Fronts onto village square
Back of house faces south with First floor balcony.  Views to the Grand Colombier (1500 metres high) in the middle distance, and a panorama to the Southern Alps in clear conditions. 
Small sunny garden backs on to pasture where cows graze and hens scratch.

Village

Hotonnes is a picturesque mountain village, there is a small but very well stocked  supermarket / bakery where you can get most day to day requirements - including Post Office and butcher depts.   A new open air restaurant 'La Guinguette de la Vendroliere' has opened just down the road at the Plan D'Eau serving pizzas, plat du jour etc. to eat there or Take Away.  The hotel bar/ restaurant/ tabac is currently closed but hopefully will reopen one day.    On Friday a cheese van visits the village with an excellent selection.  There are numerous other villages and hamlets close by, some of which offer further possibilities for eating out.
Area
 The village is at an altitude of 736m and is on a plateau, which rises to 1300 m.  Dairy farming is a major activity and when you see the variety of wild flowers in the meadows you realise why such excellent cheese is made here.  You can visit the Frutiere at Brenod 13kms away where you can see an exhibition and video of the cheese making process.  The caves at Cerdon (30 Kms) are also connected with cheese making as “Bleu de Gex” used to be matured there.  The guided walk through the former underground river is not to be missed with its caverns and lime stone formations.  The limestone of the area has also created some spectacular waterfalls.  The nearby county town of Belley is famed as the birthplace of Brillat-Savarin whose house you can visit. The cathedral is also notable and the town has a pleasant ambience. Within a radius of an hour and a half’ s drive – Chamonix/Mont Blanc to the east, the Lac du Bourget, with it’s boat trips and water sports  to the south,  Lyon and the Dombes(hundreds of small lakes and nature reserve).  There is really lots to do and see.

Weather
This is a very sunny part of the world, with wonderful clear air. Being up in the hills it doesn’t get unpleasantly hot as it can down in the Rhone valley in summer, and there is often a cooling breeze.

House

Garden

Access to the vaulted cellar - formerly used for maturing cheese NOW more of a Games Room with :

  • Snooker table
  • Table tennis
  • Table Football
  • Garden furniture
  • Barbecue 

Ground floor (street level)

  • Kitchen/breakfast room with gas cooker, washing-machine and fridge freezer
  • Spacious hall area
  • Separate Beamed Dining Room   -   French door to large South Facing Balcony
  • Bathroom with shower over bath, WC
  • Beamed living room with Satelite TV and DVD

First floor

  • 4 bedrooms (3 Twin, 1 Double)
  • Bathroom with small French style bath (shower over)
  • Small West facing balcony catches the late evening sun

Conditions

Pets are not accepted