Kitchen facilities
The kitchen area of La Principale is full of features. There are exposed ceiling joists and a massive supporting beam plus exposed stonework and a huge stone fireplace with a Godin range for winter use. The kitchen itself has been fully-fitted with dishwasher, gas hob, extractor, electric fan cooker, microwave, two fridges one of which has a separate freezer, coffe-maker and toaster plus a comprehensive selection of utensils and crockery. The oak extending dining table seats 6-8 with comfort.

External facilities
La Principale has an elevated South-facing terrace with balustrades running the full width of the property. There is a pergola for shade and hardwood patio table and chairs. To the right of the building there is a covered barn set back around the corner which has table-tennis and table-football. The pool itself is about 50m away and is securely fenced with a locking gate but with plenty of space within for sun-loungers and the usual inflatables! The pool is 12m x 6m with skin-friendly saltwater.

Special features
Le Moulin de Chazotte was built sometime in the 15th century to serve a fortified chateau which stood in the grounds. The chateau has now disappeared and the mill itself was closed down in 1896. During the 1st world war the property was abandoned and stood empty for nearly a century. Surprisingly, much of the original mill machinery is still in place and has been retained as a fascinating insight into a former age. The property has vineyards to the front and woodland to the rear as well as the river Chazotte running literally underneath the mill building.
As well as the other on-site activities, in the shady poplar wood to the east side of the grounds is a tree-swing, some kiddies swings and a badminton area. The playfield at the front extends to about 7 acres so is excellent for outdoor games as well as kite-flying etc. We have a large canadian canoe which has provided endless entertainment for intrepid canoeists and is now part of competition to see who can get furthest upstream!

Local activities
Le Moulin de Chazotte was built sometime in the 15th century to serve a fortified chateau which stood in the grounds. The chateau has now disappeared and the mill itself was closed down in 1896. During the 1st world war the property was abandoned and stood empty for nearly a century. Surprisingly, much of the original mill machinery is still in place and has been retained as a fascinating insight into a former age. The property has vineyards to the front and woodland to the rear as well as the river Chazotte running literally underneath the mill building.
As well as the other on-site activities already mentioned there is an outdoor games area in the shady poplar wood at the East end of the property. Here is a tree swing, some kiddies swings and a badminton area. The playfield at the front is about 7 acres and ideal for outdoor pursuits.
If you would like further details or to see a record of the renovation work at the mill please look at our website www.cognacvacances.com

Nearest beach: 45

Nearest airport: 90

Nearest port: 250

Nearest supermarket: 3

Location
Le Moulin de Chazotte is an historic Charentais watermill dating back to the 15th century. Set in secluded tranquility amongst the vineyards and woodlands of the river Antenne valley just North of world-famous Cognac. The surrounding countryside is gently rolling and usually traffic-free so perfect for exploring on foot or bike. In nearby Cherves-Richemont are shops and a good restaurant. The area boasts a wealth of Roman sites and ancient churches. Safe, sandy beaches or surf only 1 hour away.

La Principale is a gite on two floors. It is entered via a solid oak door and into a hall with cloaks cupboard and a separate toilet with washbasin. The hall leads to the lounge on the right and the kitchen on the left. The lounge has genuine oak-strip flooring and exposed ceiling beams. At the far end is a large stone fireplace with a wood-burning fire. There is a South-facing window with a view over the vineyards and three East-facing windows overlooking the millpond and river. All the windows are hardwood double glazed and the entire property is insulated to a very high standard to keep it cooler in summer and warmer in winter. There is a hand-built curved Charentais pine staircase leading to the first floor landing. The three-piece suite is very comfortable and the TV has both French terrestrial and satellite channels. There is a hi-fi system, a DVD player and a VHS video player with a selection of videos. The gite also has a good selection of books and games.

On the first floor of La Principale are three bedrooms and two bathrooms (including a genuine bath as opposed to a shower!). The master bedroom has a large and comfortable double bed with lots of exposed roof timbers and stonework. This bedroom has an ensuite bathroom with a shower, toilet bidet and mirrored sink vanity unit. The second bedroom has a double bed and large wardrobe. This too has exposed beams and stonework. The third bedroom has two single beds with plenty of room for a third occasional bed if required. A cot can be supplied as an alternative. The second bathroom has a shower, a separate bath, a toilet and a mirrored sink vanity unit. For further details and photos please see our website www.cognacvacances.com