Salon with French doors to pool and summer kitchen

Pool

La Borde de Clouzet was once part of a 15th century Chateau complex, part of whose walls still exist in the garden and whose floodlit chapel stands behind the house (but bells only ring at midday and 7pm.) The house looks out over lawns, with shrubs and rose bushes, towards fields, hills and the Pyrenees. A bridge by the pond, with waterlilies, fish and a fountain, leads to a further area planted with fruit trees and shrubs and the frogs in the pond mean one rarely hears (or feels!) mosquitoes. The tiled terrace is shaded by mulberry trees and leads to the large covered dining area with a big mosaic table, gas BBQ and chairs (for 8, but more could be added ex dining room). Inside the house, a well stocked library, satellite flatscreen T/V, a laptop for use by guests, fully equipped kitchen, paintings and furniture -which mix the antique with the contemporary- reflect the fact that this is the owners' second home. So, of course, does the practice bunker in the grounds!

Fully-fitted kitchen

Elegant dining room

 

Prices Currency Conversion

 

Changeover day
Saturday changeover. You can access the property no earlier than 4pm on the date of arrival and you must vacate the property by 10am on the day of departure.

Accommodation

 

Notes on accommodation
Pool is fenced and has lockable gate, but Gascon pond with fountain is open and younger children would need supervision. A cot can be provided with prior notification. The master bedroom and bathroom are extremely large and form a
separate suite with door at the end of a long corridor. Other bedrooms are normal size. The spacious hall incorporates a downstairs loo and wash basin. Pets may well be allowed upon prior consultation. Chess, Scrabble, Boules, cards and a few other games are stored in the base of the bookcase. Tourist literature and House Book with restaurant recommendations etc are on the table in the hall. Guests are welcome to make use of the drinks trolley, tea, coffee and other basics on a replace with like basis. With thick walls, shutters and marble type tiles, the house is refreshingly cool in summer.

Accessibility
Two short flights of stairs to bedrooms make the property unsuitable for wheel-chair users

Outside
Main access to property through iron gates, with gravel drive and gascon pond. Bridge to upper garden with shrubs and fruit trees. Main garden area is lawn with many shrubs and trees and flower borders. Numerous pot plants on the terrace. There is a large grassed area behind the remains of the old chateau wall where there is a sand bunker and a rough green. There is a fenced 10x5m pool which can be heated and lit at night. The outside dining area (see picture) which adjoins the house comprises a top-of-the range Outback gas-fired BBQ, a Moroccan mosaic dining table with 8 chairs and a large leather settee. The garage, which contains one of the owner's cars, can accommodate a second car. Ample sunbeds and comfortable fold up chairs are
provided. A gardener (Andy) maintains the grounds between lets but may also
need to mow the area once during lets. If so, he will liaise re a convenient time. Guests are asked to please water the pot plants in summer to prevent
them dying.

Coast/Beach
2 hours drive to Biarritz and the charming resort of St. Jean de Luz, a few kms. from Biarritz.

Golf
Chateau de Pallanne is 15 mins away. An eighteen hole course with driving range and practice green. Superb views of the Pyrenees. Lunch normally in the courtyard. Other courses circa an hour away. Crazy golf , tennis, badminton, canoing and other water sports at Les Vallons du Lac (Miélan) or Ludina near
Mirande where a canoe/kayak club operates Tues-Fri (excl. lunchtime). Public tennis courts in the area are plentiful.
Horses can be hired from several equestrian centres near Mirande and thermal spas abound.
For anyone needing extra destressing, the Spot On gallery in Trie sur Baise gives hot stones massages as well as operating as an art gallery.
(Further details, as always, in the hall).

Travel
Biarritz airport 2 hours. Tarbes (Ossun) 45 minutes. Pau 1.25 hours, Toulouse. 1.5 hour, Carcassonne 2 hours. Timings are approx.

Distances
Mielan is just 5km and 5 mins. by car for all local amenities. Auch (capital of Le Gers) and Tarbes are both just 40 minutes distant. Marciac home of the second largest International Jazz festival in Europe is only 20 minutes away. This annual event takes place during the first 2 weeks of August. Mirande, 10 minutes drive, hosts it's famous Country Music festival each July, normally 10th to 14th. We display details of many other places of interest on our hall table.

Further details
Mielan, just 5 minutes drive, has a small supermarket, restaurant, bars, tabac, take-away Pizza, pharmacy and bank. Trie sur Baise and Mirande (each c 15 mins away) have large supermarkets, Mirande also having a Lidl and a Carrefour. Both Auch and Tarbes are main cities with all conveniences, ditto the more upmarket Pau.
Shops are generally closed between midday and 2pm stay but supermarkets are open. The Casino chain of small shops is open Sunday am; also the Intermarché in Trie. Miélan, Trie and Marciac and Mirande are all 'Bastides' (fortified villages) and are surrounded by numerous others. A DVD (with terrible translation!) on the bastides of the Gers is in the bookcase. "Les Vallons du Lac" , just outside Miélan, is a leisure complex with lots of different activities for childen and it has an excellent restaurant.
One of the delights of the sparsely populated Gers and Hautes Pyrenees depts
(Estampes is almost on the border) is almost traffic free roads, even in summer.
Excursions to chateaux for wine or armagnac tastings can be combined with a
4 course lunch for about 12 euro a head, wine included. A cable car can take one to either Le Pic du Midi or to a scenic tour through the mountains via 'Le Petit Train d'Artouste'. Festivals and evening markets take place throughout
the area in summer and there's even a pig festival in Trie with an English fry up
breakfast! The scenery, with rolling hills, valleys and many rivers is beautiful.
To retreat from the sun, there are 13th century Cistercian abbeys to enjoy and the Cathedral in Auch has outstanding stained glass and carved choir stalls. Spain (with unmanned border) isl about 90 mins away via the hillside
town of Montrejeau whose balcony one can stop by for a panoramic view into the Pyrenees. A trip to Biarritz, Bayonne and St Jean de Luz is also advised via the fairly traffic free A64 or/and via detours into the Bearn and Basque areas.

Booking notes
Initial booking by telephone/email at which point a booking form and invoice will be sent. 25% deposit and refundable security deposit of £200 per week is payable at the time of booking and the balance is due 8 weeks prior to commencement of the holiday. The full amount becomes due if the booking is made within 8 weeks from the start of the holiday.

Guest comments
'I love your house, your paintings and furniture xxxxxx. Everything about it. I want to be you!'
Jennie Heath 2008
'A lovely house, so peaceful, we hope to come again soon.'
Allan family 2010
'A fantastic property - the best place we've ever stayed at. We can thoroughly
recommend it.'
Leonard and Davies families 2011
'A lovely home. We much appreciated all the comforts.'
Leng family 2011

Owner profile

 

For booking and further information

 

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This advertiser joined Owners Direct in May 2009,
and has advertised this property with us since June 2009.

Property Ref FR5115
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