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Maison des Mots
La Charité-sur-Loire,
Nièvre
Bed & Breakfast
+33 (0)6 47 06 80 28
Visit owner's website
€180 - €280
per night
A gem of a house in a lovely unspoilt village with an intelligent, interesting owner who gives you delicious food and local wines
2 rooms
Rooms sleep 2
Select your check-in
- Check in day
- On request
- Not available
Check in - Check out
You must enter guests and dates to send an enquiry.
Your dates are available!
2 Guests 12 Apr 25 - 12 Apr 25
Direct with the owner
Visit the owner’s chosen website for availability, online booking or contact details.
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€180 - €280 per night
The Experience
The house tucks into a maze of pretty streets beside the slow-moving Loire – not yet discovered by hordes of tourists and a grand stopping-off point on your way to the south. You can make yourselves at home in the elegant, tasteful sitting room, eat in the dining room or the garden, have tea and coffee in the cookery library – Barbara-Jo is a keen cook and can offer a light meal on one night of your stay – seasonal and delicious. She also offers cookery classes.
Breakfast includes fresh pastries from the bakery, fruit, yogurt, homemade cake and eggs any way you like. Wander the partly walled garden to find beds full of flowers, herbs and fruit trees, garden furniture for resting and reading with views over the rooftops and the sound of occasional church bells.
Quiet bedrooms rest on the garden side of the house, one has an extra single and both have spotless, luxurious bathrooms. Take an evening stroll along La Promenade des Anglais, lined with plane trees, and watch the river slide by.
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We think you'll love
- Stepping out into the village to find interesting shops, having a coffee and watching people
- Being so well looked after by Barbara-Jo and enjoying her wonderful cooking with local wines
- Browsing the vast selection of cookery books in the library

You should know
- Sorry, no dogs. This house belongs to Minette the pretty puss
- Quite a few steps and some winding staircases might make this tricky for some
- There are also self-catering cottages on site
Essentials
- EV charger
- Swimming pool
- Hot tub
- Garden
- Open fire / woodburner
- Breakfast included
- Breakfast available
- Meals available
- Vegetarian meals
- Oven
- Parking on premises
- Free parking nearby
- Accessible by public transport
- WiFi
- Television
- Spa
- Central heating
- Limited mobility
- Wheelchair access
- Mobile reception
- Hob
- Bar
- Barbecue
- Licensed premises
- Paid parking nearby
- Air conditioning
- Relaxation areas
- Washing machine
- Tennis court
- Microwave oven
- No smoking
- Credit cards
- Working farm
- Owner has pets
- Dishwasher
- Pets welcome
Family friendly
- Baby monitor
- Books and toys
- Children welcome
- Babies welcome
- Stair gates
- High chair
- Fire guard
- Cot available
Nearby
- Pub/bar within 3 miles
- Restaurant within 3 miles
- Shop within 3 miles
Activities
- Bikes available
- Food courses
- Kayaking
- Other courses
- Sailing
- Surfing
- Wild swimming
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Accommodation
2 Doubles
Sorry, this room is not available for your chosen dates
Sleeps 2
From €180 to €280 per night
Pricing
- Nightly price
- from €180
- Surcharges
- Singles €95-€165.
- 2 Doubles
- From €180
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Information
Booking information
- Check in
- 3pm
- Check out
- 12pm
- Other details
- Children over 12 welcome.
- Closed
- Never.
- No smoking
- Smoking not permitted anywhere in the property.
- Owner has pets
- Animals living on the property
- Meals
- Dinner €35.
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Reviews
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We loved it here! It’s a beautifully renovated house in the oldest part of town, and is filled with art, books and objects we wanted more time to discover. It’s only a short walk from shops and cafés, and a short drive from Pouilly and Sancerre where we picked up wine and charcuterie to enjoy in the evening sun back in the maison garden. Madame M is a superb host, simultaneously relaxed and attentive. Her cooking and her knowledge of food and wine meant we ate and drank very well. We’re already planning our next visit!
