WELCOME TO LE MANOIR DES COUTS! Please email us for details of special offers/discounts for smaller groups and for more info on the region and the activities on offer. Enjoy the charm and authenticity of this rare 16th C Manor House, lovingly restored to bring back to life its many architectural treasures : beautifully carved windows with interior stone seats, impressive opus flagstones, an arched stone sink, a gothic fireplace and the huge, original beams.. combined with modern comforts.. An article concerning this house's restoration was featured in French Property News. As keen gardeners, we have devoted equal care in restoring the pretty, enclosed garden, where we have created a 16th C style herb garden, built wooden pergolas covered by ancient vines, sheltering a picnic table and a bench. This garden, ideal for children, is very sheltered, a veritable heat trap, relax, enjoy the scent of lily of the valley, lilac, old roses, lavender, eucalyptus, and jasmine. A solar heated wooden pool (6,40m x 4m x 1,20m) is available for your exclusive use. Situated in a peaceful hamlet,within a wildlife protected area, ideal for birdwatching (15 protected species), this is the ideal location to walk, relax and discover the region's well known sites : Poitiers/Futuroscope, the Venise Verte (45mns), La Rochelle/Ile de Ré, the Monkey Valley and the many local medieval towns, villages, neolithic, Gallo-Roman sites and not least, a great market in Lezay and some good restaurants only minutes from the house!.. THE ACCOMMODATION The house is fully detached, its ground floor accommodation 112m2 sleeps 6 and a baby (cot, high chair, baby bath provided), children are welcome.. We have taken great care in restoring and decorating it, respecting local traditions, often ahead of ecological norms : the thick stone walls have been re limed , increasing their insulation power and have been washed with warm, natural pigments. They keep the property beautifully cool during hot summer days!.. The wooden windows are either double glazed or single glazed with wooden shutters, the uninhabited first floor is insulated (200mm), there is a woodstove and all electric appliances are A rated. -Living room : With a gothic fireplace and stove, comfortable sofas and armchairs, a hand painted antique buffet, French & UK SAT. flat screen TV, DVD player, a choice of books and many old fashioned wooden games and board games. -Kitchen: : Newly equipped with a Smeg stainless steel gas cooker, microwawe; fridge freezer, dishwasher, electric coffee machine, toaster, kettle etc.. A glazed door lead to the pretty, enclosed garden. -Dining Room: With the impressive stone arched sink and an antique Henry II buffet with its table and 6 chairs. -Utility room : Washing machine, hoover, iron ironing table, clothes- rack, clothes cupboard and cleaning utensils. -Shower room : : Shower with thermostatic tap, glass door, toilet, washbasin, cupboard. -Shower room 2 : Available from July 2015. -Double bedroom 1 : With four poster bed, chest of drawers. -Double bedroom2 : One double bed, a cot, one wardrobe and one chest of drawers -Twin Bedroom : Two single beds and one chest of drawers. -Single bedroom from July 2015 THE GARDEN: Relax in the very private and sheltered garden, a veritable heat trap, help yourself to the delicious Moroccan mint for hot or ice cold tea or pick herbs for your barbecue from the herb garden, dine under the wooden pergola covered by ancient vines, Enjoy the scent of the old roses, lilac, lily of the valley, lavender, eucalyptus and Jasmine. A solar heated wooden pool is available for your exclusive use. Keep an eye (and an ear) open for the interesting local birds, some very rare : hoopoes, bustards, cuckoos, nightingales, barn owls, falcons, buzzards and herons. 2015 Rates (please contact us for details of discounts for smaller groups outside peak season). 23 May to 4 July : ?749 4 July to 16 July : ?1099. 16 July to 29 August : ?1250 29 August to 26 September : ?749 GUEST BOOK from 2005 to 2014: Really enjoyed coming to this beautiful house and garden. We all had a very relaxing week and spent most of our time enjoying the lovely weather in the garden and pool. We enjoyed the market in Lezay and bought local fish which we barbequed! The walks, wildlife and wild flowers are much to be enjoyed as well. Thank you Francine and Keith for your hospitality and for making such a lovely place for a peaceful holiday. Alison, Steve, Emily, Jo, Dan Olivia, Wilts. Thank you for a wonderful stay at “le manoir”, we were very lucky with the weather and so were able to make the most of the swimming pool. We have all had a relaxing time at your country residence, its location is perfect for walking and cycling. The satellite television was ideal for watching the Olympic coverage. Thanks again, we will certainly be coming back some time in the future. Derek, Helen, Evelyn and Harry, Bath We all had a brilliant time here, the house is lovely and so full of character and the garden is beautiful. As teenagers, we found this house a relaxing environment after our stressful exams.This area has a lot to offer for everyone as