The Barn at Vijon
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Overview
2 bedrooms
1 bathroom
4 guests
3 nights minimum
Gites
The Barn at Vijon offers guests spacious accommodation with panoramic views over rural countryside. Boasting exposed beams, characterful stone walls and secluded private gardens. 2 bedrooms, bathroom and separate WC open plan kitchen, dining, gallery. Step out onto your spacious balcony and enjoy the stunning views whilst having breakfast or an aperitif.
Tourist License / Licencia de turismo N °: 884841859
House Rules
Pets not allowedKid friendlyNo smoking
CASH BREAKAGE DEPOSIT
200 Euros deposit will be required on arrival - this will be refunded after your stay subject to satisfactory inspection.
HEATING SUPPLEMENT
During cool periods a supplement of 15 Euros per night will be payable locally for the use of radiators in bedrooms and for the supply of wood for the log burner.
OWNERS LIABILITY
The Barn at Vijon is not liable for any damage/theft or otherwise to any personal items left unattended during your stay.
Bedrooms
1 Full3 Twins
Bathrooms
1 Shower
Meet the host
John T
Hosting since August 2015
Languages spoken: English, French
Response Time: Within a few hours
Interaction with guests: We respect individual guests privacy. John and Anne live at the property next door and are available if you have any questions or need advice on where to go and what to see. They are there for you as much or as little as you need them - it's your holiday, it is up to you.
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Reviews (12)
Mr_and_Mrs_CT
Brentwood, United Kingdom10 contributions
Wonderful property and marvellous hosts
A gorgeous house, both inside and out. Our first impressions were of a spotlessly clean, homely, warm and extremely well equipped property and lovely, welcoming, friendly, helpful hosts and this continued to improve throughout our stay. The property is a beautiful barn conversion hosting both original features alongside all modern amenities. Lovely views from the balcony and garden provided many different areas to relax and unwind in. Everything was spotlessly clean and felt like a home from home. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here and would highly recommend the Barn at Vijon. Thank you both John and Anne, we are currently enjoying some freshly baked courgette and walnut loaf made from your generous supply of home grown courgettes!
Visited August 2019
Written August 17, 2019. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
johndthomson
What a lovely review! We are absolutely delighted that you found our property to be of such quality that you would award us top marks - we try very hard to make everything perfect for our guests and when we receive such kind comments it makes it all worthwhile. (Bon appétit by the way!)
Written August 19, 2019. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
sylvievimont
Cork, Ireland3 contributions
little piece of heaven in the Creuse
we just back from spending a weekend at the barn in vijon. John and Anne wait us until 10pm to welcome us with a nice bottle of rose in the fridge and breakfast for the next morning. their hospitality and welcoming was warm and make us feel like home. the house is stunning. high standard class for a small price real quality value. well decorated. and of course so peaceful and quiet. a last chat before our goodbye it was like saying bye to old friends. we really enjoyed the place. and we will definitely coming back.
as we left the place clean and not damaged I received my deposit back in a matter of time And as planned.
John and Anne are honest and decent host and people and you should not care of the comment with low rate as its definitely do not reflect the service they offered.
I will stand and refer for them at 500% anytime. they are good people.
you respect the house you respect the rule.you respect the people you get your deposit back. simple as that.its a basic rule when travelling.
go and see by yourself this little piece of heaven and have a nice chat with John and Anne .highly recommended !!!
Visited May 2019
Written May 5, 2019. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
johndthomson
Thank you so much Sylvie. It was lovely to have you and your brother stay with us. Your comments, especially as you are so well-travelled and have stayed in many different types of accommodation, mean so much to us. It is heartening to know that what we provide and the way we run our business is appreciated.
Written May 6, 2019. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lynn K
West Yorkshire, United Kingdom1 contribution
A Sad Ending
Following my husbands review and comments , I would like to add my own.
Upon arrival Steve was asked for a cash deposit of 100 euros and told that it would be returned via bank transfer shortly after we left.I queried with Steve as to why it could not be returned in cash before we left and after inspection by the owners .Unfortunately I did not pursue this point and Steve deeply regrets not following my advice.
