Chateau Cypres

About this property

This charming French château, built in cut stone in the traditional local style, is the ideal venue for a family holiday at any time of year. Set within walled gardens with a gated swimming pool and plenty of space to play, this welcoming home sleeps up to 18 guests and is perfectly situated for visiting Royan, Île d'Oléron and other beaches of the Atlantic coast.

Soak up the traditional ambience of this historic château as you step inside and relax in the rustic and inviting interiors. The farmhouse-style kitchen is well-equipped for creating family feasts to enjoy outside on summer evenings whilst the eight sweet bedrooms, four on each of the upper floors, welcome you for a good night sleep. Outside, find the children’s play area and sandpit, nets for badminton, tennis or football and the glorious swimming pool superb for warm afternoons in the garden.

Château Cypres is blessed with such a fantastic location in Charente-Maritime where there are hours of sunshine throughout the year. You can stroll to the local village for morning pastries, simple groceries and meals out whilst some of the brilliant beaches of the Atlantic coast are within a 15-minute drive. The beach at Marennes, just 10km away, is especially great for youngsters with its lagoon at low tide or head slightly further south and enjoy locally harvested oysters from a little hut as the sun sets romantically on the west coast of France.

Experience the vast sandy shores of Île d'Oléron, the largest island off the French coast, and walk, cycle or horse-ride through its forests and nature reserves. Back on the mainland, learn about the region’s traditional salt marshes in Mornac-sur-Seudre, one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’ or hop on the steam train and admire the extraordinary landscapes by the Seudre river. You can also discover the salt marshes by boat whilst the cycling and walking opportunities in this area are endless.

Not to mention historic Rochefort, vibrant La Rochelle and beautiful Île de Ré, all perfect destinations for a wonderful day out. Royan also awaits with its seaside, markets, restaurants, cafes and bustling ambience with activities to appeal to every age.

Château Cypres is located in the Charente-Maritime region of south-western France, between Royan and Rochefort, close to Île d'Oléron and around a 10-minute drive to a wonderful beach and lagoon.

A 10-minute walk will bring you to a small local village with a restaurant, boulangerie, small grocery store and village bar. There is a larger supermarket, weekly market, summer night markets and other amenities within a short drive in a small attractive and historic town 8km by car.

This region is well-known for its excellent oysters and wonderful beaches. The beach at Marennes (10km) is the nearest where there’s a picturesque lagoon during low tide, an ideal spot where youngsters can splash around, backed by a couple of summer restaurants. Further south you will find little huts selling freshly harvested oysters and mussels, alongside the vast oyster farms. The French-speaking Cité de l'Huître is the place to go to learn all about the processes of oyster farming.

Drive over the bridge to Île d'Oléron, reached in around 20 minutes, the largest island off the French Atlantic coast with superb sandy beaches, nature reserves and forests, a paradise for walking, bird-watching, cycling, horse-riding and water-based activities. Learn all about the island’s rich maritime heritage, tour the traditional salt marshes, sample delicious Oléron oysters and seafood or just spend time relaxing, swimming or building sandcastles on the glorious beaches.

Back on the mainland, Mornac-sur-Seudre (19km) retains many of its traditional salt farming traditions and is nowadays classified as one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’ with its pretty lanes and old fishermen houses. You can discover more of the Seudre marshes on foot and bike, following marked trails that criss-cross this incredible region. Alternatively, take a boat trip or admire local landscapes near the Seudre river by riding on a tourist steam train between Saujon and La Tremblade.

You are also just half an hour by car from the historic harbour town of Rochefort (25km) or continue onwards to the fine coastal city of La Rochelle (59km), gateway to the idyllic Île de Ré. Heading south, Royan (25km) is a delightful seaside resort with beachfront promenades and atmospheric restaurants, cafes and shops.

Accommodation

Château Interiors

-    Entrance hall
-    Living and dining room
-    Second lounge (upstairs)
-    Games room with table tennis
-    Library in the hallway
-    Kitchen, well-equipped including dishwasher, microwave, oven, toaster, fridge-freezer, fireplace and large table
-    WC

First Floor Bedrooms

-    Bedroom with king-size double bed
-    Bedroom with twin beds
-    Bedroom with king-size double bed and one single bed
-    Bedroom with bunk-beds
-    Bathroom with bath
-    Bathroom with shower

Second Floor Bedrooms

-    3 x bedrooms with king-size double bed and one single bed
-    Bedroom with bunk-beds
-    Bathroom with bath
-    Bathroom with shower

One of the bedrooms is accessed via another bedroom

Outside Grounds

-    Swimming pool (12m x 6m, depth: 1.8m) with safety gate. Open approximately April to October
-    Al-fresco dining area
-    Charcoal barbecue
-    Children’s play area with swings/slide and sandpit
-    Tennis/badminton/football nets
-    Enclosed garden
-    Parking

Facilities

-    Wi-Fi
-    Heating
-    Cable TV
-    Table tennis
-    Board games
-    Hairdryer
-    Washing machine and dryer