Photo Gallery
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Barry and Virginia welcome you to a secret Pyrenean hideaway
Our 300 year old stone built traditional mountain farmhouse will welcome you with warmth and hospitality. Situated in the heart of the REGIONAL PARK OF THE ARIEGE PYRENEES, the house is cool in summer and warm in winter due to it's thick stone walls (and double glazing)! This house was designed and built to last and to weather all that nature could throw at it, winter and summer! The wood burning fireplace supplies the downstairs of the house and the bedrooms with central heating.
- Whilst very traditional the house has all the modern facilities you expect including WIFI, 4 bedrooms and two spacious bathrooms provide bedspace for 10 people. You will be made to feel very welcome.
- Two double bedrooms en suite, one single bedroom and a dormitory room with a double bed and two singles. On the ground floor there is a bed settee for 2 extra places.
- UNLIKE so many properties in the area we are high enough not to have MOSQUITOS. Sitting out in the evening is a pleasure and not a battle of the chemists!
Amenities
As well as glorious summers, in the winter we have winter sports on our doorstep for you to enjoy. Remember the roaring log fire when you get back from the slopes or excursion. 2 miles away our local boulangiere bakes bread twice a day on his wood fired oven. Ask for the Boucheron - you will never eat better bread. His bakery also provides a small convenience store.
- SPORTS popular here are hiking, mountain biking, road cycling (Le Tour de France comes by here almost every year),horse riding, climbing, trout and carp fishing, paragliding, canyoning, white water rafting, skiing, go karting and many many more. See photo gallery above for some ideas of what is possible here locally. or your excursion. All the above pursuits are available a maximum one hour from the house.
Rates
- NOW TO THE MONEY ! Two nights are our minimum stay (you will want to stay longer) we have no maximum stay.
Basically the lowest off season price per night is €99 whilst in the high season (and high demand) we charge a modest €150 per night. Remember the house accommodates 10 people (€15 per person)!
Please send us an email to virginia.fryer@gmail.com and we will send you a quote and up to date breakdown of costs etc.
Remember booking direct with us here will save you the fees charged by our letting agents AirBnB and HomeAway!!
SOME IMAGES OF ACTIVITIES AVAILABLE IN THE VICINITY.
Some useful Information
OUR NEAREST TOWN
Our local town is FOIX, a well preserved medieval town dating from neoliothic times. In addition to a great castle (open to the public) it has winding alleyways of half timbered houses and shops, all situated on the edge of two rivers, the Arget and the Ariege.
Plenty of restaurants and bars, some traditional and some modern and upmarket to suit all tastes. A weekly market with artisanal shops and stalls to satisfy all your shopping needs are here.
The LAKE just outside Foix offers water pleasures and a beach. a new SWIMMING POOL complex at Foix centre offers inside and outside bathing and relaxing.
We have a major theatre and multiscreen cinema.
At neighbouring nearby towns you can find a fabulous SPA complex and CASINO. Golf is about 20 minutes from Foix
COMMERCIAL SHOPPING INFORMATION
Foix has a good number and variety of supermarkets easily accessible by car.
Intermarche, Lidl and LeClerc are all situated just outside the town on the road to Andorra.
Leader Price and Carrefour are both on the Toulouse road just outside the town.
Casino (Supermarket) is situated in the town just behind the main post office in the centre of town.
TOULOUSE offers many international shopping outlets such as IKEA, etc.
DON'T FORGET in France almost all smaller shops close between 12 and 2 midday.
LOCAL SHOPS AND MARKETS
Local shops close to the house include:-
Great family Bakery and general store at La Coupiere (5 mins). Not open Mondays.
St. Pierre has a good sized convenience store which is not too expensive if you buy their own range (Grand Jury).
MARKETS locally.
Monday - Mirepoix - wonderful medieval walled town.
Friday is Foix market. It takes over the whole town and is very comprehensive from fresh food, handmade goods and a small organic producers area.
Saturday is St.Girons - a bit of a hike at 35 mins away but well worth it. Probably the best 'classic french' market for many miles.
INFO YOU MIGHT NEED
Post offices are situated at the Mairie at Serres sur Arget (mornings only)
At St. Pierre (mornings only)
Foix is open all day including lunchtimes and saturday mornings!!
EMERGENCY NUMBERS ARE
Police
Fire dept.
Ambulance
Local doctor
These numbers will be recorded in the WELCOME BOOK given to you on arrival.
HISTORICAL CONNECTIONS
From pre-history this region has seen the first cave men (neolithic) in Europe after the last ice age. Their art works decorate many caves in our area (Lombrives/Nixaux/etc etc) These are world famous and important. Then we have vast numbers of fabulous buildings and bridges from the middle ages. The history of the CATHARS is here, hard and bloody. The Inquisition was here.
Castles and Bastides (defended villages) abound. Our local church was built in the 11th Century.
You are never short of ancient buildings historical sites or museums to visit.
FAQs
1. What time can we arrive and leave?
Normally arrive at 14.00 and depart at 10.00 (can be adjusted if we do not have a following booking. )
2. Who pays for electricity and logs?
logs are free, electricity is free up to normal consumption
3. What are the sleeping arrangements?
Two double bedrooms provide 4 places, a single bedroom 1 place. The loft provides one double bed, two singles and a put u up providing 5 places and the salon has a double bed settee for overspill (2 places) total 12 bed spaces.
4. How do we pay?
Bankers transfer, cash or PayPal
5. Are there brochures of local attractions?
In our library we have brochures from scores of local attractions etc Including hiking maps of the area.
6. Are there any restrictions on hiking in the area?
Probably one of the free-est places in Europe to hike, walk, cycle or ride. Just walk outside the front door and begin. Travel to Spain or Andorra or even the Atlantic from our house on ancient trails without ever encountering a PRIVATE - KEEP OUT sign !!
7. Can you pick us up from Foix
Yes by arrangement (during daylight hours).
8. Is breakfast provided?
For short visits we leave enough food and drink for Continental breakfasts. For longer visits (1 week or longer) breakfast is not provided.
9. Is the kitchen fully equipped?
Most certainly YES. OUr kitchen contains everything you need to cook and cater for 12 people.
10. Can we order home cooked meals?
Certainly can. See the menu page.
11. Are the owners available to sort out problems?
Absolutely, we live locally.
12. Is there a MINI BAR?
Not exactly but the house always contains an emergency case of beer and 3 litres of red wine!
13. Is there some-one to help us understand and enjoy the beauty and history of the area. A sort of local guide?
Yup, that will be Barry then. Expert on the local area, knows every tree and stream and secret mushroom cache ! And prides himself on his historical knowledge of the region!
ABOUT VIRGINIA AND BARRY
VIRGINIA
Professionally, an English literature high school teacher now retired and living between the beautiful French Pyrenees and the Greek islands. Great cooking and bird studies are her passion.
'CAPTAIN' BARRY
Professionally an architect and developer now semi retired and equally happy on the farm in the mountains or on Sea Pixie our wooden classic yacht now based in Greece.
RELIABILITY
Book with us and be sure of a reliable and professional service. We are sailors and travellers ourselves and know how important it is to have solid people backing your plans. We look forward to meeting you when you venture into our little piece of heaven.