La Marcotte

Holiday country house with an old-fashioned charm

In the heart of the charming village of Saint-Martin-en-Bière, less than an hours’ drive away from Paris, sits a house dressed in the typical stone of the area in an exceptional green 2 hectare setting: it is la Marcotte. Its pretty name, a gardening term, meaning “a branch of a plant that has taken roots” fits like a glove. For a pause in time, this is the ideal place: an old farm transformed into an elegant and unusual house with comfortable rooms opening to a landscaped garden and a swimming pool. Let yourself be charmed by the old-fashioned and unusual decoration of la Marcotte.
A stay at la Marcotte, a real invitation to travel, is to be shared with your friends and family. This extraordinary house with its Russian influence can accommodate 9 guests. The owners, both collectors, accumulated travel souvenirs, antique furniture and paintings of different genres. Since the 70’s, the mood of living in a Russian fairytale has remained unchanged. Each room has its own strong personality, be it the three rooms in the main house or those situated in the annex. Let yourself be surprised by all the trinkets, appreciate the different designs of the wall covering: everything here has a fascinating story.
In winter, cuddle up in the big downy armchairs next to the fireplace: the various pieces of English furniture create an intimate and warm atmosphere. In summer, relax in the big swimming pool and enjoy a lunch under the 100-year-old catalpa tree. No matter the season, you will find it hard to resist to the charms of la Marcotte. Do not wait any longer – this is the ideal house for your next weekend spent with family or friends!

  • Nomber of persons
    • 11 peoples
  • Area
    • 250 m²
  • Price
    • From 720 € per night
      2 nights minimum
  • Setup & Exterior
    • 4 double bedrooms
    • 1 single bedroom
    • 1 twin bedroom
    • garden & Pool
  • Near
    • CHÂTEAU & FOREST OF FONTAINEBLEAU, BARBIZON, GOLF DE CÉLY
  • Location
  • Services included
    • LAUNDRY, CLEANING, BICYCLES, HOUSE MANAGER AT YOUR SERVICE
  • A la carte services
    • Food delivery, massage, breakfast on request

Outside our walls

During your stay, buy locally at the Ferme Chaillotine. They sell locally cultivated and in season organic fruits and vegetables as well as meats and eggs.

A mere four minute drive by car, the bread shop Chant des Blés, offers a large selection of specialty breads as well as a small but quality grocery foods both sweet and savory.
Want to just sit back and relax? After a walk in Barbizon, be sure to stop for lunch or dinner at one of the many restaurants located on the main street.

On the way back, lovers of home decoration should stop at Gabrielle Deschamps. You will find a selection of bargain-hunted objects, new or old to offer as a gift or just for yourself. After Barbizon and its galleries, why not go on a Sunday morning towards Millla-Forêt? Known as Jean Cocteau’s fief the atmosphere is very joyful, and shop keepers welcoming.

Wanting to explore more thoroughly the Parc du Gatinais? A 50 minute drive and you can easily get to Montargis, Venise du Gatinais, Ferrières-en-Gatinais or Yèvres-le-Chatel.

For a pretty hike, follow the GR32, the length of the Vallée de l’Ecole and go through Moigny-sur-Ecole, Courances, Dannemois and Soisy-sur-Ecole known to be amongst the prettiest villages of the region.

For horse ride lovers, go to Arbonne la Forêt and its horse riding school: individual or collective classes can be organized with Coralie as well as rides into the forest whatever your level in horsemanship may be.

Finally, for those who prefer a cultural outing rather than a nature outing, the Chateaux de Fontainebleau or Vaux le Vicomte are a not to be missed but have you heard of Chateau de By? A 30 minute drive will take you to the property that was the studio and residence of the painter Rosa Bonheur, a painter denigrated by the masculine world for a long time. The workshop has remained unchanged since the deatg of the painter and is really worth a visit.

