La Faloute, Southern Gascony
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About the home
This secluded, early 19th-century Gascon farmhouse is full of original (and modern) features. It has comfortable fireside seating, beamed ceilings, a log fire and is attractively furnished with English and French antiques. The attached latticed barn adds to the traditional feel. To the front there's a pretty, lawned garden bordered by mature trees and shrubs. The garden is south-facing, sunny and private. At the west side it opens on to lawn and open fields. The property is set at the end of a lane on the edge of an extended hamlet. Enjoy stunning local views to the south-west over small vineyards, fields and lush forests to the snow-capped Pyrenean peaks. The location is secluded though not isolated. It's convenient for several popular market towns and only 20 min. drive to the autoroute (Toulouse/ Pau airports about 1 hr.).
The cottage is ideal for 2-5. It's well-equipped and also has table-tennis, boules, a telescope, town bikes, a good supply of garden furniture, games, local maps, guidebooks and plenty of holiday reading.
Opportunities abound for enjoying nature, birdwatching, stargazing, walking, riding, golf (Pau/ Bagnères/ Tarbes/ Tillac) and wine tasting - and you'll discover plenty more to do and see.
There's no exotic night life or street bustle - come to soak up the quiet, the clear air, mountain views and lush green landscapes. Sample southern Gascony's great food and wine. Sit on the terrace with a cool drink watching the birds and butterflies, or view the stars and planets through our telescope - there's very little light pollution and the night skies are amazingly dark.
This is a perfect base for relaxing, walking and exploring - or a quiet holiday for 2.
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Please visit our website - click the link in the Contact Section at the bottom of this page.
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| Size: | Sleeps up to 5, 2 bedrooms |
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| Nearest beach: | Biarritz, 119km |
| Will consider: | Long lets |
| Access: | Car essential Nearest amenities: 7km |
| 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, Internet access, DVD player |
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| General: | Central heating, Air conditioning, TV, CD player, Telephone, Table tennis, Satellite TV, Wi-fi available |
| Standard: | Kettle, Toaster, Iron, Hair dryer |
| Utilities: | Clothes dryer, Dishwasher, Cooker, Fridge, Freezer, Washing machine |
| Rooms: | 2 Bedrooms, 2 bathrooms of which 2 family bathrooms |
| Furniture: | Sofabeds (1), Single beds (3), Double beds (2), Cots (1), Dining seating for 6, Lounge seating for 6 |
| Other: | Linen and towels provided Highchair available |
| Outdoors: | Balcony / Terrace, Private garden, BBQ, Bicycles available |
| Access: | Parking space |
Further details indoors:
The comfortable living/dining room has a large open fire, satellite and French digital terrestrial TV, DVD, sofa, armchair and big dining table (seats 6). The kitchen area is small but well-equipped. It has a 4-burner hob, electric oven with grill and dishwasher. There's usually a stock of teabags, coffee, sugar, herbs & spices.
In the separate downstairs sitting-room there's a sofa bed. The bathroom is modern and has a bath, shower area, washbasin, WC, wall radiator and underfloor heating. It adjoins the utility room, where we keep a stock of detergents and household cleaning products.
On the first floor there are 2 double bedrooms (one has an additional single bed), both with free-standing fans, bedside tables and lamps. There's a single bed on the mezzanine, another single bed in a small adjoining passage room; and an upstairs washroom with WC.
There are radiators in all rooms and reversible air-conditioning units in the kitchen/living-room and sitting-room. Baby bath and changing mat are provided.
The property is safe for small children provided they're supervised (e.g. on the polished wooden staircase leading to the first floor). The stairs aren't gated. The garden is enclosed and there's no traffic risk as only the neighbour farmer shares use of the lane. (We're a few hundred metres from a working farm). The property isn't suitable for pets.
Mobile phone reception is good. Local calls are free.
Broadband WiFi Internet access by arrangement.
Long winter lets negotiable at discounted rates.
For details of any special offers (late deals), go to "Rental Rates".
Further details outdoors:
The terrace on the west side is a suntrap from midday to sunset. It looks out over meadows and forests of oak and chestnut with panoramic south-west views of the Pyrenean peaks. If you prefer shade, have your apéritif on the wisteria-covered terrace in the main garden or in the cool of the latticed open barn.
