People | 6 |
Bedrooms | 3 |
Bathrooms | 2 |
Space | 1,614 sq. ft. |
Property type | barn |
Minimum Stay | 1 - 7 nights |
OVERVIEW
Situated in the foothills of Le Canigou, the sacred mountain of the Catalans, and above the valley of the River Têt, this house was once a traditional stone barn, converted earlier this century and with recent improvements by the new owners, and retaining many original features. Whilst having the individual character of a building 350 years old it also has the convenience of a modern house with a bright living area as well as its own private pool. It sits on a tranquil hillside surrounded by bird life, sheltered and secluded from nearby properties. There are panoramic views of the Pyrennean foothills and Rigarda village below.
LOCATION
The property is on the Traverse de Joch on the outskirts of Rigarda village. The village is conveniently located 3 kilometres from the old town of Vinça.
LOCAL FACILITIES
Vinça has 2 bakers, a butchers, a mini-supermarket, cafes, a pharmacy, 2 banks with ATMs and on the outskirts there are farm shops selling local produce in season.
In the town of Prades (15 minutes by car) there are all the facilities you normally need including 2 supermarkets, post office, pharmacy, doctor and dentist.
In the nearby town of Ille-sur-Tet there is a further supermarket.
The major city of Perpignan (30 minutes by car) is the regional centre and very good for shopping. It has an old town and a number of historic buildings.
There are restaurants in these towns and the surrounding area as well as two excellent markets at Prades (Tuesday) and Thuir (20 minutes by car, Saturday).
ACCOMMODATION
The house is an 'upside down' house on two floors. The accommodation is arranged as follows.
Ground Floor:
• Entrance hall – with coat hanging space and stairs to first floor having washing machine in cupboard underneath.
• Master bedroom – with en suite shower room with power shower, basin and WC and door to walkway and steps down to pool.
• Second double bedroom – with door to walkway and steps down to pool.
• Third bedroom – with two single beds.
• Second Bathroom – with power shower, bath, basin and heated towel rail.
• Separate WC – with basin.
First Floor:
Very light open plan living space extending across the whole floor (approx. 60 square metres) and comprising:
• Living area – with sofas and chairs, sideboard, central wood burning stove, 42" TV, DVD player & Bluetooth-enabled music and broadcasting system. There is complimentary wifi for guests (with a 15GB monthly limit so not suitable for music and film streaming).
• Dining area - with dining table that will seat 6.
• Fully equipped kitchen – with oven, hob, microwave, 2 fridges, freezer, dishwasher and double sink.
• East facing double-glazed doors to balcony, with dining table seating 6 and gas barbecue.
Outside:
• Gravel drive with parking for 2 cars.
• Garden and grounds – terraced on three levels, with shaded dining & seating areas. Safety gates to protect small children.
• Swimming pool – 8 metres by 4 metres, fenced and surrounded by decking with pool furniture.
• Separate parking space for 1 car.
FEATURES OF THE SURROUNDING AREA
The surrounding area provides plenty of opportunities and interest for all kinds of visitors:
• Serious hiking and cycling in the Têt valley including the stunning Gorges de la Caranca.
• Gentler local walks, with one or two starting from very near the house itself.
• Swimming and waterborne entertainment at the lake and beach in Vinça which is safe for all ages having lifeguards present.
• Public tennis courts in Vinça.
• Caves and grottos and a variety of outdoor activities for all ages including rafting and canyoning at the river sports centre at nearby Marquixanes.
• The beautiful old fortified town of Villefranche de Conflent is a few kilometres away.
• A spectacular journey into the high Pyrenees on the Little Yellow Train (Le Train Jaune).
• Music festivals, including the Pablo Casals Festival in July in Prades and the regular Thursday performances in Perpignan during the summer.
• Mediterranean resorts with good beaches at Canet, St Cyprien and Argelès.
• Beautiful mountain scenery around the valleys of the rivers Têt and Tech.
• The picturesque fishing port of Collioure with its harbour and restaurants.
• Religious buildings including Romanesque churches, two major abbeys at St Martin du Canigou and St Michel de Cuxa and priories at Marcevol and Serrabonne.
• The spectacular Cathar castles of Quéribus, Peyrepetuse, Puilaurens and others.
• Art galleries, including the Musée d’Art Moderne in Céret and the Dali Museum at Figueres in Spain.
• The Catalan cities of Girona and Barcelona across the border in Spain.
We are both retired from professional careers and are now living in Dorset. We have been visiting the eastern Pyrenees together for about 10 years - although Steve has known the area since the 1970s - and we have a friend of long standing, as well as some acquaintances, in Vinca.
Steve and Fran Rock purchased this barn in 2014
In 2012 we were looking to spend our summer holiday in the area and found this house. We were in two minds about it as the advertising material did not do it justice. On arrival however we were enchanted by it. We returned the following year and later found that it was for sale. So we leapt at the chance and bought it. It has needed some improvement and refurbishment but it was one of the best decisions of our lives.
