booking information

Welcome to Gîte Limoges (formerly Le Meynieux), in the heart of the beautiful, rolling Limousin/Charente countryside, and thank you for visiting our site.

Gîte Limoges is a charming, traditional, stonebuilt, cottage, ideally situated within easy reach of the main towns of Limoges (Haute Vienne) & Angoulême (Charente).

The airport at Limoges is around 25 mins drive away, and some 45 mins in the opposite direction is Angoulême and the TGV link to Paris (2 hrs 20 mins) and ultimately London by Eurostar. There is also a direct TGV service from Angoulême to Paris, Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Most of the major car hire companies are represented in Angouleme (opposite the railway station and within walking distance, some a bit further); Limoges has the same, and right outside the terminal building.

Putting the emphasis on a tranquil, comfortable and relaxing stay, you have the option to:

• Take it easy in the private garden;

• Explore the lush, verdant, countryside, which abounds with oak, chestnut and birch forests, and a myriad of marked country trails. Here you can cycle, horse ride or just meander along on foot taking in all the sounds, sights snd smells of this still very much unspoiled region of S.West France;

• If you fancy a bit of retail therapy, you can take a trip to either Limoges or Angoulême where you will find a good selection of designer shops in which to spend your holiday Euros. Then of course the best part is to discover the local bars, brasseries and restaurants, providing excellent cuisine without the big city prices. In fact we have one or two favourite lttle eating places, and we'll let you have a bit of insider knowledge, but that's just between us you understand!

The cottage itself can accommodate up to 6 persons (linen not provided), and is decorated in a classic French country style with clean lines and calm restful tones of cream and white. There is a mezzanine sleeping area (king size) with a shower room and separate WC. Downstairs and off the main living/dining room is a smaller but separate mezzanine sleeping area (double). This part of the house has its own shower room with WC and dressing area. There is a sofa bed (double) in the main living room

The beautifully decorated, living/dining area is of approximately 50 m2 and incorporates a corner kitchen which comprises: fridge/freezer, dishwasher, coffee maker, microwave, and for all you budding Raymond Blancs out there, the cooker has a gas hob and electric, spit roast oven. Failing that you can always use the barbecue in the garden! The room also features a lovely terracotta tiled floor and has exposed beams, with a large woodburning stove, as well as electric convector heaters, making the cottage ideal for off season use.

Gîte Limoges has a secluded, pretty garden, directly accessible via the French windows in the living room, where you will find an above ground, 5.5 m octagonal pool. Perfect for cooling off in on those long hot summer days.

Location-wise Gîte Limoges couldn't be better. Apart from the aforementioned transport links, the cottage is only 5 minutes or so in the car from the beautiful, character-laden mediaeval town of Rochechouart. Here you can visit the magnificent 11-13 century Chateau, and the unusual church with its twisted spire. Rochechouart also has a sprinkling of bars, restaurants, banks, chemists and a couple of supermarkets.

Venture a few kilometres South-Eastwards and history buffs can pick up the trail of Richard the Lionheart. Going North West and a few centuries later, you can visit the ill-fated town of Oradour-sur-Glane, noted for the SS massacre in the second world war.

On the leisure side of things, and also five minutes or so from Gîte Limoges, is one of the largest leisure lakes of the region, Lac Lavaud. Here you can swim (safe bathing area with gentle beach), fish, sail, canoe and windsurf to your heart's content (no motor boats allowed). There are two good bar/restaurants, both with beaches.

And there's nothing better than sitting outside, having a relaxing dinner and watching the sun go down over the lake.

Gîte Limoges is available for winter lets and is perfectly suitable as a base for potential house-hunters, and we should know because that's exactly what we did!

booking information

for more information, contact Alex & Valérie Bleasdale
tel/fax: + 33 (0) 5 45 89 35 95
mobile: +33 (0) 6 62 29 94 61
email: alex16.bleasdale@club-internet.fr