There is little point going over the facts again but at no time did we ever use or even open The door of the microwave.
It is interesting to note that we left the premises around 8am but that the owners email was sent to us around 6 pm -ensuring we were well on our way home so could not return to dispute the damage.
Why pay the deposit in cash and not by the UK bank as with the weeks rental -Steve being a Chartered Accountant , who specialised in taxation ,suspects that it is to do with French Taxation.
I note from the internet that it appears to be quite common for their to be problems with deposits as it is an unregulated area and suggestions on the Internet are to write / email to the local Mairie.
Steve booked through Holiday France Direct and they have said they will investigate but highly unlikely to be successful as it is their word against ours.
The owners have said that we are in effect threatening them by using comments on social media.Steve tried email but with no success .Trip Advisor etc are there so that honest reviews good or bad are published to help other users.
We fell into the trap of trust probably like most of the English and should have fully checked out the equipment -we do not want anyone else to make our mistakes.
On the positive side the property is in very good condition and well equipped with sky TV .There was a wasp problem due to the hot summer but that was just bad luck.The position is extremely quiet and not really for children .The WiFi was quite slow and frequently had to be rebooted but Vijon is in the middle of the country so you cannot expect high speed fibre.If the deposit had not been unjustly retained we would both have given the Barn at Vijon a good recommendation.
We both feel a great injustice has occurred but are powerless to do anything about the situation.
Visited August 2018
Written August 28, 2018. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
johndthomson
We thank you for your review of our property and we are pleased that you enjoyed your stay. We agree that there is no point going over old ground (our previous response to your husbands review has already covered this) so we will simply address the points that you have raised here.
Deposit – your husband was not asked for the security deposit when you arrived, he actually came and gave it to us in cash without having to be asked for it - he had clearly read and understood our terms and conditions regarding security deposits otherwise he would not have offered the 100 Euros in cash there and then. Indeed our terms and conditions were pointed out to you yourself by e-mail weeks before your arrival when you sent a message asking why we recommended you should have travel insurance that includes liability. Unlike many other property owners who ask that a much higher security deposit be paid (at the same time as the balance payment 8 weeks before arrival), The Barn at Vijon is prepared to accept it on arrival and refund within 7 days of departure (subject to a satisfactory property inspection).
Your departure - An arrangement was made the night prior to your departure for us to come round at an agreed time to inspect the property, take the key from you and say goodbye. 30 minutes prior to the agreed time your husband came to our property to hand over the key and give us bank details for the refund of the security deposit (within 7 days, as per our terms and conditions), subject to a satisfactory property inspection. When we came round the door had already been locked and the three other members of the group were already in the car ready to go. We were therefore not given the opportunity to inspect the property together – not of our choosing. Had we been able to check the property together we would have been able to show you the pyjama trousers found in one of the bedside drawers and we would most definitely have been able to show you the damaged microwave.
Advising you of the damage – Saturdays are very busy especially when you have 4 people departing and more guests arriving the same day. It’s unbelievable that anyone would think that we waited until 6pm to ensure that you had driven far enough away so that you would not turn round and come back to dispute the damage! We were extremely busy preparing for our next guests. By the time they had arrived and settled in we were able to send our e-mail along with photographic evidence of the damaged microwave. That was our earliest opportunity.
French Taxation Fiddle? – I simply do not understand where this comes from. 100 Euros was paid in cash on arrival as a security deposit. (Of course we could have asked for this by Bank Transfer had you preferred 8 weeks prior to your arrival – but then we would have been holding on to it for a much longer period than just 7 days). If there is no damage the 100 Euros (or Sterling equivalent) is refunded within 7 days by Bank Transfer. If damage is found to have been caused then replacement equipment has to be bought – in this case a new microwave oven paid for by the cash security deposit. It is not income, it is not part of our turnover; it is immediately paid out again to replace the damaged equipment. So, where is the Taxation Fiddle that we are allegedly orchestrating?
