France (1328) Normandy (35) Calvados (5)

Calvados region; near Caen/Falaise [both 15 miles]

Chateau Frettagne

sleeps up to: 20

This pretty and light 17th Century mansion - known locally as the chateau but really a very attractive maison de maitre - has a wild garden filled with nooks and secret places, and a walled garden of an acre and a half. Some parts of the building have not been touched for many years so one can really feel the character of the house, yet it offers all modern comforts with seven bedrooms, five shower or bathrooms and two cloak rooms. There is also a snooker room at the top of the house, two dining rooms, and an outside covered dining terrace with barbecue and a heater. The living room offers books galore! On one side of the house you will see the hills and rivers that neighbour the property, the other leads to Caen, Bayeaux, and the beaches. Honfleur and Trouville are both within a short drive as is West Mt St Michel. Paris can be visited in the day by train. The Normandy landing beaches are also only a short drive away. The House entrance faced the North-West in the 17th Century, but the extensions of the 18th Century meant the entrance was moved to face South-East; the extension was carefully constructed to stay entirely symmetrical. The German occupiers during the war left graffiti in the barn that remains today and the last bomb that the allies dropped in the area demolished one end of the house, which has since been rebuilt sympathetically. After the War the house was lovingly restotred by a an ardent gardener who grew an ecclectic range of plants. Rooms are large and light with some carpeted and all elegantly decorated in typical French country style including antique armoirs, iron beds, remnants of the past, flowers, and pale drapes. You’ll take morning meals in the warm, light breakfast room, and in the evening in the wonderful oak-panelled dining/sitting room. The garden at the front of the house is a fascinating mix of interesting trees and shrubs. At the back it’s a calmer affair with a long lawn and a tall wall, lined with flowers and pear trees. The property can sleep up to 20 guests in total (although if the groups consists entirely of adults 14 is a more comfortable number) in 7 bedrooms. One of the bedrooms can be used as a dormitory room for up to 6 children and the other rooms are large enough to add an additional single bed. Ground floor: - Kitchen with dishwasher, microwave, solid fuel Raeburn, double electric oven, gas hob and small office area with broadband WIFI connection, and fax machine. - Breakfast room or second dining room. - Dining room/sitting room with fireplace. - Cloakroom. - It is possible to open up a bedroom with wet-room and WC for any elderly or disabled members of the group. First floor: - Five double/twin (twin beds can be put together to make a double) bedrooms - four of which have en-suite bath or shower-rooms. Second floor: - Billiard room with TV, video, gym equipment, games and toys. - Double bedroom with shower room en-suite. - Double bedroom with with basin and bidet. - Separate cloakroom on the landing. Outside: Covered dining/reception area with gas heater that can seat 16. An additional table can seat another 12. One and a half acres in all. Very attractive gardens (front and back).

Sleeps up to   20 Bedrooms   7 Baths   5		typical pricing (per week) May 10, 2010 — May 31, 2010   $5540 Pricing for all other times of year on request. Prices are subject to change; call us to confirm current pricing.