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The Owners...
They discovered this part of the Charente Maritime quite by chance whilst visiting friends for a long weekend. It was June, and they'd be the first to admit they were seduced by the sight of hollyhocks glowing against faded paintwork and stone walls... The coastal light and rolling landscape made it instantly appealing. Being keen gardeners, they realised the climate would be ideal for growing things all year around, without being unbearably hot in summer. (Fortunately they managed to keep their newly-planted shrubs from wilting away during the heatwave of 2003, which entailed much recycling of household water!) Now the garden is full of hollyhocks, lavender, hibiscus, poppies - and many other plants that self-seed all over the place. Christina is a clock restorer, with an eye for antiques, who ran her own business for 25 years and now enjoys visiting brocantes, finding the odd clock to bring back to life. Caroline admits to having got through a number of different jobs - in photography, magazine publishing and latterly at the BBC - and has almost worn out her digital camera since coming here. Restoring an old property has been every bit as exciting and agonising as portrayed on TV in recent years and if anyone is thinking of taking the plunge they can highly recommend this area.
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Caroline
and Christina live in a converted barn behind the cottage and will offer you a warm
welcome - but thereafter leave you in peace!