Car advised Wheelchair access Nearest amenities: 2 km
Notes:
Families/couples preferred May take pets - please enquire Suitable for children Smokers welcome Self-catering
Home description
Set amongst fruit orchards and sunflowers on the slopes overlooking the Lot Valley, this charming property is close to the mediaeval village of Clairac, with its restaurants, market and shopping and within a short drive of some of the region’s most picturesque bastides. The spacious interior is cool, airy and light and although traditional in appearance is modern in practicality. Oak beams prevail throughout, with a degree of exposed stonework and floors of oak and terracotta. Windows and doors are large to allow summer breezes to waft through the house and the furniture is an eclectic and tasteful mix of antique and contemporary. The terraced and fenced pool sits in a subtly landscaped acre of lawns, cypress, olive, lavender, rosemary, vines, wild flowers and woodland, which from Spring to Autumn is a riot of colour and scent.
La Bique
The Terrace, Pool and Garden
Side View
The Outside Dining Area
To see more photos please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/11059
The Aquitaine / Dordogne / Lot et Garonne region
The sunny South West has a greater variety of scenery than almost anywhere else in France. From the surf beaches, sand dunes and pine forests of Les Landes to the vineyards of Bordeaux; the mountains and pastures of the Pyrenees to the rolling Tuscan countryside, orchards and sunflowers of the Lot; it is truly spectacular. Add to this the world renowned food and wine, great historic cities, mediaeval towns and bastides and you have a region that will captivate and entrance even the most worldly of travellers.
Clairac area
Clairac www.clairac.com is a mediaeval town situated on the River Lot in the heart of Lot et Garonne. La Bique is two kilometres outside town so it is close enough for a brisk morning bread walk or a healthy stroll to one of its excellent restaurants for lunch. The region is well known for its duck, goose and fois gras but we are also in the heart of plum country with the world famous Pruneau d’Agen the local delicacy. They really have to be tasted to be believed. We are surrounded by superb dining options and a list of recommendations and contact numbers is available at the house. As you would expect we are not lacking in great local wines either. From the cheaper yet delicious Buzet and Cote de Duras, to the fine wines of Cahors and the world famous chateaux of Bordeaux. Buy it from the superbly stocked local supermarkets, caves and markets or get out into the countryside to visit the vineyards and chateaux and load up as you go. And as for a digestif how about an Armagnac (France’s oldest brandy) or a Pruneaux, both regional specialities?
Several of Lot et Garonne’s forty bastides (the most in France) are visible on the ridges to either side of the Lot Valley. These fortified hilltop towns were the “New towns” of their day and were constructed to a specific model centring not on the church or town hall but on the market place. The majority of them were built just before or during the Hundred Years War, between 1222 and 1307. They are all worth a visit for the architecture and views alone but many of them house superb restaurants and great markets. A list of the local bastides, their market days and restaurants is available in our guest book. With its rolling hills and valleys, the countryside here has been compared to that of Tuscany. Mediaeval villages, fantastic views, quiet shaded roads, fields of sunflowers, fruit orchards and rivers make travelling here a pleasure and you’ll need no reason to get out and about. Choose between car, bicycle, boat or foot and get out and explore. You never know what’s around the next corner.
Within a reasonable distance of La Bique we have Fishing, Golf, Horse riding, Boating, Canoeing, Ballooning, Walking, Cycling, Tennis, Wine tasting, Shopping, Antiques, Museums and Theme Parks. Details of all of these activities are available in our guest book or if you want to book in advance details are available at www.europa47.org/anglais or on our web site (when completed). Alternatively drop us a line with any enquiry and we’ll be pleased to help.
At La Bique itself we have the pool, table tennis, boules, board games, cards, DVDs and books. For more regional information and activities check out the Lot et Garonne Conseil General website; it is superb: www.europa47.org/anglais
How to get there
Air
Airport to La Bique Airlines Agen 45 mins Aerocondor flys from Orly Sud (Paris) 3x daily Bergerac 70 mins Ryan Air, Flybe Bordeaux 90 mins Air France, Aer Lingus, bmibaby, British Airways Toulouse 100 mins Air France, Aer Lingus, BMI, bmibaby, BA, Flybe, Easyjet
Train
Station to La Bique Line Tonneins 11 mins Local train from Bordeaux to Agen Marmande 30 mins Local train from Bordeaux to Agen Agen 45 mins TGV from Bordeaux Bordeaux 90 mins TGV from Paris
Ferry
Port to La Bique Calais 10 hrs Boulogne 9 ½ hrs Cherbourg 8 ½ hrs Le Havre 8 hrs Caen 7 ¾ hrs St Malo 7 hrs
If bringing your car we recommend Brittany Ferries overnight sailing from Portsmouth to St Malo but make sure you book a cabin. You’ll wake up in St Malo fresh, well fed and ready for an early start and you’ll be at La Bique by mid afternoon.
