Tiny Unspoilt Village in Natural Park, where Pyrenees meet Mediterranean. Great Mountain Views
15 minute Walk to Nearest Beach
Sleeps 10 (5 Bedrooms)
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Casa de la Fuente is on the edge of the village of La Vall de Santa Creu, which lies at the head of a wild and beautiful valley, in sight of the famous medieval monastery, San Pere de Rodes, (now floodlit every night). In the spring and early summer the valley is full of wonderful birds and wild flowers and perfect for walking. Mid June-mid Sept there is a restaurant and bar with terrace and beer garden in the village. Our nearest beach is 2 minutes away by car (15 minutes walk) and we are 2 miles from the lively and attractive Port de la Selva, full of excellent restaurants and food shops. The restored old village house is spacious and there is plenty of room for 10 people to find a private corner both indoors and outside. Terraces and garden and wonderful views from all rooms.
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| Rental periods | Price per week |
| March - May (exc. Easter and Whitsun) | 945 Euros |
| 30 May - 20 June | 1260 Euros |
| 20 June - 5 September | 1540 Euros |
| 5 - 26 September | 1260 Euros |
| 26 September - 31 October (exc. half term) | 945 Euros |
| Easter, Whitsun, Christmas and New Year | 1540 Euros |
| UK Autumn half term | 1260 Euros |
Notes on prices
Prices are for the property per week in euros or the sterling equivalent at the time of paying deposit or balance
Changeover day
Changeovers on Sundays but sometimes flexible. Please do not arrive before 5pm (we leave you emergency rations of bread, eggs, butter, milk and 2 bottles of local champagne), and please leave by 10am.
Accommodation
| Bedrooms: | Two en-suite bedrooms, king size beds, up own staircases, one with access through main terrace plus own private terrace, one with wood burning stove. Two twin bedrooms sharing bathroom with wc + separate wc, bunk room with cot, all on middle floor. |
| Bathrooms: | En suite 1: bathroom with bath, shower, bidet, basin, wc, heated towel rail and mountain view. Ensuite 2: half size bath, basin, wc, heated towel rail. Shower room 1: with basin, wc, heated towel rail. Shower room 2: with basin, wc. Separated wc. |
| Kitchen: | Huge main kitchen and dining room (converted stable and wine store) vaulted roof: gas cooker, 4 rings, oven, electric grill. Dishwasher. Large fridge, separate freezer. Electric kettle and toaster. Small drinks kitchen on middle floor, fridge and micro. |
| Utility Room: | We do not have a washing machine yet as it would be too much for our septic tank. However, main drainage due in village this summer... |
| Living Rooms: | Sitting room with Juliet balcony on middle floor, built in sofas, rocking chair, etc, local antiques, incl. book/games cupboard. Sofas and wood burning stove in main kitchen with more antiques, refectory table seating 10. Separate table for games etc. |
| Other: | This is a much loved family home, not just a rental property, where up to 4 generations have spent more than 30 summers, updating it year by year. The village is truly Catalan; most houses still belong to the original families. |
| Cleaning/towels/ linen/maid service: |
Towels and linen provided and the property is cleaned at each changeover. Please bring own beach towels. |
Notes on accommodation
Electric fans or radiators for all bedrooms when required, heated towel rails in bathrooms, 2 wood burning stoves.
- hob/stove,
- oven,
- fridge/freezer,
- dishwasher,
- central heating,
- barbecue
Outside
Top floor terrace, 36sqm, with wonderful views of mountains and monastery. Tables, chairs, loungers and built in barbecue. Also smaller private terrace, 8sqm, for top bedroom. Totally enclosed garden, 240sqm, (access from middle floor) full of trees - huge cypress, orange tree, 'marmalade' tree which, very strangely, has both lemons and seville oranges on it, Judas tree, etc; pergola covered in bouganvillea, plumbago, scented jasmine, pink campsis and morning glory, Mediterranean shrubs and flowers, all usually a blaze of colour. Large wisteria-shaded terrace with table and chairs for 10, (also small table for children), small tea or drinks terrace (evening sun) with semi circular stone seat.
Coast/Beach
Various pebbly coves with good snorkelling and rock pool fishing, 15 mins walk, 5 mins drive. Sandy beach at Port de la Selva, many other sandy beaches along coast in both directions. Wind surfing and sailing lessons + hire of boats in Port de la Selva. Also scuba diving.
