Ref. : F33416
Vendee and Charentes
(France)
24 persons - 9 rooms -
Rates: From €14000 to €16000
Château Perle de Charente is a prestigious property for rent in France. This fairytale castle has its own special kind of magic. Towers and turrets on the outside give way to stylish sophistication on the inside, successfully combining stately grandeur with homely warmth. It is the perfect setting for an enchanting getaway that guests will remember for many years to come. 
Chic Villas brings you this gem of a property to rent in the Charente region of south-west France. Château Perle de Charente is one of the latest additions to our portfolio of premium holiday rentals.
Leave the busy world and your cares behind as you step inside this very special chateau. The English owners have lovingly refurbished the property in a celebration of French chateau lifestyle and their love of modern art, offsetting traditional stone features with contemporary design. The result gives the property its own unique personality with the very best of old and new.
The façade is typical of its era and the region while the interior tells quite a different tale. The ultramodern decoration is stunning yet simple and showcases the chateau’s high ceilings, little square-paned windows, staircases, woodwork, flooring and fireplaces.
With four spacious lounges, there are plenty of shared living spaces, all of which lend themselves to socialising and easy living. Two of the elegant lounges have a fireplace and one has a magnificent grand piano set in front of the tall bay windows to enjoy an abundance of light and a view of the garden. The lounge bar breaks away from traditional chateau style, opting instead for resolutely modern furniture. In a region reputed for its wines and spirits, it is de rigueur to embrace the French art de vivre and enjoy a Cognac brandy or its cousin liqueur, Pineau des Charentes! Furnishings throughout the property are few but carefully curated, adding a majestic dimension to these huge rooms. Each room is a new source of wonder and delight.
Upstairs, the nine suites and bedrooms have been equally well thought out. Each has its own atmosphere with the common denominator being low-key luxury and a sense of wellbeing. The rooms have a king-size bed, flat screen TV, seating area and a minibar. While all the rooms are different, they are all modern, stylish and comfortable, blending select old furniture with resolutely modern design.
The bathrooms are fabulous – the space has been optimized and designed to incorporate the layout of the building, with features including exposed stone walls, a fireplace, double or corner bathtubs or a vintage washbasin, and natural light from tall windows. The effect is stunning and creates a timeless sense of wellness.
The blend of old and new continues outside, where guests can appreciate the chateau’s beautiful architecture and its wooded grounds while enjoying modern high-end facilities including a 15-metre-long heated swimming pool which is fenced off for safety.
Venture out of your luxury rental castle in Charente to discover what France does best – food and history ! There is a pretty medieval village just down the road with shops and amenities and plenty of other villages, churches, markets, castles, and mills to visit, along with more energetic activities that will appeal to the whole family, such as karting or canoeing.
This premium holiday home near the Charente and Dordogne regions can comfortably accommodate up to twenty-four people, six families, or eight couples.
Indoors:
Ground floor
- Entrance hall
- Two lounges with a fireplace
- Lounge bar
- Large living room with a fireplace and a grand piano
- Home cinema room
- Billiards room
- Spacious fully-fitted kitchen
- Dining room
First floor
- Suite 1: A 27 m² suite with a balcony, king-size bed 1.8 m and en-suite bathroom with a bath
- Suite 2: A 30 m² suite with a fireplace, king-size bed 1.8 m and en-suite bathroom with two baths
- Suite 3: A 20 m² suite with two single beds and an en-suite bathroom with two baths
- Bedroom 1: Double bedroom with a king-size bed and en-suite bathroom with toilet
- Bedroom 2: Double bedroom with a king-size bed and en-suite bathroom with toilet
- Bedroom 3: 15.5 m² bedroom with two single beds
- Bedroom 4: 8.7 m² bedroom with four single beds
- Separate shower room
Second floor
- Suite 4: A 61 m² suite with a king-size bed 1.8 m and en-suite bathroom with a bath and shower
- Suite 5: A 64 m² suite with a king-size bed 1.8 m and a staircase leading to a bathroom with two baths
Outdoors:
- 5 hectares of enclosed grounds
- 14.5 x 6 m Heated swimming pool with a fence enclosure
- Terrace with dining tables, umbrellas and deckchairs
- Football pitch
- Pétanque court
- Table tennis table
La Rochefoucauld is known for its majestic Renaissance-style castle overlooking the Tardoire river. Visit the Carmelite convent, Notre-Dame de l'Assomption church in the village and taste Pichotte, a handmade chocolate sweet made with almonds and icing sugar. After visiting the village, enjoy a relaxing lunch on the lovely terrace of the riverside restaurant Au Moulin du Chateau.
