Les Trois Chenes Profile in Pictures

Hi, this is me, Barbara. I moved to Videix, Limousin, France in 2002 with my husband and son, Molly our dog and Saffron our cat, plus a few hens.

First we converted our house into a Bed and Breakfast with four guest bedrooms. They are all en-suite. Then we converted a barn into a three bedroom 3 star gite (French for Holiday Cottage. It mean little niche that an animal makes its home).

It was not easy to organise the work in French and we had to learn alot about building, plumbing, electricity and tiling.

Click on the thumbnail pictures below to see all the photos.

We offer accommodation in our house. There is a dining room, sitting room and four bedrooms. Bedroom 1 has a double bed. Bedroom 2 has a double bed, bedroom 3 has a double and a single and bedroom 4 has three or four single beds. All in all 11 people can sleep here.

It is ideal for groups. If the gite is included then 18 people can stay here.

We finished the gite in July 2010. It has an open plan kitchen, dining room and sitting room and three bedrooms. It is very well equipped and has everything you need. Seven people can sleep here.

I run painting holidays for adults and enjoy teaching as well as painting. I have to sort out my thoughts carefully as explaining things simply and clearly is anything but easy. Being able to do something is one thing, but being able to say how to do it is quite another.

My students have to enjoy learning, but equally, they have to work hard to improve. This is a careful balancing act.

I organise outings to see as much as possible of the Limousin countryside around us, and I include at least one all-day outing to see places like Mortemart and Brantome, two places that have been judged to be amongst the most beautiful villages in France.

I have also taught in schools, adult education and colleges.

We have lots of fruit trees, a lovely vegetable garden and a flower garden. We grow flowers with the vegetables and don't use chemicals because we like organic food and we like to take care of our land.

We have a big garden and it is very hard work to keep the grass cut. We have sheep and geese to help us. They are our 'green lawnmowers'. We keep hens for eggs. We have a cat to chase the mice away and a dog for company. We love all the baby animals.

We provide breakfasts and dinners at the Bed and Breakfast and I try to use our own produce if possible.

We do get snow, but not very much and not very often so we make the most of that magical winter wonderland. Otherwise Limousin is cold in December, January and February, but often bright with clear blue skies and a good deal of sunshine. This is the time to wrap up well and get on the hiking boots! Come home to a cracking log fire, mulled wine and spiced bread.

We are situated in the tiny hamlet of Videix about ten minutes from the medieval town of Rochechouart and about half an hour from Saint Junien and La Rochfoucauld. We are just on the borders of Limousin, The Charente and The Dordogne. Limoges and Angouleme are about an hour away. There are many interesting things to see and do including no less than 13 castles within travelling distance. We are on the Route of Richard the Lion Heart and the Pilgrim path of St Jacques de Santiago. There are many festivals and fetes to see and many things to see and do.

Our new trampoline! Great for the kids and keeps them amused so that you can get a bit of peace and quiet. Having said that, our Mums and Dads can't resist a bounce. Excellent way to keep fit.