Key
Facts :
|
Location
: |
17 kms east of Bordeaux and an hour's drive from the ocean. |
|
Type
of location : |
Rural
location, on edge of small town (St Caprais de Bordeaux)
» See villa on Google Map |
|
No.
of bedrooms : |
9 in total
Cottage ref:163 - 2 bedrooms
Grange ref:164 - 4 bedrooms
Maison ref:165 - 3 bedrooms |
|
Sleeping
capacity : |
16
Cottage sleeps 4 in 2 bedrooms: one double, one twin
Grange sleeps 6 in 4 bedrooms:
two doubles, two singles
Maison sleeps 6 in 3 bedrooms: two doubles, one twin |
|
No.
of bathrooms : |
Cottage: 2
shower rooms, two separate WCs
Grange: 4
shower rooms, one per bedroom, each with WC
Maison: 1
en-suite bathroom + 1 shared bathroom |
|
Style
of property : |
Converted château outbuildings |
|
Quality
Guide : |
GOOD QUALITY
- what
does this mean? |
|
Prices : |
|
| » To check availability & prices GO |
Prices
include linen and towels.
Extras: please add 15% in low season for
winter heating.
You
are expected to leave the cottage clean and tidy on departure.
If the cottage is left untidy there will be a 70 EUR charge
(deducted from deposit).
Refundable security deposit 1500
EUR
» Read important information about security deposits & insurance |
|
Arrivals
& departure : |
Arrive
Saturday 4-6pm and depart Saturday by 10am. There is some
flexibility in the off season
»
Read important information about
arrivals & departures |
|
Nearest
beach : |
Lacanau-Océan,
Cap Ferret (le Grand Crohot) or Arcachon, all 60-75 minutes
drive |
|
Nearest
boulangerie : |
St
Caprais (1 km) which has a few local amenities (grocery store,
tabac, boulangerie), plus an impressive church |
|
Nearest
airport : |
Bordeaux
airport (25 kms); Bergerac airport (100 kms) |
|
Nearest
ferry port : |
St
Malo (7-8 hours) |
|
Swimming
pool : |
Yes,
(12m x 6m, up to 2.5m deep), with fenced surround and security
gate. Shared with the other guests. Open April 1st-October
30th. |
|
Suitability
for children : |
Very
good - lots of space to explore and things to play with on-site |
|
Suitability
for infants : |
Good
- 3x cot and high chair available |
|
Facilities
& equipment : |
In each cottage:
TV, barbecue; dishwasher; washing machine; microwave
Shared: volleyball, table tennis, 12
adults + children's bikes (for tootling locally, not for serious
cyclists!), badminton |
There's also the opportunity for a personal tour of the vineyards
and a tasting of the charming château owner Jean-Louis'
red, white and prize-winning sweet whites wines. What better way
to immerse yourself in this characterful, authentic part of France. |
|
Things
to see & do : |
Lots! Vineyard tour and tasting with the owner. Adventure park, walking, cycling, horse-riding, canoeing all
nearby. Visit local market towns. Historic villages of St
Emilion, Cadillac, La Réole. Châteaux and vineyards to visit. Culture, shopping and museums in Bordeaux.
Beach-day trips to bassin d'Arcachon. Day-trips
to the Dordogne too. |
|
House
rules : |
No
pets and no smoking please |
|
Location
: Google Map
Located in the grounds of
the wine-maker's small estate, just off a country road and 1km
from the centre of the small town of St Caprais (with tabac, boulangerie,
mini-market and a couple of bars).
The nearest airports are Bordeaux (25 kms) and Bergerac (100kms).
The nearest ports are Bilbao and Santander in Spain (4 and 6 hours
away respectively), and St Malo (7-8 hour's drive).
|
| Accommodation
:
The three cottages are
separated from the owner's farmhouse by a short pathway. The properties are separated from the road by a gate.
Guests at Domaine des Vignes have use of the estate's large
grounds, 12m x 6m swimming pool, bikes and games (volley-ball,
table-tennis, badminton, swing-ball).
The decor and furnishings are of a good, modern standard throughout.
Tiled floors, exposed stone walls, exposed beams upstairs and
bright blue shutters outside all give the three cottages charm and
character.