everything to know about the address
  • Can I organize a party in a Pierres d’Histoire house?
    • No, Pierres d’Histoires houses are not organised for private parties to be held
  • Is the pool secured ?
    • Yes, the pool is equipped with barriers, we still strongly advise you to watch your kids carefully.
  • Is the pool accesible all day long ?
    • You can access the pool if you rent the main house or the whole Domaine. However, if you rent the Cottage, you cannot access the pool.
    • You can access the pool whenver. Still, try not to be too noisy if you bath at night.
Everything to know on a Pierres d'Histoire reservation
  • How can I reserve?
    • You are interested in on of our houses? You can reserve directly on our website or by calling our number at 01 84 83 04 00. If you reserve directly through Pierres d'Histoire, we guarantee you the best price.
  • Is housekeping included?
    • It is possible for a daily housecleaning service if requested and if available for a fee of 25€/hour. If you stay longer than a week, at mid-stay the bathroom and kitchen will be cleaned with a change of your bedsheets. This is free of charge.
  • Is it possble to rent a single room?
    • Our houses have to be rented as a whole, except for Hôtel de Tingry and the suites of de Fleury.
  • Can I reserve for a single night?
    • You have to stay a minimum of two nights as the rent of our houses necessitates a high cost of upkeep in order to always maintain our high quality.
  • Does the price include half-board?
    • No, meals are not included in our service. Our kitchens are fully equiped enabling you to prepare your own meals. However, if you do not wish to prepare your meals, most of our houses have a local catering service selected especialy by us. Our caterers prepare the meals themself and work with local products.
  • Are animals allowed?
    • Yes, dogs are allowed in our houses for an extra fee of 20€ per dog.
  • At what time can I arrive and at what time do I have to leave the house?
    • The house is available as of 4:00 p.m. on the day of your arrival. Check-out is at 11:00 a.m. at the latest. On Sundays, Pierres d'Histoire gives you the opportunity to decide yourself your departure time (except for Hôtel de Tingry).
  • In case of a poblem during my stay, who should I contact?
    • There is no reception desk at the Pierres d'Histoire houses. For any problems or queries you can get in touch with the house manager whose contact number is given in the confirmation mail when you reserve.He/she can be reached by telephone should you encounter any problems and will answer any of your questions.
  • Can I cancel my reservation?
    • You can cancel directly your reservation on line or by calling us at 01 84 83 04 00. Cancellation is free upto 30 days before your date of arrival. Less than that there will be a cancellation fee (see General Conditions of Sale).
  • Can I change my reservation?
    • If you wish to change your reservation, please contact us at 01 84 83 04 00.
  • What means of payment do you offer?
    • Reservations are made on line with your credit card. Our site is of course fully secured. We do not accept any other kind of payment and you cannot pay on the premises.
  • Do I have to make a down-payment?
    • For all reservations we ask a down-payment. A direct debit pre-authorisation will be registered a few days before your arrival. The security deposit is upto the amount of the down-payment depending on the house, but will not be debited unless damage has been noted.
  • When will I be debited?
    • A 30 % down-payment will be debited when you reserve. The balance will be debited between the 2nd and 5th day before your arrival.
  • Am I insured/responsible if I break something in the house?
    • Should we note an important damage in the house or if the furniture is damaged by misuse or volontarily broken, all or part of the security deposit will be debited in the 30 days following your departure.
  • Do Pierres d'Histoire houses have baby beds and high chairs?
    • Yes, upon request we can provide a baby bed and a wooden high chair. Ask your house manager when you call . However, baby bed sheets are not provided.
  • Is there air-conditioning and heating in the houses?
    • The houses are heated (heaters and fireplaces or wood-burners) but not air-conditioned (except for Hôtel de Tingry).
  • Is there a television in the houses?
    • Yes, every house has a television as well as wifi access and speakers.
  • Is household linen provided?
    • Yes, we provide sheets and towels in all the houses.
  • Are the kitchens and bathrooms equipped according to modern standards?
    • Yes all the kitchens and bathrooms of our houses have been built and equipped according to modern standards and European rules.
  • Are the kitchens fully equipped?
    • Yes, every kitchen at Pierres d'Histoire has a stove, an oven and a refrigerator. They also have all the pots and pans and various utensils you might need.
  • Is there internet service in the Pierres d'Histoire houses?
    • Internet coverage varies. Some of our houses have excellent internet service whereas others because of their geographic location in the countryside are less well covered.
  • Is there wifi in the Pierres d'Histoire houses?
    • Yes all our houses have wifi.
  • Are the basic necessities such as toilet paper, soap, tea or coffee provided?
    • Yes, in every Pierres d'Histoire house you will find toilet paper as well as shampoo and liquid soap shower. In the kitchens, dishwasher soap, tea and coffee are provided.
  • Are Pierres d'Histoire houses accesible to a person with reduced mobility?
    • Our houses are not accessible to a person with reduced mobility because of the architecture that very ofen are old, the stairways are narrow, the doors are not large enough, etc….
  • Are Pierres d'Histoire houses child friendly?
    • Yes, most our our houses are child friendly. They have gardens for them to ran around in and explore. However, some of the houses might be less adapted for very young children because of their proximity to water such as a swmming pool or a river, or else there might be stairs. Pierres d'Histoire declines any/all responsibility in case of an accident. For more information on the amenities of a house, do not hesitate to contact us.
  • Do we need to clean the house before departure?
    • The house will be cleaned after your departure, however we do ask that you leave the house the way you found it. Garbage cans need to be emptied and the dishwasher run.
  • Do we need a car during our stay?
    • Our houses are very often in the countryside, in places that are calm and peaceful. To get to these houses, to be able to discover the area or to be able to go grocery shopping we recommend that you have a car.
  • Is there a bed and breakfast rate?
    • No, breakfast is not included except for Hôtel de Tingry where it is. However, it is possible to order breakfast ahead of time, when you get in touch with the house manager.
  • When is the swimming pool open?
    • Our swimming pools are open between May and end of September depending on the weather.
  • Is the swimming pool heated?
    • The swimming pools of la Marcotte and la Clairière are heated, that of Tingry is not.
  • Is there a barbecue?
    • The houses with a barbecue are : La Marcotte la Clairière, the 3 houses of de Ravenoville as well as that of le Moulin de Pézenas.
  • Do you do long term rentals?
    • Yes we would be happy to welcome you for a long term rent subject to availability. Do not hesitate to call us so as to discuss the possibilities.
  • How do I get to the house that I have booked?
    • Prior to your arrival, you will receive a mail giving you all the necessary informations including the code for the key box of your house

