Reviews
Every single guest we have welcomed has loved Le Caprice and has given us 5/5 on AirBnB or 10/10 on Booking.com. Here are some example reviews:
We had a perfect stay! The accommodation is impeccable, very clean, tastefully decorated, perfectly equipped and the bedding is of very good quality. Everything is as advertised. The host is particularly welcoming, responsive and available, which made our stay even more enjoyable. The location is ideal, quiet while being close to amenities. We highly recommend this place and will be back with pleasure!
Alex is very welcoming and the accommodation is beautiful. A superb view of the river and the castle. We had a great time. I would recommend it 🤩🤩
We were after a few days of relaxation following a city break with family and Le Caprice was the perfect location for this. The house is really well decorated with everything you need. Super comfortable with fantastic views from every room. The lounge and main bedroom look out over the rear garden and river, while rooms at the front look out up to the 'castle' at the top of the hill. Lovely walks along the river and up to the castle. Just a superb place to relax.
The house
Le Caprice is an old but completely modernised house over 3 storeys, centrally located in the village.
Off-road parking is included, with a small garage for smaller cars, motorbikes or bicycles. An entrance hall and garden room on the ground floor lead to the beautiful private rear garden with a large gravelled area, seating for 8 people for outside dining and gas BBQ, and a grassed area with a gorgeous view of the medieval bridge.
The living accommodation is on the first floor, with a large bright and airy dining room (including a log burner for colder days) and attached open-plan fitted kitchen with all mod cons, including a dishwasher, oven, fridge, espresso machine and microwave. A second separate living room has comfy sofas (one is a sofabed) and a 55 inch smart TV, DVD player, internet radio, and a retro Playstation 2. Both rooms have French doors to the sun-trap balcony (with an awning for hot days) and direct access to the garden via steps. There's also a shower room and separate toilet on this floor.
Sleeping accommodation is mostly on the second floor, with three large bedrooms. Two have king-sized beds and river views, while the third is a flexible space with two bunk beds, two further single beds, and a chateau view. There's a second newly refurbished shower room and separate toilet on this floor. Naturally sheets and towels are provided.
(If you are driving something special and wish to garage it then please ask us about renting a larger secure garage opposite).
Please note: we do not accept pets.
The location
The house is situated at the heart of Saint-Germain-de-Confolens, a pretty and popular tourist village in Charente (France's second-sunniest département), and has superb views of the chateau to the front and the river Vienne with its ancient bridge to the rear. The river is great for kayaking or swimming, and there are plenty of watersports and fishing opportunities in the local area.
The small medieval village with its charming stone houses, narrow ancient streets, and dramatic cliffs is overlooked by a 13th century ruined chateau. You can easily walk to our popular restaurant and wine bar, and a cozy and quirky brocante/café, which are open all year round, and in the warmer months a lively and welcoming bar opens by the riverside.
Within a short drive you can reach an award-winning village restaurant in Esse, and a variety of restaurants, cafés, takeaways, and shops can be found in Confolens, just 7 minutes by car. There are lots of walking and mountain biking trails locally, kayaks, pedaloes and electric bikes to hire in Confolens.
Within a half hour drive you can easily reach a huge range of attractions, including archaeological sites, two major watersports centres, zip lines, treetop walks, bungee jumping, wildlife centres (including birds of prey, who adore the cliffs and the ruins, and a huge primate forest), and much more! We are located near the motor racing circuit of Val de Vienne, which holds a range of events throughout the year including its famous 500 Ferraris Against Cancer in June, and the international folk music and dance festival brings visitors from around the world to Confolens for a colourful friendly celebration in August.
Further afield the towns and villages of the north east Charente and surrounding départements offer plenty of interest, including chateaux and ancient villages such as La Rochefoucauld, Nanteuil-en-Vallée, Verteuil-en-Charente, and Rochechouart, the notable World War 2 memorial site at Oradour-sur-Glane, and the pretty cities of Angoulême (great for comic fans and motor enthusiasts), Poitiers and Limoges (both full of history and art), and Cognac (with cognac and music on offer).
Accessibility information
The main accommodation in the house is on the first and second floors, which can only be accessed by stairs. There are bathrooms and toilets on both floors. Our showers are walk-in, with no steps. There is also a step down into the hallway from the front door.