Cottage ref:163
There
are entrances to the cottage front (nearest the road) and rear,
via the garden. There is excellent noise insulation between
the Cottage and neighbouring Grange ref:164. Outside shrubs and hedging separate
the gardens so they do not overlook one another.
Downstairs:
Small sitting area with seating for 4 and TV at one end, open-plan
kitchen with dining table for 4 at the other. Tiled floors and
exposed stone walls. Kitchen equipment includes microwave, four-ring
hob, oven refrigerator, coffee-maker, washing machine, dishwasher
and kettle.
Upstairs:
Bedroom 1, with double, four-poster style bed, lamps, bed-side
tables, colourful bedding
Bedroom 2, with twin beds
There are also two shower rooms with basins upstairs, and two
separate WCs.
Outside:
Parking for 1 car.
At the rear of the cottage is a terrace with table and chairs
for 4, and barbecue, and a small private, lawned garden, open
at the far end and looking out to the vines and forest at the
rear of the estate. Hedges and shrubs on either side mean the
garden is not overlooked by the neighbouring properties.
Grange ref:164
See comments above re neighburing the Cottage ref:163.
Downstairs:
Open-plan living space with sitting area at one end with seating
for 6 and TV, and kitchen and dining area at the other (including
dining table seating 6). Tiled floors and exposed stone walls.
Kitchen equipement includes microwave, four-ring hob, oven refrigerator,
coffee-maker, washing machine, dishwasher and kettle.
Leading off the kitchen area and short corridor serves two downstairs
bedrooms - a double and a single, each with an en-suite shower
room, basin and toilet.
Upstairs:
There are two further bedrooms upstairs, a second double and
a second single room, each with its own shower room, basin and
WC.
Outside:
Parking for 1 car.
At the rear of the cottage is a pergola with table and chairs
for 4, and barbecue, and a small private, lawned garden, open
at the far end and looking out to the vines and forest at the
rear of the estate. Hedges and shrubs on either side mean the
garden is not overlooked by the neighbouring properties.
Maison ref:165
The house adjoins part of the main building, but with an independent
entrance on another side. The cottage entrance faces a lovely
large lawned area which ends at the vines.
Downstairs:
Consists
of a large entrance, a lounge room (with a TV), a dining room,
a kitchen equipped with a dishwasher, washing machine, oven,
stove, coffee machine, electric kettle and microwave, a toilet,
shower room and a pantry.
Upstairs:
On the first floor the double room has an en suite shower room
with a washbasin. The other double and twin rooms share a bathroom
with a washbasin. Separate wc.
Outside:
Private garden, with a view on the garden
and vines. Garden table, chairs and barbecue for the summer are
used under the Magnolia tree which is just in front of the house.
|
Local
Guide :
Wine-making
on the estate
Amazingly this modest 15 hectare estate, in the Premières
Côtes de Bordeaux appelation, produces four Grands
Vins de Bordeaux: a deep merlot-based red, a rosé-style
'clairet', dry-ish white and, best of all, a stunning semillon-based
sweet white wine. With the vines growing around you, and Jean-Louis
at work in the winery, it feels a rare privilege to have an opportunity
to see wine-making at such close quarters, in the world's home
of wine. Even if you're only a moderate wine-fan when you arrive,
it's certain you'll leave again enthused with Jean-Louis' passion,
and a boot-load of your favourites of his range.
Also, several footpaths run from close to the
estate around the local countryside and vineyards, for walks of
between 2 and 4 hours.
In and around St Caprais
St Caprais is located in the Entre-Deux-Mers countryside, one of the loveliest parts of the Gironde - soft,
undulating hills, ancient villages (St Macaire, La Sauve-Majeure and Cadillac should
be high on anyone's list for a visit), baroque châteaux
and some excellent wines.
St Caprais is a pleasant town with basic amenities and a beautiful
ancient church, de rigueur in these parts. There are several activities
nearby, including an tree-top adventure park in St Caprais itself (TEPACAP), tennis courts
in Latresne, horse-riding at Sadirac (10 kms), water-sports at Baurech (3 kms away), cycling on the nearby Sauveterre-de-Guyenne to Bordeaux cycle trail, a
disused railway track which runs through lovely countryside, joining
sleepy villages on the way, plus over a dozen golf courses within a 15-60 minute drive.
