Belle Gites

Belle Gites is a wonderful holiday destination for any family or group of families looking to holiday in the beautiful peaceful surroundings of the Charente Maritime, but who would like to have the company of other holiday makers for some periods of their stay.

Michelle and Paul have really gone that extra mile to think of lots of fun and entertainment that you or your children might like to partake in. Everything from BBQ evenings beside the pool, kids club activities and al fresco movie nights to enthusiastic football games with the locals. You will never be short of things to do here unless you want to escape from it all with a good book and a glass of something cold to a quiet spot in the extensive grounds.

Each of the gites has been refurbished to a high standard providing you with a contemporary standard of living set in a traditional surrounding.

Read more about Belle Gites from one happy guest on the
Home Office Mum blog.

For all of the details of each property, simply click on the Properties tab above and then select the property you are interested in.  You will be able to check availability and pricing for each individual property.

The front of each of the gites faces onto the large gravelled courtyard of the complex; guests have their own raised sitting area on this side of the gite, providing a quiet spot for some al fresco dining. Here in the covered part of the courtyard, Paul and Michelle organise movie nights and activities for differing age groups and this gives you an opportunity to chat and relax outside whilst your small people are engrossed in the latest DVD or forming new friendships with other visitors, happily making and sticking their way through an activity.

Behind 3 of the gites, and accessed via a path at the bottom end of the courtyard, is the communal area of the complex. From here it is a short distance to the enclosed covered pool with communal areas such as the poolside bar and BBQ area. There is also a poolside gazebo providing shade to sit under whilst you make new friends or catch up with old ones.

Beside the pool area is a large wooden climbing frame and swings hanging from the trees in the dappled shade. Having adventured past the climbing frame, a raised garden area and the veggie patch, you will find the animal petting area, home to the very friendly goats and chickens. At Belle Gites, guests are welcome to feed the animals (the ultimate recycling) and help collect eggs if the chickens have obliged.

Beyond this is the very large games field with wooden boat sandpit, volley ball, football and badminton. It is here that Michelle and Paul organise various sporting events like the village versus guests football matches, rounders matches and any number of other sporting events. Set some way away from all these activities is a zip wire for the older guests.

If you still haven't got enough to keep you busy then there is a plentiful supply of bikes of all sizes and you are welcome to use these to explore the beautiful countryside that surrounds Belle Gites. Paul can even organise you a short cycle to the local stables where you can go for a gentle trek.

Having done all of the above and in need of a rest, you can wander off in the peaceful and tranquil woodland that surrounds this property, exploring nature or just taking a picnic and spending some precious family moments together.

Parent Points:

• The grounds here are surrounded by a wooded area and although not completely enclosed due to its size, it would take a very determined toddler unsupervised for a long time to escape.
• The patio areas outside the gites all have small drops from the edge and parents should be aware of the risk of small children slipping off the edges.
• The zip wire at the far end of the grounds is not suitable for small children due to it height and open platform. Parents are advised not to allow small children to use this equipment.

• Enclosed pool with sliding cover to extend the swimming season
• Large grounds
• Outdoor climbing frames
• Large wooden boat sandpit, with shade cover
• Large outdoor games
• Stairgates
• Bed guard
• Cots and cot linen
• Baby monitor with `walk about` handset
• Microwave
• Steriliser
• High chairs
• Booster seat
• Hand blender
• Plastic plates, cups and cutlery
• Potty
• Step
• Changing mat
• Bath toys

Please note that as this is a cluster of properties, then not all this equipment is made available in every gite and you may have to request certain items from the owner.

and for the children (big and small) ........

• Table tennis, table football and air hockey
• Kids art and craft activities
• Toy boxes for under 5's in every gite
• Dressing up parties
• Swings
• Animal petting area
• Foot ball and cricket pitch
• Badminton
• Volley ball
• Outside bar (ice creams available)
• Covered area with table tennis, table football, outside TV
• Large selection of bikes of all sizes
• Baseball
• Basketball
• Boules
• Games library
• Playhouse
• Pool table
• Rollerblades
• Swimming pool floats
• Table football
• Table tennis
• Trampoline
• Volleyball court
• Zip-wire

There is easy access from Belle Gites to some great little villages right on your door step where you can pick up your fresh croissants and delicious bread for breakfast. You can cycle to the nearest village in just 10 minutes, where there is a corner shop selling most things, a post office, hairdressers, butchers, bakery, cafe/restaurant and petrol station.  Just a little further afield, about a 3 minute drive, is the next village where there is an excellent bakery, pizza restaurant, hotel restaurant, corner shop, outdoor swimming pool, post office, tabac, antiques shop, hairdressers, butchers, bar and florist.  You can buy fresh oysters during the summer from a stall outside the church every Sunday.

A few minutes drive from Belle Gites is Saint-Jean-d'Angely. Listed as one of France's 100 most beautiful towns and villages, it stands on the banks of the river Boutonne. As well as historic architecture, including a famous abbey, it also has river sports, good shops, restaurants, cafes and a bustling market every Wednesday and Saturday.

Not far from Belle Gites is the large Atlantys swimming pool complex, complete with several pools, toddler pool, flumes, jacuzzi and sauna. Ideal for those days when you want to escape the sun or just have a day indoors: http://atlantys.e-monsite.com/.

Zoodyssee is a huge animal zoo that has recently been refurbished and is located near a national Hunting and Wildlife Reserve. You can take a walk through the forest, in the small park and the vast spaces of the big park, for a few hours or for a day, on foot or in a horse-drawn carriage with a guided tour: http://www.zoodyssee.org/.

If you fancy a bit more hustle and bustle, the famous town of Cognac is just a short drive away. Here you will find plenty of restaurants, shops and of course all the world famous Cognac houses, many of which are open to the public and offer guided tours around their caves and distilleries.

For those of you for whom no holiday is complete without a trip to the beach and some fun with a bucket and spade, then the beach at Fouras is 35 minutes away. 

Fouras has 5 beaches all together, the best for children being Grande Plage. A gentle sloping and sandy beach, it is close to the centre of town but clean with gentle waves that make it perfect for young children. During July and August it is patrolled by lifeguards. It is also backed by a selection of cafes and restaurants.

The other perfect beach for children is Plage Sud. It has a beginners swimming pool, games and kayak clubs. It also has shady spots to picnic.
Other great beaches are Royan, Meshers and Saint George de Didonne at 45 minutes away. 

Before booking, please read our Terms and Conditions. Bookings are generally taken for full weeks and the availability tab shows 7 night blocks; however many Owners are happy to consider bookings for additional nights and to consider different starting and departure dates outside of the busy periods.  Please enquire by clicking on an available period in the Pricing and Availability tab above.

Price includes: linen, towels, electricity and heating

Manditory end of stay cleaning charge of €30
       
Optional additional charges for services: Optional mid stay change of linen of €10 pp including children, Welcome pack €25, Organic veg box €15 to €20, Pool side bar, Entertainment evenings, Baby sitting €10 for 2 children per hour, Craft sessions €5 per child, DVD hire, Horse riding prices and availability on request, Extra Towels €6 per adult €5 per child.

The kids club which runs in school holidays is for a two hour session at 10€ per child and includes all arts and craft materials.  Drinks and food are not included.

Child minding service in the crèche which is 10€ per hour out of the school holidays for children under 5.