Experiences

Bonne Année 2024! Best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year from L’Orbrie! #chezchartres #vendee #fontenayvendee #lorbrie #bonneannee2024 #winterinfrance #holidayfrance #TopOfOurGarden 😁🍾🎉

Gorgeous cycle along the converted railway track from #lorbrie to #fontenaylecomte for lunch at our favourite crêperie, Le Comptoir. So friendly and fantastic food, I personally recommend the Savoyard Galette with a house chardonnay. Treat! 😁. #winterinfrance #creperielecomptoir #vendee #freshair! #chezchartres #fontenayvendee #holidayfrance

Christmas lights in Fontenay le Comte and Pissotte this evening, very pretty🎄. Joyeux noel! #winterinfrance #fontenayvendee #chezchartres #pissotte #fontenaylecomte #holidayfrance #christmas2023

Another spectacle from Puy du Fou - le secret de la lance, based on the story of Joan of Arc. Shepherdess Marguerite is left to defend the castle from marauders once Joan of Arc takes all the best fighters and riders to support her crusade. But Marguerite is left with a lance of special powers to help her…. Amazing riding skills, special effects and scenery moving on a breathtaking scale: castle walls (and the castle!!) move. Never get tired of Puy du Fou - more pics of the spectacles to come! 🤩🎠 #spectacle #puydufou #puydufou2023 #lovefrance #bestthemepark #secretdelalance #vendee #paysdelaloiretourisme #chezchartres #lesessarts #medievaltimes

A Hoopoe in the #chezchartres garden! Rarely seen in the UK, this one was enjoying insect hunting in Steve’s newly mown #Vendee lawn. The Hoopoe figures in many mythologies: In Jewish tradition, a Hoopoe led King Solomon to meet the Queen of Sheba, and in 2008, the Hoopoe won a popular vote to become the national bird of Israel. #hoopoe #lorbrie #lovefrance #frenchgarden #summerinffance #fontenayvendee

Sunny #chezchartres gardens have occupied us well this holiday: hedge trimming, grape vine tending, tree pollarding, lawn mowing, weeding, strimming, even planting a new flower bed with Russian sage & lavender (the local Gamm Vert garden centre assured us they don’t need much watering, let’s see if they survive!). Love managing our little piece of France 🍇🌳🪻#breakfromcomputerscreens #lorbrie #holidayfrance #lovefrance #summerinfrance #frenchgarden #fontenayvendee #gîte #vendee #sudvendee #GoodForTheSoul

Found the #sunflowers! Long hot hilly evening run with my “personal trainer” 😂 - such a beautiful evening exploring the tracks between L’Orbrie, Pissotte and Fontenay. #lovefrance #fontenayvendee #holidayfrance #chezchartres #paydelaloiretourisme #Lorbrie #wheelie #summerinfrance #cycling

Evening aperitifs on the #chezchartres terrace - #happyplace! It’s creeping up to 29 degrees tomorrow then back to a steady pleasant 26. #frenchliving #lorbrie #vendee #aperitifs #LifeAmongTheVines #pastistime

Amazing live action with the #Romans at #PuyDuFou, cheering for the Christians vs the #gladiators, nail biting chariot races, fantastic parades and stunning emergence of the Roman warship, just another of many Puy du Fou spectacles which was worth the day trip in its own right! #daytrip #chariotraces #signedetriomphe #vendee #chezchartres #holidayfrance #fontenayvendee #paysdelaloiretourisme #lesepesses #reenactment #spectacle #summerinfrance

Why did the chicken cross the road? To explore our orchard apparently. We’ll have to keep an eye out for free range eggs 😂🤞 #chezchartres #lorbrie #vendee #holidayfrance #frenchorchard #lovefrance #summerinfrance #sudvendee

Bastille day celebrations in Fontenay-le-Comte: sound up for the fabulous firemen of the town who followed the fireworks with dancing, flares and extinguishers, a great night of concerts and thousands of people celebrating the Fête Nationale in the warm night air of the town’s Place Verdun square. Privileged to join! #fontenaylecomte #experiences #realfrance #fetenationale #sapeurspompiers #bastilleday #fontenayvendee #chezchartres #fireworks #lovefrance #celebrations #openairdancing #happyBastilleDay!

#puydufou yesterday, the most amazing day out! Too many photos for a single post, so this is just a few of the incredible birds who flew within whiskers of our heads in le bal des oiseaux fantômes, culminating in hundreds of them filling the skies. Breathtaking! #puydufoupark #vendee #fontenayvendee #holidayfrance #chezchartres #travelswithmycamera #lovefrance #birdsofprey #birdconservation #spectacle #puydufou2023 #themepark #bestthemepark #reenactment

Our local historic town #fontenaylecomte looking lovely in the warmth of July. Anyone around on 4th June next year, the Olympic flame is coming through the town, big occasion! Diary date! 🎉🇫🇷 #fontenayvendee #holidayfrance #olympicflame #parcdelamairie #summerinfrance #paysdelaloire #chezchartres

