House in the Tarn
About the home
Barn in Midi-Pyrenees, France: A converted barn in beautiful countryside, retaining many of its original features, beamed ceilings and open fireplace. French doors open onto a sunny south-facing terrace ideal for summer dining and overlooking the stunning 10x5m private swimming pool.
On the ground floor there is a very spacious open plan living area : lounge with two sofas (one a large L-shaped), dining area and kitchen. There is an open fire and Large Plasma TV with UK Satellite. Also on the ground floor is a WC. The kitchen is equipped with a large range-style cooker, dishwasher, freezer, microwave and washing machine. The property has central heating available for winter visits.
French doors lead to a terrace overlooking the garden and pool. This an ideal location for al fresco dining. There is a barbecue provided for such occasions. The master bedroom is a double (a vast kingsize) with very good wardrobe space. There is a very large en-suite bathroom including, bath, twin wash basins, separate walk-in large shower and WC. There are two further bedrooms with good wardrobe space, each with twin beds. These rooms share a shower room with basin & WC.
| Size: | Sleeps up to 6, 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|
| Nearest beach: | Lac Roucarie, 16km |
| Will consider: | House swaps Long lets |
| Access: | Car essential |
| Family friendly? | Suitable for children of all ages Suitable for people with restricted mobility |
| Notes: | No pets allowed No smoking at this property Self-catering |
Facilities
| Luxuries: | Log fire, DVD player |
|---|---|
| General: | Central heating, TV, CD player, Satellite TV |
| Standard: | Kettle, Toaster, Iron |
| Utilities: | Dishwasher, Cooker, Microwave, Fridge, Freezer, Washing machine |
| Rooms: | 3 Bedrooms, 2 bathrooms of which 1 en suite and 1 shower room |
| Furniture: | Single beds (2), Double beds (2), Dining seating for 6, Lounge seating for 6 |
| Other: | Linen and towels provided |
| Outdoors: | Balcony / Terrace, Private outdoor pool (unheated), Private garden, BBQ |
| Access: | Parking space |
Further details indoors:
Note: The double beds are extra large and they both can also be configured as two singles.
Photos
The Midi-Pyrenees / Tarn region


In the surrounding area are charming historic towns, the Gaillac Region vineyards (you can taste and buy wine at many domains and châteaux and there is a great wine co-operative selling top class wines in the grounds of the church in the town of Gaillac), the magnificent Gresigne forest, and the beautiful Aveyron gorges. There is a great Sunday market at St Antonin. There are many restaurants nearby. It is only a 20 minute drive to the fine medieval city of Albi with its stunning cathedral, famous Toulouse Lautrec museum and quaint medieval streets with many shops. The wonderful mediaeval walled city of Carcasonne (A World Heritage Site), is well worth a visit.
Activities In addition to swimming at the house, there is canoeing on the Aveyron river (The Aveyron Gorge is a 'must see'), an 18 hole golf course at Albi, and a range of sports, including skiing on the synthetic slope at the new Cap Decouverte leisure complex near Carmaux (20 minutes away). There are numerous country walks.
The Cordes-sur-Ciel area
Just past the entrance to the house the road becomes a track which is ideal for taking a slow stroll down to the river. The house is only 15 minutes drive from the shops, bars, restaurants and Saturday market at the picturesque hill town of Cordes-sur-Ciel. At the heart of the famous bastides region, Cordes is famous for its historic buildings, medieval festivities and summer music festival. Cordes overlooks the tranquil, rural valley of the Cerou River. To the west, about 10 minutes away is the village of Laguepie with its medieval castle and Twin Rivers of the Aveyron and Viaur. This is a wonderfully French little village with local amenities such as doctor, bakers, grocers, post office, bar and a Sunday farmers market.
How to get there
Click map icons for more information
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| Nearest Travel Links | |
| Airport: | Rodez: 80 km |
| Railway: | Laguepie: 7 km |
Rodez Airport (46 miles; 1 hour 12 minutes). Flights to Rodez = Ryanair from Stansted........Toulouse Airport (62 miles mainly motorway; 1 hour 25 minutes) Flights to Toulouse (UK- Flybe, BMI, Easyjet, British Airways; Dublin - Aer Lingus). Carcasonne Airport (112 miles; 2 hours); Flights to Carcasonne (Ryanair from Liverpool and Stansted)
Activities near Cordes-sur-Ciel
Tennis in town
Watersports
Waterpark
Horse Riding
Golf within 30 mins drive
Fishing
Walking holidays
Rural / countryside retreats
Beach or lakeside relaxation
Cycling holidays
Reviews
![]() 06 Jan 2012 |
We spent two weeks in early July 2010 at La Grefeille with our two four-year old children. We embarked on extensive research on the Internet prior to booking and have come to the conclusion that we have found the perfect holiday spot with Siobhan and Eugene's oasis La Grefeille. For a family of four the house is very spacious with a large living and kitchen area. The kids (and parents during the World Cup...) enjoyed the large screen TV and it was very nice to find a big drawer full of children's games and books in the living room. The upstairs had three good-sized and tastefully furnished bedrooms and two very nice bathrooms. In particular the ensuite master bedroom bathroom was extremely nice and spacious. We very much appreciated the fact that all beds had high quality and very tasteful linen and that there was an abudance of towels. Outside there are two highlights that will ensure that you spend a very relaxing holiday: number one is the patio where we spent breakfast, lunch and dinner in the shade - together with a nice glass of wine it is very difficult not to get into the holiday spirit. And number two and for us the key attraction of La Grefeille was the pool! It has a very good size, is extremely clean and one cannot do anything else than jump in immediately. Together with the patio this is where we spent most of our time. It is also very important to mention that from our first inquiry via the internet to the time that we left La Grefeille Eugene has been extremely helpful in answering questions related to the house, the region and any other issue that one needs to know about when visiting. If necessary there is also (English-speaking) help a phone call away. Finally, the area is beautiful, Cordes-sur-Ciel a dream and we very much enjoyed the fact that this being high season it was actually not very crowded. As an aside if you stay in the region we would highly recommend trying the butcher on the main road into Cordes-sur-Ciel. Excellent meat and extremely friendly service. All in all for us a perfect vacation in a superb holiday home helped by very supportive owners. We would go back in a hearbeat and in fact are thinking about it for next year... |
![]() 27 Dec 2011 |
We barely moved from the villa for the whole week. The pool was great, the living space was brilliant. If you want to get away from it all this is perfect. |
Guestbook for House in the Tarn
Rating 4 out of 5
A lovely taste of rural France
Robert E.
