Apartment for rent in Poitiers, France

Light-filled, airy one bedroom with large living room / dining room and complete kitchen for rent in Medieval, architecturally intact city of Poitiers, France. 1 1/2 hours south-west of Paris by train ( TGV), 1 hour east of the Atlantic coast and La Rochelle, in a mild, sun-filled area where fig trees,and kiwi thrive. The apartment is in the center of this city of 125,000, 35 000 of whom are students. It is culturally rich -- theatre, concerts and festivals of all sorts, an Ecole des Beaux arts, galleries, and of course the countless beautifully intact churches. There is a richly varied fresh-market 5 days a week, a book fair once a week, the "mediateque" is open to all, and the narrow streets are wonderfully inviting, leading easily to shopping of all sorts, and obviating the need for a car. The city itself is a pleasure to explore, and perhaps because it is not overrun with tourists, the French here are cordial, open, interested in the traveler, and willing to engage in conversation, especially if you can speak a little bit of French. As by and large they have trouble speaking English/ American, they appreciate your meeting them half way. Charges for the one-bedroom apartment in 2012 are as follows:  In summer,  70 Euro a night ( min 3 nights) 400 Euro for the first week,  725 euro for two weeks, 1000 for three weeks, 1250euro for a month. It is on the 5th floor of a large modern apartment house which, however, is on the outside in keeping with all of the old architecture of the city. The bedroom has a double bed, and the living room, a couch that amply sleeps two more. So, two couples can comfortably share this flat. There is, in addition, a single small mattress that can be used for a child. After Oct.1, rates go down. We rent by the semester at this time.  If interested, please e mail me at mslatkin@juno.com. Thank you! We also have a sweet studio apartment for rent during very select weeks during the summer. Light filled, as there are two huge windows looking down on Rue Carnot from the 4th floor, it is 25 meters square, and has alcove kitchen with a two burner stove toaster oven, and a compact refrigerator / freezer. It is fully, simply but charmingly furnished, is ample for a couple, is in an elevator building on the same block as the large apartment, is clean and light, has computer hook up, and is less expensive:  50 euro / night, 300 / week, 550 for two weeks We live in this one for many weeks during the summer. Prices include, of course, heat, electricity, Computer / phone / TV, etc.  Pictures will follow.

Note: there are superb and inexpensive restaurants right on rue Carnot (i.e. L'Absinth) where you can get a gourmet main dish at lunchtime for 9 Euro, and a dessert for 2 euro more. Cook breakfast and dinner at home, buy a bottle of wine and some cheese, and feel magnificent!

 

In addition to the apartment, and when possible included in the rental, is access to a small piece of land on the Clain River. The land has a small cottage on it, a large walnut tree, and a garden where we worked for 12 hours each last summer, and grew all our vegetables! It offers direct access to the river, although we don't own a boat, and a chance to picnic in a private place and to leave picnic equipment in a secure area. One reaches the land by walking for 25 minutes through a large, beautiful park ( which has a zoo in addition to formal gardens) down to the property. Even if direct access to our place is impractical at the time of your rental, the trip down past it is... unique, exciting, and offers riverfront picnics. This adds variety to the rental, and a rural component to the urban base.

www.marciaslatkin.com