Mad dogs and English women…. A very hot, very hilly run round L’Orbrie village with my ‘personal trainer’ (paying to get at least one of the teenagers off their screens!), trying to find where the sunflowers are planted this year. Such a beautiful evening, ran past wheat fields, sweetcorn, vineyards, the Vendée River, edge of the forest… finally found sunflower fields not quite in bloom yet 🤦‍♀️ - give it 2 weeks! Gorgeous place, love it here! #summernights #holidayfrance #NeedAShowerNow 😂 #chezchartres #seekingsunflowers #lorbrie #fontenayvendee #sudvendee #lovefrance #runningholiday #cyclingholiday #summerinfrance

Springtime views of #FontenayleComte snapped on my mobile on a quick trip to buy aperitifs from Monoprix. Such a pretty town, even mundane errands are photo opportunities 😊 #AprilinFrance #Fontenayvendee #holidayfrance #chezchartres #sudvendee #lovefrance

Before and after: Anyone else’s husband spend Easter bank holiday doing this? 🙈. He was roped up to the chimney, but I could still barely look! A necessary maintenance task on the pretty orange roofs of typical vendée houses: apparently the dark lichens flourish where the air is particularly clean, so that would be here then, with miles of verdant forest surrounding the village. Still it definitely looks better pressure washed. Hope that lasts a few years now! #diy #holidayjobs #holidayhome #chezchartres #bricolage #scary #powerwashing #lifeinfrance

Stunning fields of #buttercups in #lorbrie village park (see multiple pics!) with the village #church in the background, one of the prettiest times of year in our French village. #LoveFrance #TravelsWithMyZoomLens #vendee #fontenayvendee #sudvendee #paysdelaloire #holidayfrance #aprilinfrance #eglise #chezchartres

Happy Easter! The Easter egg hunt in the #chezchartres garden was blessed with warm Vendée sunshine and both kids are well and truly into their sugar rush now. Not a lot of revision happening…🙈. But we’ll let them off for today. Easter blessings to you all 😘 #EasterInFrance #EggHunt #vendee #lorbrie #holidayfrance #orchard #calvaire #verger #joyeusespaques

Something completely different yesterday, the circuits de Vendée karting track! Great competitive adrenaline fuelled fun at the other side of Fontenay (we cycled there in 30 minutes). They also have a large outdoor track for motorcycling (Cal had his eye on that… yikes!) and race car circuits. The kids loved the karting and speed junkie Cal got fastest circuit of the week - highly recommended! #speedy #happykids #Fontenayvendee #chezchartres #karting #circuitsdevendee #holidayfrance #sudvendee

The vendée sunshine brought our little village out in a panoply of emeralds, blues and golds today. Somehow the colours just seem so vivid here, wandering along the pretty streets, through the village park and up the hill to say hello to the donkeys by the Strawberry Wood. Good for the soul! #OnOurDoorstep #lorbrie #vendee #fontenayvendee #AprilInFrance #chezchartres #villagelife #sudvendee #MuchNeededBreak!

Happy April from the #chezchartres orchard! Lots of gardening to do but it’s very therapeutic. Weather is slowly warming up and the plum and cherry blossom in the evening sunshine is a tonic for eyes weary of computer screens. Always a joy to be here 😊 🇫🇷 #StartOfTheHoliday #lorbrie #paysdelaloire #vendee #sudvendee #verger #orchard #celebrate #AprilinFrance #HappyPlace

Vouvant village on New Year’s Eve 2022, festively decked to see in the New Year. Well done to the village, it looks lovely! ❤️Happy 2023! 🎉🍾🎆. #vouvant #bonneannee #vendee #sudvendee #fontenayvendee #happynewyear2023 #chezchartres #frenchchristmas

And the sun sets on 2022… wishing everyone all the best of health and happiness for 2023 ❤️. #HappyNewYear #lorbrie #fontenayvendee #bonneannee #chezchartres #FrenchGarden #joyeusesfetes

The view from my window… flocks of beautiful white stork- like birds (I think an egret of some sort?) stride across the fields looking for insects/worms. It’s quite common to see them here and they don’t seem to mind me standing on the terrace to take their photo. French village life 😊. #chezchartres #lorbrie #fontenayvendee #sudvendee #egret #naturalEntertainment #cattleegret? #lovefrance #MyFrenchGarden

Christmas Day walk down to the River Vendée at L’Orbrie: such a contrast to the twinkling summer lily pads on calm waters here at our last visit, but so great to see the river full again after such a dry year. Love our French village 🥰 #Lorbrie #fontenayvendee #chezchartres #Christmaswalk #river #lavendée #sudvendee #frenchchristmas

Well it’s officially past midnight now in France, and everything is finally ready for the morning, so a very merry Christmas from all of us! It’s been 3 years since we’ve been able to spend Christmas in France, so we’re making the most of it. Already feel like I’ve eaten my weight in cheese and pains au chocolat, and it’s barely even Christmas Morning 🙈. Hoping Santa has brought stretchy trousers 😂. Have a fabulous Christmas wherever you are 🎄 #chezchartres #SantaHasBeen #lorbrie #frenchchristmas #happyholidays

