2 bedroom village house for holiday rental in Figols de Tremps, Pyrenees, Catalonia, Spain
Village House with Spectacular Pyrenees Mountain Views
Overlooking Orchards/Olive Groves, 10 Mins to Nearest Town
Sleeps 4 (2 Bedrooms)
|
|
Casa Rafela is a 2 bedroom, typical Catalan stone built cottage which has been carefully restored by its owners using traditional methods and materials. It is located in the tiny village, or rather hamlet, of Figols which nestles beneath the 1000m escarpment of the Serra de Montllobat in the Catalan Pre-Pyrenees. Whilst kites, vultures and other raptors circle overhead, the house looks out directly over orchards, olive groves and open woodland before the landscape drops sharply to the floor of the Conca de Tremp, once the bed of an inland sea where dinosaurs roamed. In the distance, and in contrast to the typical Mediterranean landscape around the village, the peaks surrounding Andorra can be seen, snow capped from October to May, whereas nearer to hand lies the 'Parcs Naturals' of the Serra de Boumort and the great natural barrier of the Serra de Montsec boasting 300m sheer cliffs in its dramatic ravines; the Congosts de Terradets and Montrebei.
|
|
| Rental periods | |
| September / October 2008 | £300 |
| April / May 2009 | 400 euros |
| June 2009 | 450 euros |
| July / August 2009 | 550 euros |
| September 2009 | 450 euros |
| October 2009 | 400 euros |
Notes on prices
Prices are for the property per week based on the month in which the week begins. Linen, gas, electricity, etc. is included. Prices in Sterling are agreed according to the XE.com Currency Converter on the day of booking. Payments are made to our respective UK or Spanish bank accounts. NB. remaining 2008 prices are in Sterling
Changeover day
Bookings Saturday - Saturday exept Easter. Saturday arrival - from 16.00, departure by 12. Please check availability below.
Accommodation
| Bedrooms: | Bedroom 1 with antique double bed, pine drawers, rocking chair, etc. Bedroom 2 with twin beds, French windows overlooking orchards. |
| Bathrooms: | En suite to bedroom 1 with shower and wc. Bathroom with cast iron bath, shower, wc and washing machine. |
| Kitchen: | Traditional kitchen with tiled worktop, 4 ring gas stove, microwave/grill, family fridge/freezer combination. |
| Living Rooms: | Lounge/dining room with pine table and chairs, sofa and woodburning stove. Mini H Fi system with CD/cassette/radio. |
| Other: | Former stable on ground floor provides secure storage for sports equipment, etc. There is another pine dining table and chairs for use on separate patio. A picnic set and coolbox is also part of the 'outdoors' equipment stored here. |
| Cleaning/towels/ linen/maid service: |
Towels and bed linen are provided weekly. We also provide beach towels. |
Notes on accommodation
With its tranquil location on the edge of a tiny hamlet, own private parking, etc., Casa Rafela is geared to providing an ideal base from which to explore this fascinating region, as well as a cosy retreat. The cottage is our full-time home at various times, so it is equipped to a high standard, but we take scrupulous care to ensure that our guests feel ‘at home’!
Our tried and tested guides to the region; its history, wildlife, restaurants, shopping (including glossaries!), etc. have helped numerous guests to settle in without delay. We are 'on-call' for queries or problems, however, and with advance notice can provide personalised advice about specific interests, e.g. details of fishing permits, local country fairs and fiestas, etc.
Children over five years old and pets are very welcome, but there is an open-plan staircase that separates the living space from the bedrooms and bathrooms, so we can't recommend the cottage for toddlers or younger children.
- hob/stove,
- oven,
- fridge/freezer,
- microwave,
- washing machine,
- iron/ironing board,
- room fans,
- pets accepted
Outside
Private roof terrace with marble topped dining table and sun loungers leads directly from the kitchen. The house is located on the edge of a tiny village with its own private parking for 2 cars plus a shady patio set amongst orchards and olive groves. Delightful country walks amongst common grounds and open woodland begin right at the front door!
Coast/Beach
Beaches, complete with beach bar/tavernas, on Lake San Antoni, half hours drive away. There are nunmerous centres offering water sports, both on the various lakes as well as the faster flowing rivers,i.e. rafyting, kayak, etc. and Lake San Antoni has a public launching stage for boating. River bathing possible at various beauty spots and local swimming pools open in July/August.