we all enjoyed day trips to different places : Mollie, 14 and Jess, 15 both enjoyed trips to the beach at La Rochelle, the Monkey Valley, rowing in Venise Verte and shopping around Poitiers. James, 16, particularly enjoyed the pool and chilling around the house and our parents enjoyed all medieval villages and roman ruins. Thank you to Keith & Francine for letting stay in your lovely house. Mollie, Jess, James, Nick and Claire Cullen, Bristol. It was our first time abroad for our children and rather than feel strange, they immediately settled into this beautiful and comfortable home. Francine & Keith were so kind and welcoming and their passion for this part of the country is really infectious….Thanks for everything, once again Francine and Keith! A bientôt Jane and Richard Jackson, Falkirk, Scotland. What a perfect place to come to re-charge our batteries!.. We have had a most enjoyable, relaxing two weeks in the most wonderful house….We have eaten well, slept well and leave France four very relaxed people.Thanks Keith and Francine for a lovely holiday in your home.Louise, John, Liam & Aidan Urqhart, Striling, Scotland. What an idyllic retreat, just what we needed, set in a lovely village but very private. There are some lovely walks….. but most of all, had a wonderful relaxing time in a convivial atmosphere, loved the Property. Jean, Stew, Shaun & Russell. We have spent a wonderfully relaxing week in this quiet and magical property. Thank you Keith & Francine for your welcome, your tips and your hospitality. We really enjoyed our stay and loved meeting you Thank you for the opportunity to stay in this atmospheric house. Laurie, Robin, James & Katherine Nash, Suffolk. "We have had a wonderful time here these last 2 weeks and we go home rested and re-charged, sun-tanned and pleased to say our youngest child has learnt to swim in your pool!.. Thank you Keith & Francine for your hospitality and making us feel so welcome, you have been very attentive hosts. The house is beautiful and the garden an idyllic retreat, the children have spent hours enjoying the pool and we have enjoyed many hours sitting in the sunshine enjoying the peaceful surroundings." The Kemp family, North Yorkshire “We ’ve had a fantastic week here at Le Manoir, the weather has been very fortunate with 31 33°c every day and the occasional thunder storm in the evening. Our girls enjoyed the pool which provided an excellent way of keeping cool. If you are an early riser, take a cup of tea into the garden and sit and watch the wildlife : nightingales, swifts, swallows, humming bird hawk moth and an owl, all can be seen between 6 and 7 AM.. Thank you Keith & Francine, we have loved staying here. “ Gillian, William, Sebastian & Giles Oliver, Kent. “We've had a thouroughly enjoyable frotnight here in the lovely Manoir des Couts. It is a very relaxing and welcoming house and we have particularly loved the garden. Our boys have spent every day pottering about the garden where they are completely safe and happy”. Mal and Jill Alston, Eurora, Australia “Thank you for your friendship and opportunity to stay in your charming house. We leave with wonderful memoirs of French stone villages and green green fields!.. “ Ian, Susan and Libby, Tadcaster, England "What a fantastic week we've had here. We've had a very lazy time - helped by the great weather and the pool! The house is amazing and had everything we needed - even for an 8 months old baby. Tuesdays market at Lezay was a favourite, lots of lovely tasty local produce. Wish we were staying longer!" Sharon and Henry, Hereford England. “A really peaceful and characterful property, just the place to unwind. Also great hospitality by Keith and Francine. Spent a lot of the week trying to visualise how the village would have looked in the 17th and 18th century”. .. Michelle, Remi, Susie, Jamie and Liliane, London. “Wow ! What a lovely house, what a lovely time. We especially enjoyed the lovely herb garden! To anyone else visiting, Cognac is especially worth a visit, go the scenic route”.. Terence, Sally, Helena and Teddy, Buckinghamshire, England. “Thank you for a lovely stay in your manoir, we have enjoyed ourselves hugely and there has been masses to do without going too far. Thank you particularly for our painting lessons which have inspired me to get started again and which the children enjoyed too. Two weeks goes too quickly! My mum missed the kayaking and canoeing at Lambon. Great fun! We also went go-karting at Poitiers, an amazing area with so much to do. Thanks a lot, Teddy, aged 12?. Alun and Kate, Reigate, Surrey, England. We are delighted to be the first guests to write in your book! Our stay at the Manoir has been everything we wanted from our holiday and more. The beautiful house and garden is a testament to all your hard work and creativity. We hope that your future guests love it as much as we did, a week is too short a stay! We will certainly be recommending the Manoir to our friends and we hope to see you all again soon ourselves.Thanks again to you all, particularly Francine- for all your efforts in making us feel at home. ! All the best for the future?.