AUVERGNE, ALLIER, LURCY-LEVIS

La Platriere Holiday Cottage

Main Image kitchen in the cottage Main house and swimming pool Relax by the pool Garden at La Platriere Garden at La Platriere bedroom Spacious holiday cottage sleeps up to 6 people, situated near the Troncais Forest in Auvergne. Cottage is within 3 acres of gardens, with swimming pool, and private garden and parking. Stunning views of surrounding countryside. FEATURES Swimming pool stunning views High standard of accommodation conforms to EU fire security regulations private parking central heating Fully equipped kitchen close to leisure facilities and town printer friendly page recommend this property Further Information [Feature Icons] The cottage offers spacious accommodation and sleeps up to 6 people. Adjoining the main house it has its own enclosed garden and private parking space. Inside is designed with your comfort in mind, all linen and towels are provided and included in the price and for those cooler months the cottage is well insulated and centrally heated. The kitchen with dining area is fully equipped with everything you could possibly need during your stay, with washing machine, dishwasher, fridge-freezer, microwave, electric oven, hob and extractor hood. During wet weather guests can use for a small charge the tumble dryer in the main house. The dining area has French doors leading out into the private garden and outdoor furniture and barbeque. Open plan beams lead the way into one of the two sitting rooms where for your entertainment are TV, video, music centre, a selection of books and games. The other sitting rooms in the cottage can double up as a 3rd bedroom as it has a good quality bed-settee. Also downstairs are the bathroom (with french bath, shower, and vanity unit with basin) and separate toilet. A beautiful open-tread oak staircase leads upstairs where there are 2 adjoining bedrooms (one double, one twin-bedded). Both bedrooms have exposed beams and dormer windows look out across the garden to the countryside beyond. The cottage garden has outdoor furniture, parasol and barbeque. All guests are welcome to enjoy the larger gardens at La Platriere, which include the large swimming pool surrounded by sun terrace where you can laze away hot summer days relaxing on the sun loungers. For the slightly more energetic guests can play boules on the petanque pitch, or maybe a game of croquet. (equipment provided) For the children there is a large playing field, and at the back of the house a childrens play area with swings and basketball. Children also love meeting our pigmy goats Freyar and Bilbo, who love to be the centre of attention. Local Information [Local Icons] La Platriere is situated in the department of Allier in the region of Auvergne, in the heart of France. With a wealth of unique landscapes, rich history and cultural heritage, Auvergne offers something for everyone. The region boasts of an exceptional variety of lakes, waterfalls and running through the region is the river Allier. In fact water is everywhere in Auvergne and offers excellent fishing, bathing, windsurfing, and other water sports including white-water rafting. The area is also known as the "green lung" of France. La Platriere is also close to the departments of Cher and Berry in the region of centre-Val-de Loire and the Nievre in the region of Bourgogne. Nearby to La Platriere is the Troncais Forest, with its 300 year oaks. With 10,000 hectares, the Troncais is the largest oak plantation in Europe.This region is sure to capture your heart with its white water, numerous springs and lakes, Gallo-Roman sites, gently undulating landscape, chateaux, churches and the haunting sounds of deer belling in the woods. Why not stay with us in the Autumn, when guided tours at sunset to the Troncais are available to hear the eerie sound of the belling of the deer or go wild mushroom picking (you can take your collected mushrooms to the local pharmacy who will advise you of which ones are safe to eat). 15 minutes drive from La Platriere is the spa town of Bourbon l’Archambault, which is the birthplace of the Bourbon kings. With its impressive fortress built before the '100 years war', this is a must for visitors who can explore its impressive remains and admire the stunning views from its hilltop position. It's great fun for children too. Whilst there you may wish to spend a relaxing morning or afternoon at the Thermal baths. The Auvergne has approximately 500 chateaux, which range from the stately, to the fortified or medieval, and is the ‘land of the Bourbon dukes’. Montluçon (40 kms away) is also home to the Bourbon Dukes and has an historic centre and numerous museums. Even its Romanesque art, can be surprisingly inventive. Medieval fortresses and long dormant volcanoes dominate the landscape of the Auvergne region of central France. This is a world of memories and picture postcards, of ancient stone villages surrounded by gently rolling hills. Visit Moulins the capital of the Allier and see the historial parts of this beautiful city with its cathedrals and museums. Situated in the Massif Central, Auvergne is an ancient region of great natural beauty and dramatic landscapes, and has several hundred volcanoes. Both the Puy de Dome (1465 metres) and the Cantal are well known, the first for its formidable challenge to cyclists on the Tour de France, and the second is the largest volcano in Europe. There are breathtaking views of this chain of extinct volcanoes. Just to the north-west of Clermont-Ferrand is the newly opened theme park Vulcania, set in the crater of an extinct volcano. (see www.vulcania.com). You may wish to take a peaceful hot air balloon ride, calmly drifting over this unique landscape, where on a clear day you can see Mont Blanc over 400 km away! Or perhaps try your hand at paragliding and hang gliding with guidance from qualified professionals from the summit of the Puy de Dome. The regions has two magnificent Nature Parks aim to protect Auvergne’s natural riches and traditions and offer perfect walking and unique plant and animal life. The Auvergne Volcanoes Regional Park is a