Domaine de la Salle - the story

Domaine de la Salle, is an old cognac estate, often referred to locally as 'Le Chateau' or just 'La Salle'.

History

We bought the Chateau in 2016 and since then it has been brought back to its original beauty, using only natural materials and traditional methods.

The front part was built in 1826 by 'Jean Baptiste Joachim Clemot', who was a celebrated surgeon in Napoleons navy.

Buildings in the courtyards go back to the 17th century, but we know that La Salle was inhabited since before the 12th century when the ‘Saliens’ settled there.

Today

We are following our dream of creating an organic farm that will produce fruit and ancient varieties of grain, and also of providing a haven for biodiversity.

Our Gite & Chambres d’hotes

We have a two bedroom ‘gite’ to rent and also a couple of ‘chambres d’hotes’. It is not a hotel, and you would see the working life of ordinary people, working towards a living organic Chateau-Farm.

Our rooms are decorated in French style, and we consider them luxury, with the fine linen sheets, antique furniture and stylish bathrooms. We also host weekends with interesting activities from sourdough bread making to sewing beautiful heirloom dolls from antique linens.

Weddings & Family Celebrations

We can host small romantic weddings in summer, and family celebrations.

For any of the above, please do get in touch with us via the form below, or sending me an email.

Location

Domaine de la Salle is in the Charente Maritime area, close to the coast and in the area where the french love to holiday.

It is traditional, charming and rustic. 'La Salle' is really hidden away in its own forest and fields. Beaches are half an hour to 45 minutes away, depending on what sort of beach you want. There is so much to do - please see the 'what to do' section below. If you want to do absolutely nothing, and get away from everything, this is a very peaceful tranquil corner, although we do have birdsong. We speak English, French, German and Portuguese.

As featured on Channel 4 - Escape to the Chateau DIY

We have been featured on ‘Escape to the Chateau DIY’ on Channel 4 and featured again from the 6 - 10 April 2020.

  • You know that feeling, when all seems good and you are totally at peace ?

    This is the spot.

Accomodation

We have just one gite to let out on a weekly basis, with information below. Otherwise we do workshops, where you
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Volunteering

Weekends If you are a student on a gap year and want to muck in, let us know, as there are always opportunities.
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Weekend Workshops

From learning to make sourdough bread to sewing heirloom dolls, or wine tasting foodie weekends.... Enjoy staying
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Activities

Things to do in this area :

The Charente Maritime has a varied coastline, with beautiful beaches, fishing towns and fabulous fresh sea-food restaurants ( Its famous for its oysters ).  The 'Marais' are former marshlands, now criss-crossed with small canals, and are wonderful to cycle or canoe through and see
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Escape to the Chateau

Escape to the Chateau DIY Our next Escape to the Chateau DIY series appearance 6 - 10th April 2020 ! Domaine de la Salle was filmed in summer 2018 right from the moment we arrived from an overnight flight and a 6 hour drive with our three cats and 6 suitcases in tow.  The film crew
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Getting here :

Airports : La Rochelle airport is 45 minutes by car. Flights mainly in summer but a few in winter.  Bordeaux: This airport is the other side of bordeaux so it takes from 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on traffic.  Poitiers: We have never tried this airport as it never seems to
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For bookings, please send us an email below.

We take bookings for holidays in the self catering gite, bed and breakfast rooms and weekend workshops. For any inquiries, please email us using the box below. Many thanks, Jono and Mariam

Hot damn hot

Posted: 
May 15, 2022

Its been too hot for me to make sense of anything these last two days. I am usually a very keen brocanter, but I turned and left after just an hour this morning. Bought just four vintage champagne coupes, and then in my heat induced lethargy, managed to break one of them.