Good old fashioned fun at Pierre Brune park in Mervent Forest. It’s like being back in the 1970s, and the kids loved it. It just shows, you don’t need electronics to have fun 😁! #pierrebrune #holidayfrance #mervent #foretdemervent #lookmumnoscreens #chezchartres #vendee #sudvendee #funpark #parcdepierrebrune #oldfashionedfun

The son et lumière nocturnes at Vouvant, lovely way to spend a late summer evening! We arrived about 9.30pm and wandered along the floodlit battlements with the Melusine Tower and the medieval streets all looking so different lit up at night. Had an ice cream at the auberge du Maître Pannetier then at 22.35 the free light show starts on the facade of the church telling the story of the serpent-tailed Fairy Melusine who, legend would have it, built the castle and city herself in a day. Lovely warm summer evening! Nocturnes at Vouvant, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night during August. #vouvant #nocturne #melusine #vendee #holidayfrance #sudvendee #fontenayvendee #chezchartres #summernights #augustinfrance #churchesofeurope #sudvendeetourisme #battlements #floodlit #lesplusbeauxvillagesdefrance

Seeking the last of the summer sunflowers. The recent dry spell and heatwave have turned the trees all shades of almost autumnal gold and red, and fallen green acorns crack underfoot on the pretty trails around L’Orbrie village. Due to the fire risk across all of France right now, the prefecture has taken the exceptional decision to close the Mervent forest this week, but luckily there are so many other trails to discover. Feeling very lucky. 🌻#lovefrance #vendee #sudvendee #lorbrie #exploremore #countrysidelife #holidayfrance #fontenayvendee #AugustInFrance #traininggoals #secheresse #chezchartres

Good morning from beautiful cool L’Orbrie! Much needed refreshing downpour last night has broken the heatwave with highs of around 25 degrees forecast all week. Time to sit back and enjoy a cool breakfast on the terrace before some work on the garden (not everything survived the drought and the hosepipe ban… 😢). #august #secheresse #lorbrie #chezchartres #vendee #afterthestorm #birdsong #garden #lovefrance

Beautiful #lorbrie park with its friendly rescue donkeys: Mikado, Kalife and Arthur. Expert lawnmowers, they love carrots and apples but are equally happy with a handful of tasty long grass from the hedgerow. Just 2 minutes from the house, L’Orbrie park stretches out with its boules pitch, tennis court, children’s play area and acres of wooded paths. Go explore (and remember to take an apple! 😁) 🍎🍏#vendee #fontenayvendee #chezchartres #holidayfrance #paysdelaloire #donkeys #lanevert #parklife

The bunting is up in Fontenay-le-Comte this weekend - not for the jubilee of course! This is the Biennale, a 3 day celebration where the town and its twin towns from all over the world join in a weekend of activities, carnival floats, musical performances, stalls, even a colour run. Looks like it will be a great few days (but we’ve got to go home to work and GCSEs..!). #maybenexttime #fontenaylecomte #biennale #fontenayvendee

Île d’Yeu yesterday: what a fabulous day trip! We set off early 7.30am to St Gilles Croix de Vie to catch the boat over to the island, a smooth hour long crossing where we sat on the open top of the boat, planned our day and reserved some bikes ready for our arrival. Loads of bike hire places were directly at the port and very quick to hire (€14.50 for an adult VTT mountain bike). It costs much more to take your own bikes over on the boat! The island is pretty flat and gorgeous. We headed directly west to the old ruined château and then cycled down the wild Atlantic coastline to La Meule, where we had a fantastic lunch on the quasi troglodyte terrace at creperie Le Vagabond. From there we were going to visit several southern shore beaches, but arrived at the secluded Plage des Soux, and didn’t want to leave - it was stunning!! Crystal clear waters, soft golden sand, and almost deserted. We swam for ages and dried off in the sunshine before cycling back to Port Joinville for ice cream and the boat back to st Gilles. Just the best day of the holiday so far. We need to go back soon! #holidayfrance #chezchartres #iledyeu #vendée #lovefrance #paysdelaloiretourisme #daytrip #biketrip #islandlife #mostbeautifulbeach #plagedessoux

Île d’yeu, plage soux - paradise! #iledyeu #vendee #holidayfrance #lovefrance #paradisebeach #chezchartres #daytrip #cycletrip

Île d’Yeu day trip ☀️

Bonsoir from the Chezchartres terrace 😁. This evening’s task was tasting local wines to see which to leave as a welcome gift for our lovely guests this season. Tonight we had a new local Sauvignon blanc from the Mercier vineyards in Vix (“Bédame” is a Vendeen expression meaning “But of course!”). Really light and fresh and a perfect summer aperitif wine. Next as the sunset turned the skies peachy pink we had the latest rosé vintage from the Fief Vendéens in our next door village Pissotte: delicious as ever. It will be hard to choose…. Better keep tasting I guess 😂. Fab start to the week in the glorious Vendée sunshine ☀️ #holidayfrance #chezchartres #lorbrie #vendee #winetasting #terracelife #fontenayvendee #pissotte #lovefrance #fiefsvendeens #domainemercier #aperatif #sudvendee

