Charming restored farmhouse with large garden and pool

Nestled in quiet countryside, just 5km from the beautiful village of Nanteuil en Vallee, Touchebaudrand is a charming, restored farmhouse, set in almost an acre of garden with a wonderfully inviting pool. Sleeping up to 10 people in 5 bedrooms, the well-proportioned house includes a large, well-equipped kitchen-dining room with an induction range, American-style fridge freezer with ice dispenser (so handy), a 10-seat dining table and a large wood-burner.

Surrounding area

Touchebaudrand lies just 5km from the gorgeous village of Nanteuil-en-Vallee where winding lanes lead to the medieval abbey with its large dungeon. The village’s arboretum is perfect for picnics and quiet walks and has a small playpark and a maze. The village features two lovely restaurants, the Argentor and the Saint Jean, as well as Les Jardins de la Pecherie bar which is developing a great reputation for live music. Delicious artisan pizzas can be found at Chez Tyty next to the Argentor. Tucked behind the church is Lolly’s Tea Room with its abundance of fresh cakes. The village also has a general store and a deli offering a wide rage of provisions as well as fresh bread and croissants from a nearby bakery. During July the village hosts a night market featuring local producers, a bar and barbecue and lots of live music, some of which isn’t bad at all.

The house is around 8km from the picture-postcard village of Verteuil with its classic, turreted chateau perched above the Charente river. Verteuil has a selection of lovely restaurants and bars (Les Jeux de Pots, Cafe Portebleu, La Senechalerie, Les Bistrot des Douves) but is most famous for its artisan bakery, the Moulin. Here, organic flour is ground by an ancient water mill and some of this flour is used to make the best brioche in Charente - and quite possibly the whole of France, or indeed the World. The Moulin has a beautiful terrace overlooking the river where you can enjoy coffee and several brioches, or a lunchtime menu of salads and freshly-made French-style pizzas (they’re square).

12km from the house is Ruffec, the local market town. In addition to three supermarkets and a retail park, Ruffec also has a variety of independent shops, as well as cash machines, pharmacies, a post office and even a small general hospital. There is a mainline railway station with regular trains to Bordeaux and Poitiers. On Wednesday and Saturday mornings the town hosts a market with an outstanding range of stalls selling fresh fruit and veg, fish and shellfish, meat, free-range chicken, duck, artisan bread and, of course, a ridiculous number of cheeses.


Off the kitchen is a useful pantry where you will also find the microwave oven and the washing machine.

From the kitchen you step onto the generous dining terrace where you can enjoy your meals under the 4x3m gazebo and the vast bay tree.

The full-height living room features 2 sofas and 2 armchairs, a wood burner, as well as a small library, a wifi speaker, a portable bluetooth speaker, and a 43-inch smart TV connected to ultra-fast fibre broadband. (The TV apps include Prime, Netflix, Apple TV and Disney+, but feel free to bring your own smart TV devices).

Patio doors lead to a small side terrace with two armchairs and a three seat sofa. It’s a perfect spot for a mid-morning coffee, aperitifs and after dinner drinks.

Off the entrance hallway is the utility room where you will find the tumble dryer, dust pan and brush, mop and vacuum if you spill something.

Bedrooms
The ground floor bedroom (accessed from the kitchen) can function as a super king size double (160cm) or twin. It is furnished with an ample chest of drawers and hanging rail. The ensuite includes a bath with shower over and a heated towel rail.

Stairs from the kitchen to the first floor take you to the master bedroom and the children's rooms. The master has a walk-in wardrobe, an ensuite with a large shower and heated towel rail. This room can function as a super king size double or twin. The two children's rooms feature 3-berth bunkbeds (double bottom, single top) and ample storage. The family bathroom has a bath with shower over and a heated towel rail.

The fourth bedroom is accessed by its own staircase from the living room making it particularly appealing for a couple or perhaps older teenagers who want that bit more space from the rest of the group. This room includes a super king size double bed and a 120cm wide sofa bed, allowing it to function as a twin room. It has an ensuite shower room with heated towel rail. A built-in wardrobe provides ample storage.

If you absolutely have to do a bit of work, there’s also a small office which benefits from the house’s ultra-fast fibre broadband.

Outside

The lovely garden is dotted with trees and includes a round gazebo providing an alternative spot for the all-important enjoyment of coffee or aperitifs.


Small football goals, badminton and volleyball equipment are available.


The fibreglass pool is 8.5m x 4.2m with a constant depth of 1.5m. The pool has built-in steps and a ledge around three sides which can provide a reassuring spot for young children just learning to swim. The pool also features a heater and a security cover. On one side of the pool you’ll find six loungers under awnings and on the other side four steamer chairs shaded by a great big walnut tree.


The parking area provides space for up to 6 cars.