About Us

Anne & David Peters

Our quest to find the perfect property for both our home and a gite in France began early in 2004. We had no specific idea on location in mind at the outset other than we did not wish to go too far south. Our search took us from Brittany to the Charante and across to the Limousin. On visiting the Charante we decided that it would be far too hot during the summer months to sustain our two horses whilst on the other hand the Limousin was somewhat too lush, which, for those of you with horses will know brings even bigger problems! Southern Brittany was lovely but was somewhat inundated with Brits.

On a short excersion to see a Manor House in the Mayenne we 'popped' into Alencon to have a quick look round. As luck would have it we happened upon a friendly, English-speaking, French Estate Agent. She whisked us off to view two properties, the first one being La Guepiniere - it was a case of 'love at first sight' and after a further two trips over our minds were made up and the deal was done!

Unlike the other properties we had viewed with 'ready-made gites' La Guepiniere was owned by a French couple and was used as a family home. It did however, lend itself beautifully to having a self-contained gite.

Anne moved over with our two dogs, two cats and two horses and started sourcing local artisans to help with the transformation.

Work eventually started on the renovation - firstly to turn an old workshop with earth floor into a brand spanking new kitchen for use by the main house. This being completed work then began on the gite with the entire top floor of the east wing being gutted save for the beautiful beamed roof space and transformed into three beautiful new bedrooms and two bathrooms. The original kitchen has been incorporated in the the gite on the ground floor and the 'above ground cave' has been transformed to a bright and airy lounge dining room.

David commuted as and when possible to catch up with the builders and finally moved over full time in March 2005 just in time to take charge of the vegetable garden, grounds and all the jobs that only 'boys' can do!

Since then we have been busy entertaining numerous guests, finding new walks, trying out new restaurants, making all manor of preserves (on account of all the fruit trees!) and generally trying to find time for the odd bit of relaxation whilst also integrating into a new society and desperately trying to come to grips with the French language!

We have been exceedingly fortunate in that we have been warmly welcomed into the village where Anne is known as 'Madame Peters' ( Mad Anne Peters to her friends in the UK!)