Driving clients around the lovely Poitou-Charentess countryside, we are often asked what made us decide on this area of France to live as opposed to any other area. In honesty, the answer is that we fell in love with the house and we had not taken enough account of the area.
    So more by luck that judgement, we now live in this area that has so many advantages to living here. Many people are aware of the micro-climate that exists in a belt around the coast inland from La Rochelle - giving the area the second best sunshine record for the whole of France.
    The area also benefits from excellent communications, with good auto-route options. The A10 from Paris to Bordeaux and the A83 Nantes to Niort, enables a drive of about 3.5 hours from St Malo. By rail, the TGV gives brilliant service to Paris or Lille, and by air Buzz have been replaced by Ryanair to provide daily flights to La Rochelle and Poitiers.
    Within an hour of the heart of the region there are many attractions such as Futuroscope, Cognac, the magnificent beaches of the Atlantic coastline and the lesser known Marais Poitevin or Green Venice, a network of canals that are a popular tourist draw.
    For this reason, the area makes good commercial sense for a business such as a hotel with regular clientele visits and good all year round trade. Unusually, we currently have a number of properties that would make superb private residences for a large family or alternatively a very good up-market small hotel. These options range from established businesses, with proven track records to chateaux awaiting finishing touches, ideal for adaptation once the properties have been fully restored.
    The first of these is a 17th-century logis, in central Deux-Sèvres, with a private suite for the owners and 11 en-suite letting rooms, plus a conference room and a successful restaurant. The property has been renovated to the highest standards by skilled artisans and furnished with superb fittings, including Murano glass chandeliers, Canovas wall fabrics and much more. The asking price for the manor house is just over 1.35m euros, but this includes all of the superb quality fixtures and fittings, down to the silverware and crystal glass, plus the professionally equipped kitchen.

Working it out

Peter Elias reports on some rather grand business opportunities in Poitou-Charentess

Above:
13th-century chateau fort, 524,700 euros

Left:
17th-century logis with tower, 1.35m euros

    At 647,350 euros, it offers letting rooms in the house and independent cottages within its grounds, which share a swimming pool and secluded walled garden. Guests come back year after year to this tranquil spot and even book the same rooms.
    Another logis style property has also just become available, that again has recently been operating as a chambres d'hôte/B&B business. Located just north of Niort, the property has lovely views over open countryside and could again remain as a business operation or revert to a large country house. The restored property has a lovely old coaching house barn to convert and is available for an asking price of 588,000 Euros.
    Business opportunities like these tend to be rare beasts offering the chance to live in France and be part of the local business community.
    It makes a nice change from the more normal request for a gîte complex or property to convert into the same. These larger properties also offer scope for those with a lot of initiative to create centres for language courses, art schools and so on. For those seeking less grand surroundings we also have a small selection of large established campsites with proven business track records. There is of course an element of hard work involved, but the rewards are surely worth it!