Lovely house of honey-coloured Charente stone, in walled grounds offering complete peace, privacy & relaxation as well as safe, spacious play areas for children. Situated near to an ancient church in a delightfully pretty village. 10% of your booking fee goes to Medicins sans Frontieres. Anam Cara offers ancient character & modern comforts, in idyllic surroundings, at an affordable price. Child friendly. Safe pool. Perfect for couples or families with children. 5 mins to a friendly bar/restaurant. 5 mins to shops, supermarkets, cafes, bars and restaurants. 5 mins to the Charente river and the Rejallant - a free leisure base/bar/restaurant. See our website at: www.charenteholidaycottage.iowners.net Or ask for our 100 photo photogallery. It's easy to get here with excellent air rail and road links. Save with cheap budget flights and discounted ferries. Ideally situated for enjoying the sun & warmth, the beautiful scenery, lively activities & cultural heritage of Ruffecois, as well as trips to Futuroscope theme park, nature & wildlife parks, medieval towns, Poitiers, Confolens, La Rochelle, Limoges & Cognac country. Rental includes all utilities, heating, bed linen, towels & a welcome pack giving you all you need to know about about where to go, what to see & how to get there. Low Season from: 200 pounds per week Anam Cara (Celtic "soul friend") is a place to restore & refresh the spirit. A chance for a change of pace. Whether you want to be active in town, or in stunning countryside, or whether you prefer peace & relaxation at home, Anam Cara & the Ruffecois area offers you a warm welcome & everything you could need for a memorable and rejuvenating holiday in one of the sunniest parts of France. Plenty to do at home. You have a very large lawned garden with a grapevined suntrap patio dining area, as well as areas of shade under fig, beech, peach, cherry, magnolia & medlar trees. Children have space to explore & play safely & there is a covered sandpit for younger children. You can play badminton & other games, laze in the hammock listening to birdsong , or cool off in the private above-ground pool. Anam Cara is NOT part of a gite complex: You have private & exclusive use of all facilities. In the evening, help yourself to some parsley, rosemary, basil, thyme, chives, garlic, onions or tomatoes to add to your meal, start the barbecue, turn on the garden lights & relax in the warmth as you dine outdoors under the stars. A very short walk takes you to tennis courts, the village vineyard or glorious sunny woods, fields & country lanes. WELL EQUIPPED & WELL FURNISHED ACCOMMODATION combines ancient character with modern comforts. There are two attractive, light & airy double bedrooms, both with clothes storage, bedside tables & reading lights. All household linen is provided & your bed is made up before you arrive. A large, chandeliered living room, with exposed Charente stone walls, beamed alcoves & fireplace with woodburning stove, looks via French windows onto a restful balcony overlooking grapevines & mature gated gardens. Well-equipped kitchen (including new gas cooker, new fridge-freezer, toaster, coffee maker, etc) overlooks the patio dining area. The kitchen receives morning to early evening sunshine. Easy access to sunflower fields, vineyards, Futuroscope theme park, lively towns, unmatched chateaux, bathing lakes, mills, boating, swimming, superb restaurants, friendly bars, picturesque & interesting villages & a region of rich cultural heritage. Let us know what you like to do and we will email you information sheets to help you plan your holiday. The area is full of of attractions for both adults and young people. A very short drive or bike ride takes you to indoor and outdoor pools, fishing,river bathing, horseriding, canoes, kayacs, picnic areas, a bathing lake with beach, a variety of interesting cafes, bars and excellent restaurants. Or you can go: fishing, explore the forests of Ruffec, buy fresh farm produce at local markets, visit the cinema, clubs, outdoor concerts, artists' workshops, taste the incomparable food and wine at "Gourmet Days". Or take a look at: the Chateau of Verteuil, the panoramic views at Barro, the medieval church of Ruffec, the silver mines of Melle, the 12th century abbey at St Amant de Boixe, the protected medieval village of Tusson with spectacular gardens and a museum of rural life, the aquatic labyrinth at St Fraigne, restored mills at Condac and Villefagnan, the frescoes in the Chapel of Courcome, the International Dance Festival at Mansle (don't miss the fuchsia gardens), the restored chateau of Bayer - or just explore: You will find beautiful places, local fetes and festivals and real French life. As you are 5 minutes from the N10, (and the main Paris to Bordeaux fast train route) access further afield is quick and easy to: The fascinating town of Poitiers and the Futuroscope theme park, The Vallee Des Singes (monkey park), Angouleme with its ancient streets and National Comics and Images Centre or the Chateau de la Rochefoucauld (with its nearby chocolaterie.) Or go east to the porcelain centre in Limoges and the International Folk Music Festival of Confolens; west (1.5 hours drive)to the beaches of La Rochelle; north-west to the "Green Venice" of Marais Poitevin or the Pescalis Fising Centre; south-west to Cognac(for tours and brandy tasting) or the superb Roman amphitheatre and town of Saintes. Or take the TGV (fast train) from Ruffec to Bordeaux or Paris(just 2 hrs) for the day. We can send you information sheets on: Travel Information (How to get here inexpensively by cheap budget flights, sea, road and rail), Nearby cafes and bars, Nearby Chateaux, Places to visit, Boats & Boat Trips, Boulangeries & Patisseries, Restaurants, Wine, Cognac & Pineau, Lakes, Nature & Wildlife Parks, Supermarkets, Activities for Children, Villages to visit, Ruffec town, Days out to Angouleme, Cognac, Saintes, Poitiers, Confolens - and anything else you would like to know. 10% of your booking fee will be sent to our chosen charity of the year (this year UNICEF and the Medical Foundation). Some Comments from Guests “We have viewed loads of websites and properties and Anam Cara stands out to us as an idyllic place for us, and with plenty of things for our children who are aged from 4 – 12 years.” S.G., Dumfries Aug 2005 “A real change of pace…lovely relaxing holiday…the hammock was great.” R.W., Oxford July 2005 Just ask and we'll send you feedback from previous guests.