Rural farmhouse with private pool, ideal for families

The house
Our house, ‘Le Merle’, is situated on the outskirts of the small village of St Hilaire de Voust, in the Vendée département of western France. Due to its position on the Atlantic coast, the Vendéé enjoys a micro-climate, making it one of the sunniest areas of France and you can jump into the pool to cool off when the temperatures start to rise.
Le Merle is a converted and extended farmhouse, the original part of which dates back over 200 years. The house is less than a 10 minute walk from the village centre, set on a quiet road overlooking the village. In the main building there are 4 bedrooms, a lounge area, a dining area, a kitchen and 2 bathrooms. To the front of the house is a patio area leading onto a private pool with decking and at the side of the house is a patio area overlooking the back garden and surrounding fields.
The house is fully-equipped to ensure you have a comfortable stay.
Bedrooms (2 x double, 1 x twin, 1 x bunkbed) have storage areas or wardrobes and all beds have duvets and pillows. All linens, including indoor towels, are provided.
The dining table can accommodate up to 8 people; the kitchen includes an oven, microwave, blender, dishwasher, fridge-freezer and all the plates, cutlery and utensils that you might need.
The lounge area comfortably seats 6 people at any one time; the TV offers a limited number of English-language channels (including BBC1,2, ITV, Channel 4). There is also a xbox 360 console that can play DVDs, a record player and a selection of board games/jigsaws.
The main bathroom includes a shower, washbasin and toilet. There is an additional separate toilet. A second shower-room is also available.
Outside, there are recliners and sun loungers for the pool. The pool is heated and fitted with a security cover (that should be closed every evening).

The village
St. Hilaire de Voust is easily accessible: if arriving by ferry / Channel Tunnel, the village is a 6-hour drive from Calais or a 3-hour drive from St Malo. If arriving by air, the airports of Nantes or La Rochelle are both around a 90 minute drive away.
St. Hilaire is a peaceful village on the banks of a tributary of the Vendée river. In the village there is a church, mini-mart (where you can buy essentials and fresh bread) and the locally acclaimed restaurant, Le Lion d’Or - go for a meal and enjoy the excellent food on offer or just drop by for a drink in the bar or a take-away pizza. Just outside the village is a grotto commemorating previous pilgrimages to Lourdes. There are several supermarkets in the nearby town of La Châtaigneraie as well as a pharmacy.

Free-time
Our main pastimes when at the house are lazing by the pool, games in the pool, board games and reading! But if you would like to explore the region a little more, then here are some of the highlights:
- The medieval cité de Vouvant is a 10-minute drive away. You can visit the craft shops, the Melusine tower, or picnic by the lake. A pretty, little town with lots of old-fashioned charm!
- Near to Vouvant is the Forêt de Mervent. This vast, green getaway offers cycling routes, walking trails, the Natur’Zoo animal park, a childrens’ amusement park, and boat hire / paddle-boarding at the outdoor leisure centre.
- A 40-minute drive takes you to the town of Niort. Niort stands on the Sèvre river and has a beautiful historic centre alongside many independent boutiques and a thriving market held several times per week.
- Puy du Fou is one of France’s top tourist attractions and you can get there by car in less than an hour. This historic theme park is unlike any other that you will ever visit, and the spectacular shows and immersive experiences really have to be seen to be believed!
- If you’d like a day at the beach, you can get to the port town of La Rochelle or many of the seaside resorts along the Vendée coast in less than 75 minutes. You will find miles of golden sand overlooking the ocean, and lots of resorts offer water sports activities too.