Pretty village road trip! If you are short on time, these 4 gems of rural vendée can be visited in a day (with lovely coffee shops and restaurants available in each one of course!). 1. Mouillerons-en-Pareds with its historic church square and cafe bars. The Tour de France started its second leg here a couple of years ago, very pretty. 2. Bazoges-en-Pareds with its stunning donjon or castle keep (you can visit and climb up) and ancient church and gardens. 3. Vouvant , one of the plus beaux villages de France, walk around the stunning medieval battlements and climb the Tour Melusine for fabulous views, and 4. Mervent with superb views over the Forest from the old castle, and perhaps a restaurant meal to finish the day (we love the restaurant les 3 cocottes for the stunning views). Of course each could be a trip in its own right! So many more historic villages to discover. #mouilleronenpareds #bazogesenpareds #vouvant #mervent #fontenayvendee #vendee #paysdelaloire #sudvendee #petitcitedecaractere #plusbeauxvillagesdefrance #chezchartres #lovefrance #holidayfrance #roadtrip #daytripping #historicfrance

L’Orbrie park is just 2 minutes walk from the house, with its wooded walks, childrens play area, resident donkeys, (who love apples and carrots), wildflower meadows and the beautiful Mairie building. There is a new sign by the car park which shows some of the great walks around the village and into the surrounding countryside (see the 4th photo here). The walks are all signposted with yellow markers so you don’t get lost, and can be downloaded on your phone from the tourist info website. https://www.fontenay-vendee-tourisme.com/activites/nature-loisirs/randonnees/ A great way to discover our lovely village 😁. #lorbrie #fontenayvendee #vendee#sudvendee#parc #balades #lovefrance #chezchartres

Happy Easter, joyeuses Pâques! Perfect day for a garden egg hunt. The local boulangeries are full of gorgeous chocolate creations, and the locals had their arms full of cakes, pain and pre-fous for family Easter get togethers. The church bells have been silent since Thursday, as is tradition, but today they were ringing out again in the village to celebrate the risen Lord. Have a wonderful Easter all! 🐣✝️🧆

Pre-aperitif wander down the country paths from L’Orbrie village to the river, trying to spot which fields will have sunflowers this year. April hedgerows are so pretty, with the bluebells, buttercups, white mouse-ear and purple orchids in bloom, and at 24C it felt like mid summer. #lovefrance! #lorbrie #bluebells #villagelife #holidayfrance #fontenayvendee #vendee #sudvendee #chezchartres #aprilinfrance #paysdelaloire #happykids

#soundup! Frogs!! Passed the Farmer’s field on our pre-aperitif wander, and this cacophony was coming from the reed filled pond. We were some distance away and it was still so loud 🐸💕🐸. There have been court cases in France where people tried to get ponds filled in because they can’t stand the noise in mating season, but I think it’s just a fabulous part of being close to nature. But thankfully not so close that we can hear it from the house 😂😂. #frogs #lorbrie #matingseason #grenouille #chezchartres #lovefrance #frogchorus #aprilinfrance #vendee

It’s wisteria season in L’Orbrie village, and our Mairie gates are dripping in cascades of stunning purple blossoms. I’ve tried to grow them in the #chezchartres garden but they don’t seem to like the fact that we neglect to water them for 10 months of the year! #wisteriaseason #lorbrie #mairie #parcdelagrotte #fontenayvendee #vendee #paysdelaloire #lovefrance #holidayfrance #glycine

Vouvant village, one of “les plus beaux villages de France” in the April sunshine, always a favourite destination for a circular bike ride through the forest. Had a lovely walk around the battlements following the river bend from the tower to the church and looping back through the village centre with its craft shops and artist galleries. So pretty 😊 #vouvant #fontenayvendee #vendee #plusbeauxvillagesdefrance #chezchartres #holidayfrance #paysdelaloire #paysdelaloiretourisme #lovefrance #aprilinfrance #remparts #battlements

#Futuroscope theme park! The kids’ favourite day so far: roller coasters, virtual reality experiences, imax screens, and lots of “4d” rides where your seat moves to amazing screen experiences so you think you are flying through space and time, or fighting aliens, or saving the planet as a world class racing driver. My favourite was the night light show, amazing! I’m too old for the queuing 😂. The park has impressive architecture, and just wandering round is interesting. About an hour away near Poitiers. For me? Puy de Fou still wins 😊. #poitiers #vienne #adventurepark #themepark #holidayfrance #chezchartres #daytrip #somethingdifferent

For a panoramic view over Mervent Forest, you can’t beat the Parc du vieux chateau in Mervent village. Looking down is the bend in the river with its little wooded island, one of our favourite summer swimming spots, but a bit chilly for that this trip! We had the benefit of this lovely April view yesterday, sitting in the sunshine while Steve sorted a puncture on one of the bikes. There are much worse places to be stranded 😊 #mervent #chateau #lavendée #fontenayvendee #chezchartres #holidayfrance #foret #lovefrance #paysdelaloire

