Spacious Pyrenean Chalet

Habouret details

Home description

Habouret is a spacious 1981 built Chalet which incorporates many local features including timber frames and beams. It is set in about an acre of landscaped gardens and sleeps up to 10 persons. It offers  somewhere peaceful and secluded to relax and unwind with exceptional views of the mountains and villages below from its elevated position.

The accommodation at Habouret is that of a Pyrenean Chalet which provides the best of modern facilities whilst preserving the charm and warmth of a traditional building.  It has been  constructed of the finest timber and tiled surfaces which make it cool in summer and warm in winter. The site is south west facing so there is maximum sunshine for those that want it – and it faces straight out onto an unbroken view of the Pyrenees. There is a verandah on the south and west sides with a large bricked terrace below and garden to the front and a shade terrace to the rear – where you can eat and escape the heat of day and watch the sun go down in the evening. The verandah, which may be accessed either from the lounge, hallway or kitchen french windows, leads to an external staircase linking the terrace below. The whole house is fully centrally heated and partly double-glazed.

The owners speak passable French so can help you with anything you need locally and they know local estate agents so can help you if you're property hunting. Other than that, they will do all they can to help make your stay a great one – please let them know if there is anything else you'd like them to provide.

External features on site

• Barbecue
• Garden
• Scenic views

Accommodation detail

The accommodation comprises:

Ground Floor

• There is a large double garage which houses the oil-fired boiler and
• A utility area comprising a washer, a dryer and storage room as well as
• A fitted summer kitchen leading out on to the terrace
• There is plenty of garden furniture here for sitting and eating outdoors.

First Floor

• Main room provides a large and cool lounge space with a cathedral roof above together with a large dining area linked by double doors to the hallway. The room itself is very substantial measuring some 10 x 6.5m and is floored with terracotta tiles. It is equipped with TV and DVD player. There are French doors that open out onto the verandah with electric sunblind above.  There is a dining table for 6 and a large lounge suite for you to relax on, the sofa provides an additional double sofa bed. There are radiators throughout the house there is a very large open fireplace  for log burning which gives as much heat as you need through the winter months on chillier evenings
• Fully fitted kitchen, with all the modern equipment that you would expect from a property of this calibre – including gas oven, extractor fan, solid fuel hob, dishwasher, fridge/freezer, microwave etc. The kitchen has a table and chairs being large enough to eat in and also leads on to the verandah where meals can be served
• 2 Double bedrooms - each with bedside tables side lamps and cupboard space, vanity mirrors etc
• Bathroom  -  Comprises bathroom suite including full sized bath/shower, bidet, sink
• Separate Toilet - conveniently next to the bathroom and the two bedrooms
• Corridor with additional cloakroom storage and a hall tallboy

Second Floor

• The bedrooms are each fully oak-beamed linked by wooden staicase to the living area. All look out onto the Pyrenees and the hills near by, so from the two largest rooms you wake up in you are guaranteed a stunning view of the mountains (weather permitting of course!)
• The double bedroom is timber framed and has a king size bed and is tastefully furnished with traditional French textiles
• The triple bedroom is also timber framed and has lots of room for either children or adults, again it is decorated with traditional French fabrics
• The single box room has a skylight which lets in the early morning siunlight
• There is also a sitting area comprising an L-shaped sofa (which converts into a double bed) on the landing outside the bedrooms under the cathedral roof over the lounge area

Outside

Outside is a lovely landscaped garden on all sides,  terraces at the front and back (one sunny, one shady), There is an acre of lovely garden for you to wander around, including mature fruit trees, conifers and a grape vine. From here there are unrestricted spectacular views of the mountains including the Pic du Midi (the highest peak in Haut Pyrenees).

About the location

Habouret offers you a fabulous base to explore the Pyrenees, the Neste valley, and Spain which is only 35 minutes away. It is based in the region called the Barronies  at the junction of the D27/D77 above the village of Esparros (famous for its caves) and south of Lannemezan and Capvern (junction 15 on Autoroute 64). There are also the Aure and Neste Valleys to explore (a locally kept secret not usually heard of further a field) and a huge amount of natural landscape and activities to enjoy.

Haute-Pyrenees (65), is undoubtedly an undiscovered jewel in France's crown.  Rivers, woodlands and the stunning Pyrenees combine to provide a leisure location rivalled by no other region of France.

It has excellent transport connections being only an hour by autoroute from Toulouse and 40 minutes from Pau airports but is largely unexplored, even by discerning French travellers.  There are plenty of enjoyable and interesting things to do at your leisure and without masses of tourists. Haute Pyrenees offers excellent cuisine and is famed throughout France and the rest of the world for the quality of its raw ingredients and its signature dishes such as foie gras, confit de canard, haricots tarbais, porc noir de gascogne and brebis des Pyrenees. 

The countryside itself is fabulous with many hills, pastureland and deciduous wood (mainly oak, silver birch and chestnut), crossed with plenty of interesting rivers both large and small; and a myriad of caves, grottos and places of historic interest. There are usually horses, sheep and cattle grazing in adjacent fields.

There is beautiful flora and fauna to have a look at if you're so inclined, and ornithologists would have a field day with the range of birds - including the Honey Buzzards and Red Kites that fly about the house.  The skies at night are clear and beautiful – on a clear night the stars are breathtaking and it makes you realise how much light pollution has blocked one's view further north.

See Local guide and map for information on nearby towns and facilities.

Activities nearby

Caving, Cycling, Sightseeing, Skiing, Snowboarding, Walking

See Activities and attractions for more information on nearby activities and places of interest.

How to get here

• SNCF/TGV to Lannemezan/Tarbes from Bordeaux,Toulouse,Paris.
• Ryanair from Stansted to Pau; Flybe from Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Southampton to Toulouse.
• By road, fast autoroute (A64) linking Toulouse, Biarritz, Pau Carcasonne and Narbonne.
• Esparros is easy to find being south of Lannemezan

See Local guide and map for information on nearby towns and airports.