Villebois-Lavalette a popular winegrowing village. Take in the historic monuments, castle and market hall and the Sénéchal house dating from the 15th century. Foodies will enjoy the Charentaise speciality, cornuelle, a flat cake traditionally eaten on Palm Sunday.
Varaignes has a prominent history from the Middle Ages. Visit the medieval castle, weavers’ workshop and museum, Charentaise de Varaignes, a stately hall which remains intact, the mill or the dovecotes that are pointed out during a tour of the town.
Angouleme, is known as the international capital of comics thanks to its famous festival, its comic strip museum and its walls covered with drawings. The Charente River can be seen from the upper town surrounded by ramparts. Continue your stroll past the 12th-century Saint-Pierre cathedral, the town hall and its flower garden, the ramparts, and stately houses and lively little streets.
Château de la Mercerie is a must-see. Dubbed the “Petit Versailles”, it is one of the jewels of the region. Built in the 20th century and in a neoclassical style, it has the longest facade in France which stretches over 220 metres in length, in 50 hectares of gardens. Walk around the grounds and admire some of the rare and remarkable trees.
Bike rides : there is a shaded cycle path near the chateau, with no traffic and flat ground. It goes to Angoulême, crossing rivers, villages and fields of sunflowers.
Kayak : There is kayak centre just 10 minutes from the chateau where you can head out on to the Tardoire river.
Karting : Head to the karting track 15 minutes away where professional teams train every day. Children and teens under 14 can also get their thrills on a smaller track.
25 minutes from your property is an artificial lake with a large, very clean sandy beach, with several cafes on site for refreshments and ice cream. There is also a path around the lake to enjoy a walk or bike ride. Alternatively, venture further out and head to the sea which is a two-hour drive away. The same road will take you to Charente Maritime, Royan or to the seaside resort of La Palmyre which also has a zoo.
Futuroscope theme park in Poitiers makes a great day out. Children will love the attractions and rides while parents will appreciate the educational slant into science, cinema and multimedia. It is one of the most popular French theme parks.
The Charente region is the very essence of all things French, with food and wine figuring high on the list of local priorities! The region’s location lends itself to a variety of specialities from the sea and the land. Don’t leave without tasting any or all of the best local products, including caramels, chocolates, snails, cold meats, melons, goat cheeses, mussels, oysters from Marennes-Oléron, and locally-harvested salt.
There are lots of markets held in the villages around your holiday chateau. The Angoulême market halls are an experience in their own right. The Charentes or Cognac vineyards are internationally renowned under names such as Rémy Martin. The skills required to produce this liqueur are listed among France’s intangible cultural heritage. The region also produces Pineau des Charentes, a blend of grape must and cognac. And then, of course, there are the wines: white, rosé, and red. Wine lovers will definitely want to head out to the Bordeaux vineyards which are less than two hours away. After visiting the local winegrowers and stocking up on your purchases, return to your château to taste them in a setting that is made to savour the best that France has to offer and embrace the art of living!
- Angoulême station 35 km
- Angoulême-Cognac airport 30 km
- Bordeaux-Mérignac airport 160 km
Location, for information purposes only
Nicole U. (France), 26/08/2024
Translated from French / August 2024 / One-week stay: "We had an excellent holiday in Chateau perle de Charente."