Gorgeous day for a cycle ride through Mervent Forest! We headed to Vouvant for Sunday lunch at the cafe cour du miracle then wound back through little villages past verges filled with orchids and buttercups. Here I was lying in the bluebells videoing the others as they came past and Steve (on the tandem) thought I had come off my bike and was lying there injured. He didn’t sound too concerned somehow though!! 🤷‍♀️😂🚴‍♀️#mervent #vendee #paysdelaloire #chezchartres #foret #biketour #fontenayvendee #holidayfrance #lovefrance #sundaycycle #bluebellwoods #foretdemervent

The calm after the storm: 7am this morning and we awake to this gorgeous view of morning mists and the promise of a lovely day. Time to drag the kids off their screens for some sunny Forest walks today. Sound up on the video for some L’Orbrie birdsong ☀️🌳#vendee #lorbrie #fontenayvendee #lovefrance #holidayfrance #chezchartres #aprilinfrance #morningmists #brumematinale #paysdelaloire

Storm Diego has been sweeping across the Vendée these past 2 days, whirling gusts of apple blossom and ripping the pink and white petals from the cherry trees in the #chezchartres orchard. French news, like a foreboding fairytale, warns against going into the forest, and the farmer’s horses take shelter beneath the oak at the bottom of our garden. Still managed to snap a quick stormy sunset, as we dashed out to rescue the garden furniture last night! Tomorrow should be a brighter day, fingers crossed! #stormdiego #vendee #sudvendee #fontenayvendee #lorbrie #paysdelaloire #lovefrance #sunset #aprilinfrance #avrilenfrance #orage

Lovely bike ride today along the old railway line, now a cycle path from L’Orbrie to Fontenay, for a creperie lunch at Le Comptoir restaurant opposite Notre Dame de Fontenay. Super food, followed by a wander through Parc Baron for the best views over the town. #fontenayvendee #notredamedefontenay #holidayfrance #vendee #sudvendee #fontenaylecomte #creperie #chezchartres #lovefrance

How many beautiful historic villages do we have here in the #sudvendée? We keep finding more! This is Bazoges en Pareds which is a simply gorgeous village, with its towering Donjon / castle keep (pictured here with the family for scale). The view from the top is apparently stunning, (but closed til 17 April) and it houses some well preserved armour and other museum pieces. Lovely place to explore 😊🇫🇷#bazogesenpareds #donjon #fontenayvendee #lovefrance#chezchartres #sudvendeetourisme #paysdelaloire #paysdelaloiretourisme #frenchculture #holidayfrance #aprilinfrance

Aperitif-time wander through the orchard…It has to be done 😁. #cheers! #aprilinfrance #lorbrie #chezchartres #lovefrance #holidayfrance #vendée

Fontenay-le-Comte this morning in the early April sunshine, flowers brightening the streets and hidden parks, as we wandered through the old town with warm pains au chocolat and Sunday morning church bells sounding from the spire of the Notre Dame. Just beautiful! #lovefrance #fontenayvendee #vendee #chezchartres #sudvendee #holidayfrance #aprilinfrance #villefleurie #plusbeauxdetoursdefrance #sudvendeetourisme

Driving onto the #brittanyferries car deck and knowing the holiday is really happening, there’s no feeling quite like it! Except perhaps the first holiday glass of wine in the on board restaurant, or the ‘bienvenue!’ from the French customs official as they stamp our passports in Caen… such an easy crossing, no declarations or proof of covid tests needed now, just a copy of covid vaccination certificates to show we’ve all been jabbed, passports stamped and we were away 🇫🇷 😁And no worries about showing covid passes in France either, the places they are required here now are so few, (like non urgent hospital visits… which we don’t intend making…) So much more relaxing! Here’s hoping this is a year of fun, stress-free foreign travel. Bon voyage! x. #holidayfrance #ferry #backtoholidays 😁

A very Happy New Year from all at ChezChartres. May past troubles fade like the Mervent Forest winter mists, and leave a 2022 full of joy, good health and adventure for you all! 🥂❤️. #chezchartres #vendee #mervent #paysdelaloire #forestbathing #brume #wintermist #paysdelaloiretourisme #lavendée #foretdemervent #sudvendee #wishwewerethere #lovefrance

Stripes of sunflowers: this is a real thing! In some of the sunflower fields around the village, crops of large early flowering sunflowers are interrupted by stripes of younger, smaller sunflowers, like golden firebreaks across the field. Very pretty, and keeps the field looking golden long after the big flowers have gone to seed. But why? See if you can see the stripes on these photos at L’Orbrie. #mystery #sunflowers #stripedfields #tournesol #lorbrie #chezchartres #vendee #sudvendee #holidayfrance #paysdelaloire #lovefrance #morningwalk #summerinfrance #vendeeintime

