Normandy Luxury Petit Château short & long term

Welcome to our 19th century home "La Quieze" idyllically located in the picturesque department of Calvados, Souleuvre en Bocage. We hope that you will fall in love with the house and it’s magical surroundings and take advantage of it’s location which assures peace and tranquility. It is easily accessible to many leisure activities for all ages, as well as the historic and scenic locations like Bayeux and Mt San Michel. We guarantee you a comfortable and peaceful stay in this bucolic location. La Quieze house and barns were built in 1850 from local stone and granite and have many beautiful original features. The main house has an air of luxury but it is most welcoming and affords an easy relaxed lifestyle. You are transported back to a time of 19th century luxury and leisure. The spacious rooms have high ceilings and beautiful windows that maximize the Normandy sunshine. All rooms have impressive views of the beautiful grounds and surrounding countryside. The house has 4 bedrooms and 2 1/2 bathrooms. It is ideally suited for 6-8 people. It is available for both long and short term rentals. The ground floor has an impressive entrance hall with a bronze staircase. The salon/lounge features a beautifully carved marble fireplace and comfortable lounge chairs. There is a ready supply of firewood in the barns for romantic winter evenings. However the house has full central-heating so it is suitable for year-round stays. In summer this room is bathed in light as the outdoors seems to flow inside when the large windows are opened. The salon is fully equipped with French and English satellite TV and internet. The television is located in a large cupboard that can be closed away for media-free nights when you might rather enjoy one of the many board-games or jigsaws. Or simply indulge in elegant conversation over a vin rouge or lose yourself in a good book with the silence of the countryside only interrupted by church bells and local bird life. Enjoy cooking a wonderful choice of seasonal local produce in the beautifully appointed kitchen which features a Brittania oven located in the original fireplace- surrounded by a stunning exposed stone wall. A large refrigerator/freezer with water and ice dispenser, dishwasher, microwave and a full range of cooking appliances and utensils makes cooking a wonderful experience. The dining room seats eight comfortably. A large casual table and chairs in the kitchen seats six which can be used simultaneously for larger parties due to its open plan layout. For formal dining there is a twelve place Villeroy and Boch dinner set and matching cutlery and high quality glassware. The laundry, adjacent to the boot-room and guest toilet, has a washing machine, tumble drier, ironing board and iron. The first floor has two beautiful bedrooms - both with stunning views of the surrounding countryside. The master suite has a queen-size bed and period furniture. It has access to the large bathroom with a deep bath, separate shower, hand basin, toilet and bidet. The second bed-room has an antique double bed, and although a smaller room, it does have a private en-suite with shower. This floor also has a library/office which is currently under renovation so not yet available for use. The loft has been tastefully converted into two large equally-sized bedrooms with queen-sized beds. They feature stunning exposed-beam ceilings and skylights and a quaint attic window. Two additional single beds can be added to either room if required. In between the two loft bedrooms is a generously sized bathroom with a shower and toilet and heated towel rail. Beautiful formal gardens surround the house featuring many impressive century old trees, sweeping lawns, flowering shrubs, a walled vegetable garden, an apple orchard and three interesting barns. There is a choice of a number of shaded or open seating areas both at the front and back of the house so that you can enjoy the morning or afternoon sunshine. A large outdoor dining and barbecue area can seat up to 10 and has unrestricted views of the garden, adjoining apple orchard and pristine farmland beyond. The property boasts 10 acres of meadows with meandering paths - perfect for lazy saunters with a glass of wine in hand or adventurous children's discovery walks. Take a picnic under the century old oak tree next to the lake or have an intimate rendezvous in the secret meadow. Available via phone and in person nearby. This area of Normandy is renowned for its outstanding natural beauty, famous Calvados brandy and apple cider and a wide range of traditional dairy and meat products. It is dominated by dairy farms and rich pastureland dotted with classic stone houses and quaint villages. Besides offering OUTDOOR GAMES such as croquet, boules, badminton and football on the house grounds, there are many marked walking and cycling trails nearby. Borrowing BICYCLES can be arranged prior to arrival. The famous SOULEURVE VIADUCT is only 5 minutes drive away and has an exciting number of activities including a BUNGEE, LUGE, ZIP WIRE , and TREE TOP TRAIL. HORSE-RIDING and GOLF are also available locally. If you have children who would like a DAIRY FARM EXPERIENCE we can arrange for a visit to a nearby dairy at milking time. Wellington boots can be provided. The two closest villages - LE BENY BOCAGE and ST MARTINS DES BESACES - have a full range of daily services including artisan boulangeries, butchers, mini-marts, post offices, chemists, hairdressers, florists, doctors and police. The closest regional centre, VIRE, is a pleasant 20min drive. It has a choice of all the major supermarkets, bars, restaurants, boutiques and specialty shops including sports and outdoor pursuits and art and craft supplies. Vire also has many places of historical interest and a thriving weekly market on Fridays. It has a full range of services and an excellent hospital. Regular trains run to VIRE from PARIS Gare Montparnasse. The city of CAEN is a 40 minute drive and is serviced frequently by trains from PARIS St Lazare and has an airport. Hire cars can be arranged at CAEN airport and train station. The port of OUISTREHAM just north of CAEN has a ferry service to PORTSMOUTH. The cave or cellar is in the process of being converted into a games room and wine cellar. The house is non-smoking and is pet-friendly upon negotiation.