Cottage in Gascony, Pyrenees, France
Picturesque, Secluded Vine-Clad Cottage Close to Central Pyrenees
Self-Catering Country Property - Period Charm, Quiet Setting, Private Garden
Sleeps 2/6 (2 Bedrooms)
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Built in the 1820s, this picturesque vine-clad cottage is a traditional L-shaped building with a latticed open barn on its west side. It is set on the edge of open countryside with south-west views towards the Pyrenees. To the front, there's a pretty, lawned garden bordered by mature trees and shrubs and a delightful wisteria-covered terrace offering lots of shade. At the west side, the garden opens on to a larger, unfenced area of meadow with a sunny, private terrace bordered by a rock garden. It has long views over lush forests and pastureland towards the Pyrenees. The cottage is attractively furnished and well-equipped. It has comfortable seating, English and French antiques, beamed ceilings and an open fire. We provide garden furniture, table-tennis, boules, a telescope and 4 town bikes (free), reading material, use of maps, guidebooks and games. Come to relax and enjoy the quiet, and southern Gascony's great food and wine, lush landscapes, clear air and amazing night skies.
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| Rental periods | |
| 11 October - 2 January 2009 | £295 |
| 3 January - 27 March 2009 | £290 |
| 28 March - 22 May 2009 | £300 |
| 23 May - 26 June 2009 | £370 |
| 27 June - 4 September 2009 | £420 |
| 5 September - 9 October 2009 | £370 |
| 10 - 30 October 2009 | £300 |
| 31 October 2009 - 2 April 2010 | £290 |
| 3 April - 21 May 2010 | £300 |
| 22 May - 25 June 2010 | £370 |
| 26 June - 10 September 2010 | £420 |
| 11 September - 8 October 2010 | £300 |
| 9 October - 5 November 2010 | £290 |
Notes on prices
Prices are for the property per week in UK pounds. 5% discounts for bookings of 3 weeks or more and for repeat bookings.
Changeover day
Saturday is our preferred changeover day.
Accommodation
| Bedrooms: | Bedroom 1 with double bed. Bedroom 2 with double and extra single bed. Mezzanine with antique single bed. Passage room with single bed. Cot. Sofabed in sitting-room (ground floor). |
| Bathrooms: | Ground floor bathroom with washbasin, hairdryer, bath/shower over and enclosure and WC. Upstairs washroom with washbasin, mirror and WC. Separate garden WC outside utility room. |
| Kitchen: | Well-equipped corner kitchen with 4-burner hob (gas), electric oven and grill, fridge/freezer, toaster, mixer and dishwasher. |
| Utility Room: | Tumble dryer, washing machine, iron and board, baby bath, changing mat, highchair and vacuum cleaner. |
| Living Rooms: | Living/dining room seats 6. Dining table, fireside sofa, armchair, satellite TV, DVD, sitting-room with double sofabed. |
| Cleaning/towels/ linen/maid service: |
Bed linen, bath and hand towels are optional. Double or single sets available for hire. Changeover cleaning charge per booking. |
Notes on accommodation
The air-conditioning units are on the ground floor in the kitchen/living room and sitting-room. We have a telescope and sky map for visitors' use. The polished wooden stairs are ungated and may be unsuitable for small children or the elderly/infirm.
- hob/stove,
- oven,
- fridge/freezer,
- dishwasher,
- washing machine,
- tumble dryer,
- iron/ironing board,
- satellite tv,
- telephone,
- central heating,
- air conditioning,
- room fans,
- cot,
- high chair,
- barbecue
Accessibility
All the bedrooms are upstairs. Some doorways are narrow and there are differences in level on the ground floor (step into sitting-room and back corridor leading to bathroom). There are steps into the entrance hall from the garden.
Outside
Garden furniture, sunshades, cushions, garden shower with hose attachment, table tennis, boules. Washing-line. Sunny (and shady) terrace for relaxing and enjoying nature, sunsets, stargazing and bird watching.
Coast/Beach
Picturesque coves and sandy beaches are at Biarritz down to St. Jean de Luz on the Basque coast. Long, sandy surfing beaches stretch north of Biarritz up to Arcachon. Swimming is supervised where strong currents and high waves may represent a risk to surfers and swimmers. Biarritz is about 115 miles (180km), driving time about 1½ to 2 hrs (so a day trip is possible if you set off early).
Golf
Golf enthusiasts can choose from local championship courses within 1 hour's drive like Bagnères-de-Bigorre, Pau, Tarbes, Lannemezan, Château de Palanne (Tillac).