Travel
Spanish airports - Miles (kms) approx: Barcelona 125 (200), Girona - 165 (260), Reus 110 (180), Zaragossa 150 (235).
French border via the Vall d'Aran: 75 (120). French airports: Pau, Perpignan and Toulouse. Accessible by car from the Channel ports, Bilbao or Santander. High Speed Train (AVE) via Lleida - 60 (90). Use of car is essential. NB The new Lleida airport is due to open in summer '08 - this will be within an hour from Fígols!
Distances
Fígols' situation gives ready access to some of the major sites in the Pyrenees, most notably the Parc Nacional de Aigüestortes i Llac Sant Maurici, which is an hour's drive away. The area is also rich in history including the Romanesque churches of the Val de Boi, a UNESCO world heritage site, and is notable for its medieval castles dating from the Moorish occupation.
The peace and tranquility offer a superb contrast to Barcelona or the Costa Brava, making an ideal '2 centre' trip possible.
Further details
Tremp is a bustling market town of considerable local importance due to the isolation of the region. Given that its resident population is only about 3500 its numerous butchers, fishmongers, patisseries, bakers, grocers, haberdashers etc. plus a large Monday market draws large numbers of shoppers from the surrounding villages - the only time when there could be said to be a traffic problem! NB. Although Tremp is only ten minutes drive away on a quiet secondary road, the town itself is hidden behind a mountain and cannot be seen from Fígols, therefore spectacular starry nightscapes can be seen from the terrace due to the absence of light pollution. Indeed, Catalonia's own observatory is located nearby on the Montsec d'Ares mountain range.
The most noted restaurants are mainly located in picturesque villages around the area. There are several good restaurants in the town, however, plus terrace/cafés offering tapas, etc. Tremp is justly famous for its charcuterie and the local style of Catalan cuisine is well known for its vegetable recipes, snail dishes, what may be described and an obsession with diverse culinary mushrooms and much much more!!
The immediate area, called the Conca de Tremp, is world renowned for its geology and palaontology, drawing students from centres like the University of Utrecht and even further afield. Local tourism tends to focus on 'ecoturism' in which the rural mountain economy is supported by grants for farmhouse accommodation and educational activities geared to sustaining the environment. However, for the more adventurous the region offers every variety of action sports from hang-gliding to caving to white water rafting, as well as a rich wildlife in the various game reserves - several local operators offer action sports and guided tours including 4x4 trips and ascent by hot air balloon! Check-out our website for much more info and pictures!
Booking notes
Bookings can be made by telephone or email. A deposit of 20% must be made to confirm booking with the balance due 6 weeks before the holiday start date. A refundible deposit against unreasonable wear and tear is collected on check-in.
Guest comments
The eagles, the wild flowers and the amazing poppy fields!... the perfect retreat, I so enjoyed cooking every night and serving it up on the terrace. It really was a joy to cook in the well-equipped kitchen. Tony and Lynn, West Sussex.
Our expectations for a return visit were not disappointed! Fabulous views, peace, glorious wildlife – swallows, lizards, bullfrogs, griffon vultures and other eagles - too many to identify.
John & Frances, Cheshire.
From the moment we set foot on the terrace we knew we’d have a wonderful holiday – and we did! The view is wonderful and the antics of the goats, lizards and vultures kept us reaching for the binoculars! We’ve spent much of our time visiting the Romanesque churches and marvelling at the views, wildflowers butterflies and aquamarine lakes in the Vall de Boi and Vall Fosca (Aigüestortes and Lac San Maurici National Park). Sal & Chris, Somerset.
Don’t want to go home and that’s quite a compliment from a Welshman! Dave & Joan, Clywd
For booking and further information
Polly Campbell and Simon Rice
Fixed phone (Answer machine): (Spain) + 34 977 218379
Mobile: (Spain) + 34 675 626563
Email: Click here
Owners Website: Click here
International Dialling Access Codes:
From Europe dial 00 in place of +
From USA dial 011 in place of +
If phoning from outside Europe or USA please consult your telephone directory for international dialling access codes.
This advertiser joined Owners Direct in December 2003,
and has advertised this property with us since December 2003.
Property Ref S809
When contacting the owner please mention that you saw this property on Owners Direct Website.