Key Highlights
- Prieure St. Thérèse features as No 1 in The Times 2019 '50 Best Holidays in France'!
- This medieval priory in Charente resides in one of the sunniest regions in France
- The owner can arrange wonderful evening meals for you should you not wish to venture out
- The garden which surrounds the house is enclosed in an ancient stone wall that has been planted with stunningly scented English climbing roses
- It’s a peaceful and relaxing location in this rural village, next to a historic church, with the distant sounds of cuckoos calling, frogs chirping and maybe even an owl at night
- There are fantastic walks all around the house through the woods and across fields as well as very quiet lanes to surrounding villages and hamlets
1) Prieure + Tower: 21 guests/8 bedrooms/6 bathrooms
2) Prieure only: 15 guests/6 bedrooms/5 bathrooms
Please note that only the 21 person prices include the rental of the adjoining tower, Tour St. Thérèse. As the tower can be booked independently or together with the priory it is subject to availabilty, so please enquire. See Tour St. Thérèse for full details of the tower.
Prieure Interior
Ground Floor
- Kitchen fully equipped wit a stunning ancient stone chimney piece, a French range cooker, an American Fridge freezer and a second drinks fridge. There is a washing machine, Kenwood chef, microwave, four slice toaster and kettle as well as the normal utensils required in a working kitchen.
- Dining room that seats 12 with an additional four seats in the adjoining kitchen should there be further children as guests in the party
- Hall
- Drawing room which seats ten to twelve and has a baby grand piano, two sofas, a number of individual armchairs and a wood burning fire
- Study with further sitting area
- Bathroom with bath, shower, WC and bidet
First Floor (reached by a stone spiral staircase)
- Master bedroom with private, attached shower room, basin and WC (overlooks the valley and the garden). Extra single bed for a child available.
- Bedroom 2 with a four poster bed and attached retro shower room, WC and basin (overlooks the valley and the garden). Extra single bed for a child available.
- Bedroom 3 with double bed (overlooking the valley)
- Bedroom 4 with double bed (particularly cool in the summer heat, ideal for parents with a young child)
Second Floor (reached by a stone spiral staircase)
- Large games room with two extra beds for children, a fifty five inch smart TV, ideal for cinema nights, toys, games, books, dressing up box and a turret with arrow slits that is a perfect corner for small people to curl up in and enjoy a good story from the hundreds of children's books (in English).
- Bedroom 5 with double bed and en-suite bathroom
- Bedroom 6 with double bed and en-suite bathroom
Outside Grounds
- Private swimming pool with roman steps and sun loungers, open approximately June to October
- Well-kept gardens with fig, walnut, crab apple, pear and cherry trees
- Loggia with adjacent barbecue and outdoor dining areas
Facilities
- Wi-Fi
- Heating
- Sat TV (55 inch)
- Books
- Indoor games (eg. chess)
- Garden games
- Bikes
- Barbecue
Tower Interior
Please note that only the 21 person prices include the rental of the adjoining tower, Tour St. Thérèse. As the tower can be booked independently or together with the priory it is subject to availabilty, so please enquire. See Tour St. Thérèse for full details of the tower.
Ground Floor
- Living room with fire-place
- Dining area
- Small simple kitchen with fridge, cooker, vintage French percolator, teapot and antique French crockery
- Shower room with WC
First Floor
- Master double bedroom (accessed via its own spiral staircase)
- Twin bedroom with two further pull-out beds (accessed via its own spiral staircase), ideal for children
Outside Grounds
- Terrace with barbecue
- Truffle orchard
- Gardens
- Fire-pit
Facilities
- Wi-Fi
- Heating
- Working fireplace
- Books and games
- Washing machine
This beautiful medieval priory is now an Oliver’s Travels award–winning holiday home in Charente. It has also appeared as No 1 in The Times 2019 list of '50 Best Holidays in France'!
Located in the tiny village of Pressigny on private grounds, adjacent to the church and within the Deux-Sevres, this French manor house, converted to a priory in the fourteenth century, sleeps twelve adults in six bedrooms and can accommodate an additional four children.
Relax by the heated pool, dine al fresco at one of the great outdoor tables and enjoy the beauty of the rose covered walled gardens that surround the property, a lovely area for children to play.
Six delightful bedrooms accommodate up to sixteen guests. The high-ceilings, beams, ancient wooden floors and honey coloured stone walls are a perfect backdrop for the mix of antique family furniture and pictures. The kids will enjoy playtime in the bright, colourful games room with its cool turret and arrow slits (no budding archers allowed to shoot the guests!).
The house is well appointed. The kitchen has a gas range, microwave, washing machine, dishwasher and American fridge freezer as well as kettle, coffee machine, toaster and iron and ironing board. Hairdryers are provided in the bedrooms. There are cots, high chairs, baby bath, changing mat and pushchair available for little ones. Satellite TV, internet connection and bicycles are provided for the enjoyment of guests.
Attached to the priory is the equally stunning and romantic Tour St. Thérèse. Groups of up to 21 guests can hire both beautifully renovated homes; together, ideal for a celebration, intimate wedding or special holiday for a larger party of guests. Whilst they are attached, they each have their own entrances and gardens (see Tour St. Thérèse for full details of the tower.)
