Contact: Vicky Berryman or Annabel Obholzer

Guestrooms: 6

Address: St. Hilaire-du-Bois, Southern Vendee, France

Click here for location.

Telephone: 0044 207 433 1771 or 0044 1484 841010 (Europe)
011 44 207 433 1771 or 011 44 1484 841010 (USA)
0207 433 1771 or 01484 841010 (UK)

Activities/Attractions: The district, St. Hilaire-du-Bois, is in the Southern Vendee, known for its long summers, sunflowers, wide sandy beaches and historic sites. As well as an escape to sunshine, warmth and tranquillity, it offers a base for exploring a beautiful, unspoilt and varied region and an unforgettable holiday for both adults and children.

The nearest village with an excellent butcher, bread shop and small supermarket is La Caillere which is about 3 miles away. Local Markets are to be found at Chantonnay (Tues.), St Hermine (Friday), Fontenay (Sat) and La Rochelle on Wednesdays. There are various interesting Medieval architectural relics to see:

• From La Tavellerie you can see the "Dongon" of Bazoges; it and its museum and Medieval garden are worth visiting
  

• Melusine’s "tour" at Vouvant, reputedly built by her in one night, is very romantic
  

• The “abbaye” at Maillesais is an excellent place to visit. It is of historical interest has a good restaurant and there is boating on the Marais Poitevain
  

La Rochelle, with its pavement cafes and restaurants overlooking the bustling old harbour is worth a days visit (about 1 hours drive), as is the Venise Vert with its quiet waterways and lanes to be explored by hired boat or bicycle.

There are wide sandy beaches at Les Conches and Longeville and the plage du Veillon just south of Sable d’ Olonne, where you can have a good lunch at the restaurant on the wide sheltered beach.

The Ile de Re is well worth a visit. Lovely beaches, restaurants (Chez Bernard in Ars recommended) and special island atmosphere. The Loire with its Chateaux is about an hour and a half’s drive away and children love the events staged at Puy de Fuy.

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Click here to visit Tyas House in West Yorkshire, England.

General Information: Welcome to La Tavellerie, a solid stone farm house built in the 1880s. It is situated off a very small side road within more than seven acres of its own land, which includes a small woodland. It has a large swimming pool, 12m x 4m, with the statutory fence and lockable gate. There are lovely views over the valley to the back of the house and good walks in all directions along small roads and lanes.

• 5 double bedrooms
  
• 1 single bedroom
  
• 2 bathrooms
  
• 1 separate toilet
  

The kitchen is a very big room with a typical Vendee fire place, beamed ceiling and tiled floor. It has modern units, work surfaces, fridge freezer, dishwasher, cooker, microwave and so on, and a big table with plenty of chairs. Off the utility room there is a large bathroom with a bath (with a view), basin, shower and toilet and there is also another separate toilet.

• living room is a large beamed room with a sofa and chairs opening onto front and side terraces with working fireplace and piano for use. There is a music system but no television. Across the hall there is a downstairs bedroom with a double bed
  
• down a few steps there is another room with two single beds and two sofas. There is a compact but fully functional upstairs bathroom with bath, loo and basin. On the landing there is a linen cupboard
  
• outside there are masses of open space and a swimming pool, 12 metres long and 4 metres wide overlooks the valley beyond. There are some shady areas near the house where it is pleasant to put an outside table and chairs and make a barbeque. On one side of the house there is a large, stone terrace which is a sun trap and the court yard in front of the house is gravelled with lots of room for cars and turning
  

Mains water and electricity are connected to the house but there isn’t a telephone connection. If you don’t have a mobile phone there are public phones in the local villages. Gas bottles for the cooker can be bought at the cafe in La Caillere, La Jaudonniere or at the supermarkets. Bedding and towels are provided.

Payment Accepted: Visa, MasterCard.

Rates: (Prices quoted in Euros).

€900-1400/week

Click here for all the rates.