Linden Lodge Stays
Charming Getaway in
the Heart of Charente
Set in the snail capital of Saint-Claud in the heart of gentle Charente countryside, Linden Lodge Stays was opened in late 2023 and presents a spacious self-catering, en-suite apartment for a single person or couple. It offers everything for a memorable stay in France, and so is ideal for holidaymakers and business people.
Set in the grounds of Linden Manor Estate, Linden Lodge is fully renovated in a style blending ancient French history with the best of modern life. You can pursue many cultural, sporting and leisure interests and return to your well-equipped accommodation, where just about everything is new and was chosen with your comfort in mind.
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Guests of Linden Lodge can park their car, motorbikes and bicycles for free in our front courtyard behind closed gates which are locked at night.
Getting to Linden Lodge
Linden Lodge is on a well-developed transport network in all compass directions.
Exactly midway between the cultural city of Angoulême in the southwest and Limoges in the east, we're just 7mins off the N141, which is the main east/west artery, and in 30mins you can reach the N10, which runs north/southwest.
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Limoges international airport is 30mins away; Poitiers airport is an hour north; Bordeaux airport is 2 hours away; and there are 15 trains a day from Angoulême to Paris with its international connections. Buses go regularly from Saint-Claud town centre to Angoulême.
Curiosity, Adventure, Decompression...
With a tropical micro-climate and 2000 hours of sunshine every year, the Charente rivals the Riviera, and there are diverse activities for everyone:
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visit elegant chateaux and towns;
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swim or kayak rivers and lakes;
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tour the gentle undulating roads;
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try local gourmet specialities;
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local entertainment: antique fairs,
open-air cinema, night markets; -
festivals galore: classic cars, boats, food, cartoons and comics, dance, classical piano, jazz, world music, and more...
Alternatively you can just relax, spending your days under our shady trees, dozing, reading and drinking wine, or on the comfy sofa, enjoying a hearty stew and a glass of red.
History and Character
Linden Manor Estate is a major presence in Saint-Claud, being one of the largest plots of land in town. Its 3.5 acres includes the main manor with Linden Lodge on one end of it, a barn, a vegetable garden, a well and a swathe of organic prairie at the back, see right.
Built for Général François Garnier de Laboissière – Napoleon's right-hand man – some parts of the property date back to 1700, with rich medieval features and abundant flora and fauna everywhere. We will be happy to share with you what we have discovered so far.
Feel free to wander the grounds, pick some plums and check out our many ornithological friends: swallows, starlings, wagtails, woodpeckers and hoopoes.
A Gourmand's Paradise
Charente boasts the greatest number of those culinary specialities, for which France is famous, and eight Michelin-starred chefs are based here.
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Local delights include the aperitif Pineau, cognac, duck confit, maigret de canard, fois grois, and snails, oysters, moules, smoked trout, pork rillette and Limousin beef, as well our famous local cherries and pears. In addition, Saint-Claud itself is the snail capital of France, celebrated in an increasingly popular festival in Sept each year.
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Ingrid is a passionate cook who makes international and original dishes with a vibrant and quirky flair. She posts recipes and news on www.yourculinarygenie.com.
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Do you want to have dinner at Linden Lodge?
Linden Lodge guests can book and pay for this on arrival.
From our Guestbook
Perfect moments
Nous garderons un très grand souvenir de notre passage chez vous. Un acceuil chaleureuse, les excellents repas, et bon sommeil ! Sans oublièe.
José &Marie Chauveau
Home from Home
I really want to thank you for everything you've done to make my stay a real pleasure. You have been so welcoming and nothing has been too much trouble.
Karim Patel
Super Hosts
We've stayed with Ingrid and Mark many times over the years – they are some of our favourite people, and Ingrid is the best cook I know – her dinners are recommended. We love France and can't wait to come back.
The Carlins
Well-Appointed
This is the best equipped place we've ever stayed in. We also enjoyed beer and frites by Massignac lake and fine dining in Jeux du Pots in Verteuil – we'll be back!
Frank & Liz
Proprietors
Linden Lodge is proudly owned by Ingrid and Mark Burling.
We will help you create wonderful new memories, so let's meet soon! Contact us on ingrid.burling@mac.com if you have any questions, or click the button below to book.
Ingrid &Mark