Longeveau is an old cognac estate nestled in a beautiful
valley in the southern Charente, near the river Dronne which
forms the border with the Dordogne. It is set on the edge
of a small hamlet, with tennis courts, pools and 9 hole
golf course in its own grounds.
The main house, a typical "Masion Bourgeoise", and cottages
form a lovely classical French country courtyard, entered
through an old stone arch. The estate is set in a lovely
valley designated by the Michelin guide as a place of special
beauty.
The surrounding countryside is undulating, with
lots of small farms, rivers, villages, and hamlets and woods.
It is perfect for walking, serious or otherwise, and cycling - just bring your own.
THE AREA
A special feature of the area is the abundance of small
restaurants in the local villages where you can eat (and
drink!) extremely well for under £10. We know them all and
are happy to assist and make reservations. There is a lovely
old rural distillery nearby, which produces first class
cognac and pineau, as well as the smallest registered brewery
in France. Along with the local walnut orchards, these are
regularly visited by our guests. Of course the vineyards
of Bordeaux and Bergerac are within easy reach, St Emilion
being probably the most popular.
For shopping, the villages of Aubeterre (officially rated
one of the most beautiful villages in France) and St Sˇverin
are only five minutes away, with the market towns of Riberac
and Chalais a little further on. The larger towns of Perigueux
and Angouleme and the lovely city of Bordeaux are within
easy reach.
GOLF AND TENNIS
Longeveau is well known for its tennis, and has been featured
in several national newspapers. We have 2 floodlit hardcourts,
alongside the Manoir, which are terraced lightly into the
slope giving an original and very attractive aspect. Coaching
for beginners and improvers is available but the main emphasis
is on friendly social play, with regular weekly tournaments
when appropriate. It is very easy to find others to play
against, and many of our regular guests regard Longeveau
as their tennis club away from home.
Whether you are a beginner or club first team member, you
should find your tennis at Longeveau most enjoyable. We
have 2 pools, both safely enclosed, set within the Manoir
gardens alongside the orchard.
The larger pool is 40 feet
long, with a smaller children's pool separately enclosed.
There are ample sun loungers around the pools and in the
gardens. Other facilities include table tennis in one of
the barns, a boules pitch and a pool table in the bar. A
television is sometimes set up in the bar for big sporting
events, but otherwise Longeveau is not the place to watch
television or listen to loud music. Portable radios etc.
should be kept indoors and at low volume please.
We have lovely gardens and a super courtyard which frequently
inspire visiting painters to get to work. Accommodation
is available at Longeveau and the surrounding area.
Please ask for further information.
