Book with the owner direct
Owner/Property
Manager: Lee Humphreys
Book this House by contacting the owner
directly to confirm
price, property details and availability.
Booking directly with the owner means you pay the owners price with
no added booking fees or extra charges.
Overview
Description
Large 2 bedroom late 15th Century half-timbered town house in the centre of Noyers-sur-Serein, a pretty walled & cobbled medieval village which is one of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France. Unusually for a village of its compact size, Noyers has everything you need: several restaurants and bars, épiceries, a boulangerie/patisserie,a butcher/charcuterie, and a weekly food market - all excellent. Not forgetting 5 local crafts shops, 2 art galleries … and a museum etc. And a chemist and newsagents. All in a few steps from the front door.The house has 3 storeys with a walled city garden. The ground floor is fronted by an arcade and what was originally a medieval shop decorated with the heads of mythical beasts in carved oak. A few steps up from the front door lead to the main living room, with an island kitchen, a dining area with a large table, and a sitting area with a couple of sofas beside the stone fireplace. French windows give direct access to the garden. There is also a small toilet and laundry room.
An old oak staircase takes you up to a small bedroom (double bed, fireplace, timbered ceiling) and a small separate bathroom with toilet and shower. At the front, a large library with comfortable sofas offers superb views onto half-timbered houses and the church tower; this room is ideal for drinks before dinner (as well as reading).
The top floor is a very large bedroom (double bed) with a view over to the surrounding countryside and hill. The large en-suite bathroom is equipped with a bath, a shower and a separate toilet, and fine views over the old Burgundy tiled roofs towards the church.
The garden is small but pretty. High limestone walls offer total privacy, with nonetheless sun for much of the day. There is a shaded table, and an additional terrace with table and chairs and deckchairs looks onto the half-timbered rear facade of the house.
The village is extremely attractive and well-preserved, partly because during the 18th century the king of France decided that it would no longer be on the main road to anywhere at all. The tradition continues; during weekends in July and August the centre is entirely closed to vehicles. The village is also well-protected. A loop in the little river Serein forms a moat beneath the medieval towers; both entrances to the village are fortified. There are extensive walks/cycle rides along the river and up to the top of the wooded hill where the remains of the old castle are hidden.
There are many things to see and do in the area. Wine-lovers will appreciate the proximity of Chablis (20 mins), Irancy and St Bris. There are castles and abbeys and fortified towns all over the place, including the Unesco sites (Vezelay, Fontenay and the Climats of Burgundy’s vineyards). The wild and wooded Morvan region, with excellent lakes for wild swimming, is just 50 minutes away.
The house itself is luminous, characterful, and well-equipped. We think it will appeal to lovers of architectural and decorative curiosities in pleasant surroundings.
Be warned that:
- the house has 3 floors so you need to be able to negociate the old oak staircases.
- the second bedroom (1 double bed) is very much smaller than the main bedroom. The same for the corresponding bathrooms.
Small children are welcome, but they need to be warned that the stuffed animal heads in the library are no longer dangerous. Parents must be aware that the house is not secured for children and so the staircases inside and out will need supervision. There is no specific children's bedroom. There is a travel cot, and a small extra bed in the bathroom of bedroom 2.
Bed linen (140 x 220cm) and towels are included.
The house has electric heating. A wood-burning stove can be used for additional heating (supplement 25 euros/semaine), but the fireplaces can not be used.
If you have difficulty with staircases, this house is unfortunately not for you
No pets please, and no smoking inside the house.
The price includes cleaning at the end of your stay, but do please leave the house clean and tidy at the end of your stay. The price also includes the "taxe de séjour" imposed by the French government. In short, there are no extra charges to pay.
The minimum stay is 5 nights = 750 euros
5 nights: 690 euros
17 Reviews
Leave ReviewA stay for five days straight from the airport after a flight from our home in New Zealand to wind down and experience rustic and historic French life
By Peter Winter and Jo Rice on 14-Sep-2025A fascinating roomy and truely eclectic home in the heart rural Burgundy. Other fabulous villages all about with a cross section of the rural community to observe.
Beautiful house
By lee tyrrell on 16-May-2026Such a lovely house in a beautiful town. We had such a relaxing time. We will be returning.
Beyond exoectations!
By Marie McDonald on 26-Jul-2025Our stay at the Clos Couvert was exceptional. The house is charming, and has been thoughtfully renovated, with everything you could want, including a lovely private garden. It is perfectly situated, looking onto the main square, and on Wednesdays one only has to walk 10m to buy a bag of sumptuous cherries! Lee and Mathilde were wonderful hosts, with plenty of helpful information, but never intrusive. I highly recommend a sejourn at Clos Couvert.
Fabulous
By Owen on 04-Jun-2024This a very comfortable and peaceful place to stay, a beautiful house in a medieval village with shops, cafes and bars nearby. The river is close by and the countryside is gorgeous. The owners couldn't have been nicer or more helpful. The only problem was that it's quite hard to get out of the front door without being in someone's photograph!
My wife and I have just returned from ....
By Stuart and Christine Wastell on 13-Jun-2023Me and my wife have just returned from our 2 week holiday in France in the most beautiful village of Noyers sur Serein. Booked through simply owners we stayed in a 15th century house in Noyers we have had a fantastic experience. The booking process was so easy and the owners Lee and Matilde where fantastic to deal with. The house was way above our expectations and the village is breathtakingly beautiful. We have never stayed anywhere, where the locals are as friendly and so proud of where they live. A huge big thank you to Lee and Matilde for showing us around the fabulous house and being attentive hosts and making our holiday so special. We also thank simply owners for making the booking process so easy.
A Fabulous location and House
By Heather Dancy-Phillips on 12-Sep-2023Noyers is the most beautiful village and has a thriving community. The house is in the centre and has been restored beautifully. As other reviews have mentioned, this house is not suitable for anyone with mobility issues but for us was an unforgettable experience. The owners were very welcoming and there is everything you need in the house. Highly recommend.