Beautifully Restored Farmhouses with heated pool, satellite TV and Wifi - La Maison Bleue
- Farmhouse
- Sleeps: 8
- Bedrooms: 3
- Bathrooms: 3
- Min Stay: 1–7 nights
La Maison Bleue
FR4536
Bedrooms
Property Manager
Rosemary Stones
- Languages:
- english, french
About Rosemary Stones
We are Alan Ravenscroft and Rosemary Stones. Alan is a television producer who makes music programmes and other documentaries. Rosemary is a writer. While we have busy lives in London and adore the city with all its vitality, we now also love the richness of the Burgundy countryside and think of Coutarnoux as home and ourselves as Arnulphiens (inhabitants of Coutarnoux)! While we are in London we leave Le Verger in the very capable hands of Hubert and his family who live nearby. They look after the property for us and prepare the houses to welcome our guests. They are so helpful and friendly and you will feel very well looked after.
Rosemary Stones purchased this Farmhouse in 1996
Why Rosemary Stones chose Coutarnoux
We bought Le Verger 22 years ago and found Coutarnoux both welcoming and friendly. Alan already knew Burgundy well as his brother has a house in nearby Talcy. We also have Parisian friends with houses in the area so it seemed the ideal location.We spent two years looking for a property we both liked. After many fruitless visits to near ruins and deserted, wildly remote farmhouses, some friends from Paris told us that a property in Coutarnoux had become available which they thought would be of interest. Rosemary liked it at once but Alan (who had done the driving from London after a long week at the office!) was not so sure. However, after a good dinner and warm night in the local hotel he agreed in the morning that it was indeed the place we had been looking for.
What makes this Farmhouse unique
Although the property needed a lot of work we could see its potential. We were particularly drawn to the original features (beams, arches, stone fireplaces, traditional tiles) and the mature fruit trees (old varieties!) and vines in the garden. We also liked the fact that one side is firmly in the village while the other side looks out across beautiful countryside. One unexpected outcome of buying Le Verger was the idea to make a television series about English people buying property in France.While it’s hard to believe now, the series, ‘A House in France’ was the first made on the subject. We still occasionally meet people who were inspired to come and live in France after seeing ‘A House in France’. We hope you enjoy your stay in beautiful Burgundy and we welcome you to Le Verger!
Amenities
Featured
- Swimming pool
- Internet
- Pets Welcome
- TV
- Satellite or cable
- Washer & Dryer
- Children Welcome
- Parking
- Heater
Bathrooms
- Bathrooms: 3
Location Type
- Rural
- Village
General
- HeatingHeating is by electric fires. The sitting room has a wood burning stove.
- Linens ProvidedWe provide bed linen (two sheets, duvet cover, pillow case/s) for each guest.
- Washing MachineThe washing machine is housed in the ground floor bathroom.
- Clothes DryerThere is a washing line in the garden.
- ParkingGuests may park in our gated courtyard.
- InternetWe have Wifi.
- Towels ProvidedWe provide bathmats and tea towels. For weekly guests we provide one bath towel and one hand towel per person. It is helpful if guests bring pool towels.
- Wood StoveThe sitting room with its original stone fireplace has been fitted with a wood burning stove.
- Iron & Board
- Hair Dryer
- Living RoomThis pretty room is furnished with comfortable sofas and an antique dresser. The east window looks out to the village church while the west window looks out to the fields and woods beyond the garden.
Kitchen
- Dishwasher
- Refrigerator
- StoveThere is a gas hob.
- OvenThe oven is electric.
- Microwave
- Grill
- Coffee MakerThere is a cafetiere.
- Toaster
- Pantry ItemsWe provide a small range of herbs as well as basics such as salt, pepper and sugar.
- Dishes & UtensilsWe have a well furbished kitchen.
- Kitchen
- Kettle
Dining
- Dining Area
- Child's Highchair
- DiningGuests can eat at the long indoor dining table or on the terrace. A highchair is available on request.
