La Charmante Distillerie

About this property

This former Cognac distillery will delight all ages as you relax by the heated swimming pool, pick fruit and herbs in the garden, play on the climbing frame or wander through the surrounding woods looking for deer. Pass vineyards, sunflowers and hayfields as you explore historic local towns and pretty villages across the sunny Charente region of southern France.

La Charmante Distillerie has been beautifully renovated by its thoughtful and dedicated owners, preserving much of the estate’s 18th-century heritage as a working Cognac distillery. The domaine once housed the Maison de Maître, a workers’ farmhouse and two barns – later used to conceal Jewish workers in WWII – and one of these barns has been immaculately transformed into a wonderful 4-bedroom holiday home.

Inside, step into the high-ceilinged living-dining room with carefully curated artwork, a wall-mounted Smart TV and elegant furnishings, open-plan to the luxurious Christian Lacroix–designed kitchen. Two garden-facing bedrooms on the ground floor, both with king-size beds and stylish en suite shower rooms, are ideal for guests who prefer not to use stairs, while upstairs there are two further flexible bedrooms (twin or king-size) and a lovely family bathroom with shower and large bath.

Features are second-to-none: high-speed internet across the house and garden, reversible air-conditioning throughout, an impressive 65-inch Smart TV and even a telescope for star-gazing. Outside, the heated pool has an integrated security cover and is surrounded by high-spec garden furniture, poolside dining, a beautiful outdoor lounge and a summer kitchen with barbecue and wine fridge. Families are warmly welcomed – younger children will love the play area and sandpit, older ones will enjoy the board games, DVDs and Wi-Fi, and everyone will adore the glorious pool. Sustainability is also key, with locally sourced products, water recycling systems and plans for solar energy.

When you’re ready to explore, visit the fortified town of Barbezieux-Saint-Hilaire with its restaurants, twice-weekly market, historic château and charming Charentais buildings; the owners can recommend local favourites, arrange a private chef at home and organise Cognac and wine tastings at family-run vineyards. Around half an hour away, discover the picture-perfect village of Aubeterre-sur-Dronne with its flower-filled lanes, studios, craft shops, monolithic church and riverside beach, or spend the day at Base de Pleine Nature de Poltrot for tree-top adventures, canoeing and nature walks. Other inspiring excursions include Angoulême, the distilleries of Cognac, the market towns of the Périgord Vert and even the prestigious vineyards of Saint-Émilion and Bordeaux, before returning to the peace and luxury of La Charmante Distillerie with its glorious views of the idyllic Charente countryside.

Just over an hour north-east of Bordeaux Airport, this former Cognac distillery is set in one-hectare grounds with fruit trees, herbs and flowers, surrounded by woodland for nature walks and wildlife spotting. This is the sunny Charente department of France, famous for good food, wine and Cognac as well as its relaxed pace of life, beautiful landscapes, historic towns and charming villages.

If arriving by train, Gare d'Angoulême (40km) has arrivals from Paris (the direct TGV service from Gare Montparnasse takes around 2 hours 15 minutes). There are various ferry routes to Saint-Malo, Caen- Ouistreham and Le Havre, all approximately five to six hours away by car. The nearest three airports are Bordeaux, Bergerac and Limoges.

Part of a larger estate, La Charmante Distillerie is set on a country lane leading to a rural village. It’s around a 10-minute drive to Condéon, home to a restaurant-bar open Tuesday to Sunday for lunch (and Friday/Saturday evening). It also acts as a small épicerie selling bread, local produce and wine.

The nearest supermarkets can be found in Barbezieux-Saint-Hilaire (11km), a fortified town on the historic route between Paris, Poitiers, Bordeaux and Spain. There are several restaurants to choose from as well as a twice-weekly market and an impressive château with origins dating back to the 15th century. It’s an attractive town to spend time in with its medieval lanes of traditional Charentais buildings.

The owners can connect you to local family-run vineyards for Cognac and wine tastings whilst food lovers can discover a range of recommended restaurants across the region. Gourmands will especially appreciate the food scene in the handsome city of Angoulême (40km), also loved for its annual vintage car race and Musée de la Bande Dessinée. Just south of the city, Les Sources de Fontbelle is a Michelin starred restaurant set in wonderful forest surroundings.

Heading further north, the town of Cognac (46km) is also renowned for its gastronomy as well as its famous Cognac houses (Hennessy, Martell, Rémy Martin etc). Cognac’s old centre is a joy to potter around with its medieval lanes, historic houses and inviting boutiques whilst the river is very picturesque, best explored by boat. Tour the 10th century Château de Cognac and partake in Cognac tasting opportunities by Otard.

Slightly closer to home, spend time admiring pretty local villages. One of the loveliest is Aubeterre-sur-Dronne (30km) with its steep winding lanes, gorgeous stone houses, flower-filled balconies, art galleries, craft shops, incredible monolithic church and glorious surrounding vistas. Wander down to the riverside beach for summer swimming, water-based activities and picnics. Perhaps combine with a visit to Base de Pleine Nature de Poltrot (33km) for riverside walks and a range of activities including fishing, tree-top trails, canoeing, nature walks, picnics, barbecues and more.

Crossing over to the Dordogne department, take a trip to beautiful Brantôme (71km) for the day, often referred to as ‘the Venice of the Périgord Vert’, or visit the impressive Château de Bourdeilles (65km). The arts and crafts village of Nontron (74km) is another gem of the Périgord Vert whilst Ribérac is worth a visit for its highly regarded Friday morning market.

Meanwhile, wine connoisseurs and history enthusiasts note that you are just over an hour from Saint-Émilion (68km) and its world-famous vineyards, now classified as a unesco World Heritage site. The great city of Bordeaux (85km) is another fantastic day out or venture to the western Dordogne and Gironde regions for more Côtes de Bordeaux vineyards and wineries.

Accommodation

Maison Interiors

Ground Floor

-    Open-plan living and dining area with wall-mounted TV and table for 8 guests
-    Open-plan designer kitchen, fully-equipped including hob, microwave-grill, oven and dishwasher
-    Laundry room with washing machine and dryer
-    Bathroom with shower and WC
-    Master bedroom with king-size double bed and en suite bathroom with shower
-    Bedroom with king-size double bed and en suite bathroom with shower 

First Floor (sloping ceilings)

-    Bedroom (low doorway) with twin beds (can be joined to make a king-size double) and sofa den area
-    Bedroom with twin beds (can be joined to make a king-size double)
-    Family bathroom with large bath and separate shower

Outside Grounds

-    Heated swimming pool (8x4m, depth: 1.45m) with integrated security cover. Open approximately June to end-September (not to be used after 11.00 p.m.)
-    Poolside sun loungers and dining area
-    Second al-fresco dining area (by the house)
-    Summer kitchen with barbecue and wine fridge
-    Pergola with tiki-style lighting
-    Perimeter lighting around garden
-    Children’s play area and sandpit
-    Lawned garden
-    Badminton
-    Boules court
-    Herb garden
-    Car port (for three cars) with electric charging point
-    Additional parking for two cars

Other Facilities

-    Reversible air-conditioning
-    Telescope for star-gazing
-    Integrated alarm system