Review Submitted: August 19, 2011 Date of Stay: July 2011
As a couple and a single friend we had a very relaxing stay at La Grefeille in early summer 2011. It is a wonderful rural setting surrounded by crop growing and animal grazing pastures. The country lanes were idyllic and provided central access to a a broad range of interesting hamlets, villages and towns - Laguepie, Saint-Antonin, Najac, Cordes-sur-Ciel, Albi, Gaillac, to name a few. The swimming pool was a real asset for a late afternoon cool off each day after exploring the area. There are good restaurants within easy driving distance. The house's living area provided a traditional French context to our stay. We enjoyed the shaded outdoor terrace.
Recommended for: Age 55+, Girls Getaway, Sightseeing, Families with Teenagers, Families with Young Children
"The house is very pretty and the pool is exceptional"
"We were so pleased to have decided on La Grefeille for our 2 week September holiday in France. It was a delightful retreat for my husband and me, tucked away down a country lane and surrounded by beautiful countryside. Downstairs was a large, open-plan space with kitchen, dining area and lounge. The kitchen area was very well equipped - dishwasher, good cooking facilities, fridge freezer, microwave, plus welcoming extras like a cafetiere. As we were very lucky with the weather, we tended to eat just outside on the terrace but sometimes in the evening, we curled up on the large sofas, with our plates of french food bought from the local markets, mesmerised by the burning logs crackling away in the large fire place. The satellite TV and our French films couldn't really compete. Having spent our mornings visiting local markets, art galleries & boulangeries in Cordes, or the old part of Albi, we were quite content to pass lazy afternoons reading books and sipping wine by the magnificient swimming pool. The master bedroom with its en-suite was perfect for us; a very comfortable, enormous bed, and a large, walk-in, powered shower. Any downsides - when you first see the house from the lane, it doesn't look anything special, but wait until you walk down the steps to the front and see the wisteria growing over the terrace, the wonderfully blue, clean swimming pool and the warm, old stone of the converted barn, you start to realise what a special place it is. Secondly, the barn is very close to another 2 dwellings, owned by a resident English couple so you are not entirely alone. However, you are not really overlooked and the neighbours are quiet and keep to themselves. Thirdly, there are wasps and hornets around but they tend to keep to the fig tree by the side of the house. As long as you are sensible and give them a wide berth, they are totally occupied with the fruit. Overall, we found the place enchanting, in a beautiful, quiet, rural location, with good facilities. It was clean and well maintained, and the couple who look after the house, were very helpful and pleasant. You do need to car to get to any of the local villages and towns but these are well worth visiting and exploring. Cordes, in particular, is good for foodies and art and culture. I would recommend this to middle aged couples like us or families with older children. We'll be back for sure."
Southampton Family, September 2009
"The converted barn lived up to our expectations with plenty of space, being tastfully furnished, and having extremely comfortable beds. The huge en suite was a bonus with a lovely walk in shower. Perfect setting; very peaceful and private. The kids loved the quality flat screen TV! "
Hampshire Family, July 2009
Rental prices
| Rental prices originally quoted in: British £ | Convert to: |
| Prices for group size 6 | ||||||
| Period | From![]() | To![]() | Weekly![]() | Nightly rate | Minimum stay | |
| Weekday | Weekend | |||||
| Low Season | 6 Nov 10 | 9 Apr 11 | £ 600 | - | - | 1 Week |
| Mid Season 2011 | 9 Apr 11 | 2 Jul 11 | £ 845 | - | - | 4 Nights |
| High Season 2011 | 2 Jul 11 | 3 Sep 11 | £ 1250 | - | - | 1 Week |
| Autumn 2011 | 3 Sep 11 | 29 Oct 11 | £ 699 | - | - | 1 Week |
| Low Season | 29 Oct 11 | 7 Apr 12 | £ 600 | - | - | 1 Week |
| Mid Season 2012 | 7 Apr 12 | 7 Jul 12 | £ 875 | - | - | 1 Week |
| High Season 2012 | 7 Jul 12 | 1 Sep 12 | £ 1300 | - | - | 1 Week |
| Autumn 2012 | 1 Sep 12 | 27 Oct 12 | £ 875 | - | - | 1 Week |
| Low Season 2012/13 | 27 Oct 12 | 6 Apr 13 | £ 600 | - | - | 1 Week |
NB: Prices may be subject to change at the advertiser's discretion.
Availability
See below for next 9 months' availability - to see the next 24 months click here
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Contact the owner
* Required fields Please check the following errors: | 7 years listed You are contacting Eugene Leddy
Languages spoken ![]() The owner is based in Ireland and has advertised with Holiday Lettings since 2005. This barn has received 2 reviews from previous guests. ![]() |
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