Entertainment
- Television
- Satellite / CableWe have a range of English channels.
- StereoThere is a stereo and a selection of CDs.
- DVD Player
- BooksWe have an extensive library including books for children.
- GamesWe have a selection of board games and a boules set.
- Music Library
- Video LibraryThere are over 100 DVDs to choose from.
Outside
- Lawn / GardenOur beautiful garden contains apple, pear, cherry, quince and mirabelle trees and is a wonderful place to relax in their shade with a glass of wine.
- Kayak / CanoeCanoeing is available in the Morvan national park.
- BicyclesWe have a number of bicycles, including children's bikes, available for guests. Please note that we do not provide helmets.
- Beach Chairs
- Deck / PatioFrom our west facing terrace there are wonderful sunsets and a view across our large orchard garden to the fields and woods beyond. Lovely for al fresco dining.
- Outdoor Furniture
- TennisThe nearest tennis court is 10 mins drive away in nearby L'Isle sur Serein.
- GolfThe nearest Golf Course is at Auxerre, 45 minutes drive north.
Suitability
- wheelchair inaccessibleWe regret La Maison Bleue is not suitable for wheelchair users. Our other house, La Vieille Maison, may be suitable for some people with limited mobility as it has a ground floor bedroom with adjacent bathroom. Please enquire further.
Pool / Spa
- Outdoor Pool
- Heated Pool
- Private PoolThe pool is exclusive to the property and is shared by guests from our two houses. It is heated by a heat exchange system. The pool has a childproof safety fence and gate. There are loungers.
Notes
- Our two refurbished farm houses date from the 18th century (there are dates carved into the stone, the earliest 1775) and we have taken care to preserve the charm of their original features (oak beams, stone fireplaces, tommettes) whilst updating them with modern comforts. Both houses are well and comfortably furnished with antique and regional pieces. Coutarnoux is in an area of stone quarries (used, eg, in the building of the abbey church at Vezelay) and stone has been used even in quite humble buildings such as the former sheep pen, part of our property. Our garden wall is part of the ancient village wall dating from the time of the 100 Years War when villages had to protect themselves from bandits. Other historic features in our village include its ancient stone wash house, the remains of a medieval abbey, the 15th century Maison des Goix and the 'Sully tree' opposite the church door. This ancient lime tree was planted in the reign of Henri 1V.
House Rules
Check-in: 5:00 PM
Check-out: 10:00 AM
No parties/events
Smoking allowed
In the garden - not in the house
Pets allowed
By prior agreement only. Poop must be scooped.
Children allowed
But not in pool enclosure unless supervised
Minimum age of primary renter:30
Max guests:8
Guests in our two houses share the swimming pool - please respect your fellow guests.
Children must not be allowed in the pool without a responsible adult present in the pool enclosure. You are responsible for your children's safety.
The pool enclosure gate must be kept locked when the pool is not in use. Please read the instructions in our House Book before using the pool.
Cancellation Policy
100% refund if canceled at least 60 days before arrival date.
25 Reviews
Loved it!
We had a fabulous stay at La Maison Bleue. The house is delightful - quaint and full of character - and the lovely garden was the perfect place to relax and enjoy our morning coffee and croissants. This is a charming property in a beautiful, peaceful location and we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it. Thank you Rosemary and Alan for a great stay.
So glad you enjoyed your stay! And thank you for being perfect guests.
A lovely property in a very peaceful location.
We had a fantastic week in your lovely property. A much - needed break with the family. Thank you!
So glad you enjoyed your stay! I hope we can welcome you in the future!
June, 2019
We very much enjoyed our stay at La Maison Bleue. The house had a lot of character and was spotlessly clean. The pool was much appreciated during our warm sunny stay, and the garden and patio were ideal for reading and relaxation. Rosemary and Alan were the perfect hosts, and we greatly enjoyed the time we spent with them.
A great pleasure to meet this charming and amusing couple. The perfect guests!
Wonderful Stay
Really lovely property. Quirky, old and magnificent grounds. Stairs very steep but you get used to them.