E-mails. You say that your husband has tried by e-mail to resolve the situation without success. These e-mails threatened us with bad reviews unless and until the security deposit was returned! The reviews posted since are therefore exactly what we had expected. I assume success for you is to have 100 Euros returned in full and that we should stand the cost of a replacement out of our own pocket. Well I am sorry; security deposits are to cover such eventualities as this. If we are not supposed to use the security deposit to replace goods clearly damaged by guests during their stay then what is the point of them?
And finally - Honest reviews – I absolutely agree with you that honest reviews are what Trip Advisor is all about. You had a very enjoyable stay – you say this on your review, indeed you go as far as saying that, but for the dispute over the damaged microwave, you would have recommended The Barn at Vijon to other visitors. Honest reviews? - your husband’s review on another site also said that you had enjoyed your time with us but chose to award us 1/10 for value – 1/10!
You each paid the equivalent of £20 per person per night for a property which has been reviewed as 5* over 50 times across multiple sites.
Thank you once again for posting the review and for giving us the opportunity to put our side of the story.
Written August 30, 2018. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Graham E
Edinburgh, United Kingdom2 contributions
A lovely, relaxing, comfortable holiday destination.
Having been to "The Barn at Vijon" for the second time (1 week last year, 2 weeks this year), we were delighted with everything about the accommodation, location and especially John & Anne.
We have no hesitation in recommending The Barn at Vijon for those seeking a lovely, relaxing, comfortable holiday destination.
Visited July 2018
Written August 26, 2018. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
johndthomson
Thank you very much Graham - a lovely review for which we are very grateful. It's great to know that we are doing things right and that people like yourselves would recommend us to others and even come back for more!
Written August 27, 2018. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
stevekerby
Brighouse, United Kingdom17 contributions
Extremely Disapointed
We actually had a great week there but sadly upon our return home we received an email informing us that we had allegedly damaged the microwave and therefore our cash deposit was being retained.We never used the microwave although on our arrival we did note that the oven had been badly damaged although the owners never informed us of this problem but had taken photos of the oven in case.The owner insists that the damage was done during our stay although we never used so we ask you to draw your own conclusions !!!
We would therefore suggest that if you are going to book this property that you fully check out the equipment so that you do not fall into the trap that we have found ourselves in.
Visited August 2018
Written August 25, 2018. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
johndthomson
Barn at Vijon response -
Cash security/breakage deposit is required from all guests as per our terms and conditions. Retaining all or part of a security/breakage deposit is not done lightly – knowing very well that it may cause ill-feeling.
We are accused by this guest of conducting “A Con”. The quality and quantity of reviews across multiple sites over a long period of time suggest that we are far from being “Con artists”. Anyway, what do we gain? The retained deposit is to replace a damaged Microwave which was perfectly fine on arrival but damaged on departure.
For the sake of clarity we are talking about two different ovens. Firstly, the microwave which we know was damaged during the stay. Guests deny using the microwave but whilst in the garden we distinctly heard one guest shout to another ‘put it in the microwave’.
Secondly, the oven which guests say they took photos of on arrival because they say was in a bad state of repair. The only issue with this oven was that someone had previously put cooking foil on the bottom of the oven after failing to clear a spillage and it had “baked” on so hard it was impossible to remove all the foil. This does not make the oven unsafe. Who replaces an entire oven on this basis?
If a photo was taken of the “damaged” oven to avoid any accusations of damage on the guest’s part why then was no photo taken of the Microwave? if, as is suggested, it was damaged prior to their arrival.
Threats received so far in e-mails include, “Not get angry but get even” and that we will “not have heard the last of it”, along with the intention to write bad reviews across all social networks unless the deposit is returned.
We are pleased to note that these guests enjoyed their stay with us as told to us on their departure and as commented on in our guest book. However, if the only way to receive good reviews is to NEVER make a claim on a breakage deposit when damage occurs then the “con” is on us.
Written August 26, 2018. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Exchangers1957
Exeter, United Kingdom20 contributions
Perfect Gite!
We had an amazing stay here last week. The gite is perfect in every way; beautifully decorated and thoughtfully furnished. Everything you could wish for is provided and John and Anne are the perfect hosts. We just loved the village - we cycled many miles - then returned to the village bar for a glass or two of beer! If you are looking for a relaxing holiday in a totally unspoilt area - look no more!
