Vacances Vertes les Belles

The front of the house

Description of accommodation and area: The house, which also serves as a base for organic gardening courses, is set in the heart of the peaceful, rural Limousin village of St Germain les Belles. Within walking distance you can discover many of the facilities on offer, including local shops selling fine Limousin produce, restaurants, historic buildings and a swimming lake. A few minutes' walk from the house you will find quiet country lanes with wild hedgerows – perfect for walking or cycling with the whole family.

This attractive village house has been recently restored to incorporate six double or family-sized bedrooms, one of which has disabled access (as does the rest of the ground floor). Five of the bedrooms have private bathrooms. In addition, every room in the house has central heating, so you can also enjoy the region's wealth of activities during winter. The house has a large kitchen, adjoining lounge and garden/terrace.

The vegetable garden

The Cosmofil experience:
The owners are very happy to help guests enjoy this beautiful area to the full. They are passionate about integrating with the local French and can provide any information about events, fetes, village meals and festivals, excellent shops and restaurants, of which there are many. They can also point you in the direction of stunning local walks, good places to go bird-watching, museums, swimming lakes...

Guests would of course be welcome to come along to any of the above events and partake in some rural French culture. This often involves good, simple food, music and wine – what could be better?!

Vacances Vertes les Belles

Language support: Anna and Howard’s French has improved dramatically since they arrived in France. They can now converse in the language with a degree of fluency. Both are great examples of the progress that is possible by working hard at the language when you go to a new country, as well as the benefits of integration that this brings. They can offer the Icebreaker level to assist guests when they go shopping in the village (e.g. how to ask for individual items at the local general store, how to be polite in general to the French) and introduce you to interesting and helpful local people. They will also provide assistance about what to say in more serious situations, e.g. medical emergencies.

For people with a better understanding of French, please contact Anna and Howard regarding the Globetrotter and Cosmopolite levels. They can chat to you prior to your visit and work out individual plans, depending on your level of French – they have many French friends to practice with!

Other: Meals and breakfast are only offered as part of the residential course package or for a minimum of six people. However, Anna and Howard can show you local restaurants within walking distance or where you can order pre-prepared meals (made by the wonderful village shops).