Entre-Deux-Mers and further afield
Markets – markets are a must-do of any trip to this region,
for the quality and colour of the produce, and the lively atmosphere.
Near St Caprais there’s Cadillac, Créon, La Réole,
and Langon. Jean-Louis (the estate owner) knows the days!
Châteaux
& vineyard visits – where to start?! Jean-Louis,
the château owner, of course, with a tasting and tour
of his vines and cellars. He's very passionate about his wine,
and a fanastic communicator - the wine tastes so much better
after learning about it from him. For more tasting & learning
Jean-Louis can recommend fellow local wine-makers or, if you
wish to make you own plans, over 650 wine-making properties
are members of the ‘Vignobles & Chaisin Bordeaux’,
a scheme under which producers offer guided tours and assisted
tastings.
Many
of the major châteaux only offer tours and tastings by
appointment, simply because they are very popular! (Follow the
links above for contact details.) However there
are a few local ones which are open to casual visitors, for
example: Château de Rouillac (Pessac-Léognan); Château de Malle (Sauternes, highly recommended - afternoons only without appointment); Château Le Luc Regula (Entre-Deux-Mers); Château de Roques (St Emilion).
Historic
villages and towns – in the Pays des Vins you
are spoilt for choice. St Emilion is the one
most people head for, but go early in the day, or out of season,
to avoid the crowds. Equally historic, but smaller, are Sauve-Majeure and La Réole, definitely worth a visit.
Many other of the region’s towns boast character and history
– Libourne, Créon, Duras, Sainte Foy-la-Grande are
all very enjoyable places to lunch and then stroll afterwards.
Literary-minded
visitors might enjoy visiting writers’ châteaux,
including those of Montaigne (Chateau de la Brede,
approx. 20 kms south of Bordeaux) and Francois Mauriac's country
house at Saint Maixant (another 20 kms south-west from La Brede)
City
culture in Bordeaux – these days Bordeaux is
a transformed city: smartened-up buildings, extensively pedestrianised
and a 21st century tram system, the combination of historic
and new makes Bordeaux the epitome of a modern European city.
The city centre around the Grand Théatre and Cours de l’Intendance is a marvel –
it’s not difficult to appreciate the wealth and vision
of the city’s planners of its hey-days, over two centuries
ago. Extensive shopping on the Rue Ste Catherine,
a vast choice of cafés and restaurants, the stunning Cathédrale St-André, make Bordeaux
an excellent day or two out. The Bordeaux tourist office by
the Grand Théatre offers walking guides. The first Sunday
of each month the city centre is closed to cars and free bicycles
are supplied by the Mairie to visit the city safely.
We
can also the following trips slightly further afield:
Days
by the lake. There are inland lakes at Hostens (southern Gironde) and at Baurech (Entre-Deux-Mers)
Both have sandy beaches, and bathing is usually supervised in
July & August. With a picnic it’s a very pleasant
and relaxing day.
Days
at the seaside. The endless expanses of golden sand
and rolling waves characteristic of the Atlantic coast's beaches
- Le Grand Crohot, about 10 km due west of
Lège-Cap Ferret is particularly recommended, you can
always find a quiet spot to yourself. Alternatively, there's
the very family-friendly resorts of Lacanau-Océan and Arcachon. Or try the oyster-farming villages
and pine-and-sand-dune landscape of La Presqu'Ile de Cap
Ferret, a very different world from the Pays des Vins.
Explore
the Dordogne – to the north and east is the rich
gastronomic and cultural heritage of the Dordogne - its truffles,
many caves (eg at Sarlat, Lascaux, Font-de-Gaume) and fortified
towns are within an hour and a half's drive.
This is just a taster. The owners of Grange des Vignes know
the region intimately and will provide suggestions for all ages
and interests when you meet them.
For further information try the links below. (Please note that
we cannot be held responsible for the content of third party
sites.)
Alternative
Aquitaine's Guide to the Pays des Vins
Tourist
information - Entre-deux-Mers
Guide
to St Emilion
Golf
in the Bordeaux-Gironde area
Tourism
in and around Arcachon
Gironde
Tourist Information
Hostens
Lac guide
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