Villa description

Accommodation details

Living room, dining room, kitchen, summer kitchen, 1 bathroom with wc, 2 bathrooms, 2 shower rooms with wc, 1 shower room, 3 separate wcs, 6 double bedrooms, 1 twin bedroom, 2 single bedrooms

Facilities

Washing machine, dishwasher, dryer, linen for hire (6 Euros per person per week), 2 cots (linen supplied), highchair, baby-sitting and cook on request, satellite TV, telephone, fax, video (French only), DVD, CD, barbecue, bikes, gym, table tennis and rowing boat on request, piano, trampoline

Location

This 12th century listed château (restored in the 1500s) is located in western Burgundy at the foot of the Morvan mountains, and stands on a man-made island on the banks of the river Aron, neighbouring the Nivernais canal. The beautiful 12th century town of Nevers (54km), on the confluence of the Loire and Nièvre rivers, is famous for its "nougatine" and fine porcelain.

Close by is the Parc Régional du Morvan, 17,000 acres of hilly countryside, with nature trails and animal reserves. The town of Moulins-Engilbert (6km) has all shops, services, supermarkets, restaurants, a tennis court and bike hire. There is boating on the Nivernais canal, a tennis court, a restaurant and a post office at Panneçot (700m). All amenities are available in the picturesque old town of Decize (30km) built on a rocky island between two arms of the Loire River.

Exterior

The property is reached via a stone bridge that spans the surrounding moat within grounds of 20 hectares of park, with a 12th century chapel. Care must be taken with small children due to the proximity of the canal and the moat, and to some steep staircases. The property is a picture of charm and tranquillity, with peacocks and alpacas roaming in the grounds. The swimming pool is set in a covered building with large bay windows opening onto a terrace with beautiful views of the garden, the river and the Nivernais canal.

The pool is heated to 27°C free of charge, weather permitting.

Interior

The interior is exquisitely furnished with antiques in a mixture of styles. On the ground floor are a large listed living room with exposed beams and a grand fireplace, a vast fully-equipped kitchen, a large double bedroom and an en suite bathroom with a wc, and a small single bedroom.

The first floor has recently been renovated and redecorated. There is a large double bedroom with a beamed ceiling overlooking the courtyard and the chapel; the bed is set in a 17th century wood and glass alcove with cupboards to the left and right housing a tiled basin and a wardrobe. There is a bathroom and a separate wc in the tower. Also on this floor are a child's bedroom with a small single bed, a large double bedroom with exposed beams overlooking the river and the canal, and an en suite shower with a wc. A large beamed attic double bedroom looks onto the courtyard and the chapel to the front, and the river and canal at the rear, and has an en suite bathroom and a separate wc.

The remaining accommodation is located in a tower with separate access. It consists of a double bedroom, a shower room and a separate wc on the ground floor, a double bedroom on the first floor, and a double bedroom and a shower room with a wc on the second floor (with external access only). There is a well-equipped summer kitchen located under the main kitchen, accessed via the lower courtyard, and a vaulted cellar with a bread oven.

Availability / Prices