History

The story starts in 1924, when due to the Revolution and the exile of an old noble family, a little boy arrives into France. He goes to the village of Fleury-en-Bière where he meets a young French girl whom he marries many years later.

The young man with a strong personality, going under the name of de Fleury, joins the free French Forces in London next to Générale de Gaulle.
After the war, he is named “Compagnon de la Libération”, an extremely rare distinction in those times, all the more so that he was not French.
Later he resides several times in Korea, works in Vienna, then in London, Algeria and finally in Paris.
In 1962, he and his wife buy la Marcotte which at that time is nothing more than an old farm in ruins.
The restoration of the main buildings starts in May of 1962 . It takes three years of work for the La Marcotte to become habitable. The estate includes, henceforth, the main house and a guest house so that everyone could have his own space. The old stable opened in such a way so as to “integrate” the garden in to the room, becomes the main living room.
Some small planning alterations continue till 1966 and the building site finally ends completely in 1971 with the building of a swimming pool.

Inside, the slightly old fashion charm of la Marcotte is due to the owners taste as collectors and antique lovers. The omnipresent Russian, Asian and Anglo-Saxon influences are the result of a knowledgeable accumulation of travel souvenirs, furniture and objects bought in auction rooms. Amongst the trinkets in this vast collection, one can find a number of swans that Madame particularly loved as well as some decorated eggs inspired from the famous Russian Fabergé eggs.
When Pierres d’Histoire takes over the management of la Marcotte in 2017, the House is as it is shown today but for one detail; half the objects have been removed, which goes to show just how full it was!

Apart from its refined decoration, it was and is reputed for its huge garden and many editorials where written at the time that you can read in the archives of the library.
In love with gardens, the owner reappropriates this greenery; a subtle mix of à la française topiary and à l’anglaise perennial shrubbery. It has very few flowers apart from those on the bushes and some potted plants on the terrace such as pink laurels, geraniums, fuchsias and other plumbagos that contrast with the austere rigorousness of the evergreens. Here, the greenery offers a very rich scale of green colors. There is little seasonal gardening, which has the advantage of allowing a full garden at all seasons. In winter, there is no strip of land empty of seasonal flowers, no dormant perennial but an open clearing and with sufficient perennial bushes planted so as to not appear desolate.
And as if a nod is given to the Russian origins of her husband, the owner brings a little bit of Russia to Ile de France by planting an alley of birch, the white birch being par excellence an emblem of Russia.
The atmosphere in this charming house seems to be stamped by an alchemy of two lovers mixing together their passions, complicities and tenderness; it is maybe this, too, that makes la Marcotte such an appealing place.

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