Visited August 2016 Traveled as a couple
Written August 29, 2016. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
johndthomson
Thank you for your great review; we are so pleased you enjoyed your stay. It was lovely to meet you and we look forward to seeing you again soon.
Written August 31, 2016. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Louise0765
Vancouver, Canada2 contributions
Fantastic house in French country
Fantastic French country house! Our host were very nice and help us with everything we needed. They welcomed us with a nice bottle of Rosé! The kitchen is well equipped and the house is clean and well decorated. It has a cosy fire place which we enjoyed. The location is great and the view of the French country side is beautiful. We strongly recommend the Barn at Vijon. We hope to come back one day!
Visited May 2016 Traveled as a couple
Written May 10, 2016. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
johndthomson
Thank you for your review - we really appreciate your comments and we thank you for recommending it to others. We would love to welcome you back again in the future.
Written May 11, 2016. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
sydspot
Los Angeles, CA20 contributions
Serenity for the Soul
The Barn at Vijon is situated in a small remote town. The unobstructed views look out onto the beautiful French countryside and you have the sensation you have found your own private sanctuary. The Barn has been restored to a very high standard and it is exceptionally clean and comfortable. So much attention has been paid to the small details. We stayed for four nights and were just as happy relaxing "at home" as we were to go out explore the area. The hosts, John and Anne, were the perfect balance of friendly but respectful of our privacy. We felt extremely comfortable at all times, not that sensation you can get at some properties where you feel someone is always watching you. We were there in early spring so it was still chilly outside. There is a beautiful wood burning fireplace and John ensured there was plenty of wood to keep us warm.
All in all, if you're looking for relaxation and to explore the area, I would 100% recommend this place. You won't be disappointed!
Visited April 2016 Traveled as a couple
Written April 16, 2016. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
johndthomson
Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to post such a wonderfully detailed review. We really value your opinion and are delighted that you enjoyed your stay so much.
Written April 17, 2016. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sandrine G
Merey-sous-Montrond, France1 contribution
fantastique
C'est dans un agréable coin de verdure que nous avons passé un magnifique moment en famille .
Ce gîte , entièrement rénové par John et Anne , a été aménagé avec goût ; tout est décoré merveilleusement et rien ne manque . Un kit de petit déjeuner est à votre disposition le temps de vous organiser . Anne et John vous accueillent chaleureusement et restent à votre disposition pour que votre séjour se déroule le mieux possible . Nous avons hâte de revenir ..
Visited October 2015
Written February 17, 2016. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
johndthomson
Nous vous remercions de votre avis - nous sommes très heureux que vous avez apprécié votre séjour et que vous étiez satisfaits de l'hébergement et des installations que nous fournissons. Nous nous réjouissons de vous accueillir à nouveau une autre fois.
Written February 19, 2016. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mark S
Chelmsford, United Kingdom2 contributions
Fantastic Barn Renovation and Very Friendly Helpful Hosts
We have travelled the EU several times and stayed at various places but the Barn at Vijon is without doubt the most impressive property we have stayed in, the hosts John and Ann are very welcoming friendly and helpful leaving us alone to enjoy our stay but always available if we did need any assistance.
We would not hesitate to stay at the barn again and would highly recommend it to anybody needing accommodation in this area of France.
John and Ann have done a fantastic job of converting the barn to a very high standard, thank you to both of you for a fantastic stay.
Mark Lisa and Kyle.
Visited October 2015 Traveled as a couple
Written November 2, 2015. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
johndthomson
Thanks Mark for your wonderful review; we are so pleased that you enjoyed your stay. It's great to know that all our hard work on the barn renovation has been worthwhile.
