Your contact:	Julie Carter
Telephone:	+33-(0)5- 46 90 67 71
Email:	Click here to contact Le Moulin du Champ

Le Moulin du Champ dates back to the early 18th century and is converted from a large watermill which was, in days long ago, a thriving business grinding flour for the area. The historic property was owned by the same French family for 25 years and since 2003 by a British family. It is located in the Charente Maritime region of Southwest France, between the villages of Saintes and Rochefort and is within 30 minutes of the famous town of La Rochelle and its Airport with many flights from all over the UK and Ireland. There is much Roman influence in the region and the nearby town of Saintes has an ancient Roman Amphitheatre worthy of a visit.

Part of the former mill was converted six years ago into three comfortable gîtes offering a four bedroom (La Source), a three bedroom (La Prairie) nearest to the river and a two bedroom (Le Bucher) overlooking the millstream, all with river views. In addition, a large Charentaise house to the West of the Mill offers a pair of two bedroom homes , semi-detached and ideal for two families, one of which, "Delice du Berger", is all on one level. These two gites face West over the attractive enclosed gardens and pool.

The mill homes are surrounded by extensive grounds with lawns, flowering shrubs and small woodland. The owner and family live in the mill house located south of the mill gites, and are available for assistance and information about the property and the region. The river Bruant flows through the gardens, close to the house and below part of the mill itself. Trout are regularly seen, as well as the occasional carp and pike.

Two of the gîtes are featured here: Délice du Berger and La Source. Délice du Berger has two bedrooms for up to four guests, while La Source has four bedrooms to accommodate up to eight in comfort. Each gîte has its own terrace with a barbecue for outdoor dining. The characteristic old features of the property have been preserved throughout, with exposed stone walls and oak beams.

Guests have use of a private office providing ADSL internet to maintain a work connection or contact with family back home. In this room is a small library of books and magazines, both English and French. There is also a shady garden exercise room. Bicycles can be rented reasonably in the nearby village.

The extensive gardens occupy 4 acres (1.6 hectares) and include a large enclosed lawn garden with shady trees with fruit for picking. There is a swimming pool and childrens play area and a small woodland leading to the gently flowing River Bruant which borders the Island.

The garden is planted with a variety of flowers and shrubs, including a rose garden. A small orchard provides seasonal cherries, apples, plums and figs which guests can enjoy picking themselves. Nearby is a rustic playground with swings, a slide and a large sandpit. On the east side is a floodlit table tennis area enclosed within the former Pigeonnier which is very popular with all ages.

Only a few metres away is the 10x5 metre fenced swimming pool which faces southwest and has a gravelled terrace with sunloungers and parasols. It basks in sun most of the day so is usually a pleasant temperature. Parking is available on site, some shaded by trees. Le Moulin du Champ is enveloped by fields of sunflowers, corn and sometimes melon, beyond which are the meadowlands interspersed with small canals, ideal for walking and cycling, with the river Charente about five minutes away. The area is a popular spot for birdwatchers, with regular sightings of kingfisher, herons, woodpeckers, and many other types of birds, including a pair of extremely rare Golden Orioles which have nested nearby.

Special features:	• Pool on the property • Bilingual assistance available on site • Maid, Cook and Driver can be arranged on request
Swimming pool:	10m x 5m fenced pool with Roman steps

Le Moulin du Champ is nestled in a gentle valley, bordered to one side by a small road with the River Bruant running alongside, linking the nearby village of Romegoux, about a kilometre away, to the next village of Geay. The rural landscape is characterised by fields of crops or glades of open grassland with sheep grazing. Numerous canals criss-cross the meadowlands, and are a haven for bird and animal life, including storks, herons, kites, owls, and the occasional deer. The landscape is ideal for cycling and walking, as well as bird-watching or fishing.

Romegoux, a small residential village, lies just a few leisurely minutes' walk from the Mill. It is home to a fine Gothic church dating from the 15th century, which now displays a large, contemporary stained glass window by the artist Gerard Lardeur. Four kilometres away and just beyond Romegoux is the village of Beurlay (now twinned with Burley in England). This village is renowned for its famous Saintonge-style Galette biscuits and cakes, and has its own factory and shop, as well as a beautiful, floodlit Romanesque church. Beurlay also has a post office, a baker, a friendly bar and café, a hairdresser, and a restaurant offering wholesome and excellent value meals.

