Classic Cars and Cognac

A few may be aware of the city of Angouleme, more might know of the Charente department, but everyone, surely, has heard of the town of Cognac?

A special destination just 25 minutes from this new point of arrival is Le Logis du Paradis, which is a lovely old complex of buildings dating from 1712, including its former Cognac distillery, built around a large, enclosed, classic Charentais courtyard. It is set in a tiny hamlet on the banks of the small river Né in the midst of the vines of the Grand Cru Grande Champagne Cognac region; famous for the very best Cognacs and Pineaux.

Sally and Nick Brimblecombe (long time French Tour Operator and founder of Vacances en Campagne, La France des Villages and The Grand Touring Club) bought this property in an unrenovated state in 2005 and have sympathetically refurbished an 18th century wing to a high standard to provide 5 comfortable and spacious guest rooms. Sally has furnished the interiors with elegant linen and family antiques, mixing influences from her colonial upbringing with classic English and French styles. B&B costs from €95 - €110 per night for two. Two new apartments, each sleeping 4 in great comfort will also be available from June 2008.

Guests have use of their own large, airy breakfast/dining room for meals or otherwise to take them just outside on a south facing terrace shaded by a mature lime tree. Just beyond the courtyard is an enclosed, lush walled garden, with further terraces, lawn and the bar and the delightful swimming pool with garden furniture and reclining chairs. Beyond this is the walled park “a l’anglais” with two avenues of trees and from these extensive grounds there are views of the vineyards and hills of the Grand Champagne. Bicycles are available and guests have access to documented attractive walks and cycling routes in the nearby countryside.

Classic Cars available for hire

An extra plus could be your own classic hire car, cleaned, full of fuel and waiting to take off on beautiful, deserted driving roads! Guests can be collected from the airport or the TGV station and Nick offers secure, discreet and carefully controlled storage for collector’s cars as well as classic cars, from MG TC, MGA, MGB, MGC, Lotus Elan S2 and Mercedes Pagoda convertible to Citroen 2CV, all available for self-drive hire.

There are carefully researched route books provided for day trips to many interesting places within 100 miles of Le Logis du Paradis.

Touring Routes available for clients

Within 100 miles there are enough unique and wonderful places to visit to merit a stay of at least a week. Nick can advise in detail about visiting them. For example:

• The Dordogne with its prehistory, medieval Chateaux, historic bastides and villages and its gastronomy.
• The Grands Crus of the Bordeaux wine region: St Emilion, Pomerol, Medoc, Sauternes, and Graves etc.
• Bordeaux and the estuary of the Gironde with sites unknown except to locals; Caviar at St Ciers, Lampreys at Mortagne, the fishing village of Talmont
• On the Atlantic coast; the beaches of Royan, the superb zoo at La Palmyre
La Rochelle, the oyster beds of Marennes and the Ile d’Oleron
• Cognac, the Grande and Petite Champagne vineyards and producers large and small, the Romanesque churches of the Charente and the festivals at Angoulême.
• Spain is within 3 hours driving as are the Pyrenees.
22/12/07

Contact:

Sally & Nicholas Brimblecombe
 
Le Logis du Paradis
La Magdeleine
16300-Criteuil-la-Magdeleine
France
Tel: +33 (0)545 35 39 43
Portable +33 (0)674 87 65 60
Email: nicholas.brimblecombe@wanadoo.fr
Website: www.logisduparadis.com