The Secret Hamlet
Overview
Featured in The Guardian's Top 10 Best Foodie Retreats in Rural France.
Your wedding or family holiday will be a true fairytale affair at this chateau in the Loire Valley. Situated on top of a hill and covered in creeping vines, this Old World castle has been renovated with the utmost care and taste. The expertly styled interior epitomizes the easy, chic sophistication of ‘art de vivre à la française’. From the sleek chef’s kitchen, to the rustic spiral stairs, the rich character of this chateau shines; especially impressive is the mezzanine above the formal dining room.
Outside, the grounds slope down to the River L’Anglin, where you’ll paddle or fish beneath the shade of a 450 year old oak tree. The 35 acre property is situated near the tiny town of Ingrandes, which you can reach with a leisurely 20 minute walk along the river (or a quick bike ride, just borrow cycles from the chateau).
Nearby attractions include the Romanesque Abbey in Saint-Savin (10 km), home to well-preserved 11th and 12th century murals. There's natural beauty in abundance at La Brenne Regional Nature Park (30 km) past Le Blanc. Your holiday (or the days before your wedding) can be a time of calm reflection in this peaceful region of France.
| Good news! This property is available as a Vill’otel |
|---|
Yey! Wait… what is that? What’s included? |
What Oliver loves…
- This chateau in the Loire Valley exudes wedding-album worthy ease and grace.
- Need help planning the perfect outing? The discrete owners live on-site and would love to help.
- The entire Secret Hamlet Estate (with 6 additional houses) can be rented for a larger party of up to 27 guests.
What you should know…
- There are 6 other homes on the property in this tiny hamlet, but your chateau pool remains private. Consider renting the estate for large groups.
- You’ll want a car to explore the area - the nearest village is a 20 minute walk.
Property Features
The Manor House sits within a small hamlet of 6 houses, each of which is entirely independent, with its own personality and atmosphere, all set amidst peaceful green gardens and the surrounding fields. Each property has its own private garden area.
The house can accommodate 4 adults in 2 double bedrooms. It also has a kitchen, dining room and library/music room.
Outside the chateau sits in 35 acres of private grounds with a private swimming pool. The pool is private to the manor house and is not shared by the other properties within the estate.
Included in the rental price: bed linen and towels, cutlery, plates, cooking utensils, refrigerator, washing machine, microwave Satellite TV with English channels, Hi-Fi, Wi-Fi connection, garden furniture & barbecue.
Situated at the border of the Berry and Poitou regions and only 1 hour away from the Loire Valley...
Read moreLocation
About the surrounding area of The Secret HamletSituated at the border of the Berry and Poitou regions and only 1 hour away from the Loire Valley, the manor and its 5 outer buildings sit on the top of a woody hill softly sloping down to the left bank of the River Anglin.
The owners are happy to create personalized itineraries to help you discover Berry and the Poitou Region. History, antique chasing, restaurants, painting, gardening and cooking are all available on request.
Activities on the property include: canoeing, kayaking and fishing – permit available.
Activities around the property include: rich cultural and historical sites, golf, hunting, horseback riding, tennis, cycling, walking, and fauna and flora in the Parc de la Brenne.
The local village is 1.5 km away and has a bar/restaurant, a grocery store and a post office.
Towns nearby include Le Blanc (8km), Argenton sur Creuse (45km), Châteauroux (65km), Poitiers (50km), Châtellerault (40km).
| Local Amenities | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nearest Airport |
poitiers
(46-50 km) |
||
| Nearest Train Station |
Chatellerault or Argenton/Creuse
(41-45 km) |
||
| Nearest Village |
Ingrandes
(1.5km) |
||
| Nearest Town/City |
Le Blanc or Saint Savin
(8 km) |
||
| Nearest Restaurant |
Ingrandes
(2 km) |
||
| Nearest Bar/Pub | Ingrandes café | ||
| Nearest Golf |
Saint Maur or La Roche Posay
(31-35 km) |
||
| Nearest Supermarket |
Le Blanc / Saint Savin
(8km) |
||
| Nearest Tennis |
(4km) |
||
Extras
Oliver's Extras
| Good news! This property is available as a Vill’otel |
|---|
With a vill’otel holiday, you can enjoy all these services throughout your stay: Interested? |
At Oliver’s Travels we pride ourselves on going that little bit further for our guests. From private chefs to babysitters we can help you arrange those little extras that make it a truly memorable holiday. Simply fill in the concierge request form or contact the Oliver’s Concierge Team who will be happy to help. We can typically help you arrange any of the following:
- Maid service/extra cleaning
- Private chef/cook/catering
- Welcome hamper/pre-stocked fridge
- Local day-trips or tours
- Airport pick-up/drop-off
- Babysitting/childcare services
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!
Enjoy gourmet dining experiences with our new Chef Service!
We’re now offering our customers the chance to enjoy some unforgettable eats with our new Chef Service! Choose from booking a single sumptuous meal with a private chef for that special occasion, or hire a chef to cook your meals for all or part of your holiday - it’s as flexible as it is delicious.
A) Single Meal Service: A chef will travel to this villa and whip up a fantastic meal for you and your guests. The chef will arrive with all the necessary ingredients as well as the talent to turn them into something unforgettable. They’ll serve the meal and clear up afterwards - an easy and entertaining way to enjoy a top quality meal in your very own villa!
B) Full Chef Service: If you really want to kick back and relax, we can arrange for a chef to cater for the duration of your holiday (or part of it). With a range of options from simple family catering to full-on haute cuisine, we can organise a meal plan and a price to suit your needs. So why worry about self-catering when you can have everything taken care of?
Of course, before booking this service, we suggest you contact the property owner as they might already offer a similar cook or chef service in-house. To find out more simply visit www.oliverstravels.com/chefs.
