The property: A traditional stone built, independent property dating back over two hundred years, set in three acres of undulating meadowland and comprising a restored 'petit maison ' and a converted 'étable'. Furnishings and decoration have been carefully chosen to exploit and reflect the preserved architectural charm. Evidence of the restoration work runs right through from the rebuilt stone walls and repositioned oak beams to the restored and hand painted furniture. The thick stone walls and cool terracotta floor tiles maintain a natural coolness in the summer and the 'artisan' made traditional wooden windows and doors, are all double glazed. Natural fabrics and linens frame the windows and doors with refreshing simplicity.

Downstairs:
Sitting/dining room - is a large, light and airy open plan room with exposed honey coloured stone walls and painted beams. At the sitting room end there's a traditional Charentaise fireplace, two comfy settees and armchairs, a low table and a painted cupboard housing a TV screen, DVD player, and MP3 micro system with USB port. The dining area has an old refectory table, carved wooden chairs and a painted dresser.
Kitchen - has solid wood worktops, an old glazed wall cupboard and is fully equipped with a stainless steel sink, dishwasher, fridge/freezer, stainless steel electric oven, gas hob, extractor hood and microwave. Equipped for cooks and 'foodies' with 'Bodum' type cafetière, electric hand mixer, kettle, toaster, stainless steel pans, plain white crockery, oyster knives.
Living room - a separate 'petit salon' with French doors onto the garden with lovely views over the meadow, exposed stone walls, beams, double bed settee, superb old desk, book case and armchair - an ideal writer's retreat!
Separate toilet - with washbasin and on a practical level......
Utility room - housing the central heating boiler, washing machine, sink, recycling bins, clothes airer (no need for tumble drier) and a built in broom cupboard housing ironing board, iron, vacuum cleaner etc.

Upstairs:
There are two bathrooms and three large bedrooms with oak beams, exposed stone walls and white washed floorboards. Principal bedroom - with its view onto the herb garden, has a king size bed, a built in wardrobe/shelves using old reclaimed shutters and an antique dressing table. The en suite bathroom with walk in shower, toilet and washbasin has a sweet little window, non-slip floor tiles and is predominately white in colour.
Triple bedroom - has three lovely antique pine box beds, a painted wardrobe, an old pine chest of drawers, wooden chapel chairs, a spash of red in the soft furnishings and a view onto the garden.
Double bedroom - has a magnificent wardrobe, beautiful old double bed, chest of drawers and a lovely view onto pasture and woodland.
Bathroom - which is white and grey with a roof window, has non-slip floor tiles, a bath with shower, a toilet and a washbasin.

Outside Area: The house faces south and its front borders are planted with old fashioned, scented climbing roses and lavenders. The garden is walled to one side with iron entrance gates and a gravel driveway to the parking area. There is a small sunken herb garden inspired by the Carolingian gardens of the region and a wonderful view from the lawn over the rolling meadow, which is occasionally grazed by a few sheep.

The shady open barn, planted with wisteria and clematis, under which is a large wooden table and chairs and along with the barbecue, makes a perfect setting for outdoor eating and drinking. If you don’t feel like stirring out of the garden, why not stay at home and enjoy the private pool or simply watch the migratory hoopoes or later on in the evening listen to the song of the nightingale. There’s a wealth of good local restaurants offering excellent value, or dine on freshly cooked local produce 'at home' under the stars.

Surrounding Area: The tiny hamlet of Le Sauvage, just metres away from the Charente / Deux-Sèvres border, is perched on a hillside and surrounded by pasture, fields of sunflowers in the summer and groves of magnificent sweet chestnut trees. The hamlet, which means ‘untamed’, with its honey coloured stone walls and canal roof tiles, seems to sleep and shimmer in the heat of the day. It’s an ideal area for walking and gentle cycling, especially as there’s so little traffic on the roads, lots of interconnecting lanes through fields and woodland, forgotten hamlets, stone lavoirs (ancient washhouses) which bubble with ice cold spring water, wells … lovely spots for picnics.