Do you have a favourite tree? Sometimes certain trees just make me stop in my tracks, like this stunning magnolia grandiflora in the park behind the L’Orbrie village Mairie. Giant cream blossoms, some of which are still clinging on in August, and a magnificent, perfectly balanced crown of evergreen leaves. Impressive. #hugatree #lorbrie #vendee #magnoliagrandiflora #chezchartres #paysdelaloire #lovefrance #favouritetree #fontenayvendee #arbrepréféré #mairiedelorbrie #holidayfrance #vendeeintime #sudvendee

And other rooms… kitchen with open terrace views and patio doors to the outside dining area; games room (table football, darts), utility room (junior snooker), table tennis in the garage… and super WiFi. It has been a delight to escape here and work/holiday when possible during the ongoing stresses and pressures of the past 18 months. Hoping and praying that the world returns to a more normal state in the coming years, and we can welcome back our guests without fear of travel bans and expense of testing. #oneday #everythingcrossed #keepsafe #familytime #lovefrance #chezchartres

Two more of the 5 bedrooms: both of these have en suite shower rooms. ❤️ Look inside #chezchartres

Two more of the 5 bedrooms, and one of the 3 bathrooms: indoors at #chezchartres. 😊🛏

One of the 5 bedrooms: the purple double overlooking the south gardens and fields towards Fontenay. #chezchartres

Next: the living/dining room with patio doors out onto the south facing terrace and additional table for extra guests. The piano is more Les Dawson than Chopin, but good fun. TV has Uk channels in this room, and an open fire in the winter 🔥#chezchartres

So we’ve been asked why we never show the inside of the house? Well, we shall post a few pics then! First, here is our striking red library with French internet TV and countryside views. Beautiful curtains made by my talented sister @traceyburnsjewellery 😊 #chezchartres

La Rade d’Amour is a hidden gem of a nature reserve near La Faute Sur Mer. The former oyster farm with its observatory over the tidal flats has guides to spotting local wildlife, birds and fish on your walk and super views: a nice add-on to a day trip at La Faute. #lafautesurmer #laradedamour #oysterfarm #vendee #sudvendee #chezchartres #summerinfrance #vendeegrammers #holidayfrance #lovefrance #naturereserve #daytrip

If only Instagram captured scents! This honeysuckle trellis used to be a big, dark, maintenance-heavy row of leylandii, until we replaced it with this gorgeous floral arch and trellis of honeysuckle and summer jasmine. Lovely screen for the play area, fragrant and sooo much easier to maintain! One of our better ideas 😊. #chevrefeuille #LeylandiiReplacement #trellis #summerfragrance #chezchartres #honeysuckle #wallofflowers #lorbrie #vendee #sudvendee

Evening on the terrace, wondering how many grapes we can possibly eat before we have to leave… the answer is definitely not enough! #GoodYearForGrapes #chezchartres #vendee #sudvendee #lorbrie #paysdelaloire #lovefrance #holidayfrance #summer2021 #youngwine 😊🇫🇷

Super 10k run through the L’Orbrie fields and woodland. Some very challenging hills in the Mervent Forest but just gorgeous running past fig trees, sunflowers and lily pad dappled river bends, with irrigation rainbows evaporating above the fields of sweet corn. #runningendorphins #Exploring #HalfMarathonTraining #vendee #lorbrie #lovefrance #holidayfrance #paysdelaloire #fontenayvendee #vendeegrammers #sunflowers #runningholiday #datenight 😂🌻🇫🇷🏃‍♀️🏃

La Faute du Mer grand plage yesterday: fabulous waves and lots of space on the golden sands. One of our favourite Vendée beaches! #lafautesurmer #augustinfrance #goodforthesoul #vendée #sudvendeelittoral #paysdelaloire #holidayfrance #chezchartres #lovefrance #summer2021 #beach

Noirmoutier island, beautiful cycling territory, salt pans, silver beaches, and the impressive 4km causeway revealed at low tide which was great fun to cycle over. Just don’t do what we did: don’t park in Beauvoir sur Mer and cycle to the island, 55km round trip on the bikes!! There were loads of closer parking options. Still, earned our crêperie dinner! #saddlesore #noirmoutier #vendee #holidayfrance #chezchartres #lovefrance #causeway #paysdelaloire

August in the Vendée: gorgeous cycle routes around L’Orbrie and Fontenay le Comte. #holidayfrance #vendee #chezchartres #paysdelaloire #paysdelaloiretourisme #happyplace #lovefrance #sunflowers #francevelotourisme #fontenayvendee #vendeegrammers #lorbrie

Gorgeous evening for aperitifs on the terrace with lovely fellow L’Orbriens 😊🍷#lorbrie #fontenayvendee #paysdelaloire #holidayfrance #chezchartres #lovefrance #vendee #aperatifs #holiday2021 #happyplace #distancedAperatifs #AllTheGlassesTypes #JustInCase 😊