Our place is different from other places in many a sense.
Our estate is a small hamlet...
Event information
Our place is different from other places in many a sense.
Our estate is a small hamlet of 6 houses around a large Manor house.
We sometimes rent the whole estate for weddings or special gatherings and our guests usually stay between 2 days and a week thus having family and close friends stay together to celebrate the occasion on a longer basis …. Before and/or after Picnics, barbecues, canoeing down the river on a more casual basis to create ties intra or inter- families….
Our estate is not a hotel and we do not have a banquet department with in house staff, kitchens and cooks.
As a private estate, and we offer to host weddings in a manner which ranges from using the park and the manor as a décor or have the exclusive use of the estate for the event thus renting the park, the barns, the guest rooms in the manor house and the 4 outer buildings…all to make the venue a memorable moment.
To help organize the events we:
Either
Only provide the contacts of suppliers…. And all is managed by guests, ordered by them and paid by them. We only make sure that all is organized within the terms of our contract and security rules.
All is paid directly by the client to avoid confusion and cash management problems
Or
We manage all for our guests-according to their written brief and within a given budget. our wedding planning fee is calculated – and billed -on a 15% basis of costs managed with a minimum of 1000€. All costs are paid by clients directly to partners on the basis of accepted price proposals.
Please see The Secret Hamlet Estate for more information.
Please note any event rental may be subject to additional charges (that will be pre-agreed) on top of the published rental amount. This is to cover the extra costs associated with putting on a wedding. Please contact stephanie@oliverstravels.com for further details.
| Security deposit | Security deposit dependent on the party. |
| Arrival time | 16.00 |
| Departure time | 11.00 |
Terms & Conditions
| Security deposit | Security deposit dependent on the party. |
| Arrival time | 16.00 |
| Departure time | 11.00 |
| Energy costs included? | Including. During winter there may be an additional charge depending on consumption. |
| Linen & towels included? | All linen and bath towels are included in the rental price. |
| Pets welcome? | Yes. Please enquire. |
| Changeover day | Saturday. Short breaks available. Please enquire. |
| End of stay cleaning included? | The property has to be left in the state that you found it. If not cleaning cost will be deducted from deposit. |
| Smoking Allowed? | No smoking in the property. |
| Insurance | It is recommended that all guests take out insurance to cover against potential cancellation and any accidental damage caused during your stay at the property. |
| Other Ts and Cs | A rental contract is to be signed with the owner of the estate and the client must be insured with an insurance company for his rental liabilities and any damage caused to the rented property or its contents. A copy of the insurance policy has to be given prior to arrival. |
Rental Rates
Prices below are based on an occupancy of 8 people.
| Rental period | 2 Nights | 3 Nights | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 25th 2018 - January 5th 2019 | £3,073.00 | £3,712.00 | £6,146.00 |
| January 5th 2019 - October 27th 2019 | £3,073.00 | £3,712.00 | £6,146.00 |
How long have you owned the property?
I took over the house in 1981
What was it about the property that you first fell in love wit...
Owner Profile
How long have you owned the property?
I took over the house in 1981
What was it about the property that you first fell in love with?
I fell in love with this secret place 35 years ago, and was completely besotted by the old oak mastering the river. The house was a wreck, I had no money, passion pushed me, bank loans pulled me… our house came back to life.
Respectful of the harmony between man and nature we have renovated the houses and the gardens to offer a bit of true “art de vivre à la française”… My 3 children and I have decided to open up the family circle to others, to share unique moments.
Have you ever had any famous guests staying?
Yes, many, but it is theirs and our secret!
For anyone coming to stay is there anything in the surrounding area they should...
Really do?
Discover our Natural Reserve - Parc Régional de la Brenne. Cycling, canoeing down the rivers, horseback riding, walking, bird and butterfly watching, parachuting, rock climbing. Swim, read, play music, cook, go wine tasting, go to markets….
Really eat?
All the local delicacies including paté, cheese, meats, seasonal fruits and vegetables.
Really see?
The area is abundant with history, architecture, culture, villages, markets …..
What insider tip would you pass on about the property or the area?
"Do you know that charming part of our country which has been called the garden of France, that spot where amid verdant plains watered by wide streams, one inhales the purest air of heaven.” Alfred de Vigny.
Region
A region doesn’t get to be called “The Garden of France” without being pretty special, and the Loire Valley is just as luscious and beautiful as its nickname would suggest. There’s countless acres of beautiful woods, vineyards and farmland that produce some of France’s revered ingredients and delicacies, and a wealth of history and beautiful architecture that demands and rewards exploration. Whether you’re heading off with the family, friends, or both, our fantastic portfolio of Loire Valley villas and chateaux means you’ll find fantastic, comfortable and quirky accommodation no matter your preferences.
Reviews
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Magical
We had the most beautiful time. It is the perfect blend of serenity and activity. Read a book or take part in activities. Everything's you could ask for if you want to escape the rustle bustle of the 9 to 5.
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Amazing
Amazing, magical and marvellous place in center of France. If you crave for beauty, privacy and romantism, I think it's perfect for weddings or a week-end away. Marie was such a wonderful help for us. Thank you for everything.
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Fantastic place to stay
Very nice atmosphere, ambience with flair, friendly people, fantastic place to stay.Beautiful rooms, each with their own flair. Lovely people that make you feel at home and relaxed.
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Simply Perfection
What a wonderful place to stay in Ingrandes. The chateau with the houses, lovely gardens and the very charming hosts Marie and Ursula. You can ask them everything and they will help you. The attention to detail everywhere was delightful.
Marie and Ursula cooked a delicious meal for us! We will come back, it's an oasis for all who loves peaceful moments, good food, wine, music and art. You can feel the past in this surrounding and that makes it very special. "Art de vivre" (like the French people say).