Garden furniture is in good supply and for hot summer days there's a garden shower (plus hose). Town bikes are available for use but beware - the area is fairly hilly! Four new mountain bikes (3 sizes) are available for hire at a moderate charge.
The carport opposite the front gates offers good protection but isn't lockable. It's enclosed at the west side. Our lane ends at the cottage and is only shared with the neighbour farmer so there's no through traffic.
Further details
The house is usually let from Saturday to Saturday. In off-season periods we can usually be more flexible about arrival and departure days, so please ask!
Arrival and departure:
Please plan your arrival for a time after 4 pm. We ask you to leave the house as tidy as possible and to set off around 10 am to give us time to prepare for the new visitors.
Conditions
Discounts:
5% discount for bookings of 3 weeks or more and for repeat bookings.
Booking deposit:
40% of rental payable on booking to secure your dates (with signed copy of booking form).
Balance (60%):
Due 6 weeks prior to arrival date, with cheque for refundable breakages deposit (£300) plus separate cheque for extras:
Cleaning: £30 (35 Euro) per booking.
Single week supplement: £14 (16 Euro).
Bed linen and bath/hand towels:
Hire is optional (by arrangement): double set £18 (20 Euro), single set £14 (16 Euro). Cot hire (incl. linen): £12 (14 Euro).
Power/heating (mid Oct.- Apr.):
£14 to £40 pw (16-50 Euro) depending on dates.
Free use of:
High chair, baby bath + changing mat.
Kitchen linen (towels, oven gloves); bathmats, duvets, pillows, eiderdowns, blankets.
Landline for local and incoming calls, TV, DVD, water, power (mid-May - mid. Oct.).
Firewood.
Town bikes.
Table-tennis.
Mountain bikes (4): for hire on a weekly basis.
Broadband Internet/ WiFi: by arrangement.
Special rates for long (winter) lets.
We're sorry, we don't have credit card facilities.
The Midi-Pyrenees / Hautes-Pyrenees region
Southern Gascony is one of France's most tranquil and unspoilt regions. It offers a relaxed pace of life, a rich choice of scenery and breathtaking views. This is 'la France profonde': tourism in the area is still very low key and there's no traffic congestion or pollution from industry. The lush, rolling farmland to the west of Toulouse stretches from the Gers and Haute Garonne into the Hautes-Pyrenees and Bigorre. This is a beautiful region of varied landscapes extending down to the high peaks of the central Pyrenees bordering Spain where the rugged scenery is dotted with waterfalls and lakes, sheltering a unique flora and fauna.
Climate:
Summer temperatures are not as excessively hot as in the south-east. Long Indian summers usually extend well into October and you'll see plenty of winter sun. The weather tends to be more changeable than in the Mediterranean area. Winters are generally mild. You'll usually only find snow closer to the mountains.
Food and Wine:
Gascony is famed for specialities like foie gras, goat's and sheep's cheese, fine wines (Jurancon, Buzet, Tursan, Cotes de St. Mont and Madiran, made famous by winegrower Alain Brumont's "Chateau Montus" and "Bouscassé") and of course, Armagnac. Mixed with grape juice, it makes the local aperitif - Floc de Gascogne. There's a good choice of local 'fermes auberges' - farm restaurants serving dishes made only from fresh local produce.
We regularly update our list of local places to eat out.
For more information, visit www.brumont.fr and www.vins-jurancon.fr
Sports:
The south-west is famous for golf (Pau is home to the oldest course in continental Europe), coarse/fly fishing - on some of France's best salmon and trout rivers (buy summer holiday licences locally) - and downhill and cross-country skiing. Each July, the Tour de France visits the area - Bigorre hosts some of the most challenging ascents in the Tour circuit (www.letour.com). The south-west is also a rugby stronghold.
Towns and Cultural Sites:
Historical centres are Auch, Lourdes, Tarbes, and Pau in neighbouring Pyrenees-Atlantiques. Tarbes is the Hautes-Pyrenees administrative centre and capital. Lourdes is a major pilgrim destination.The region is also host to ancient castles and abbeys (e.g. Mauvezin, Escaladieu, St. Sever), the Cathedral of St. Bertrand de Comminges (on the pilgrims' route to Santiago de Compostela), bastide towns and historic villages (Bassoues, Marciac, Jegun, Lavardens, Castelnau-Barbarens, Trie-sur-Baise, Galan, Tillac etc.).