Car Rental
We’ve always found Europcar to be the cheapest and most convenient but rental brokers tigercarrental.net, holidaycars.org and francecarrental.com have recently come to our attention and they appear to offer discounted rates on Budget, Europcar, and Avis rentals from destinations not necessarily covered by those companies. They have rentals from all of the airports and stations listed below.
Sofabeds (1), Single beds (4), Double beds (4), Cots (2), Dining seating for 18, Lounge seating for 16, Sleeps maximum of 14
Other:
Linen and towels provided.
Outdoors:
Balcony / Terrace, Private outdoor pool (unheated), Private garden, BBQ
Access:
Wheelchair access, Secure parking
Further details indoors: All bedrooms are spacious, with ample storage in wardrobes, cupboards and chests of drawers. They are simply decorated with soft lighting, comfortable beds and crisp white linen. The kitchen is equipped for even the most demanding of chefs and our dining room comfortably sits 14 around a single refectory table. We have an additional dining tablkle that seats a further six. Ideal for kids or casual breakfasts. The lounge is double height and almost the breadth of the house with an open fireplace and three French windows opening onto a terrace and the garden beyond.
Further details outdoors: A secluded walled garden to one side of the house has access from the kitchen and is the perfect spot for al fresco dining, be it a casual breakfast or dinner for all. Below this the swimming pool shimmers invitingly and another terrace, accessed by a series of French windows, runs the width of the house, offering views over the garden and the valley below. To the other side of the house lies a small lawn, sheltered by woodland on one side and an old tobacco drying barn on another, which stands as a reminder of La Bique’s history. A downstairs bedroom has French windows opening onto this secluded part of the garden. La Bique’s outdoor furniture tastefully enhances the open air experience, be it dining on the terrace, stargazing on a lounger by the pool, or simply reading a book in the shade of a tree.
Rental rates
Rental prices originally quoted in: Euros €
Convert to:
Period
From
To
Weekly
Nightly rate
Minimum stay
Weekday
Weekend
5 Jan 08
3 May 08
1250£1,050
0-
0-
1 Week
Nights of May 3 - May 30
3 May 08
31 May 08
1500£1,261
0-
0-
1 Week
Nights of May 31 - Jun 27
31 May 08
12 Jul 08
1500£1,261
0-
0-
1 Week
Nights of Jul 12 - 29 Aug
12 Jul 08
30 Aug 08
2500£2,101
0-
0-
1 Week
Nights of Aug 30 - Sep 26
30 Aug 08
27 Sep 08
1500£1,261
225189
225189
3 Nights
Nights of Sep 27 2008 - M
27 Sep 08
20 Dec 08
1250£1,050
200168
200168
3 Nights
20 Dec 08
4 Jan 09
2000£1,681
300252
300252
3 Nights
4 Jan 09
2 May 09
1250£1,050
200168
200168
3 Nights
2 May 09
6 Jun 09
1500£1,261
225189
225189
3 Nights
6 Jun 09
4 Jul 09
2000£1,681
300252
300252
3 Nights
4 Jul 09
29 Aug 09
2500£2,101
0-
0-
1 Week
29 Aug 09
26 Sep 09
1500£1,261
225189
225189
3 Nights
26 Sep 09
19 Dec 09
1250£1,050
200168
200168
3 Nights
121
The owner's weekend rates apply to: Friday and Saturday nights
NB: Prices may be subject to change at the owner's discretion.
Availability
See below for next 6 months' availability - to see the next 24 months click here
Key:
11
12
Booked
11
12
Available
11
12
Unknown
11
12
Arrival/Departure dates
Contact owner
To contact this owner please visit: http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/11059
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