2 Bedroom (Sleeps 4) House in Yonne

15th Century house in medieval village

• Holiday Cottages
• France
• Yonne

Description

Large 2 bedroom late 15th Century half-timbered town house in the centre of Noyers-sur-Serein, a pretty walled & cobbled medieval village which is one of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France. Unusually for a village of its compact size, Noyers has everything you need: several restaurants and bars, épiceries, a boulangerie/patisserie,a butcher/charcuterie, and a weekly food market - all excellent. Not forgetting 5 local crafts shops, 2 art galleries … and a museum etc. And a chemist and newsagents. All in a few steps from the front door.

The house has 3 storeys with a walled city garden. The ground floor is fronted by an arcade and what was originally a medieval shop decorated with the heads of mythical beasts in carved oak. A few steps up from the front door lead to the main living room, with an island kitchen, a dining area with a large table, and a sitting area with a couple of sofas beside the stone fireplace. French windows give direct access to the garden. There is also a small toilet and laundry room.

An old oak staircase takes you up to a bedroom (double bed, fireplace, timbered ceiling) and a small separate bathroom with toilet and shower. At the front, a large library with comfortable sofas offers superb views onto half-timbered houses and the church tower; this room is ideal for drinks before dinner (as well as reading).

The top floor is a very large bedroom (double bed) with a view over to the surrounding countryside and hill. The large en-suite bathroom is equipped with a bath, a shower and a separate toilet, and fine views over the old Burgundy tiled roofs towards the church.

The garden is small but pretty. High limestone walls offer total privacy, with nonetheless sun for much of the day. There is a shaded table, and an additional terrace with table and chairs and deckchairs looks onto the half-timbered rear facade of the house.

The village is extremely attractive and well-preserved, partly because during the 18th century the king of France decided that it would no longer be on the main road to anywhere at all. The tradition continues; during weekends in July and August the centre is entirely closed to vehicles. The village is also well-protected. A loop in the little river Serein forms a moat beneath the medieval towers; both entrances to the village are fortified. There are extensive walks/cycle rides along the river and up to the top of the wooded hill where the remains of the old castle are hidden.

There are many things to see and do in the area. Wine-lovers will appreciate the proximity of Chablis (20 mins), Irancy and St Bris. There are castles and abbeys and fortified towns all over the place, including the Unesco sites (Vezelay, Fontenay and the Climats of Burgundy’s vineyards). The wild and wooded Morvan region, with excellent lakes for wild swimming, is just 50 minutes away.

The house itself is luminous, characterful, and well-equipped. We think it will appeal to lovers of architectural and decorative curiosities in pleasant surroundings.

Small children are welcome, but they need to be warned that the stuffed animal heads in the library are no longer dangerous. Parents must be aware that the house is not secured for children and so the staircases inside and out will need supervision. There is no specific children's bedroom. There is a travel cot, and a small extra bed in the bathroom of bedroom 2.

Bed linen (140 x 220cm) and towels are included.

The house has electric heating. A wood-burning stove can be used for additional heating (supplement 25 euros/semaine), but the fireplaces can not be used.

If you have difficulty with staircases, this house is unfortunately not for you

No pets please, and no smoking inside the house.

The price includes cleaning at the end of your stay, but do please leave the house clean and tidy at the end of your stay. The price also includes the "taxe de séjour" imposed by the French government. In short, there are no extra charges to pay.

The minimum stay is 5 nights = 750 euros
5 nights: 690 euros

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