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Where in the world is L’Échappée Douce?
L’Échappée Douce is one of 11 stone houses in the pretty village of Mortafond. Néré is the closest village which is approximately 3 minutes away by car. We are in central France – 1 hour east of La Rochelle or 2 hours north of Bordeaux.
Something to note …
There are two ways to spell Mortafond. The local signage uses the spelling ending in a ‘d’, whereas Google Maps favours the ‘Mortafont’ spelling. If in doubt, the nearest town of Néré has only one spelling!
Open map & directions
By air –
La Rochelle is the closest airport and is approximately one hour’s drive from L’Échappée Douce. Ryanair flies from London Stansted, Dublin, Cork and East Midlands; Flybe from Southampton, Manchester and Birmingham; easyJet from Bristol and London Gatwick. Car hire is available at the airport.
Bordeaux airport is a two hour drive. easyJet flies from Luton, London Gatwick, Bristol and Liverpool; Ryanair from London Stansted and Edinburgh; British Airways from London Gatwick; Flybe from Birmingham. Car hire is available at Bordeaux airport.
Airline names and routes are as listed on the live site and can change – please check current schedules when you book.
By car –
You can reach us in 5-8 hours by car from the Channel ports depending on crossings.
By train –
The TGV (high speed train) is available between Paris and Angoulême. The average travel time between Paris and Angoulême is 3 hours 10 minutes. The quickest route is 2 hours 28 minutes. There is an average of 29 trains a day between Paris and Angoulême, leaving approximately every 29 minutes.
Get in Touch
No question is a silly question, so if there’s something you’re wondering just ask … Drop us a line if you have a question or would like more information. We’re always happy to help.
Answers to common questions
Here’s a list of answers to some of the most frequently asked questions –
How many people does the house sleep?
The house sleeps 7 people – two double bedrooms (one downstairs) and a vey large triple bedroom, with 3 single beds.
Would the house be suitable for a family of 4 plus grandparents?
The house is an excellent place to stay for families or families with grandparents. The upstairs triple bedroom has plenty of space for children, there’s a luxurious upstairs bedroom for Mum and Dad and the downstairs double room would work well to provide some separate privacy for grandparents.
Which shops are close by?
The nearest village is Néré, about 3 minutes away by car. In the village you will find a local supermarket, great bakery, excellent butchers and pharmacy as well as a couple of local bars and a friendly bistro. Larger supermarkets can be found in nearby Aulnay or St Jean D’Angély – around a 20 to 30 minute drive. We are also happy to organise for your food shopping to be bought for you and stored ready for you on the day of your arrival. Just contact us to make arrangements.
What weather can I expect during our stay?
The Charente Maritime area of France is reputed to be one of the sunniest regions benefitting from the highest number of annual hours of sunshine. Spring is usually really here by April with sunny days and mild temperatures and by May there is real heat in the sun and the weather is fairly settled.
By June we expect the days to be like an English July – temperatures in the mid-20s, plenty of sunshine and the odd rainy day. Normally July and August are very hot and sunny with temperatures in the high 20s and frequently in the low to mid 30s. The sunflowers are in bloom and rainy days are very rare statistically – most of our meagre summer rainfall is in the form of short-lived thunderstorms. The evenings are usually quite balmy, and as we are an hour ahead of UK time we have an additional hour of daylight to enjoy them.
We think of September as part of summer rather than autumn. The first half of the month is often like August but just a shade cooler, although temperatures in the 30s are not uncommon in the first two weeks.
Does the house stay cool in the warm summer months?
The house was built 100 years ago with very thick stone walls which keep the interior cool in the summer. We also have fans in all of the bedrooms to keep the air circulating at night.
Is it possible to eat outside?
With warm summer evenings, eating al fresco is a gorgeous way to enjoy the setting sun or the amazing starry skies.
There is a private patio area with shade sails inside the walled garden with table space to comfortably seat 8 and a large kettle barbecue is available for cooking.
If you prefer some extra shade, there is also a covered seating area attached to the games room and sheltered by the main house where you can enjoy a relaxed lunch or pre-dinner drinks.
Do I need to bring a hairdrier?
Hairdriers are provided in each of the bedrooms to save you a little space in your suitcase.
Are towels provided?
Bath towels, hand towels and tea towels are provided – enough for everyone staying, and at no extra charge. Beach towels are also available, should you need them.
Is there a beach nearby?
The closest beach is Châtelaillon-Plage – a 2.5KM stretch of family friendly sand facing the Atlantic Coast and about an hour’s drive from the house. The gently sloped beach is backed by a pedestrianised promenade making it really safe for children. Flanked by restaurants and cafes, you don’t have to go far to get a bite to eat or an ice cream.
At the house you will find beach towels, beach mats and kites to fly – everything you need for a perfect day by the sea.
Is good WiFi available at the house?
We have a 10MB WiFi connection, which should be enough for all your family’s electronic devices.
Which TV channels are available?
There is a flat screen TV and DVD player available for guests to use. We receive all the free UK Television channels and provide a library of DVDs, with something for everyone.
An Onkyo CD and radio is also available along with a selection of CDs. If you prefer to play your own music then a jack plug and cable is provided to connect to your iPhone.
Can I park my car off the road?
There is off road parking for your car, or cars, on the adjacent field belonging to the house. Guests are also welcome to use the garage for storing bikes or cars whilst you are staying at L’Échappée Douce.
Can we hire bikes?
For local rides there are a range of bikes available in the garage that guests are free to use – 3 adult bikes (men’s), 3 adult bikes (ladies’ or teenagers’), a child’s bike and a tag-along. More committed cyclists may wish to hire bikes from Bike-Hire-Direct who offer free delivery of bikes to L’Échappée Douce along with a range of support services. They get very busy in peak season so please book as early as possible.
Is there anything to do if we just want to stay at the house?
Enjoy picnicking or playing on the huge meadow belonging to the house. Fly a kite, throw a frisbee or kick a ball around. Why not shoot some pool on the full sized table in the games room, compete in a family board-games championship or lose yourself in a jigsaw?
For the more energetic there are short and long walks or bike rides following gravel paths that lead from the house through the surrounding forests, vineyards and fields.