has its own bakery, and 2 km away in Moncontour there is a Co-op mini-market, pharmacy, post office, tourist office, hairdresser, bank, 2 bar / restaurants, new medical centre and dentist.
There are numerous large supermarkets at Loudun, Thouars and Airvault, some of which now open on a Sunday morning!
Local leisure facilities include horse riding, a football pitch, small library, sports hall, tennis courts, fishing lake and large teleski nautique lake with small beach, water slide and swimming area, restaurant, picnic area.
We are located in the south of the Loire valley, with easy access to several chateaux, vineyards, abbeys, churches, museums and Troglodyte cave dwellings. Futuroscope in Poitiers, just 40 km away and the amazing Spectacular at Puy du Fou to the north are not to be missed and children will love Centre Parc and Parc de les Vallees
The area is served by TGV rail network, and a good motorway network. The nearest airports are Poitiers, La Rochelle, Tours, Limoges, Angers and Nantes.
