Private farmhouse for holiday rentals near Condom, Midi-Pyrenees, France
Immaculately Restored Stone Farmhouse with Private Pool in Gascony
In the Heart of the Armagnac Region, with Magical Views
Sleeps 8 (4 Bedrooms) + baby
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A lovely 4 bedroom 4 bathroom home, Chicot was created by architects from the sympathetic merging of the original 18C fermette and its adjoining barns and stable. It has spectacular 270° views. Well planned, and with a wealth of period features, it offers a careful blend of antique and modern furniture, and every home comfort. This unspoilt area offers a rich heritage, super climate, great regional food and wine, heaps to see and do: close to the main St Jacques de Compostella route through the department, it is perfect for golfers, hikers - and for bikers, those toting brushes or cameras, or simply needing to flop. With such easy access, it's the perfect French holiday retreat.
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| Rental periods | ||
| 27 September - 24 October 2008 | £1100 | Flexible changeover |
| 25 - 31 October 2008 (UK Half Term Week) | £925 (special offer) | Flexible changeover |
| 4 April - 22 May 2009 | £1000 | Flexible changeover |
| 23 - 29 May 2009 (UK Half Term Week) | £1100 | Flexible changeover |
| 4 - 10 June 2009 | £1300 | Thursday changeover |
| 11 June - 1 July 2009 | £1450 | Thursday changeover |
| 2 - 8 July 2009 | £1750 | Thursday changeover |
| 9 July - 26 August 2009 | £1850 | Thursday changeover |
| 27 August - 2 September 2009 | £1750 | Thursday changeover |
| 3 - 16 September 2009 | £1450 | Thursday changeover |
| 17 - 23 September 2009 | £1300 | Thursday changeover |
| 26 September - 23 October 2009 | £1100 | Flexible changeover |
| 24 - 30 October 2009 (UK Half Term Week) | £1000* | Flexible changeover |
Notes on prices
Prices shown are for the property per week in UK Pounds. Long lets considered in March and April at 25% of the peak rate. October Half Term, 25 October - 1 November 2008: Saturday changeover is available, and October is a beautiful month in Gascony. Special offer for this week of a reduction of £100, to £900.
Changeover day
Saturday changeovers are possible outside school summer holidays for your short break, including (UK) half-term holidays; for other changeover days, do ask. During the main season, arrival day is Thursday, for better deals with flights and crossings.
Accommodation
| Bedrooms: | Built-in wardrobes in all rooms. Beds 1/2 (GF and 1stF) have triple aspect/panoramic views, and large double bed (160cms). Beds 3/4 are twin rooms but beds can be joined to create a 'Superking' bed (180cm); these have pretty views to the old orchard. |
| Bathrooms: | Bedrooms 1, 2 and 3 each have an en suite 'wetroom', basin and WC. The family bathroom is on the first floor, and has a bath with shower over, basin and WC. Heated towel rails in all. Separate downstairs cloakroom with WC and basin. |
| Kitchen: | Exposed stone, wonderful beams. Modern white units with central island, solid wood work surfaces. Tiled floor. Pretty table/chairs seating 6. Small sofa. Views + French doors onto terrace. See 'Amenities' below. Large Smeg oven (elec) + gas hob. TV etc. |
| Utility Room: | Directly off the kitchen, the utility room houses the washing machine, tumble dryer, a large second fridge/freezer, iron, ironing board, shelves, vacuum cleaner and other cleaning equipment, plus containers for recycling. |
| Living Rooms: | You'll love the beautiful, spacious salon with fireplace, woodburning stove, beams, exposed stone and double aspect. Superb table and chairs seating 10 comfortably, 2x3-seater cream sofas + 2 armchairs, coffee table, TV, video/DVD/CD players. See notes! |
| Other: | Spacious tiled entrance hall, with fireplace + woodburning stove, cloak cupboard, antique farmhouse table, plus original quaint staircase to first floor landing, a pleasing space leading to two charming bedrooms (one ensuite) and family bathroom. |
| Cleaning/towels/ linen/maid service: |
High quality towels and bed-linen included, plus change of linen provided weekly, and final clean. Please bring towels for the pool. Babysitting, extra cleaning and catering can be arranged. Capable trilingual caretaker (English, French, Dutch) on call. |
Notes on accommodation
Wi-Fi access is available - bring your own laptop. Kettle, toaster, mini food processor also provided, and most kitchen gadgetry that you will need when eating in - even the oyster knife, plus a great selection of cookbooks. Stairgate, changing mat and baby bath provided. Ceiling fans in all main rooms. Two washing lines outside for those towels and cozzies. Books, games, jigsaws, plus masses of videos, DVDs, and CDs, to please all tastes. Boules set, badminton and table tennis equipment.
For lots more information on the property and the area, including picture gallery and floorplans, and guestbook, please visit our website - see contact details.
- hob/stove,
- oven,
- fridge/freezer,
- fridge,
- microwave,
- dishwasher,
- washing machine,
- tumble dryer,
- iron/ironing board,
- satellite tv,
- tv,
- telephone,
- internet access,
- air conditioning,
- room fans,
- cot,
- high chair,
- barbecue,
- private pool (for sole use of guests)
Accessibility
Au Chicot is perfect for those with independent but limited mobility, having 2 bedrooms on the ground floor with ensuite shower rooms - one shallow step to negotiate in the case of one room, two shallow steps a few feet apart to enter the other. The rest of the ground floor is level except for a single shallow step from kitchen/breakfast room to sitting/dining room. There are no steps to the exterior, and access to the pool is via a gentle slope.