It's just a short drive to Marciac for "Jazz in Marciac" (www.jazzinmarciac.com), the International Jazz Festival in August.
Geography:
Bigorre consists of two distinct areas: the plains to the north and high mountains to the south. Between are the foothills - lush forests and peaceful countryside dotted with farms, hamlets and villages. To the south and in the mountains are the Pyrenees National Park, the Neouvielle Nature Reserve and the lively towns of Bagneres-de-Bigorre and Argeles-Gazost. The region's highest peaks are L'Arbizon (2831 m), Pic du Midi (2877 m), Pic du Balaitous (3144 m), Pic Long (3192 m), Vignemale (3298 m) and Mont-Perdu (3355 m).
History:
In the 6th century BC, the Bigerri occupied the region, hence its name "Bigorre". In Celtic times, Tarbes was known as Turba or Bigorra. In 56 BC, the Romans conquered the area and named it Novempopulanie. After the Vandal and Frank invasions, the Dukes of Gascony controlled Bigorre in the 9th century. In 1097, it became an independent county, remaining so under the English in the 14th century. Recaptured by Jean de Foix in 1407, it was reincorporated into Bearn in 1429. After the Revolution, the new Hautes-Pyrenees department followed the lines of ancient Bigorre.
The Trie-sur-Baise area
The region is rich in historical and culinary attractions. There are daily farmers' markets selling fresh local produce and a quantity of supermarkets and hypermarkets. Organic produce is increasingly available.
Access to local amenities is quick and easy. The cottage lies about 15 min. north-west of Tournay and about 10 min. south of the popular market town of Trie-sur-Baise (supermarkets, patisseries, newsagent, bars and cheerful wine shop). Tournay is a little market town just off the A64 autoroute. Both towns have swimming pools, tennis courts, banks and medical services.
Places to see and things to do:
• Thermal springs at Capvern-les-Bains; springs, saunas, open-air solaria at Bagneres-de-Bigorre's 'Aquensis'.
• Gallo-Roman sites at St. Bertrand de Comminges and Montmaurin
• The historic town of Auch and beautiful city of Pau
• Skiing, hiking, walking, cycling, mountain-biking
• Wine-tasting, summer night markets, local Gascon and Spanish cuisine (Spain is just over the border)
• Pic du Midi de Bigorre (2877m), site of the famous observatory (cable car from La Mongie to the top)
• Prehistoric cave paintings at Gargas
• Bird sanctuary at Lac de Puydarrieux
• Wildlife in the Pyrenean National Park
• Tour de France in July
• Day trips to Biarritz or St. Jean de Luz on the Atlantic coast, tapas in San Sebastian.
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Atlantic coast/ Pays Basque (Bayonne, Biarritz, St. Jean de Luz) 1¾ hrs; San Sebastian 2¼ hrs; Narbonne and Mediterranean coast c. 2½ - 3 hrs; Barcelona 3½ hrs. (approx. travelling times).
Summer festivals:
• Jazz in Marciac
• Country Music in Mirande
• 'Nuits Musicales' and July antiques fair in Trie
• 'Grande Pourcailhade' (Pig Festival) and five-day fair in Trie (early August)
• 'Piano aux Pyrenees' in Bagneres, Bareges, Cauterets, Escaladieu
• 'Festival du Comminges' (classical music) in St. Bertrand
Useful links:
www.tourisme-hautes-pyrenees.com www.parc-pyrenees.com
www.picdumidi.fr www.tourmalet.fr
www.festival-du-comminges.com www.cg65.fr
www.aquensis.fr www.pau-pyrenees.com
www.golf-midi-pyrenees.com www.uk.toulouse-tourisme.com
www.biarritz.fr www.saint-jean-de-luz.com
www.eduardo-chillida.com www.sansebastianspain.info
How to get there
Click map icons for more information
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| Nearest Travel Links | |
| Airport: | Tarbes-Lourdes: 40 km |
| Railway: | Tarbes: 17 km |
| Ferry: | Bilboa: 322 km |
Access to the cottage is easy by road, air and rail.
Convenient location for the A64 autoroute (Toulouse-Bayonne).
Nearest motorway exits: Capvern, Tournay (20 min.)
Ferry ports: St. Malo 480 miles; Calais 710 miles; Bilboa 200 miles; Santander 240 miles (approx. distances).
