Welcome to la Maison aux Cinq Vignes
La Maison aux Cinq Vignes is a beautiful rustic farmhouse with outbuildings and gardens set in a quiet hamlet near Melle in the Deux Sevres region of France. Surrounded by peaceful French countryside, the property sleeps 12 people across five bedrooms, with 4 bathrooms and two log-burning fires. Outside there is a beautiful 10-metre heated swimming pool (to be surrounded by a terrace which will be installed summer 2023), and various covered and uncovered areas to eat, socialise or relax. The perfect place to experience the French countryside with friends and family.
The House
Cinq Vignes has five bedrooms, two of which have en-suite bathrooms, a family bathroom, an additional shower room and separate toilet, a dining room, a large kitchen, and a spacious living room. The kitchen and living room have enclosed logburners.
The Gardens
Set on two acres of land which used to be farmed, Cinq Vignes has various outbuildings including the Piggery, the Goat Shed, the Bread Oven, the Hangar, the Barn, and the Wood Shed. In time we hope to renovate these buildings, but they still look beautiful in their current unused state, as they are made from local stone. In the middle of the courtyard is a 10 meter heated swimming pool surrounded by a large tiled patio (terrace coming summer 2023). The open-sided Hangar is a nice space to socialise, with plenty of seating. There is also a smaller patio to the front of the main house (coming summer 2023). Cinq Vignes has ample parking space for 5 cars. During the summer, the fields surrounding Cinq Vignes look beautiful as they are full of sunflowers. The retreat is a perfect place to relax in the glorious sunshine, enjoy nature, and recharge your batteries.
Things to See & Do
Farmer's markets
Cinq Vignes is a five-minute drive from the popular market town of Lezay. On Tuesdays the town holds a lively farmers market which is one of the largest in the area. Here you can purchase everything you might need, including artisan breads, confitures, cakes, as well as local cheese, meat, fish and wine. There is a smaller market with fewer stalls every Saturday morning. There are also other markets locally, so whichever day you want to go, you’ll find one of the local villages has something to offer.
Nearby towns
Our closest village is Lezay, which is just a few minutes’ drive away and has a supermarket, two restaurants, a bar, bakery, pharmacy and newsagents. Melle is the next closest town just 10 minutes away which has more restaurants and bars, and a wonderful covered market on a Friday. Melle has a buzzing cultural scene, with musical performances, an annual festival, and various activities happening throughout the year. It is also a picturesque place steeped in history, with three beautiful 11th century churches and it boasts a silver mine that used to make coins for the French mint, which is now an interesting museum.
Melle is also surrounded by its own arboretum which has a collection of over 1,200 trees from all over the world providing lovely walks and cycle rounds around the town.
Further afield
La Rochelle is a historic port on the Atlantic ocean, which is well worth a visit and is only an hour away from Cinq Vignes. The city has a rich architectural heritage, and is a beautiful place to spend a day, with many excellent restaurants and bars, as well as an aquarium, attractive gardens, and museums. Niort, 40 kilometers away, is a welcoming city on the Sevre river, with an old fortress, the second largest donjon in France, a beautiful church and market hall. Just outside of Niort are the marshes of Marais Poitevin, a network of waterways that is full of pretty villages, and rich in flora and fauna. This nature park can be explored as the villagers have travelled for centuries - by flat-bottom boat - or why not go hiking, cycling or horseriding through this charming area? There are over 100 miles of cycle routes and trails winding their way through the hills and valleys and uncovering châteaux and landscapes that you will never forget.