This unique home is perfectly positioned within the Deux-Sevres in Charente, known to be France’s second most sunny region. There is a good choice of restaurants in neighbouring villages, about ten to fifteen minutes by car, where visitors are greeted with a warm welcome. You’ll find a supermarket, cafés, and bars just 7km away in Thenezay and the beautiful medieval town of St. Loup is only around 15 minutes by car.
This beautiful area, full of wooded valleys, streams, ponds and shallow, flowing rivers is a joy for walkers and cyclists. From great local food markets, vide greniers and country trail walks to riding, lake fishing and canoeing, there is a plethora of activities in the area. Historical Poitiers, an hour away, is a city full of centuries old art and history, visit the magical chateau and sample some fine sparkling wine in Saumur or head west to the Atlantic coast with its stunning beaches and interesting town of La Rochelle.
And, for those who truly want to relax, full catering is offered by the brilliant owner.
- Please note that only the 21 person prices include the rental of the adjoining tower, Tour St. Thérèse, however as the tower can also be booked independently, it is subject to availability for bookings of up to 21 guests. See Tour St. Thérèse for full details of the tower.
- Guests are kindly asked to request pool heating in advance (supplement applies).
- There is a large, stone spiral staircase that goes up three floors. Each floor, including the ground floor, has a door on the landing or hallway which, when closed, does not allow access to the staircase.
- Please be mindful that there are low wooden beams in some rooms.
Oliver's Extras
- Chef/Cook Available
- Maid Service Available
- Babysitting Available
- Complimentary Welcome Hamper
- Maid service/extra cleaning
- Private chef/cook/catering
- Welcome hamper/pre-stocked fridge
- Local day-trips or tours
- Airport pick-up/drop-off
Extras available at this property:
- Complimentary welcome hamper
- Welcome meal
- Cook/catering (minimum 1 day notice required)
- Babysitting service
Please note that all extras are subject to availability and must be requested in advance of the holiday (prices on request). Due to some rural/remote locations, not all services will be available at all properties. However, we will always do our best to fulfil your requests!
Oliver's Travels Chef Service: A Gourmet Dining Experience
Make hosting a memorable dinner party at your villa an absolute breeze with our superb Chef Service. Our chefs will take care of everything for you from start to finish so you can just sit back and enjoy the gastronomic experience. They will bring all the necessary ingredients, cook and serve the food and even clean up afterwards. To find out more visit www.oliverstravels.com/chefs
Weddings & Events Information
Ask a questionFeatured as No.1 in The Times 2019 list of ’50 Best Holidays in France’, this fourteenth century priory is a historical and romantic setting for a relaxed yet beautiful wedding.
An intimate ceremony in the medieval manor house garden with the flower covered arch and the rustic chairs is a delight. A larger celebration will require a marquee set in the rose-covered gardens, which are in full flower at the end of May and the beginning of June.
In a unique position in the deux-Sevres, known to be one of France’s most sunniest regions, this is an enchanting area filled with wooded valleys, streams and rivers as well as pretty villages and towns with wonderful local food markets.
Wedding Reception
An intimate reception for up to 12 people is possible inside the house. For larger groups, up to 40 people can be seated in the garden or in a marquee. The owners can help with the hiring of the marquee and all other aspects of organising your wedding.
Another option is to have the wedding ceremony and reception in the Priory Garden and to hire the old village barn across the road from the Priory, where you will be able to seat your guests at benches and long tables and enjoy the band, or alternatively, have the tables and chairs on the grass outside the barn.
Dancing can take place in the village barn until 11.30pm, or a band can play in the tower garden until 10pm, after which the walled garden is filled with candles, the firepit lit and you can enjoy the beautiful evening stars and the romantic atmosphere whilst eating wedding cake and drinking champagne around the fire! As the day usually starts around 10am, with a beautiful breakfast in the garden provided by the Priory’s great chef (who worked on the royal yacht and at Admiralty House), by 10.30pm the magic has woven its spell and guests are more than happy to enjoy quiet music and the wonderful atmosphere of the tower garden.
Wedding Ceremony
A ceremony in the gardens of the property is possible with up to 50 guests.
The owners can provide details of an English-speaking celebrant, though it’s really beautiful to write the ceremony yourselves and have a special friend or relative conduct the service. It makes it particularly special and intimate – it was the route the owner’s son and his wife chose and the ceremony was particularly moving.
Where to Stay
Up to 21 people can sleep in the house and further guests can sleep in accommodation within the village or within 15 minutes of the house. The owners can supply details of local transportation firms.
Wedding Planning
The owners will help with all aspects of the planning, from organising florists, hairdressers, band, and every other detail you will want. They know, from long experience, it’s hard to organise everything from abroad in France, even with the internet!
Catering
The owners provide the catering, with a wonderful chef who has received many accolades for his food – including one review where the wedding guests said it was the best wedding food they have ever tasted!
Other Information
A set-package must be selected to host your event here – please enquire.
Please note that any event rental may be subject to additional charges, venue hire fees and to a higher security deposit, which will be in addition to any published rental rates and fees.
All events are on request only and subject to prior agreement from the owner, who reserves the right to refuse all events without their prior authorisation.