For travel planning, go to: www.viamichelin.com
Car-hire facilities are available at all the major arrival points.
Air:
Low-cost carriers serve Biarritz, Pau, Tarbes-Lourdes, Toulouse and Carcassonne.
Driving time: Tarbes-Lourdes 40 min (ryanair, bmibaby, AF domestic); Pau 45 min (cityjet, flybe, AF domestic); Toulouse 1¼ hrs (AF, BA, easyjet, bmibaby, flybe, jet2.com); Carcassonne 2 hrs, Biarritz c.1½ hrs (both ryanair).
(Tarbes-Lourdes airport is sometimes referred to as Lourdes-Tarbes).
www.cheapflights.com
www.buzzaway.com
www.gofly.com
www.britishairways.com
www.ryanair.com
www.easyjet.com
www.bmibaby.com
www.flybe.com
www.jet2.com
Rail:
Nearest stations: Tournay, Lannemezan, Tarbes, Pau, Toulouse
Nearest Motorail station: Toulouse (from Paris)
Regular TGV link: Paris-Tarbes via Bordeaux - several times daily from/ to Paris-Montparnasse (5¾ hrs)
RailSavers: + 44 (0)870 750 7070
www.raileurope.co.uk
www.sncf.fr
Taxis:
Tournay, Capvern, Lannemezan, Trie, Tarbes
Map Ref.:
Carte Michelin No. 85
Ferry Services:
www.brittany-ferries.com - from western channel ports
www.condorferries.co.uk - from Poole and Weymouth
www.stenaline.com - Dover ferries
www.travelfusion.com
www.ferrysavers.com
Addresses may be subject to change
Activities near Trie-sur-Baise
Tennis in town
Horse Riding
Golf within 30 mins drive
Fishing
Walking holidays
Rural / countryside retreats
A winter sun break
Cycling holidays
Reviews
 05 Oct 2011 |
Quiet seclusion is what this place is all about so other than the occasional passing cow or tractor don't expect anything else to happen. The cottage is comfortable, very well equipped and... more |
02 Sep 2011 |
Excellent property with everything you could possibly need, right down to the washing powder! Beautiful property, with tasteful but very comfortable period furnishings, both inside and out. Excellent location with great views. Perfect for trvaelling around but also big enough to just relax in south facing garden when the mood takes you. Great little tourist office in nearby Lannemezan with excellent English guidebook and map of the High Pyrennees. |
28 May 2011 |
We've stayed here several times now. The house and its beautiful gardens are perfect if you want a very quiet, get-away-from-it-all retreat in rural France. The noisiest it ever gets there is when the farmer next door brings his cows along the lane twice a day - apart from that, there's little but birdsong to disturb you. The surrounding countryside is stunning, with ample opportunities for walks and bike rides, not to mention quite easy access to the mountains. Pau is worth a visit - some good regional restaurants there - and Lourdes is not too far if you're interested in a short pilgrimage. You can even get over into Basque Spain from here without too much trouble; we've incorporated overnight stays at San Sebastian and Zaragoza into our vacations here. You should be aware that the nearest village is a good fifteen minutes' drive away from the house, so a little forward planning is always required for meals, if cooking at home. The market at Trie sur Baise (famed for its annual Pig Impersonating contest - seriously) is excellent, and there is a large supermarket at Tarbes, but no local baker or boulangerie on hand if you run out of bread. The house is well-equipped, with everything you are likely to need for your stay (there's a Digibox so you can pick up UK TV and radio) and the thoughtful owners have left a library of local information if you need it. We've always enjoyed dealing with them and our stays here have always been very relaxing. Not a place for families with young kids, perhaps, but if you want to really get away from it all, I can't think of a better place to be. |
Guestbook for La Faloute, Southern Gascony
'Thanks again (...) - we loved all the nooks and crannies and the views of the mountains are quite stunning! (...). The area and the house itself are outstanding!' (GD 03/11)
'Just a note to say we really enjoyed our time (...). Loved the character of the house and all the excellent space it offered. The weather was extremely kind and the storm we had was (...) exciting to watch from the comfort of the house!' (RC 07/09)
