Chateau Du Comte

In the delightful Normandy countryside sits the enchanting Château Du Comte. A lived in and loved family home, this 18th century château offers character as well as comfort in a beautiful setting. In a strategically high position on the Cotentin Peninsular, the land became a fortified lookout in the 11th century in the time of William the Conqueror. It wasn’t until the mid-1750s that the magnificent château was built and it has had a fascinating history ever since, even playing an important role in WWII with both the Germans and Americans taking charge. In more recent times it has been lovingly restored back to life by its dedicated owners and is now a place where guests can create their own cherished memories in this happy home. Sleeping up to 44 guests across the estate’s château, house and cottage, there’s a great sense of history all around you in the traditional yet homely interiors. In the main château, sleeping 26 guests across ten bedrooms, guests can relax in one of the lounges or gather to feast under the chandeliers in the dining room. A charming cottage and house offer space for a further 18 guests; throughout all the accommodation you’ll find characterful features alongside heating and Wi-Fi. Children will love the games room in the barn or head outside to explore the wood, orchard and paddock. Enjoy long summer evenings by the barbecue and revel in the magical surroundings. There’s so much to explore in this part of Normandy, just 13km south of Cherbourg. Visit the wonderful weekly markets in nearby Valognes and medieval Bricquebec or travel half an hour to the fishing town of Barfleur, one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’. See the oyster beds on Tatihou Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site or head west to the glorious beaches around Barneville-Carteret. Discover some of the region’s most wonderful cuisine from local cheeses and fresh mussels to the famous cider and calvados that Normandy is best known for. Travel a little further and you can reach the D-Day beaches, Bayeux or the magnificent Mont Saint-Michel. In a fantastic location, Château Du Comte is a place of charm and character and whether travelling with family or friends, you’ll receive a warm welcome at this lovely home.  Features: 1) The Château Only (26 guests) 2) The Château + House + Cottage (44 guests) Château Interiors (26 guests, 11 bedrooms/5 bathrooms) Ground Floor - Entrance hall - Living room with fireplace and dining table - Dining room - Large, fully-equipped kitchen - Two salons - Library - WC and boot room First Floor – 7 bedrooms - Library - Bedroom 1 with four poster double bed, shower room and WC behind a screen - Bedroom 2 with double bed and single bed - Bedroom 3 with king-size double bed, large single bed and en suite bathroom - Bedroom 4 with twin beds - Bedroom 5 with double bed and two single beds - Bedroom 6 with twin beds - Bedroom 7 with double bed and en suite bathroom - 2 x bathrooms with shower   Second Floor   - Open-plan kitchen/living/dining room - Bedroom 8 with large single bed - Bedroom 9 with single bed - Bedroom 10 with double bed - Bedroom 11 with double bed and bunk-beds - Bathroom with shower - Separate WC House Interiors (10 guests) - Kitchen - Sitting/dining room with fireplace - Five bedrooms - Three bathrooms - WC Cottage (6 guests) Ground Floor - Large living room with satellite TV and comprehensive kitchen. - Downstairs cloakroom - WC and shower First Floor - Two double bedrooms - Bathroom Second Floor - Large mezzanine with twin beds Outside Grounds - Large charcoal BBQ - Woodlands - Orchard - Large barn - Playing fields Facilities - Wi-Fi - Heating (payable locally) - TV - Games room - Table football - Table tennis Location: In the heart of the Cotentin Peninsular, Château Du Comte is in a glorious part the Manche department in Normandy, only a 15-minute drive from the attractive port city of Cherbourg. There is a small pleasant town around 4km away where you will find your nearest café and bar whilst supermarkets can be found within a ten-minute drive towards Cherbourg. There are also restaurants within a 15-minute drive and wonderful weekly markets to visit in the delightful towns of Valognes (10km) and medieval Bricquebec (15km). Indeed, across this region you can discover all sorts of amazing local cuisine at local markets or in authentic country restaurants serving the very best Normandy cooking. Portbail (32km) also has some good restaurants, especially for sea-food lovers as well as a weekly market whilst Barneville-Carteret (31km), traditionally loved by Parisians in the summer, has some excellent cafes and restaurants (one with a Michelin star) as well as a sandy beach that has been awarded the ‘Blue-Flag’ for cleanliness. You could also take the boat across to Tatihou Island (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) to see the oyster beds or arrange a day out sampling local cheeses, artisan chocolate and of course the famous cider and calvados that Normandy is so well known for. Indeed, the Musée Régional du Cidre is in Valognes, only 10km away. Barfleur (30km), a beautiful fishing town, is one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’ where you can explore the pretty granite buildings and dine in one of the charming cafes or restaurants, many serving amazing local mussels (Blonde de Barfleur). Cherbourg (13km) will also delight young and old with its fascinating naval history, great museums (including the very popular La Cité de la Mer) and excellent restaurants. On a rainy day you could even take the family shopping at the impressive Les Eléis shopping centre, just on the outskirts, around a 15-minute drive away. This region offers wonderful walking both through the rustic countryside and coastal paths (including the G23 which passes through Barfleur). Cycling and mountain biking is also popular, as is horse-riding with many centres such as near Barneville-Carteret. Of course, there is also a great range of watersports at various points along the coast including surfing, sailing and diving. Further afield, the magnificent Mont Saint-Michel, around two hours by car, is a must place to visit for longer staying guests plus the historic town of Bayeux, with its famous tapestry, is just over an hour away. The D-Day Normandy landing beaches can also be visited with Omaha Beach (75km) and Arromanches (94km) both just over an hour away. The village of Sainte-Mère-Église (28km) is even nearer, also part of WWII history. Terms & Conditions: Security deposit? €750 paid in cash to the owner upon arrival and refunded upon departure, subject to full inspection. Arrival time? 4.00 p.m. Departure time? 11.00 a.m. Energy costs included? No, there is an extra cost, paid locally. Heating costs included? No, there is an extra cost, paid locally. Linen & towels included? Not included. Hire of towels and bed linen is available outwith peak dates at an extra charge of £14 per person. Pets welcome? On request only and with prior agreement with the owner. Other Ts and Cs? Please note that only the 44-person price includes rental of the entire estate (Château, House and Cottage), whilst the 26-person price is for the Château only. Please see the ’Features’ tab for full details. Changeover day? Saturday in high season. Flexible during all other periods. End of stay cleaning included? Extra charge of €175 (€100 for the Chateau only) paid locally. However, guests are required to leave the accommodation clean, tidy and in the same condition as on their arrival. Any extra cleaning, laundry, maintenance and/or rubbish disposal required will be charged against the security deposit. Smoking Allowed? No. Insurance? Guests are required to be in possession of a valid insurance policy, which covers them for cancellations, personal belongings, public liability and any accidental damage caused during their stay. Minimum stay? 3 nights except in high season, Christmas and New Year when it is 7 nights.