Horizons Vendeens

In order to distinguish the gites in the Horizons vendéens, instead of saying gite 1 and gite 2, we had to customize them. Since the beginning of works, we have tried to find indications and details, which could have helped us to describe at best these 2 gites, a difficult step but an important one!

A lead was a book -that a friend of us helped us to find- “l’histoire des maisons nobles de Pouzauges“, -”History of the noble houses, located in Pouzauges- which was written by Yves Dopsent, according the archives of Clément Blandin. Although this book was very interesting, it describes Puy Papin – hamlet, where are located our gites- only for the listed edifice on the other side of the road; indeed, before the road has been created, our buildings used as outbuildings of this “Logis” from Puy Papin. Consequently, no well-known personality was able to live there, apart from servants working for the lords of the Castle, then of the “Logis du Puy Papin” and their animals, or at least no precise detail has been given for the “activity” and ”function” of these buildings, that will be our gites. So, these gites will not be named after their former owners.

As far the gite 1 is concerned, this stone building -which has been inhabited untill July 2007 and so  partially restored- gives us a feeling of place to swap and reception, and reminds us of an inn. With that in mind, the chosen name is l’hosterie, old French word, which is synonymous with inn.

For the gite 2, this stone building has been neglected for years and was more particularly in ruins, so it has a secret side, even mysterious one. It was mainly used as a shelter for animals, some call it a sheepfold and others call it stable… As this function has nothing to do with the one of the gites, and as we have restored it into a residential use with the charming old stones, the nam of this gite will be as follows la gentilhommière: this old French word describes a pleasant and charmingly converted cottage, located in the country.

 For further details about these gites-to-be -l’hosterie & la gentilhommière- and about the interior common pool, do not hesite to contact us:

• contact@horizons-vendeens.fr

• or by phone: 00 33 (6) 23 00 13 67

In the hills of bocage in Pouzauges and close to Puy du Fou, you will be welcomed in this lovely gite from May 2008.

With 93 m² in area, the gite 2, which has been neglected and in ruins until July 2007, will propose -after all changes and restoration works- a single-storey lodging:

• an entrance hall, a living room of 42m², a quiet spot for reading/ lounge, a kitchen, a bedroom of 13m² with a king size double bed -160*200-, a 2nd bedroom of 13m² with 2 single beds, a bathroom with a shower and bath, a separated toilet.

Our aim:

To propose a gite with 2 quality bedrooms with swimming pool -in common with the adjoining gite.
Indeed, it can officially sleep 4 persons, but occasionally, can sleep up to 6 persons because there is 1 sofa bed in the quiet spot for reading.

In the hills of bocage in Pouzauges and close to Puy du Fou, you will be welcomed in this lovely gite from May 2008.

With around 180 m² in area, the gite 1, which has been an inhabited house until July 2007, will  propose after all changes and restoration works:

• on the ground: an entrance hall, a living room, a kitchen, a lounge with view of the mezzanine, a spacious bedroom of 19m² with a king size double bed -160*200-, a bathroom with a shower and bath, a separated toilet

• upstairs: a mezzanine a quiet spot for reading/ lounge and spot for kids -games, for example-, which leads to 2 bedrooms -12m² with a king size double bed of 160*200 & 16m² with 2 single beds- and also a bathroom with shower, and separated toilet.

In this gite, a billiard table will fill the evenings of the tourists.

Our aim:

To propose a gite with 3 quality bedrooms with swimming pool -in common with the adjoining gite.
Indeed, it can officially sleep 6 persons, but occasionally, can sleep up to 10 persons because there are 2 sofa beds in the lounge.

When gites will be completely restored and opened for tourists, services -including in the price and whatever the season may be- will be proposed to tourists.

These services are the results of questioning and summary of requirements needed by holidaymakers: Read the rest of this entry »

How can you come and follow the restoration? Or how can you arrive in gites to spend your holidays?

Located in western France, pictures will explain better the location of the gites to be restored than a long detailed comment:

In Vendée, these gites are among the hills of the bocage in Puy Papin, dependent on Pouzauges, driving towards Montournais when coming out « vieux Pouzauges », close to Puy Crapaud -highest point from Pouzauges.

Now, you will discover gites “Horizons vendéens” with its unusual panorama. Read the rest of this entry »

Why an interior and heated swimming pool? Because it’s a leisure equipment and a requirement of tourist in holiday. Moreover, gites are located in Pouzauges -around 1hour from the Vendée coast-, this service seemed to us more than necessary. We worked on the principle -and with statistics- that the demand of tourist was high and the supply weak in the surroundings of Pouzauges, even more reduced if we take interior swimming pools into account.

Reasons for an interior swimming pool? The swimming pool finds its place in the porches, between the 2 lodgings.
Advantages for this location: Read the rest of this entry »