Maison Brives
Brives sur Charente
Welcome
Maison Brives was the village presbytery built in 1830 during the reign of Napoleon the 2nd.
The house sleeps up to 6 people in three luxurious double bedrooms and makes the perfect, 'tout confort' French holiday retreat
The antique furniture, rugs on the floor, curving elm staircase, traditional, stone carved chimney - all these conspire to offer the visitor a warm and inviting French country house experience.
Click on the accommodation link above to find out more about, its features and comforts.Great Special Offer
My beautiful house between Saintes and Cognac is available from the beginning of December for 5 months. If you are thinking of looking to buy a house in this area (Poutou Charente) this would be a wonderful starting place while you hunt. Please contact me, Elisabeth Whittaker, on 0033546935477 or email: maison-brives@hotmail.com for further details.
Brives sur Charente: the village
Brives-sur-Charente is a quiet village of some 200 people located between Saintes and Cognac, deep in undulating vineyard country above the Charente river.
It has a post-office and the traditional Mairie. Visitors can buy their fresh breakfast croissants and baguettes from a van before 10 each morning. A similar service exists for meat, groceries and fish on Fridays. For more extensive shopping there are excellent supermarkets such as Carrefour, Auchan and Leclerc all within easy striking distance for those with a car (rentable from Saintes) as well as village shops nearby.
Despite or perhaps because of its small size, Brives has a vibrant local community; there are art classes and a bridge club.
The village is overflowing with traditional French Clochemerle character.
Village web site :- Brives sur Charente
La Région: from Cognac to the sea
Set in the delightful countryside of the Cognac region, Brives offers the tourist a bounty of traditional French experiences. Saintes, an ancient Roman town, has fabulous markets with abundant fresh fish, oysters, home-grown vegetables and fruit, of which charcoal-grilled beetroot, grapes and charentais melons are typical specialities. There are the Roman ruins of a huge amphitheatre, a triumphal arch, baths and a most important church, St Eutope which was a significant resting or starting point for pilgrims to Santiago da Compostella.
Opulent Cognac is littered with the distilleries of all the well-known brands of cognac and these offer tours explaining the process accompanied by liberal tastings. Boats can be hired for a lazy trip down the Charente on which there are some good watering and eating places.
There are equestrian centres, beautiful golf courses, museums and art galleries, all within easy reach.
There are plenty of imposing chateaux, spas, romanesque churches, monasteries and pilgrim venues to visit, as well as a wide range of restaurants, one of which is nearby on the bank of the river Charente in summer.
The sea is about three quarters of an hour away by car, boasting a coast famous for its shell fish, and extensive sandy beaches at Royan. The timeless chic of Bordeaux with its long river frontage, now completely renovated, quaint La Rochelle and historic Rochfort are also within striking distance. St. Emilion is just one of the famous Bordeaux wine growing areas which are worth a visit and most of the famous chateaux offer generous tastings.
Charente Region
Charente Maritime Region
Cognac Region
Saintes