Golf
Nearest courses at Peralada, Figueras, and Ampuriabrava.
Travel
Airports: 1 hour from Girona (Gerona) and Perpignan, 2 from Barcelona and Montpellier, 2 1/2 from Carcassonne. 12 hours from Calais on the motorway but not during high season Saturdays which is why we have Sunday as changeover day.
Car essential. Hire available at all airports and Figueras. Car train to Narbonne in summer.
Distances
Cadaques - the St Tropez of Spain and Port Lligat Dali's house, now open to public, half an hour. Also Peralada, medieval town with world famous summer music and opera festival in the castle grounds and lots of antique shops. Monasterio de San Pere de Rodes only 50 minute walk from house and thought to be best example of early Romanesque architecture in Europe. Greek and Roman remains at Ampurias behind mile long sandy beach 1 hour. Besalu (medieval town and bridge), and Gerona, 1 hour.
Further details
Banks, supermarkets, local shops, doctors, clinics all available in Port de la Selva and Llansa. Wonderful walking and sightseeing all around. Besalu - medieval town with Roman bridge (great restaurant in west abutment) 50 minutes away. Fabulous bird watching and botany.
Booking notes
20% on booking. Balance 4 weeks from arrival. Cheque or wire transfer, sterling or euros.
Guest comments
'We had a marvellous time. The first few moments were amazing as we kept discovering all those rooms and of course the dining hall was the piece de resistance' Virginia.
'We had a wonderful holiday, the house is so lovely, so comfortable, gorgeous and ancient and yet all mod cons. The children loved all the snorkelling and we even walked up to the monastery! It was great having all the information you gave us so that we could plan each day' Mary
'We had the most wonderful stay in your house. We thought we had died and gone to heavan! I don't think I have ever slept in such a beautiful room with such a view. Not to mention the bird song' Cullen family.
'fantastic house, fantastic place' Zacharias family.
Owner profile
About the owner
I am a civil engineer and in 1974 I was posted to Madrid for 5 months along with my wife and 3 children. We loved Spain so much we ended up staying 15 years, a fascinating time as we witnessed Franco's last 18 months and thereafter all the excitement of the transition to a successful democracy.
By chance we stumbled across La Vall de Santa Creu our first year and over the 15 years it was very much home (our Madrid house was rented, tiny and full of slugs and cockroaches - we were terrified of accidentally transporting some to la Vall, where there are NONE!) and we spent every Easter and Summer holiday there. Our children grew up with the children in the village who remain close friends and we still all get together there every summer, now of course with grandchildren too.
Year purchased: 1970's
Why the owner chose a home in this location
On our way from Madrid to France for a holiday in 1974 by chance we saw a house for sale in La Vall de Santa Creu, right on our route. Thinking we would only be months in Madrid it seemed the right place - halfway between Madrid and London and driving distance from either. 35 years ago it was an unbelievably unspoilt (but near derelict and deserted) village in the most beautiful and fertile valley, the coastline equally unspoilt and full of rocky coves, ideal for snorkling or shrimping. 35 years later the village is thriving, full of families who have been there for generations and in the nick of time realised its uniqueness, returned and restored their houses. The village and valley are now integrated in a Natural Park and hopefully safe for ever from the horrors of southern Spain.
Unique benefits of the property
La Vall is the real Spain, we are the only foreigners in the village, and there are very few indeed in Port de la Selva, 2 kms away. The only changes to the whole area in the last 35 years have been positive - excellent food shops now and seriously good restaurants all around. Music has become a big feature too in the summer and there are lots of local festivals - an international one with world standard opera at Peralada, a Schubertiade in Vilabertran, concerts in the Monastery of San Pedro de Roda which overlooks our village - and is now floodlit at night, much to our delight. In the spring and early summer the wild flowers and birds seem better than ever and walking in our valley is paradise. Above all, we think of our house as our home, and over 35 years it has always welcomed us.
For booking and further information
Property Ref S4111
Ben and Sue Mackworth-Praed
Tel: (UK) + 44 (0)208 876 5280
Mob: (UK) + 44 (0)7798 818 871
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and has advertised this property with us since March 2006.
Property Ref S4111
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