There are many local markets selling vegetables, fruit, fresh fish, goat's cheeses, escargots, honey, and local wines, as well as some interesting Brocante and Antiquitie shops selling regional items of furniture. In the nearby town of St. Porchaire, the market is held on a Wednesday morning, and in Pont l'Abbe, a large village close by, it takes place on a Friday. There are a variety of golf courses nearby, with an 18 hole course in Saintes, as well as excellent courses at Royan and La Rochelle. Tennis courts are locally available, as well as an indoor heated swimming pool in Saintes and a new leisure pool complex at St. Jean d'Angely. There is a great choice of boat trips, between the nearby river Charente and the Marais Poitevin, an area of fertile marshland interspersed with numerous canals.

Being situated between the interesting Roman town of Saintes and the old naval port of La Rochelle, Le Moulin du Champ is an ideal place from which to discover the region’s many qualities: the sea and coastline, the Roman and medieval architectural heritage, and the well-kept countryside. Saintes was founded by the Romans as a trading town on the River Charente. It is mainly a shopping town with many clothes boutiques and bookshops, as well as museums and a large choice of restaurants, within a pedestrian network of cobbled streets. The Roman Amphitheatre is worth a visit, and hosts musical events in the summer. Fresh food markets are held daily in different locations, and there is a huge fair once a month.

The countryside has many intricately decorated Romanesque churches, some dating from the 11th century. The country towns and hamlets have retained their original character and the creamy stone houses and sandy roofs have changed little over the centuries.

The seaside resort of Royan is located at the mouth of the Gironde Estuary. It has fine, sandy beaches and an immense seafront with leisurely wide promenades. A dynamic and lively town, one of its newest attractions is "Les Jardins du Monde", a large exotic greenhouse with a Zen garden and a lake area with boats. Just beyond this town is the beach area known as the Côte Sauvage, or wild coast, a natural area of pine forests and natural beaches, which are popular with surfers and windsurfers. A ferry links Royan to the Route des Chateaux de Vin, which takes in the wine-growing areas of the Medoc.

Less than 30 minutes from Le Moulin du Champ is the capital of the Charente-Maritime, La Rochelle. Once a Roman colony, it fell in and out of British and French hands several times in the Middle Ages. It is now a town popular with artists, and there are many shops depicting their works. La Rochelle is famous for its large marina and its many excellent seafood restaurants. The Old town features many interesting museums, including the "Musee du Nouveau Monde", tracing the relationship between La Rochelle and the Americas since the Renaissance. A very large modern aquarium features a tunnel with transparent walls, allowing visitors to wander through a tropical marine paradise. Also well worth a visit is the very interesting town of Rochefort, a former naval port.

The mill building	Délice du Berger: the kitchen
La Source: the dining room	La Source: the view of the mill stream
The river Bruant flows through the property

To celebrate our Ruby Wedding Anniversary we chose 3 gites at Le Moulin du Champ so our family could join us. This proved ideal as we had our own space and peace when needed and at the same time, with other families staying there, our grandchildren enjoyed the company of other children too. We all had a great time! The owner, Julie, was very friendly and helpful - the gites were comfortable and the grounds around the gites were peaceful and picturesque. The location was excellent too being near the coast (La Rochelle and Royan in particular) and close to beautiful towns such as Saintes and Cognac.
Mr and Mrs H - England

Our stay at Le Moulin du Champ was the highpoint for our trip to France.Delice du Berger was spaciously and nicely laid out. The grounds were beautiful and Julie Carter was a marvellous host during our stay.We are heartily recommending the gite to all our friends and look forward to visiting it again sometime in the future.
Eric B. - Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

Delice du Berger was perfect for our 3 children, including baby, being all one level with direct access to the large, secure garden. The large sandpit and swings/slide kept them happy for long periods enabling us to relax and enjoy the view whilst being able to watch them. Our holiday gite had a bright and airy feel and the huge double bedroom offered that extra luxury for the grown-ups too! Julie, the resident owner, was always on hand to provide advice about the local area and even arranged for an Estate Agent to visit us to discuss the intricacies of house-buying in France.
Cherry P. - East Sussex, England

Thank you very much for a wonderful weekend at Le Moulin du Champ. Everyone was thrilled with how good our accommodation was. Thank you for organising the breakfast delivery, for the wine and all the tea, coffee, and other treats. We hope to come again and we will recommend Le Moulin to our friends.
Louise P. - London, England