The swimming pool

Le Catalpa was built as a farmhouse in the 19th century, and has recently been fully restored and renovated to offer spacious and comfortable accommodation for up to 10 guests.

Three bedrooms are in the main house and there is one double bedroom in the self contained cottage on the grounds, which can be rented at an extra cost.

The conservatory and garden

Le Catalpa is on the edge of a small hamlet and surrounded by an extensive and well kept private garden, with a large lawn, an orchard with plenty of fruits for visitors to pick, and a grove of poplar trees. The trees provide ample shade, making the garden a comfortable place to relax on hot summer days.

The large oval swimming pool is beside the house and fenced for safety, with Roman steps leading into the water. There is a terrace beside the pool, with plenty of outdoor furniture for sunbathing. Enjoy a selection of outside games, including an all-weather table-tennis table.

Well-equipped American style kitchen with large oak farmhouse table seating ten and hand-made Moroccan tiles.

The two-storey stone building is full of character, with thick walls, exposed wooden beams, and traditional antique furniture throughout the house. There is a well-equipped American style kitchen, with hand-made tiles from Morocco, which leads into a sun-filled conservatory area with seating for ten or more.

Also on the ground floor, a large living room has comfortable sofas and armchairs, as well as a TV with English language channels and a DVD player.

The independent cottage in the courtyard of the main house.

A wide oak staircase leads up to three bedrooms. Two bedrooms have double beds. One has an ensuite bathroom with WC and hand-basin; the second has an ensuite shower-room with WC and hand-basin. The third bedroom is very large with a cathedral ceiling, two single beds and a double bed. Here there is a second staircase leading down to a bathroom  with bath, toilet and washbasin.

The property also has an old cottage in the grounds, which has been restored to make extra accommodation. The cottage has a double bedroom, a wet-room with marble basin and WC, and a living room with a corner kitchen and a fireplace.  This independant annexe can be rented at an extra cost of £280 per week.

Where to Go, What to Do

The priory in Saint-Benoît

Just five minutes down the road, there's a restaurant and café where the food is simple, satisfying and great value. Four kilometres from Le Catalpa is St.-Benoît-du-Sault, a beautiful medieval town which is classed as one of the prettiest villages in France. St.-Benoît-du-Sault is set on a craggy rock; it's full of narrow winding lanes with shops, buildings, and monuments to be discovered.

The house is situated on the edge of the Brenne Regional Nature Park, a huge conservation area. There are many hiking and walking trails in the forests and along the lakes of this spectacular park. For other outdoor activities, there are tennis facilities in the towns of Prissac and Chaillac, both six kilometres away. The lakes nearby are good places to swim and fish.

The lake at Éguzon

This area is truly the France profonde, with its ancient fields, rolling valleys, forests, streams and lakes. There are numerous bridle paths criss-crossing the country, making it an ideal place for an adventure on foot or bicycle.

There are many exciting day-trips which can be made from Le Catalpa. At the large lake at Éguzon, there are all kinds of watersports available, including sailing, waterskiing, windsurfing; it's also a great place to just lie on a beach and enjoy the peace of this very beautiful area. About an hour's drive to the east is Poitiers, which has a famous centre of cinematography at Futuroscope with several Imax movie theatres.

The village of Château Guillaume

To the north, in the centre of the Brenne Regional Nature Park, there's the Maison de la Brenne, an interpretive centre where visitors can learn about the region and its ancient traditions of fish farming and nature preservation.

About 40 kilometres to the east is Lathus which boasts a fantastic outdoor activity centre: take a kayak down the Gartempe river, or take riding, rock climbing and potholing lessons. To the west is St.-Savin, where a visit to the abbey with its beautiful frescoes is a must, as is the Château of Sarzay to the east.

Lignac

Nearer to home, there's the vast Château Guillaume, with its tiny village next to it just outside Lignac. The ancient town of Argenton-sur-Creuse has a Roman excavation site with a museum attached.

More recent history comes to life in the village of Oradour-sur-Glane, preserved as a memorial and a reminder of World War II. Due south about 60 kilometres away is Limoges, famous for its porcelain. A visit to one of the factories or a buying trip to one of the many porcelain shops is always worthwhile.