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1 room
Rooms sleep 2
Babies welcome
The Experience
Perched on the hill this old farmhouse has stupendous views from its hillside garden – you’ll see the Romanesque church below and woods and mountains soaring beyond. Monique, chatty and knowledgeable, speaks perfect English and knows the Auvergne well.
Your self-contained cottage has a kitchen and its own private patio but breakfast is in Monique and Daniel’s vaulted dining room. Eat copiously – bread and pastries, regional cheeses, yoghurts, delicious home-made compote – and enjoy the humour, zest and kindness of a couple who were born to hospitality.
Drive to Saint Nectaire in five minutes for shops and restaurants. There are walking trails from your door, or you can hike to the top of the landmark Puy de Dôme, the highest dormant volcano in the Chaîne des Puys – or take the petit train to the summit.
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We think you'll love
- Having an independent cottage but with a delicious breakfast provided
- The peace and quiet of the garden – and the views
- Monique’s enthusiasm for the area

You should know
- Access to the house is up a steep grassy slope or around the rough farmyard at the back
- There isn't a lot of choice for restaurants outside the high season
Essentials
- 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
- 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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Information
& pricing
Booking information
- Check in
- From 3pm
- Check out
- 10am
- Closed
- 15 November - 1 February.
- Owner has pets
- Animals living on the property
- Meals
- Restaurants in St Nectaire, 2km.
Pricing
- Nightly price
- from €60
- 1 Cottage for 2
- From €60
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Reviews
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A comfortable and peaceful place to stay. A beautiful location with wonderful views of the Auvergne mountains and St Nectaire. Monique and Daniel always make us feel so welcome and we enjoy staying there very much indeed.
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Still drawn to this delightful B+B to stay for a third time to enjoy a comfortable room with a fine breakfast and the friendly welcome from Monique Deforge in one of our favourite parts of the Auvergne.
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We had to go again to this delightful B+B after our first visit three years ago and we found it every bit as enjoyable: thanks to the warm welcome from Mme Deforge, the comfortable accommodation and an excellent breakfast.
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After looking for places to stay in the Auvergne we found this lovely cottage, Les Frenes, set high in the mountainside above the picturesque town of St Nectaire. Initially we only intended to stay for one night but were so glad we stayed longer.It was a gateway to lots of beautiful places. Monique was so helpful in recommending activities that suited our needs - resulting in an adventurous and amazing walk between two lakes ( Guery and Serviere ) and a trip up to the top of Puy de Dome. Her breakfasts were lovely and the whole experience was great value for money. Thank you.
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lovely lady made sure our stay was enjoyable. very clean and her breakfasts second to none. the area was very varied with lots to do and see
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We returned to stay at Les Frenes for the 4th time. It is simply gorgeous and peaceful with fantastic facilities. Monique will help to make your stay perfect in any way she can. The accommodation is typically French and everything is provided to help to make your stay memorable. Breakfast is unforgettable - the table is laid with such care and attention to detail and the food perfect. I have no doubt at all that we will be visiting for the 5th in the near future.
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Having found this delightful place we extended our 2 night stay (twice) to make it a full week as we liked it so much & only left reluctantly as we had to start heading for home. The location of Sailles is ideal for exploration of the Sancy part of the Auvergne & our host supplied us with plenty information on what to do and see in the area. Mme Deforge made us very welcome and allowed me to practise my French every day, for which I thank her. If only we could have stayed for longer. For those who like the freedom of B+B and a friendly atmosphere I would certainly suggest a stay at Les Frênes.
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We stayed 3 days in this beautiful and comfortable bed and breakfast situated above the picture-perfect town of St. Nectaire with stunning views of the snow covered peaks. The location is perfect for day excursions to beautiful nearby villages and Mont-Dore. Monique and Daniel Deforge own and run this beautifully restored, ample farmhouse. They are warm, welcoming, very helpful with their knowledge of the region and speak English.
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We loved our overnight stay here - Monique is very welcoming and great with suggestions on where to go. The views are superb (we were lucky enough to arrive in warm fine weather) and we would have loved to have more time to explore. The room was comfortable and spacious and Monique's breakfast was divine. Lovely!
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We had a wonderful week at Les Frenes. It is beautifully situated, perched above St Nectaire. The accommodation is lovely: a self-contained 1-bedroom 'cottage' with its own little garden area. Madame Deforge is very welcoming and helpful. It is a great base for discovering the delights of the magnificent Puy de Dome area. We would be very happy to stay at Les Frenes again some time and we are recommending it to friends and family.
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Location
The neighbourhood
The cottage is in the tiny hamlet of Sailles, a five-minute drive from Saint Nectaire le Haut, with its Romanesque church and cheese museum, and Saint Nectaire Le Bas, a spa town set along a lush river valley with grand Belle Epoque houses and over 40 thermal springs. You can walk, hike or ski in the mountains, tour the Roman baths set deep in a cave at Grottes de Cornadore, see mineral sculptures made from the hot springs at the Fontaines Pétrifiantes or watch cheese-making demonstrations at La Ferme Bellonte, a five-minute drive away.
Local points of interest from Monique Deforge
- Located in the Volcanoes Park of Auvergne and its beautiful landscapes, St-Nectaire is a modest village, despite its well-known name... Former spa town , it keeps amazing architectural vestiges dating from the Belle Epoque.
- Now it no longer attracts people for its thermal waters but many visitors come for its magnificent romanesque church and its ideal location close to major tourist sites ( Puy de Dôme, Puy de Sancy, lakes etc....)
- The area is a paradise for hikers Come in spring if you like wild flowers and birds, in autumn for sumptuous colours.
- Our small hamlet, Sailles, offers an exceptional view of St-Nectaire-le-Haut,further the medieval castle of Murol against the backdrop of the chain of Monts Dore dominated by the Puy de Sancy. A visual overview of the Auvergne.
- Let's not forget that Saint-Nectaire is mysteriously called the capital of Auvergne megaliths ( 3 dolmens and 2 menhirs can be found in the area ) and its timeless glory is also linked to its famous cheese.
- If you love untouched nature, one night stay won't seem enough and like lots of our visitors, you'll want to come back!
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Introducing
Monique Deforge
Monique and Daniel bought this property for their retirement in the hope that their grandchildren (who were not yet born) could know and love this region which has a deeply rooted part of their family tree. Their grandchildren visit for one or two weeks a year and the rest of the time they are happy to welcome other visitors.
We were so lucky to find Les Frenes. It is a friendly chambre d’hote with delicious breakfasts, and accommodation in a charming self contained cottage. The situation in a hamlet high above St Nectaire, with wonderful views over a superb landscape, is magnificent. Access is straightforward, and the host could not be more welcoming.