Written November 2, 2015. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Showing results 1-10 of 12
What this rental offers
Indoor amenities
- Fireplace
- Internet access
- Cable television
Things to do
- Watersports
- Cycling areas
Nearby
- Golf course (within 30 mins drive)
- Hiking areas
- Countryside area
Entertainment
- DVD player
- Television
Outdoor amenities
- Balcony
- Private yard
- Terrace
Wi-fi and internet
- Wi-fi
Parking
- Parking available
Kitchen and dining
- Grill
- Refrigerator
- Kettle
- Microwave
- Stove
- Toaster
Bathroom and laundry
- Iron
- Linens provided
- Towels provided
- Washer
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Map
Getting there
Charles De Gaulle Airport
179.5 mi
Chateauroux Airport
33.4 mi
Restaurants
Le Relais du Facteur
4.6 mi
La Bonne Auberge
2.9 mi
Tatty-Chic Boutique
4.6 mi
Le Bistrot, 22 RUE DE BERRY, 36160 Vijon
1 min
Attractions
Maison de Jour de Fête
4.5 mi • Speciality Museums
Château du Puy
3.5 mi • Theater & Performances
La Croix Calvaire De Sainte Sévère
4.5 mi • Religious Sites
Porte Fortifiée
4.6 mi • Historic Sites
About the neighborhood
The Barn at Vijon is located within 14km of Sainte Severe to the North and Boussac (Creuse) to the South. La Chatre is approximately 25 minutes drive and Montlucon around 45 minutes. The Gite is close to the area of the 3 lakes and is less than 30 minutes from Maison De George Sand at Nohant. Restaurants at Sainte Severe, Boussac, Nouzerines and La Celette provide vistors with plenty of culinary delights. The local area is ideal for walkers and for cyclists with quiet country lanes and stunning countryside views. There are many churches, chateaux and historic buildings within the vicinity and our detailed tourist information available at the Gite helps visitors make the most of their time in the area.
Getting around
You will have realised that it is essential to have a car when visiting rural France. There is little or no public transport in the immediate area so use your car to go anywhere, take your bikes or just get out there and walk - there's lots to see and do.
Access
Car required
How to get there
Travelling South via Chateauroux, pass through La Chatre and follow signs for Sainte Severe. At Sainte Severe head in the direction of Boussac. After 2KM follow the signs for Vijon. On arrival in Vijon pass to the right-hand side of the church and the barn is located 50m along the lane.
Travelling from the Airport at Limoges follow signs for Paris on the A20 and turn off at the junction for Gueret (the N145). After 45 minutes and having arrived at Gueret follow the signs for La Chatre. Pass through Genouillac and take a right turn to Betete. Head towards Nouzerines where you will first see the sign for Vijon. On arrival head towards the Church.
Activities nearby
Golf course (within 30 mins drive)Watersports
Things to know
Check in / out timings
Check in after 3 PM • Check out by 10 AM
Cancellation policy
- 100% refund within 24 hours after booking (provided the stay is at least 60 days away).
- 50% refund* if you cancel at least 8 weeks before check-in
- 25% refund* if you cancel at least 4 weeks before check-in
- No refund available once booking is confirmed
About this property
- First, check the Availability tab on this page to see if your dates are available. If they are, contact the owner via the Tripadvisor Rental Inbox to confirm availability.
- Initially, you may contact the owner via the Tripadvisor Rental Inbox. This inbox is created after you send your first message or booking request to the owner. After you've made your first payment, you'll be able to see the owner's contact information.
- This owner will contact you via the Tripadvisor Rental Inbox.
- You can send another message via the Tripadvisor Rental Inbox to ask if the property is still available.
- For this property, please use a credit card to pay via the Tripadvisor Rental Inbox. Once the owner approves your stay, he or she will send you a quote, which will include payment instructions.
- Yes. Payments made via the Tripadvisor inbox are covered by our Payment Protection.
This property is affiliated with 
All bookings are direct with the owner
All bookings are direct with the owner Property #FKN2226738540
Frequently Asked Questions about The Barn at Vijon
- The Barn at Vijon is able to accommodate up to 4 guests. See all property details.
- The Barn at Vijon has one bathroom available. See all property details.
- The Barn at Vijon has 2 bedrooms available. See all property details.
- Stays at The Barn at Vijon must last at least 3 nights. See all property details.
The Barn at Vijon UPDATED 2024: 2 Bedroom Rental Home in Sainte-Severe-sur-Indre with Private Yard and Washer - Tripadvisor
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