The Area, and where
to find us:
St Laurent des Combes
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The Charente is a region in SW France adjoining the Dordogne. It's endowed with all the delights of that region, but free of its touristy overcrowding. Its proximity to the sea ensures that it enjoys a mild climate throughout the year. The summer's are hot but rarely stifling, and the winters though sometimes wet are never cold. It is divided into two departements, Charente proper and Charente Maritime. With its vineyards in Cognac and the Périgord, south Charente will satisfy any tourist looking for peace and the simple pleasures of the countryside. And that goes for hikers, bikers, fishermen and lovers of fine cuisine and wines.
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The village of St Laurent des Combes is in rural Charente , situated between, Angouleme the region's capital, and Chalais.
The Village
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The principal landmark of St Laurent des Combes is its fourteenth century church.
This quiet village has only the modest essentials of a French country hamlet - the Mairie, a post box, a public telephone and a bottle bank. There are useful travelling fish and bread vans that visit Le Portail with other shopping further afield. By car (or bicycle for the intrepid), the nearest shops and supermarkets are 8 to 10 kilometres away in Montmoreau or Chalais although the nearest village is Montboyer, some four or five kilometres away, and this has a baker’s shop with groceries, a bar/restaurant and a garage.
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The
church from
the drive.
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The House and Garden
The house from the spinney
The house is approached up a drive of a quarter of a mile or so, and in summer when the trees are in full leaf it’s difficult to spot from the road. The road itself is a very minor country lane. A car is an event! The garden is primarily laid to grass with borders of lavender and potentilla, with beds of shrubs, fruit and nut trees. In 2001 we purchased additional land and barns including an orchard and a small spinney which offers welcome shade in the heat of the summer.
Looking east from the terrace The house was renovated nine years ago and redesigned by one of the owners, an architect. All the facilities are new. Downstairs there are two large sitting rooms one with an open fireplace, the other with a log - burning stove. There is a huge kitchen/dining room with a hand crafted table and benches. It is fully equipped and all electric.
The main sitting room
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Off the kitchen is a shower/utility room with a washing machine and dishwasher. There is also an additional WC. The house is heated throughout. The bedrooms are not large, but they’re carpeted and comfortable with low oak beams. There are two double bedrooms each with two single beds, and a third bedroom which is an intimate double or a generous single. The main bathroom is on this floor and one of the double bedrooms has a built-in wash basin. Downstairs, the main sitting room has a double sofa bed.
Easterly view from the sitting room
Adjoining the kitchen is a large barn with games - basketball, table tennis and a small snooker table. There is a dinghy for the nearby lake and four bikes of various vintages. Indoor entertainment include a midi stereo system and a video recorder, so if you have favourite CD’s and tapes bring them with you, although there’s a varied collection already in the house. The piano is hardly a concert grand but it is well used by visitors - piano tuners are offered a discount!
The Terrace
However, the joy of the house in summer is the large south-facing terrace offering daylong shade and the attraction of spending the entire time out of doors. There is an additional wooden table for the terrace and a barbecue. The three doors at the front of the house all open on to the terrace. This can be lit up in the evenings. This is the time to renew acquaintance with board games you thought you’d never play again, drink the local wine, watch the stars and listen to the crickets.
Early
morning
on the terrace