BACKGROUND / THE AREA
About Us
About the Manor, the owners and the local area
Background
The Manor dates from the mid 1800s, and is listed in ‘Chateaux France‘ as the Logis de Villeblanche à la Chapelle-Pouilloux.
Built by Mr Perrin, the then general councillor of the Deux-Sevres department, the house and the hamlet that accompanies it have belonged to the commune of Chapelle-Pouilloux since 1875.
“The entrance gate, surmounted by two urns and flanked by two pedestrian doors fitted with beautiful fittings, opens onto a courtyard at the end of which stands the residence building. This one, with a simple layout, is made up of a lowered central body, flanked by two side pavilions outside the work. Note the higher windows on the first floor as well as the bull’s eye windows under the roof: this accentuates the elevation of the pavilions. The whole, covered with hollow tiles, retains its peaceful and well-balanced appearance.”
The estate stands on 11 acres, and includes lawns, courtyards and barns, gardens, wooded area and paddocks.
Located in a wonderfully secluded setting on the outskirts of the charming hamlet of ‘La Chapelle’, the estate is within a 20 min drive of the nearby market towns of Lezay, Melle and Sauze-Vaussais.
The Local Area
Gites Villeblanche is situated in the Deux-Sevres department (79) of Southwest France, midway between the historic towns of Poitiers and Angoulême (each about 40 mins away) which both have superb shopping facilities, and plenty of restaurants and tourist attractions.
There are supermarkets and fuel stations at Lezay, Sauze-Vaussais and Melle, all a short drive away (10-15mins) for the basic essentials.
The local towns of Melle, Sauze-Vaussais and Lezay all have weekly markets, with Lezay – the largest and well worth a visit – just a 10 min drive away. Melle has a wonderful market, and is also known for it’s amazing Arboretum, Silver Mine and Monday evening concerts on the main street during the summer months. Ruffec boasts the Rejallant – a country park with lakes and various activities (paddle boarding, canoes, pedaloes) and a restaurant.
Verteuil, with it’s dream-like chateau and beautiful riverside walks (don’t forget to have brioche at the Moulin – you’ve never tasted anything like it!) is just a 20 min drive away.
For those wanting to venture further afield, try a visit to Cognac’s brandy distilleries, or take a gondola trip in the beautiful nature sanctuary of Marais Poitevin.
Also close by is Futuroscope – Europe’s premier image-theme-park, a great day out for the kids!
There are two ‘Plan d’Eau’ within a short distance of the gîtes. These offer fishing, lake swimming, pétanque, a children’s playground, somewhere to walk or cycle, a cafe and places to bbq and picnic.
Restaurants
Our current favourite for lunch is the Restaurant O City’ven in Civray, about 20 mins drive. For evening meals there are plenty of restaurants to choose from, depending on your tastes and we’ll recommend our current favourites to you when you visit.
Beaches
La Rochelle is a lively and vibrant port with a rich historical heritage and wonderful museums. Visit the maritime museum or the aquarium and enjoy the very best of French seafood.
There are many sandy beaches along this coast and we can recommend Châtellion Plage – just south of La Rochelle. Ile-de-Ré is also well worth a visit.
Local Market Days
Tuesday – Lezay, 10 mins (one of the largest markets in the area – food, clothes, livestock, hardware, cafes); Civray, 25 mins (food, clothes, cafes)
Wednesday – Ruffec, 15 mins (food, clothes, cafes)
Thursday – Sauzé-Vaussais, 10 mins (small, but with excellent local produce – find Sam in the pink stall for some excellent bacon, a rarity in France!)
Friday – Melle, 20 mins (fairly large market – food, clothes, cafes); Civray, 25 mins
Saturday – Chef-Boutonne, 20 mins (fairly large general market); Ruffec, 15 mins
Sunday – Verteuil, 20 mins. Recently established market in the stunning chateau village
Meet Your Hosts
Graham Dickinson, and his partner Michael retired to Southwest France following careers in medicine and accountancy in the UK.
Graham is the ‘lead host’ and is ready to welcome you and help make your holiday one to remember. With a passion for antiques and local cuisine, Graham is the one to ask for the best recommendations!
Michael takes care of the admin and day to day running of the gites, and so feel free to contact him prior to, or during your stay with any practical questions.