Fontenay from Park Baron: perfect picnic spot 😊. #fontenayvendee #paysdelaloire #chezchartres #fontenaylecomte #lovefrance #vendeegrammers #sudvendee #holidayfrance #summerinfrance #paysdelaloiretourisme #vendée #notredamedefontenay

Pissotte church: this evening’s view west from the terrace. Red sky at night, shepherd’s delight = lovely day tomorrow 🤞. #vendee #pissotte #lorbrie #fontenayvendee #coucherdesoleil #sudvendee #holidayfrance #eglise #sunset #vendeegrammers #lovefrance #chezchartres

What a blessing to gaze at this view from the terrace once more! Notre Dame de Fontenay le Comte. #LoveFrance #vendee #paysdelaloire #vendeetourisme #lorbrie #fontenaylecomte #fontenayvendee #eglise #vendeegrammers #chezchartres #zoomlens

An Easter shot of the chezchartres garden to say Joyeux pâques to all of you in France: we are thinking of you all as you enter lockdown again, and looking forward to spending happier times back in the beautiful Vendée. Happy Easter, prenez soin de vous et de vos proches x. #joyeuxpâques #vendee #lorbrie #chezchartres #confinement #sudvendee #calvaire

A look back on 2020: there were moments of great joy snatched in the intermittent travel corridors. Looking forward to more stability and happy times in this beautiful place in 2021. Happy New Year! #chezchartres #lovefrance #holidayfrance #vendee #sudvendee #paysdelaloire #fontenayvendee #lorbrie #gite #france #frenchsummer #vacation #summerholidays #igersvendee #paysdelaloiretourisme #mervent #fontenaylecomte #frenchliving

Season’s Greetings from all at Chez Chartres 🎄. Looking forward to a happy, healthier 2021 for everyone ❤️. #mistletoe #mervent #dreamingfromlockdown #memoriesofFrance #chezchartres #lovefrance #fontenayvendee #vendee #winterinfrance #holidayfrance #foretdemervent #sudvendee #lorbrie

Melusine tower Vouvant: view from the top is wonderful, but view from the bottom is equally striking! #vouvant #chezchartres #vendee #fontenayvendee #holidayfrance #paysdelaloire #tower #tourmelusine #medieval #sudvendee #vendeegrandiose #lovefrance #igersvendee #frenchvillage

View from the top of the phare des baleines lighthouse on the Île de ré. #phare #lighthouse #iledere #charantemaritime #vendee #chezchartres #cycletour #lovefrance #holidayfrance #island

Fontenay cathedral spire, taken with a zoom lens from our terrace. Tremulous mists of Autumn in France. #fontenaylecomte #chezchartres #holidayfrance #vendee #sudvendee #fontenayvendee #igersvendee #lorbrie #lovefrance #mists #paysdelaloire #church #picoftheday #france #frenchliving

One of my favourite Autumn photos, a walk to Mervent Forest collecting sweet chestnuts and spotting squirrels. So many walks from the house. #missingfrance #anotheryear #beforelockdown #autumninfrance #mervent #foretdemervent #lovefrance #siblings #chezchartres #vendee #sudvendee #lorbrie #fontenayvendee #paysdelaloire #holidayfrance

The chainsaw sculptures at Foussais Payré are so imaginative and skilled. Many of them displayed around the village, created in the annual chainsaw sculpting competition. I dread to think what I would create given a block of wood and a chainsaw: probably carnage! 🌳🗿😂. #foussaispayré #fontenayvendee #vendee #vendée #sudvendee#paysdelaloire #chezchartres #holidayfrance #chainsaw #tronçonneuse #sculpture #trolls #beer #frenchvillage #lovefrance #igersvendee #paysdelaloiretourisme

Vertiginous! The dizzying awe, gazing up at the spire of Fontenay cathedral. #fontenay #fontenaylecomte #fontenayvendee #chezchartres #vendee #sudvendee #paysdelaloire #paysdelaloiretourisme #vendeegrandiose #cathedral #igersvendee #holidayfrance #medieval #architecture #lovefrance

Les 5 jumeaux, remarkable trees in Mervent Forest. Look closely to see carvings of birds, people, wildlife and a serpent-tailed fairy, the famous Melusine of Vouvant Tower. Another cycling destination in the forest, and perfect picnic spot. #mervent #foretdemervent #chezchartres #woodcarving #holidayfrance #vendee #sudvendee #fontenayvendee #forest #arbreremarquable #woodsculpture #summerinfrance #paysdelaloire #melusine

The secluded priory herb garden with its medicinal plant display behind Vouvant church is a hidden gem on a wander around one of “les plus beaux villages”. #vouvant #vendee #chezchartres #sudvendee #fontenayvendee #paysdelaloire #holidayfrance #frenchvillage #church #eglise #gite #vendeeintime #vendeetourisme #herbgarden

Fontenay-le-Comte from Place Viète. The Place is an open air car park with a difference, (free! Like most of the Fontenay car parks) with shady trees, floral displays, a bandstand, cathedral views and a summer fountain: perfect starting point for walking discovery tour of the historic town. #holidayfrance #chezchartres #fontenaylecomte #fontenayvendee #vendee#carpark #sudvendee #paysdelaloire #paysdelaloiretourisme #frenchholiday #cathedral #fountain #summerinfrance #giteholidaysinfrance #gite

