Laid Back Luxury in a Stunning Village, Walking Distance to Restaurants
About
"LA CACHETTE" (The Hiding Place) is a gorgeous cottage, (actually a ground floor apartment but it feels like a little cottage) offering luxurious comfort in the centre of the charming village of Port d'Envaux. One of the best kept secrets in the Charente Maritime, Port d'Envaux sits in an impressive position on the banks of the River Charente where in the summer there is a dedicated swimming area and ample kayaks, paddle-boards and boats to hire. The village also has three restaurants, a riverside café and boulangerie all within walking distance of about 1 to 2 minutes! Having owned and run a 5 Star Premier Partner rated gîte in the Charente Maritime for seven years, La Cachette was our new dream which has taken us over a year to achieve, a magical place where we could offer even more to our guests. We have converted the ground floor of the front part of our old barn using reclaimed and vintage materials to create the very definition of laid back rustic luxury whilst being as sustainable as possible. Facing south the full length terrace, shaded with vines, awaits you. Overlooking the in-ground pool and gardens beyond, it is totally private. La Cachette is small and cosy, but ideal for two people but what it lacks in size it makes up for with attention to detail. We hope we have left no stone unturned. It is a mixture of vintage luxury, and modern conveniences, and at the heart of it is our dream that this is a place where you can escape to relax, to unwind, where you will feel nothing but peace and tranquility, where you can forget about the stresses of the world for a while and return home feeling rejuvenated and utterly refreshed. We have used only the best furnishings, bedlinen and accessories with a top quality mattress and king sized bed. There are wooden floors throughout and little touches which we hope will make your stay extra special. We can also upon request change this for two single beds, side by side. It is open plan with a door leading out onto the terrace which then leads to the swimming pool. The terrace is large and sheltered and shaded by vines and south facing. The kitchen area is compact but perfectly-formed with an induction hob, electric oven, dishwasher, washing machine and fridge freezer. There is a dining table with comfortable chairs and the sitting area has a super cosy leather sofa and armchair for you to sink into. There is English television, and a bluetooth speaker so you can play your own choice of music, and a woodburning stove for those chillier spring and autumn evenings or for winter visits with of course an unlimited supply of logs. There is also a vinyl record player with a selection of old albums to add a touch of nostalgia! The bedroom is snug but lovely with a luxurious king sized bed and views out over the garden and terrace. The bathroom is ensuite and generously sized and boasts an oversized Italian shower just waiting for you to rejuvenate yourself at the end of the day. The 8 metre x 4 metre in ground pool is protected by an Abri which also forms a green house effect heating the pool. There are also sun loungers and chairs with cushions around the pool. The pool is shared with ourselves (the owners). All of this is nestled in private gardens. You are welcome to wander around, pick whatever fruit is in season from our cherry, apple, plum and fig trees and help yourself to organic vegetables from our potager. We pride ourselves on being completely pesticide free and so please do accept that this is a natural garden with occasional weeds and we have purposefully kept some areas wild to encourage beneficial insects! We are also able to offer a breakfast basket upon request with delicious home made jams, pastries, fresh fruits and a choice of made to order baked eggs or frittatas with a choice of fillings. Breakfast can be ordered the evening before. In the evenings, you can dine indoors or al fresco on the terrace. There is a Webber barbecue with charcoal provided, or you can prepare a meal in the extremely well equipped kitchen. Alternatively you can wander just a couple of minutes down the road to a choice of three restaurants (two a la carte and one a more relaxed pizzeria). All offer indoor and outdoor dining or the chance to just enjoy a morning coffee watching the world go by in this slow but very special village. During the day time there is also a riverside café offering fresh seafood, salads, filled baguettes and of course ice creams and cold drinks! It is just a short stroll down to the river where there is a dedicated swimming area, a sandy beach area for children and where you can also rent kayaks, paddle boards or electric boats or you can just sit by the water. There are also stunning walks along the river bank and good fishing available and a licence can be purchased in the boulangerie. The village has a weekly produce market every Thursday morning and the small boulangerie also sells essential food items and of