One of my best self catering holidays ever.
Review Submitted: October 13, 2009
Date of Stay: June 2009
Our stay at Les Chevilloux earlier this year was simply glorious. I'm quite a fussy renter in that I require space, charm, cotton sheets, a well equipped kitchen, a pool, and more - all at a reasonable price. From the online description and photos Les Chevilloux seemed to fit the bill. These properties, the grounds and the hosts far exceeded my expectations. The properties are well equipped and clean and the hosts are serious when they say if there is anything you need help with just ask including information on days out/places to shop/life in France etc.
The local bar is very 'real' and friendly and serves a good simple meal though it was rarely open when we were there. Chez Steph in la Rochefoucauld was great and obviously the place to be seen with the locals out in force and holding court, it was very interesting. There was a visiting fair in the car park when we visited Chez Steph and the atmosphere was buzzing with children wolfing down their ice-creams before heading off to the fair - not the best of ideas perhaps.
This IS rural France and the pace is slow, it isn't the place to go if you're looking for endless shopping and nights out, though I understand there is a great music festival in nearby Cognac, but if you're looking to relax with family, with a group of friends (renting both properties) or just by yourself I cannot recommend these properties more highly.
Angouleme airport really is about 15 minutes drive away (you do need a car to stay at these properties) making it easy to pop across. The area is culturally and historically rich and if that's what interests you you won't be disappointed and the National Memorial of the Resistance of Chasseneuil is worth a visit. On a lighter note - we greatly enjoyed trying out the velo-rail, it's quite a weird but good fun.
I went to Les Chevilloux to relax and relax I did. I swam in the pool (almost) every day, watched Chris collect eggs which we later ate, cooked a courgette from Paula's vegetable patch, drank wine and ate cherries with the guests in the other cottage, played badminton in the paddock and table tennis in the garage and ambled round the local markets. On our last night we ate a meal cooked by the Les Chevilloux Chef which was delicious, particularly the chocolate mousse. I don't generally go back to the same place more than once but I will DEFINITELY be going back to Les Chevilloux hopefully with my sister, mum and niece in tow too.
Thinking of it? Go on...book it!
Recommended for:
Age 55+,
Girls Getaway,
Sightseeing,
Families with Teenagers,
Families with Young Children,
Romantic Getaway
Owner's Response: Everyone likes to receive compliments and a reward for a good job done. To be hosts to lovely people - new friends, is reward indeed. To hear that Les Chevilloux is even better than the photos and description shows us we are achieving the goals we set ourselves each year. We find it hard sometimes to believe our luck in living here in such peace in the gardens which Paula designed and which seem to expand every year. We enjoy the company of our guests, even just seeing them wandering around looking at the plants, makes all the hard digging worthwhile, and look forward to making new friends in 2010!
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