Skiing
For downhill skiing, it's just over an hour to the ski slopes of Hautacam, La Mongie, St. Lary, Peyragudes, Barèges and Gavarnie (1400 - 2500m), or to Cauterets, Campan-Payolle and Nistos for cross-country runs. A bus runs from Bagnères-de-Bigorre to the lifts.
Travel
Access to the cottage is easy by road, rail and air. Several low-cost carriers now serve the area. Car-hire facilities are available at all the major arrival points. Nearest motorway exits (A64): Capvern, Tournay. Nearest Motorail stations: Tarbes, Toulouse. Nearest ferry port Bilboa 320km/200 miles. Nearest airports: Tarbes-Ossun-Lourdes 30 min. Pau 40 min served by RyanAir. Toulouse 1¼ hrs. served by BAF, EasyJet, BMI. Carcassonne 2 hrs. Biarritz 1¾ hrs. - both served by RyanAir.
Distances
Cabanac (nearest baker) 5km. Capvern 14 km. Tarbes 19 km. Tournay 10 km. Trie-sur-Baïse 12 km. Tarbes-Ossun-Lourdes (local airport) 28 km. Lourdes Sanctuary 31km. Pyrenees National Park 64 km. Pau c.45 mins 64 km/40 miles. Atlantic/Basque coast (Bayonne, Biarritz, St. Jean de Luz) 1½ to 1¾ hrs. San Sebastian 2¼ hrs. Narbonne and Mediterr. coast c.2½ to 3 hrs.
Further details
The location is beautifully peaceful but within very easy reach of daily farmers' markets, services, shops, supermarkets and restaurants (20 min). Our house file for visitors has extensive information on local amenities, events and activities, music, theatre/music/jazz festivals, a list of recommended restaurants and places of cultural and historic interest. Under 1 hr. to the mountains and Spain. 40 min to the Cathedral at St. Bertrand-de-Comminges set above the beautiful site of the Gallo-Roman settlement. Approx. 1 hr to Madiran, Jurançon (important wine-producing areas), Armagnac and Béarn. Within 1 hr to Marciac for the famous International Jazz Festival in August - just one of many local summer events. Country Music festival every July in Mirande. Latin-American music festival in Capvern. Theatre, concerts and museums in Pau and Tarbes.
No shortage of facilities for tennis, riding, stargazing, cycling, swimming, climbing, skiing, walking, water sports, coarse/fly fishing (holiday licences are sold locally June – September). Lakes suitable for swimming/boating: Miélan c.26km, Lourdes c.38km, Marciac c.45km, Castelnau-Magnoac c. 20km.
Water-sports centres and swimming: Boulogne-sur-Gesse c.35km, St. Pé de Bigorre c.48km. You will need a car to get around.
Weather: Climate change is altering the world's weather patterns so any description we give you of local weather is without guarantee!
Booking notes
Please contact us for a booking form and booking details. To reserve dates, please email, fax or phone. To secure your booking, please post us a signed copy of our booking form with the booking deposit cheque (40% of rental). Formal confirmation follows upon clearance of cheque. If booking within 6 weeks of the start of your holiday, please enclose full payment with signed booking form, plus separate cheques for refundable breakages deposit and extras.
5% discount: bookings of 3 weeks or more.
Guest comments
'We were quite sad to leave the utter peace and tranquillity.' J.L. 04/06.
'We have many enjoyable memories of our stay and our trips in the mountains and hinterland. The gite was a real pleasure - so well appointed and in such a tranquil location.' JM 8/05.
'Had a wonderful time, mountains were fantastic; we could not believe how much snow there was still! The house was the perfect peaceful retreat.'
AR 04/05.
'We really appreciated having shade and just watching the activity of the birds, butterflies and lizards was quite energetic enough for us much of the time!' JC 8/03.
'We had a wonderful time. La F. was certainly located in the most beautiful part of France I have visited.' GC 6/03.
'Loved the house and surrounding area. A splendid holiday was had by all.' AP 8/02.
'We had a completely relaxing time in one of the most welcoming houses we've ever had in France.' CS 6/01.
'The house is full of character and the location all that we'd hoped for.' MT 8/00.
For booking and further information
Susan Cubitt
Tel: (Germany) + 49 (0)89 268 778
Email: Click here
Owners Website: Click here
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This advertiser joined Owners Direct in January 2008,
and has advertised this property with us since January 2008.
Property Ref FR3082
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