44 Rue Maurice Utrillo - la casa pequeña, alta, junto al río

Owners Molly and Georges are both ex academics (teacher trainer and biologist) who love Angouleme and the Charentes region

We love the views, the garden birds , and the fact that although it is close to a beautiful city centre, the small, tall house feels distinctly rural. We like to watch the walkers passing on the island and to relax by the side of the river at the end of the garden. We accidentally created a rock garden that we absolutely love. The stroll to the boulanger involves walking onto and then off the island, crossing the bridge which traverses one of the memorable rivers of France and then saying "Bonjour messieurs dames" as you enter the shop. And the shop is only a 15 minute walk from the house. We love walking up through the ramparts and having a coffee on the terraces as we watch people go abut their business through the streets of the old town.

Riverside access to one of the major rivers of France. The view from the lounge is mesmeric. There is always something going on....fisherman peering into the river as they amble along the riverbank looking for spot... dog walkers on the island pausing to gaze at the walled city behind the house ... the tall poplar tree at the end of the garden swaying gently in the wind ... the shadows creeping across the gravels of the rock garden. In high summer, flocks of swallows and martins sweep past the house so closely that you can hear the rush of wind under their wings. It is supremely relaxing on a hot day to walk through the garden to the river bank and lie back in a lounger with an iced drink, watching fish languidly rise to the water surface. Bliss!