Gîte de L'ancien Collège - Self-catering house in Allier
12 Rue Gambetta, 03190 Hérisson, Allier
Auvergne,
Francia
Step into the sunlit courtyard and you're in a fairy tale – complete with stone stairs spiralling to a room in a tower. Part elegant mansion, part medieval castle, it's great for a group. The light-filled salon spans the whole first floor, with a cluster of squashy sofas for curling up with a book and a log burner in the grand fireplace.
Take a morning dip in the spanking new plunge pool in the glow of the 12th-century castle wall. The shady kitchen is cool in summer – breakfast outdoors to the sound of swallows – while underfloor heating keeps you cosy on long evenings gathered around the oak dining table.
You are the centre of this bustling village, where ancient turreted walls give way to bucolic views and visitors flock for music and theatre in the summer. There's a local épicerie and produce market for supplies. Walk in the hills, drop into a café for coffee and sift through the bric-a-brac for treasures at the brocante.
Características
- Wheelchair access
- At least one bedroom & bathroom accessible.
- Limited mobility
- At least one bedroom & bathroom accessible without steps.
- Children welcome
- Suitable for guests with children aged 3 and over.
- No smoking
- Smoking not permitted anywhere in the property.
- Credit cards
- Credit or debit card payment accepted.
- English spoken
- Host speaks English, whether perfectly or not.
- Air conditioning
- Some, if not all, bedrooms are air-conditioned.
- WiFi
- Wireless internet access available.
- Pets welcome
- Please let the owner know if you want to bring pets.
- Public transport
- Within 10 miles of a bus/train station.
- Working farm
- Or vineyard.
- Owner has pets
- Animals living on the property.
- Swimming pool
- On the premises.
- Bikes available
- On the premises to hire or borrow.
- Tennis court
- On the premises.
- Vegetarian meals
- Available on request.
- Licensed premises
- Alcohol may be served.
- Cash only
- Credit or debit card payment not accepted.
- Dogs welcome
- Dogs welcome in some public rooms.
- Handpumped ales
- Pub serves four or more handpumped ales.
- Wine list
- Pub serves eight or more wines by the glass.
- Food all day
- Food is served all day long.
- Babies welcome
- Suitable for guests with a baby or toddler under 3.
- Hot tub
- Available to all guests, but may require booking.
- Garden
- Grounds for guests to explore.
- Breakfast
- Available, but may come at extra cost.
- Self check-in
- Guests can arrive here and check in independently.
- EV charger
- Electric vehicle charging point.
Electricity included
Open fire / woodburner
Microwave oven
Central heating
Mobile reception
Television
Barbecue
Dishwasher
Cooked meals available
Washing machine
Restaurant within 3 miles
Shop within 3 miles
Pub within 3 miles
Relaxation areas
Breakfast available
Breakfast included
Oven
Hob
Spa on site
Bar on site
Free parking on site
Free parking nearby
Paid parking nearby
Local points of interest from Simon Gunn:
Puntos de interés sobre la región de
Simon Gunn:
- Herisson, french for Hedgehog, is so called because a duc of Bourbon saw the small animal on the ground and decided it would be a good place to build a castle. Herisson was one of the seventeen castles between the bourbonnais and Aquitaine.
- The castle at Herisson was besieged by the English during the Hundred years war and successfully resisted them.
- Herisson hosts the third largest brocante in France on the third Sunday in August each year; about 10,000 vistors come searching for bargains.
- In 2021 Herisson gained third place in the nationwide competioion to find "Le Village préféré des Français". Each region of France puts forward one village to represent them and Herisson represented Auvergne, Rhone Aples.
- L'ancien College became a school for boys in 1603 supported by the local church and parents were fined for their children's truancy.
- After the state took over responsibility for education, L'ancien college, being on the high street became a shop and its last role was as a blacksmith's forge on one side and the other was a locksmith
This Special Place to Stay is part of these collections…
Details
- 1 House for 12
Minimum stay: 3 nights, 7 nights in high season. Extra pull out bed available in family room to sleep up to 13 in total.
Never.
Many walks from the door. There is a vet in the village.
Water bowl provided.
Dogs stay free of charge.
12 Rue Gambetta, 03190 Hérisson, Allier