'We've been back to this delightful house five times now, and will definitely do so again. Perfect for walking, cycling, or sitting in the beautiful garden watching the sun go down over the mountains. Bliss." (BM 02/09)
'Many thanks for a fantastic holiday in your lovely home. It was so well equipped and homely - the best gïte we've had in 20 years of gïting! (...) We shall certainly be recommending it to our friends! It was our first visit to the area & we all felt it was the nicest part of France we'd visited. We shall certainly be returning.' (RP 07/08)
'We thoroughly enjoyed our 4th stay at La F., which really does feel a home from home.' (EL 07/08)
'Thanks again for providing such a well organised and comfortable (and wonderfully quiet) holiday base.' (RT 07/08)
' We have many enjoyable memories of our stay and our trips in the mountains and hinterland. The gite was a real pleasure - so well appointed and in such a tranquil location.' (JM 8/05)
'We really appreciated having shade & just watching the activity of the birds, butterflies & lizards was quite energetic enough for us much of the time!' (JC 8/03)
'We had a completely relaxing time in one of the most welcoming houses we've ever had in France.' (CS 6/01)
Rental prices
| Rental prices originally quoted in: British £ | Convert to: |
| Prices for group size 5 | ||||||
| Period | From | To | Weekly | Nightly rate | Minimum stay | |
| Weekday | Weekend | |||||
| 7 Jan - 6 April | 7 Jan 12 | 7 Apr 12 | £ 270 | - | - | 2 Weeks |
| 7 April - 18 May | 7 Apr 12 | 19 May 12 | £ 300 | - | - | 2 Weeks |
| 19 May - 22 June | 19 May 12 | 23 Jun 12 | £ 380 | - | - | 1 Week |
| 23 June - 7 Sep | 23 Jun 12 | 8 Sep 12 | £ 440 | - | - | 1 Week |
| 8 Sep - 12 Oct | 8 Sep 12 | 13 Oct 12 | £ 380 | - | - | 2 Weeks |
| 13 Oct - 21 Dec | 13 Oct 12 | 22 Dec 12 | £ 270 | - | - | 2 Weeks |
| 22 Dec '12 - 4 Jan '13 | 22 Dec 12 | 5 Jan 13 | £ 300 | - | - | 2 Weeks |
| 5 Jan - 5 April | 5 Jan 13 | 6 Apr 13 | £ 270 | - | - | 2 Weeks |
| 6 April - 17 May | 6 Apr 13 | 18 May 13 | £ 300 | - | - | 2 Weeks |
| 18 May - 21 June | 18 May 13 | 22 Jun 13 | £ 380 | - | - | 1 Week |
| 22 June - 6 Sep | 22 Jun 13 | 7 Sep 13 | £ 440 | - | - | 1 Week |
| 7 Sep - 11 Oct | 7 Sep 13 | 12 Oct 13 | £ 380 | - | - | 2 Weeks |
| 12 Oct - 20 Dec | 12 Oct 13 | 21 Dec 13 | £ 280 | - | - | 2 Weeks |
| 21 Dec '13 - 3 Jan '14 | 21 Dec 13 | 4 Jan 14 | £ 300 | - | - | 2 Weeks |
NB: Prices may be subject to change at the advertiser's discretion.
For group size 6-8, please add £10 per extra person p.w.
How to book:
Please email or phone to check availability for the dates you'd like and ask for a Booking Form and booking details.
To secure your booking, please post us a signed copy of the Booking Form including a sterling cheque on a UK bank for the booking deposit (40% of rental). You can also pay by electronic transfer. We'll send formal confirmation once your payment is cleared.
Bookings can only be held provisionally for a few days. The booking deposit is not refundable if you cancel your booking.
If you're booking within 6 weeks of your arrival, please send us full payment with your signed Booking Form, including two separate cheques for the refundable Breakages Deposit (£300) and any chargeable extras (see below).
Non-UK bookings: please pay by international bank draft or cheque in GBP on a UK bank, or by wire transfer. For any other cheque, please add £20 for bank charges.
Payment in euros is also an option. We'll use the rate of exchange prevailing on the day of booking. For Euro-zone payments, please send a cheque in euros on a French bank or a SEPA Credit Transfer using BIC & IBAN (ask for details).
August: preferred minimum stay 2 weeks
October - April: preferred minimum stay 10 days; mid-week bookings by arrangement.
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: | 5 years listed You are contacting Susan Cubitt
Languages spoken      The owner is based in Germany and has advertised with Holiday Lettings since 2006. This cottage has received 5 reviews from previous guests.  |
