Idyllically set amongst sunflowers and rolling meadows, this former priory is now an idyllic family-friendly retreat comprising three luxurious gites, along with a large heated pool and a whole host of child-friendly play gear and nursery equipment.
The priory buildings of Ste Catherine de la Champ were built by monks in the 1700s and were all but ruined when the friendly May family fell in love with the place in 2006 and decided this would be the start of a new life in France. Undaunted by the scale of the restoration and renovation project, the Mays set about creating a home for themselves and a place where other families could share their dream in the Charente countryside.
The family of three, plus their soppy dogs and Jet the cat, finally moved here from the UK in 2010 and have made it their mission to go way above and beyond the average gite holiday and especially catering for parents with preschoolers.
They’ve sensitively converted the priory into three luxuriously appointed gites and have been justly rewarded with 4-star ratings by the Chambre de Tourisme. Not content with simply adding quality fixtures and fittings for grown-ups, the Mays also provide top notch child-friendly kit too. To take the pain out of packing, there’s a long list of nursery gear (see Fast Facts tab) and boxes of toys all tailored to children’s ages, including Lego, Playmobil, garage, train set, shop, dressing up outfits, loads of books and DVD’s. Plus, the TV’s have UK channels including all-important Cbeebies and Wi FI is available inside and out.
Each of the three gites boasts the privacy of their own garden and dining patio but families can also safely spill into the secure shared grounds of The Courtyard, where children have lots to keep them happy including a trampoline, swings plus baby swing, sand pit, slide and climbing frame, swing ball, basket ball and football goal posts. During the summer, children can also sign up for Bebe Poney from three, mug painting workshops with arty Michaela who will take away the masterpieces to be baked and glazed as a perfect memento. Even babies can do a foot print plate to take back for Granny.
The swimming pool at The Courtyard is completely fenced and gated, to give parents peace of mind while children roam, free range, around the garden and there are plenty of sun loungers for a sneaky snooze in the sun. The pool is 1.5 metres deep right the way across, with corner steps for easier access and it’s heated to a comfortable 27°c from 1st May to end of September.
Accommodation overview
Chez Coco (sleeps 6 + baby in a cot) has an official 4-star rating from the French tourist board and is a stylish blend of original character and modern comfort. The living/dining area and kitchen is open plan, with a beautiful exposed stone feature wall and a 3.5 metre high by 4 metre wide window, dressed in Bombay muslin to diffuse plenty of light into the room while maintaining privacy. The living area features two sofas, a wood burning stove, HD TV with Freesat channels, DVD player and an iPod dock and French doors open to the private terrace and garden with outdoor dining table, shade sail and barbecue. The kitchen is well equipped and includes an oven and hob, microwave, coffee machine, fridge freezer, dishwasher and washing machine. The master bedroom at Chez Coco, with an exposed stone feature wall, has a king size bed and a Juliet balcony with views to the south over open countryside. This bedroom also has an ensuite shower room with washbasin and WC. The second bedroom has a double bed, a set of children's bunks and a cot, plus an ensuite shower room with a washbasin and WC.