huge area made up of remarkable landscapes, flora and fauna that owes it strong identity to a rural society which has managed to preserve its know-how and culture. It is one of Europe's oldest and largest regional parks.Auvergne is an accessible Garden of Eden boasting over 2,500 species of flowers, and is home to around 100 rare protected plants. The Montagne Bourbonnais near Vichy is known as the Garden of France and is popular during summer and winter with its ski resort of Loges des Gardes with its dry toboggan run. The Auvergne is also a huge playground for the great eagle-owl, salmon, mouflon and thousands of other species. The bends of the River Allier are a bird's paradise. Over 250 species including the marsh hawk, stone curlew and osprey feel at home there. Visit the Allier Valley Nature Centre and discover and learn about the natural heritage of this beautiful area. Visit Aprement-Sur-Allier (20km) Listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France, once upon a time, a medieval port on the banks of the River Allier now all houses fully restored, it is a quiet and peaceful village where you can visit the floral parc, and museum in the Chateau that towers above the village. Activity Information [Activity Icons] La Platriere is situated only 5kms from the nearest of several large lakes, where there are sand beaches for swimming, with water-slide and separated areas for fishing. Locally there is a sailing school, or if you prefer you can hire canoes, kayaks and pedaloes. The area is ideal for walking, cycling, and there is horseriding and llama trekking nearby in neighbouring villages. Many villages and towns on Sundays throughout the summer hold brocantes and there are weekly markets at Lurcy-Levis, Sancoins and St Amand-Montrond. Many of the surrounding villages are medieval and throughout the summer hold medieval fetes, with music and dancing. Visit Souvigny, during July for 9 days of authentic medieval festival with banquet. Neighbouring chateaux such as Sagonne and Culan hold medieval fetes and mock battles. Music and dance are very much a feature in the locality. Each year Lurcy-Levis holds an international folklore festival which is a weeklong festival of traditional dance, costume and music from representive countries from all over the world, and the not to be missed culture of the world festival held in Gannat where for 10 days during July, 11 international countries display their music, dance and tradional costume, and sell their products. printer friendly page recommend this property Availability Legend   Available   Not Available <2009 2010 Availability 2011> January S S M T W T F PCW             1 £0 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 £0 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 £0 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 £0 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 £0 30 31 February S S M T W T F PCW     1 2 3 4 5 £0 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 £0 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 £0 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 £0 27 28 March S S M T W T F PCW     1 2 3 4 5 £0 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 £0 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 £0 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 £0 27 28 29 30 31 April S S M T W T F PCW           1 2 £0 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 £0 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 £0 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 £0 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 £0 May S S M T W T F PCW 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 £0 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 £0 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 £0 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 £0 29 30 31 June S S M T W T F PCW       1 2 3 4 £0 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 £0 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 £0 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 £0 26 27 28 29 30 July S S M T W T F PCW           1 2 £0 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 £0 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 £0 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 £0 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 £0 31 August S S M T W T F PCW   1 2 3 4 5 6 £0 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 £0 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 £0 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 £0 28 29 30 31 September S S M T W T F PCW         1 2 3 £0 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 £0 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 £0 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 £0 25 26 27 28 29 30 October S S M T W T F PCW             1 £0 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 £0 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 £0 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 £0 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 £0 30 31 November S S M T W T F PCW     1 2 3 4 5 £0 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 £0 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 £0 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 £0 27 28 29 30 December S S M T W T F PCW         1 2 3 £0 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 £0 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 £0 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 £0 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 £0

Disclaimer
Note: We endeavour to make our sales particulars accurate and reliable, but if there is any point which is of particular importance to you, or if you require any further information, please contact this office and we will be pleased to confirm the position, particularly if you are travelling some distance to view the property.

Note: No heating, plumbing, gas or electrical appliances, including power points have been tested by Our House Abroad as we are not qualified to do so, or make any statement regarding them.