The many sandy dune paths of La Faute Sur Mer, memories of summer 😊 #isolation #vacation #holidayfrance #lafautesurmer #paysdelaloiretourisme #vendee #sudvendee #chezchartres #lovefrance #frenchholiday #summerinfrance

The river Vendée runs through the centre of Fontenay-le-Comte, summer moments of admiring the town’s floral displays reflected in the water. #towncentre #fontenaylecomte #chezchartres #vendee #sudvendee #holidayfrance #fontenayvendee #igersvendee #paysdelaloire #paysdelaloiretourisme #boating #riverside #frenchliving

Vouvant village centre, one of the prettiest villages in France, and cycling distance 😊. #vouvant #chezchartres #vendee #holidayfrance #summer2020 #paysdelaloire #sudvendee #fontenayvendee #vendeegrammers #plusbeauxvillagesdefrance #frenchvillage #paysdelaloiretourisme #lovefrance

Our 100th instagram post! Sound up for some early early morning birdsong from the terrace. #lovefrance #lorbrie #chezchartres #vendee #fontenayvendee #sudvendee #frenchliving #paysdelaloire #gite #holidayfrance #isolationvacation #summerinfrance #frenchholiday

Climb up to the Rocher de Pierre Blanche in Mervent Forest for spectacular views! There is a rock climbing face to the hillside for the more adventurous and a gentle path for the rest of us 😊. #rocherdepierreblanche #rocherdescalade #mervent #worththeclimb #chezchartres #fontenayvendee #paysdelaloire #sudvendee #vendee #bocage #holidayfrance #lovefrance #igersvendee #forest #familyholiday #frenchlife #picnic

The river Vendée at the Pilorge crossing in L’Orbrie village, an easy walk from the house to watch the fish darting between the lily pads on a summer evening. #lorbrie #chezchartres #pilorge #vendee #fontenayvendee #frenchliving #holidayfrance #river #bridge #igersvendee #sudvendee #sudvendeetourisme #lovefrance

The park of the Hôtel de Ville in Fontenay has a topiary display of historic vehicles, including here old taxi and fire engine, a pleasant wander between the Main Street and the river. #fontenaylecomte #topiary #vendee #chezchartres #fontenayvendee #holidayfrance #sudvendee #park #paysdelaloire #lovefrance #gardens #jardin #parc #holidayinfrance #taxi

Sunflowers at L’Orbrie, some pointed directly at the heavens to drink in the sunshine! #LOrbrie #vendee #sudvendee #chezchartres #lovefrance #sunflowers #tournesol #holidayfrance #eveningwalk #summerinfrance #igersvendee

Mervent forest, miles of gorgeous walks. #mervent #foretdemervent #chezchartres #lacdemervent #forest #holidayfrance #vendee #sudvendee #fontenayvendee #woodlandwalks #frenchholiday #wanderlust #igersvendee #countryside #vacation #francevacances

Vouvant village, the sunny terrace of the Auberge Maitre Pannetier can be seen from the church with its glorious pink and purple flowers in July. #vouvant #plusbeauxvillagesdefrance #holidayfrance #church #hyderangea #fontenayvendee #vendeegrammers #vendee #sudvendee #lovefrance #frenchvillage #vacances #gite #eglise #paysdelaloire #chezchartres #aubergedemaitrepannetier

Discover the beautiful Vendée! Off-peak prices of £795 per week for up to 10 people [5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, large private gardens, unlimited free WiFi, stunning area!]. #chezchartres #holidayfrance #vendee #sudvendee #fontenayvendee #paysdelaloiretourisme #lovefrance

French heatwave: even the statues are exhausted 😂. Monument in the park of the Fontenay Hotel de Ville. #fontenaylecomte #holidayfrance #chezchartres #sudvendee #fontenayvendee #vendee #heatwave #statue #paysdelaloire #canicule

Vouvant church, an essential stop on a wander around the historic battlements and artistic streets of one of the most beautiful villages in France. #vouvant #vendee #igersvendee #fontenayvendee #church #chezchartres #holidayfrance #paysdelaloire #paysdelaloiretourisme #vendeegrammers #lovefrance #plusbeauxvillagesdefrance

Early morning sunrise from the front door: looking out for the red squirrel who always scurries around the garden at sunrise 🐿🌸 #lorbrie #chezchartres #holidayfrance #vendee #sudvendee #sunrise #gite #lovefrance #summerinfrance #thefrenchgarden #frontdrive #countrylife

As the temperature hits 39 degrees in L’Orbrie today, the blue Atlantic Ocean at La Faute sur Mer is a perfect day trip (c45mins). #lafautesurmer #vendee #beachlife #dunes #chezchartres #holidayfrance #lovefrance #sudvendee #vendeegrandiose #fontenayvendee #paysdelaloire #paysdelaloiretourisme #summerinfrance