Delighted you enjoyed your stay!
WONDERFUL HOUSES FILLED WITH WARM CHARACTER
We loved both La Vieille Maison and La Maison Bleeu! For a larger gathering of family and friends this worked perfectly, giving space and options for sitting and dining to different groups during the week. Wish we could have stayed longer. Loved the personal family feel of both houses, filled with antiques and masses of books! Pretty bed covers, shutters, and a higgled piggledy layout. The houses are well looked after by Hubert and his team. Very clean and well equipped. Showers in the Blue House were excellent and the slightly bigger cooking space there served well. We also loved using the Grand Salle to eat all together. Wonderful paintings on the walls. The pool was perfect and we enjoyed lunches amongst the roses on the Vieille Maison terrace.. and then moving round for evening drinks on the Blue House terrace. We can't wait to come back! Thoroughly recommend!! Thank you so much, Rosemary, and all your help with our complicated arrangements!
So pleased your large group found that the property, with its two houses, met their needs. As you say, there is room for everyone to enjoy being together but there are also plenty of places to retire to for moments of peace and quiet. We wanted to offer our guests modern conveniences and comfort whilst also incorporating traditional Burgundian pieces of furniture to match the style of the houses with their oak beams, stone fireplaces and floors paved with tommettes. We're glad you found the result has a 'personal family feel' and that you enjoyed the garden and pool. And thank you for the accolade to our wonderful team of helpers who keep things sparkling!
A haven of tranquility
We have just returned from a very delightful holiday in La Maison Bleue. If you are looking for peace and tranquility and a true get away from it all holiday. Look no further.
Wonderfully French , rural location, comfortable, homely , well equipped accommodation. Well situated for lovely days out for the whole family. The pool is great to come home to after the heat of the car!
So pleased you enjoyed your stay! We love sitting on the terrace, glass of good Burgundy wine in hand, enjoying the view from our garden of fields and woods stretching into the distance and watching the sunset. But, as you say, there is also lots to do and see from our peaceful village, whether it's hiking or canoeing in the Morvan national park, visiting a chateau, doing a wine-tasting or setting off to buy local produce in the market. We hope we can welcome you again in the future!
Map
There are no shops in our tiny village although a bread van comes by most mornings. But pas de panique! Our nearest large village L'Isle sur Serein (a 5 minutes drive away) has a bank, post office, grocer, newsagent, cafe, restaurant, butcher, baker and tourist office. Our nearest big town Avallon, (20 minutes drive away) has excellent specialist food shops, a wonderful Saturday market and several large supermarkets. There are antique shops, cafes and restaurants and an old quarter with cobbled streets and a Romanesque cathedral. Great views across the valley from the high ramparts.
Nearby attractions (10-40 minute drive) include the battlefield of Alesia where Julius Caesar defeated the Gauls; the miniature train at Dissangis; the exquisite Abbey Church of Vezelay, one of the starting points for the pilgrimage to Santiago; Romanesque churches; the chateaux of Epoisses, Bazoches,Tanlay and Ancy-le Franc; the historic hilltop town of Montreal; the prehistoric caves of Arcy-sur-Cure with wall paintings that predate those of Lascaux and, of course, the wine growing areas around Chablis and Irancy and in the Cote d'Or. There are tennis courts, good fishing spots, a thrilling rock climing centre and a riding stables in the area as well as nearby forest walks.
Further afield (40 minutes to 2 hours) are Fontenay Abbey, the 'medieval' castle of Guedelon, the chateaux of Tanlay, Meaulnes, Bussy-Rabutin and Aiguilley.
For children a ‘prehistoric’ park at Cardoland (40 minutes) offers a journey through the land of the dinosaurs. You can also make a day trip to Disneyland, Paris by train from Montbard direct to Marne-la-Vallée - the station for the theme park.
Apart from our heated pool (exclusive to the property) there are lakes with swimming beaches in the nearby Morvan National Park which also offers white water rafting and canoeing.