Situated high above the village of Rigarda but sheltered and secluded from neighbouring properties and having terrific views across the valley of the River Tet its location is one of the best in the area. And it also lies in an area full of interest and bounded by the wide sandy beaches of the Mediterranean, the high Pyrenees, the historic landscape of the Cathar country and the attractions of Spanish Catalonia. As good as it gets really.
We are a party of four adults of mature years, travelling round France. Having now stayed in three other gites, they suffer from the comparison to Rigarda. This gite in the foothills of the Pryrenees is spacious, offering beautiful views across the countryside providing a level of comfort that will be second to none. The care and detail arranged by Steve and Fran is exceptional and it was simply a pleasure to be staying in such a comfortable house. The only time we felt any disappointment was when we had to leave.
Thank you Steve and Fran for all the care you have put into your house, but more particularly for the thoughtful and considerate response you showed to all my requests for information.
Our very, very best wishes,
Leonard,Gillian, Pamela and Barry.
A wonderful 3 week stay in a well equipped home with stunning views and a great pool. There is lots to see around Rigarda and some fantastic views of the mountains, great markets and plenty of delicious food and wine to be had. We would definitely recommend both the location and this beautiful converted barn and hope we can someday return.
We had a lovely 2 weeks in Rigarda. Steve and Fran's communication is excellent and Mark was very helpful while we were there.
We could have spent 2 weeks on the balcony enjoying the view and the peace punctuated only by church bells and an occasional donkey braying! We enjoyed good walks straight from the house.
A little further afield, the highlight for us was a walk through the Gorge de Carancas - dramatic scenery. Villefranche is well worth a visit for its pretty walled town and climb up to the fort. The Petit Train Jaune is fun and (another!) climb to St Martin de Canigou well worth it.
The bedrooms are on the lower level, perfect for accessing the pool, and the living area upstairs to give the best views. We highly recommend the property which is maintained to a very high standard.
Lovely house directly above the little village of Rigarda. The views from the property, as per the photos, do not do it justice. They are stunning. The living area of the house (upstairs) is open plan and is full of light, roomy and airy. At entry level are the bedrooms and bathrooms. The kitchen is well appointed and modern with plenty of crockery and cooking implements. Plenty of space to lounge about in. We are a family of 4. Two adults and two children; one 11 and one 5 years old. The stairs up to the living area are quite steep with narrow treads but our 5 year old did not have any problems. The bedrooms are a good size and the beds are very comfy. The main bedrooms lead out onto a raised timber decking area which goes down to the pool area. The pool is surrounded by another raised decking area with plenty of space for lounging about. Though, as our 5 year old pointed out there is not much room for skipping. The pool was loved by our kids - one can swim the other in armbands; they had no issues with depth etc and there are lockable gates for security. It was just nice to sit there and listen to the church bells chiming. There is lots to do in the area be it: castles, towns, villages, abbeys, trains, beaches, caves, mountains, lakes etc. Or just walking around. The walk to Joch is lovely, as is the walk down through Rigarda itself - just wish I had my roadbike with me. All in all we had a great holiday here and wouldn't think twice about going back
We had a wonderful time staying in this charming house. The views were breathtaking even on cloudy days. The attention to detail made our stay very comfortable. Clean and tidy with twice weekly pool clean showed the quality that the owners want to maintain. The property maintenance guy was courteous and gave some good ideas for eating out. We ate in mainly making good use of the barbecue. The property itself was plenty big enough for six adults. We would thoroughly recommend a stay and we would love to return in the future.
Located in the foothills of the Pyrenees with excellent views down the valley.The property is well maintained and offers a convenient base from which to tour or simply relax on the terrace.
The house lies in an area bounded by the Med, the high Pyrenees, the historic Cathar country and Spanish Catalonia. There should be something for almost everyone.
Rental Period | Minimum Price | Additional Nights | Weekend Night | Weekly | Monthly | Event Price | |||
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Early
28 Apr 2018 -
18 May 2018
4 night minimum stay
|
£300
for 4 nights
|
From
£75
|
£525
|
|
|
||||
Notes: Rates are based on 3 guests; add £6 per night, per additional guest | |||||||||
Spring
19 May 2018 -
15 Jun 2018
4 night minimum stay
|
£398
for 4 nights
|
From
£100
|
£695
|
|
|
||||
Notes: Rates are based on 3 guests; add £8 per night, per additional guest | |||||||||
Early Summer
16 Jun 2018 -
20 Jul 2018
Changeover Day: Saturday 7 night minimum stay
|
£995
for 7 nights
|
|
£995
|
|
|
||||
Summer
21 Jul 2018 -
31 Aug 2018
Changeover Day: Saturday 7 night minimum stay
|
£1,295
for 7 nights
|
|
£1,295
|
|
|
||||
September
1 Sep 2018 -
28 Sep 2018
Changeover Day: Saturday 7 night minimum stay
|
£995
for 7 nights
|
|
£995
|
|
|
||||
Autumn
29 Sep 2018 -
2 Nov 2018
4 night minimum stay
|
£420
for 4 nights
|
From
£105
|
£695
|
|
|
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Fees | No additional mandatory fees |
Refundable Damage Deposit | £200 |
Pool towels may be hired for whole stay at £5 per person.