The property: Dating from the 1820s, this secluded country cottage is situated at the end of a quiet lane on the edge of open farmland. The house is a traditional, L-shaped building with many original features such as a lattice-covered open barn on the west side. The cottage is attractively furnished and well-equipped, with comfortable seating, English and French antiques, beamed ceilings, a log fire and plenty of reading material, maps, guidebooks and games.

Accommodation:
Ground floor: entrance hall; living/dining room; sitting room; bathroom; utility room.

The living/dining room is large and comfortably equipped to combine dining, kitchen and relaxation. It has a dining area seating 6, sofa, armchair, fireplace, sat. TV, DVD and corner-kitchen with dishwasher, 4-burner gas hob and electric oven + grill, fridge. Across the hall the sitting room is furnished with a wardrobe, table and sofabed. Both rooms have air-conditioning units. A passage leads to the bathroom, refurbished in 2007, with bath and shower attachment, washbasin/mirror and wc. Next to it, the utility room houses washing machine, tumble dryer, iron, garden cushions, boots etc.

First floor: mezzanine; two double bedrooms, passage room; washroom.

A polished wooden staircase leads to the mezzanine where there’s a small antique bed and wardrobe. In the adjoining small passage room opposite the washroom (washbasin/mirror, wc) there’s a single bed. One of the double bedrooms has an extra single bed. Both bedrooms are carpeted and have chests of drawers, dressing table/mirror, bedside tables/lamps and free-standing fans. Sizes of double beds: 2m by 1.6m; 1.9m by 1.4m.

Outside Area: The cottage is set in 8,000 square metres of land, mostly laid to lawn, with oaks, weeping willow, silver birch, poplar and several fruit trees. To the front there's a pretty, lawned garden and to the east a wisteria-covered terrace offering plenty of shade. On the west side there’s an extensive lawned area and beyond it, open fields and small vineyards. The south-facing main garden is enclosed and lined with mature trees and shrubs. A sheltered sitting-out area under the barn doubles as a games area. Here there’s a washing-line and a large log store. Garden furniture, table-tennis, barbecue, boules and four (elderly) town bikes are provided. To the west of the property are magnificent open views over hills, valleys and woods to the Pyrénées. The fields to the rear and to the east of the property are used by the local farmers. Parking is offroad in a carport opposite the main garden gates.

View of the Pyrénées, seen from behind the house

Surrounding Area: The cottage is situated about 14 km northwest of Tournay (home town of poet Fr. Jammes) and about 12 km south of the popular market town of Trie-sur-Baïse with its supermarkets, patisseries, newsagent, bars, cafés and cheerful wine shop.

Climate / weather:

The climate is generally mild, with summer temperatures usually not as excessively hot as in the south-east, long Indian summers extending well into October and plenty of winter sun. The weather tends to be more changeable than in the Mediterranean area. Winters are generally kind and you'll usually only find snow closer to the mountains.

The region abounds in historical and culinary attractions. There are daily farmers' markets offering local produce and there's a wide range of local supermarkets and hypermarkets (20 mins). It's only a short drive to Marciac for the International Jazz Festival in August and musical events throughout the year. The Tour de France is a regular visitor to the area. Tennis courts, pools, an equestrian centre and a large choice of very good golf courses are within 15 – 45 mins. by car (Bagnères-de-Bigorre/ Lannemezan/Tarbes/Pau). It's an easy drive to the Atlantic coast or the Pyrenean National Park and the nearby bird sanctuary at Puydarrieux, and Spain is only just over the border. There are wonderful opportunities for enjoying nature, wildlife, sunsets, stargazing, walking, skiing and other leisure activities.

A special file gives extensive information on local activities and events, theatre and jazz festivals and places of cultural and historic interest. We regularly update our list of recommended bistros, restaurants and traditional 'fermes auberges'.

Things to do and see:

Relax in thermal springs at Capvern-les-Bains; enjoy the springs, saunas and open-air solarium at Bagnères-de-Bigorre's thermal centre 'Aquensis'.

Visit ancient castles, abbeys and cathedrals (Mauvezin; Escaladieu, St. Sever and Flaran; St. Bertrand de Comminges) or historic sites like Montmaurin, Auch, Tillac.

Go skiing, explore hills, valleys and mountain peaks.

Take the cable car from La Mongie to the top of the Pic du Midi de Bigorre (2877m), site of the famous observatory.

Go lake swimming or boating: Miélan (c.26 km), Lourdes (c.38 km), Marciac (c.45 km). Water-sports centres: Boulogne-sur-Gesse (c.35 km), St. Pé de Bigorre (c.48 km).

Go wine-tasting, visit night markets (in most towns in July/August) or sample local Gascon and Spanish cuisine.

See the Tour de France in July.

Enjoy the area's famous international summer festivals:
- Jazz in Marciac
- Country Music in Mirande
- Latin American music in Capvern-les-Bains
- Street theatre/mime in Bagnères-de-Bigorre
- 'Fête des Battages' in Burg (a display of historical agricultural machinery & methods)
- 'Nuits Musicales' and the July antiques fair in Trie
- 'Grande Pourcailhade' or Pig Festival and five-day local fair in Trie in early August
- 'Piano aux Pyrénées' festival in Bagnères, Barèges, Cauterets, Escaladieu etc
- 'Festival du Comminges' in St. Bertrand

There are about 28 golf courses in the area between Toulouse and the Atlantic coast. We're within 1 hrs. drive of championship, mostly 18-hole courses in:
Bagnères-de-Bigorre, Pau (oldest in Europe), Lourdes, Tarbes, Lannemezan, Château de Palanne (Tillac).

Useful links:

www.aquensis.fr www.picdumidi.fr www.jazzinmarciac.com www.festival-du-comminges.com www.brumont.fr www.golf-midi-pyrenees.com www.parc-pyrenees.com www.bareges.com www.campan-pyrenees.com www.saintlary.com www.cauterets.com www.cg65.fr

Other comments: This property is also available for summer holiday rentals.

Pricing Info: From £650 per month. Rental includes use of basic supply of tea towels, oven gloves and bathmats. Hire of linen/towels optional (£20 per double set, £15 per single set – we recommend hiring 2 sets). Extras and utilities will be charged separately at cost, where possible on a monthly basis. Cleaning charge £25 per booking (cleaning services during rental can be arranged if required). Logs and electricity are payable mid October - mid April at cost. Hire of mountain bikes and dialup Internet access by arrangement. DSL is not currently available.

Booking deposit is 40% payable on booking by cheque in Sterling (GBP) on a UK bank with signed copy of Booking Form. Balance is payable 6 weeks before start of rental with separate cheque for security and breakages deposit (amounting to one month’s rental).

Non-UK bookings: payment by international bank draft or cheque in Sterling (GBP) on a UK bank. For all other payments, please add £10 for bank charges.
Please check availability first before contacting the owner - click here           View Guest Book

For further information and to book please contact:
N.B. Use your international dialling code in place of the + sign e.g. dialling from UK would be 00 49 
Please take into account any international time differences before calling.
Please quote ‘Rent a place in France.com’ when contacting the owner.

Name: Sue Cubitt Languages spoken: English, French, German, Italian (language services for house buyers!) Tel No: + 49 89 268 778 Time to contact: Anytime Fax No: + 49 89 268 778

       

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