A pleasant bike ride or walk along country lanes to the nearest boulangerie and café/restaurant at Montjean which is only 3km from the house and the market town of Sauzé Vaussais with its fishing and canoeing lake, large supermarket and selection of bars, cafés and restaurants is under 6km.

Ruffec (8 km) is a bustling town full of little boutiques and cafés and has a lively market of fresh local produce. Take the TGV from here for a day trip to Paris or Bordeaux or for a quieter day explore the forests of Ruffec or go fishing at Condac.

Chef Boutonne (12km) with its fairytale château and lavoirs, has a bustling market with stalls of freshly caught fish and local produce. The regional speciality, ‘Pineau des Charentes’ a wickedly delicious aperitif is served in pavement cafés in the town square. The Château de Javarzay and museum are open to the public and are well worth a visit.

Without moving far from home at Melle you will discover no less than three magnificent Romanesque churches, one being Unesco listed and which during the Summer months become venues for the prestigious Festival of Classical Music. Whilst at Melle, take time to visit the Silver Mines and it’s Carolingian garden which date back to Vth century. The Royal Abbey with its formal gardens at Celles sur Belle is an imposing testament to Renaissance architecture and hosts a Baroque Music festival in late August. Again, on a musical note, Operas of outstanding quality are staged en ‘plein air’ in August in the Roman amphitheatre at Sanxay. This whole area is peppered with exquisite little XIth & XIIth century churches, Medieval heritage, pre-historic remains and Roman settlements. Of particular interest is the ‘Tumulus de Bougon’, one of the oldest Neolithic burial grounds in Europe.

Equidistant from the cultural and historic towns of Poitiers, Angoulême and Niort all being within 50 minutes drive from Le Ruisseau Perdu.

Poitiers, with it’s abundant medieval and Renaissance heritage, notably the romanesque church, Notre Dame la Grande and the rare 4th century Baptistère St. Jean along with shops and cafés makes for a pleasant day out or visit the renowned (rightly so, it’s absolutely amazing) Futuroscope.

Niort, capital of the Deux-Sèvres and steeped in history, dating back to the middle ages. Make time to visit the ‘Pilori’ and the ‘Donjon’, an imposing fortressed castle keep overlooking the ‘Sèvre Niortaise’ river. Don’t miss market day at Niort (Thursday, Saturday and Sunday mornings) a cornucopia of fresh local produce, baskets of fresh walnuts, goat’s cheeses, regional specialities and freshly caught fish from the ‘Isle d’Oleron’.

Angoulême, town of art and history is home to several art galleries including the excellent National Centre of Comic Strip Art. The ‘centre ville’ rich in architectural heritage boasts the XIth century Cathédrale St. Pierre, churches, an abbey and a chapel as well as a ‘chocolaterie artisanale’ and a museum dedicated to the Résistance.

Further afield, although mostly under an hour’s drive, there’s boating through the leafy waterways of the Marais Poitevin also known as the Venise Vert or Cognac (for obvious reasons) or Saintes with its Roman amphitheatre. There’s the delightful historic port of La Rochelle (90 minutes drive to be realistic) with its harbour towers, art galleries, museums and superb aquarium or simply relax and absorb the atmosphere in one of the many quayside cafés or restaurants or stretch out on the sandy beach, a mere stone’s throw from ‘centre ville’. The royal naval port of Rochefort is well worth a visit; witness the meticulous reconstruction of the 16th century frigate, the ‘Hermione’.

Other comments: This property is also available for summer holiday rentals.

Pricing Info: A non refundable deposit of 25% of the total cost of rental is required when booking. The balance of the total cost is to be paid six weeks before the rental period commences at which time a separate cheque for a refundable damage deposit of £500 is also required. Long stays are available from November to March for a minimum of 2 months and a maximum of 5 months. Prices include electricity, gas for the hob or oil for the central heating. Bedlinen and towels are not provided under this scheme.
Availability:  November to March inclusive for long lets.
Please contact the owner for availability.

For further information and to book please contact:
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