Large well-equipped farmhouse with grounds
La Riffaudière has been our holiday home in the Vendée region for over 15 years. We wanted a roomy farm house with a terrain - that is some surrounding land - in a quiet and peaceful location. It has been the ideal location for time away with the extended family. Our children have got to know their cousins and run wild in the grounds.
Over the years we have made a few minor improvements. We have built a new master bedroom with en suite and exposed beams which has added to the comfort and convenience.
The house is a cool refuge on summer days. Once the log fire is roaring away it is the cosiest of out of season retreats and we all want to have a go tending the fire!
Access to the kitchen and dining area is from the south-facing courtyard at the back of the house where there is parking for several cars and a fenced terrace large enough for several tables and outdoor dining. We have breakfasted al fresco as early in the year as March and have many happy memories of barbeque dinners extending well beyond sundown and under ink black skies with astonishing views of The Milky Way and the constellations.
The house is set in 4 acres of agricultural land and has a lake, so depending on what time of year you visit, you will enjoy a variety of wildlife and views – cows grazing, tall meadow grasses and the chatter of crickets, a local farmer harvesting and baling up the hay, green woodpeckers (they made quite an impression on our wooden shutters last year, as you will see!), toads serenading all night in the lake, owls hooting...
A door off the kitchen will take you into the cellar where we store bikes, barbeque equipment and a few basic toys/fishing rods etc and the other door leads into the hall and then to the first double bedroom (with patio windows out to the garden), toilet, sitting room and what was probably a formal dining room in the old farmhouse but that we have used variously for additional accommodation or as a music/games room over the years.
Moving on up the stairs you will find a separate master bedroom with king size bed, ensuite bathroom and shower with heated towel rail, a second family bathroom with shower over the bath, bidet, separate toilet, one more double bedroom and then a further bedroom with a single and bunk beds.
All of the bedrooms have generous hanging facilities and drawers. There are beds for nine people in total with a further double futon bed in the old dining room, and a sofa-bed in the lounge. We have a folding cot and can supply plenty of bedding and towels. The bathrooms and toilets are connected to a central negative pressure ventilation system which keeps the house dry and fresh all year round. All rooms are electrically heated and there’s an open log fire in the sitting room which you are welcome to use at any time. There’s usually a good stock of dry wood in the basket by the fire with further supplies tucked away in the cellar.
La Riffaudiere Property Features
Location Type
Accessibility
Housekeeping & Services
- Iron and Ironing Board
- Fuel and Power Included
- Cot
- Bed Linen for Hire
- Towels for Hire
- No Smoking
Bedrooms
- 3 Double Bedrooms
- 1 Triple Bedroom
Ground Floor Facilities
- Ground Floor Bedroom
- Ground Floor Toilet
Kitchen
- Washing Machine
- Dishwasher
- Microwave
- Fridge
- Oven
- Hob
- Grill
Entertainment
Leisure Equipment
Garden/Terrace/Play area
- Private garden
- Terrace / patio
- Childrens play area
- Outdoor games area
Parking available
- Covered parking
- Off road parking
Activities within 20min drive of the property
- Fishing
- Tennis
- Walking
- Cycling
Local Water Sports