Outside
Au Chicot stands at the head of a little plateau, in a tiny hamlet of 3 houses, and a short walk from an Armagnac chateau, le Busca-Maniban, the region's finest example of 17C architecture. Chicot's 3 acres of land include a small orchard with picnic bench, a lawned area, and fields. The private pool, 30m from the house, is 11m x 5m, with Roman steps, and has an electrically operated cover for security. Accessed from the kitchen and salon, the terrace is equipped for outdoor eating, (parasol, large table and 8 chairs, and lighting), bordered by a selection of herbs, and dotted with large tubs of geraniums. The huge, restored open barn, near the pool, is perfect for table tennis and badminton, and has a soft floodlight; the cupboard there stores the sunloungers etc, cushions, etc. By day, enjoy sweeping views across vineyards, fields of sunflowers, tranquil, rolling hills, and the village of Cassaigne and its Armagnac chateau, and by night, dramatic sunsets and boundless starlit skies.
Coast/Beach
The Atlantic coast is a pleasant 2 1/2-hour drive - eg Mimizan Plage, or Biarritz for surfing. Closer to home there are countless lakes with beaches, many offering water slides, windsurfing, fishing etc, and rivers for boating (trips or to hire) + canoeing. 40 mins drive away is Walibi Aquitaine, near Agen, a water/ theme park with activities for all ages, plus shops and a range of restaurants, special events and shows in summer.
Golf
All courses have restaurants with good value menus. Fee concessions on some courses. * Nearest golf-course is the beautiful wooded 18-hole championship course, Golf de Guinlet, 15 mins, close to the market town of Eauze, and considered the best in the area. * Over the border in Lot-et-Garonne is the 18-hole course, Golf d'Albret at Barbaste, 35 mins. Unique, fortified mill, the Moulin-des-Tours nearby. * For 9 challenging holes, try Golf de Fleurance, 35 mins. * The delightful 18-hole course, Golf d'Auch-Embats, near Auch, 35 mins, has a superb restaurant. * The Golf de Pallanne, recently upgraded to 18 holes, winds around an 18C chateau, with the Pyrenees forming a backdrop. Near Marciac, 60 mins. * The 18-hole course, Golf de Gascogne, is located at the cheerful bastide of Masseube, 60 mins. * Just into the Landes, is the 18-hole Golf de Mont de Marsan. One for every day of the week, and even getting there will be a pleasure. Golfing heaven!
Travel
Nearest airports serving Au Chicot are Pau, Toulouse and Bordeaux (bet. 1 1/2 - 2 hrs), and Bergerac, Biarritz and Carcassonne ( 2 - 2 1/2 hrs). From Calais, the drive is 9 1/2 hrs approx, and from St Malo 7 hrs. Excellent rail links via TGV to Agen. A car will be necessary to access amenities and do justice to the region's many wonderful places of beauty and interest.
Distances
Nearest village for bread Mouchan, 5 mins; Condom, despite its name, is a delightful town, and business centre for the Armagnac industry; 10 - 12 mins from the house, on the river Baise, it has a lovely cathedral, mediaeval houses, 2 supermarkets, and a good choice of restaurants and shops, plus Wed market. The nearby villages of Gondrin, 10 mins, and Valence-sur-Baise, 8 mins, offer 2 bakeries each, butcher, bank etc. Eauze, 20-25 mins, has a nice old town, and fantastic market on Thurs am's.
Further details
The Gers boasts the highest concentration of bastide (fortified) villages in France. Three of the official list of 'les plus beaux villages de France' are 15 - 20 mins from the house: Larressingle, a stunning mini-Carcassonne, Montreal, and Fources, the only bastide with a round central 'place' - exquisite. For more information on where to eat, our favourite places of interest, and suggested local, 1/2 day, or full day trips, plus a list of sport, leisure and cultural activites, please check our weblink (below).
Booking notes
For inquiries or to book, please email me or phone; confirm by clicking onto our weblink to read Terms and Conditions and print off a copy of the booking form, sending to the address supplied. At the same time, to secure your reservation, enclose a cheque for the non-refundable deposit of 25% of the holiday rental total. Balance to be paid at least 8 weeks prior to holiday start date, plus a deposit (returnable) of £200 per week of stay against accidental damage, loss, or non-local calls etc.
Guest comments
'Just the loveliest house we have ever borrowed (and there have been many over the past 20 + years), and the area was stunning' - Mr and Mrs C M, Bristol
'Just a note to say what a wonderful place Au Chicot is. We had lovely weather and the position of the house is stunning' - Mrs B L, Bath
'We much enjoyed our stay at your lovely house. We found it very comfortable and the view is unsurpassed by any other house we've stayed at' - Mr and Mrs G M, London
'You have a lovely place, and it's quite obvious that you've gone to a lot of trouble to furnish it very well. One of the important areas, which is so often not properly done, is the kitchen. This usually results in ones holiday diet having to be modified around sub-standard cookers and (un)available utensils. Happily this is not the case at Au Chicot!' - Mr and Mrs N K - Lyon
For booking and further information
Jane Bennett
Tel: (UK) + 44 (0)1799 540813
Email: Click here
Owners Website: Click here
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This advertiser joined Owners Direct in December 2004,
and has advertised this property with us since December 2004.
Property Ref FR366
When contacting the owner please mention that you saw this property on Owners Direct Website.