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After a week in Paris, it was great to board the train to La Charite-sur-Loire for a long anticipated visit to Maison-des-Mots. We had followed Barbara-jo’s progress as she lovingly restored the old stone house in the quaint town and we were looking forward to seeing the finished product for ourselves. It certainly did not disappoint! The home is beautifully decorated, well planned to offer ideal accommodation for short or longterm stays and the two spacious gardens are magnificent! Barbara-jo is the consummate chef and hostess and our stay at Maison-des-Mots was the highlight of our trip!
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Were it possible I would give Maison des Mots 6 stars. Barbara-jo McIntosh has transferred her culinary expertise, sense of style, attention to detail, and charm to her renovated and immaculate B&B. I delighted in how old world French enchantment met new world conveniences, from the beautifully appointed and refinished antiques to crisp top quality linens on comfortable beds, newly tiled bathrooms and excellent wi-fi. Barbara-jo was quick to respond to any questions or concerns and can offer a lot of useful information about the area. I thoroughly enjoyed my four-day stay as a solo traveller.
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As May approaches, my mind journeys back to Maison des Mots and the charming town of Charité sur Loire. A group of us spent a few glorious days at Madame McIntosh’s beautifully restored residence. While there, we were treated to sumptuous breakfasts, convivial conversation, and expertly prepared dinners. Mme MacIntosh has created an exquisite place designed to please one’s senses. Our accommodations were top notch: elegant, aesthetically pleasing and designed for comfort. Thank you Barbara-jo et Minette!
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Spring is the perfect time of year to visit Madame McIntosh's La Maison des Mots. The weather was great and the garden was beginning to bloom. Our comfortable and beautifully decorated room overlooked the courtyard below where we enjoyed the warm afternoons relaxing in the shade with a glass of wine. The Maison itself is fascinating with it's history and renovations, each room unique with it's own decor. The surrounding area, the amazing French food, the Vineyards and the wonderful warm hospitality of Madam McIntosh made us feel as if La Charite sur Loire was our second home.
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Location
The neighbourhood
The village has four bakeries, a chocolate shop, several bookshops, an antique and bric-a-brac shop, seven restaurants and a super weekly market. Wander the town to find historic ruins and churches – the place is steeped in history. The wine districts of Sancerre and Pouilly are 25 minutes in the car for tastings and buying, Nevers is 30 mins, Vézelay one hour for the magnificent basilica.
Local points of interest from Barbara-jo
- La Charite sur Loire, the Village of Words has a French antiquarian book shop, an English used book shop, a new French book shop and a shop for books and magazines.
- This town is a UNESCO Heritage site. The Eglise being1000 years plus, is a haunting beaute. Walking through the Priory feels the age even with the modern touch from renovation.
- Les Halles de Loire for local food products, boulangerie, wine and cheese. On the River in a renovated abatoir.
- Saturday Farmer's Market - Square Charles de Gualle in the city centre and the antique shop 'Une Autre Epoque', on the Grande Rue.
- Confisurie du Prieure - Jewel Box Chocolate shop, Ice-Cream in the Summer, also sells Gien earthenware.
- Restaurants to try: The Poule Noir and Maison du Kerala; For Coffee: Comcheznous, Ki boi ka, Couleur Cafe; For Cheese tasting: Le Bouchon de Loire; For Wine tasting: Le Vin, La Cave du Producteur.
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Introducing
Barbara-jo
Barbara-Jo was born in Canada where she ran her own restaurant then a cookery book shop for 20 years. She moved to France and found her dream house which she lovingly and carefully converted. She's an excellent host and a very good cook – she runs private cookery courses which you need to book ahead.
A delicious baking smell and a very friendly smile sets the tone, the sheltered rooftop garden with flowers jostling with herbs and vegetables overlooks ancient village houses. Inside, enjoy a labour of love – top-notch renovation, taste and décor. A frothy coffee and slice of autumn chestnut and hazelnut cake warm from the oven, sets the seal, a perfect gem of a house in a gem of an ancient town.