Spacious Private 17th Century House & Pool in Stunning Rural Setting

Girondine House details

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The house and pool

The house from the top garden

Relax by the pool

The terrace

The garden is well lit at night.....

A truly rural location

Home description

Gabillou is a beautiful spacious 17th century 'girondine' house with modern facilities in private fully enclosed 1.5 acre garden, with large swimming pool (inc. swim-machine), set amidst rolling fields and woodlands. Let your cares drift away on the summer breeze as you relax on the terrace or by the pool.

We have equipped the house and garden to ensure there is plenty to do on-site and your stay is both enjoyable and comfortable.  Alternatively, join in the local festivals and visit the markets to experience the warm hospitality of South-West France.

You will be greeted on arrival by a fluent French/English speaker who will be only too happy to provide you with any information you require to ensure you have an enjoyable and relaxing stay.

Some comments from previous guests:

 "It's so lovely, we don't want to go home...", "We love the garden...", "We had a really good time....the local wines are such good value and taste really good!", "the kids spent all day in the garden, all that fresh air...", "what a wonderful 2 weeks".

External features on site

• Barbecue
• Garden
• Scenic views
• Swimming pool (exclusive use)

• The setting, open rolling countryside doted with old farmhouses and hill-top churches on all sides

• Private large and enclosed garden with fruit trees and vines (help-yourself if in season)

• Swimming pool with swim-machine and large terrace

• Terrace adjacent to house (part-covered) with both gas and charcoal barbecues

• Situated off a quiet winding lane (cul de sac) which provides post-dinner ½ hour stroll to the end and back

• Excellent facilities including badmington, swings and bicycles

Accommodation detail

The dining room

The main sitting room

Double bedroom 1

Double bedroom 2

One of the twin bedrooms

The family bathroom

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The house offers spacious accommodation (200m² of indoor living space) as well as an adjoining 60m² terrace with both gas and charcoal barbecues which is part covered. The house and terrace look out onto the pool (11m x 4.2m with swim-machine) and its 80m² terrace, and beyond to the surrounding farmland. There are great rural views all around!  Floors are  mainly tiled downstairs with wide floorboards upstairs, and many exposed beams.

Ground floor

• Kitchen - well equipped with a huge fridge with freezer, microwave, gas hobs and electric oven, food processor, sharp knives, large selection of cooking/serving utensils and dishes, and dishwasher.
• Utility room - with a washing machine with ample storage space.
• Dining room - adjacent to the kitchen, with its wood burner and large table which comfortably seats 8 and its door to the
• Covered South-West facing terrace with gas and charcoal barbecues and wooden patio furniture where you may prefer to sit and while away the evening, tasting the delicious fresh local produce and many local wines
• Living room (23m²) with exposed beams, comfy seating and flatscreen TV is in the coolest part of the house for your comfort.
• 2nd living room with desk, sofa and phone
• Separate WC with sink

Upstairs

• Large landing (18m²) - overlooking the pool and garden provides a library area  with plentiful and varied books for all ages in english and in french as well as 2 comfy armchairs. Off the landing, there are
• 2 master bedrooms with en-suite shower rooms with WC and wash-basin
• 2 twin bedrooms
• Family bathroom with bath/shower, sink and WC.

Outside:

The property is independant and for your sole use.  There is a large 1.5 acre fully enclosed garden, mainly laid to lawn with some shrubs and fruit trees, which is great for ball games or simply relaxing in.  There is a large pool (11m x 4.2m) with swim-machine.  The pool security system is provided by alarm, in addition, the 2 open sides are being fenced for the 2009 season.  There is undercover parking for 2 cars and an old barn near the house provides a further covered area where there is a table tennis table. If you want to play boules before supper, the large drive provides an ideal boules pitch.  There are also 4 adult mountain bikes with helmets for your use and a badmington/volleyball net and also 2 swings.

About the location

Accessed via a quiet tarmac lane (cul de sac) and set amongst rolling countryside, the house is ideally located between the villages of St Barthelemy d'Agenais (4km) and Seyches (5km) with shops, doctors and dentist and the bastide town of Miramont (5km) with selection of shops, banks, supermarkets and bustling Monday market. Miramont's lake can also be accessed on foot from the property (50min) via rural lanes and footpaths.

A detailed guide to the house and locality is provided on arrival but here's a taster of some things to do.....

The historic towns of Bergerac and Villeneuve-sur-Lot are within a 35 minute drive with the nearby towns of Marmande and Tonneins (both 25 minutes) also providing good shopping opportunities.

The house is also centrally located for the vineyards of Duras (try the fresh Sauvignon or rose with a barbecue), Bergerac, Marmandais, Monbazillac (a sweet white which makes a nice aperitif early evening) and a little further, Bordeaux (delicious with a goat's cheese and tomato tart with salad for lunch on the terrace) and St Emilion amongst others.

Many towns and villages organise meals, fetes and activities throughout the year, where you can mingle with the locals and enjoy the hospitality and warm-hearted welcome of the South-West.

There are lots of markets (some with food stalls and entertainment) throughout the week, with night markets in the summer, for example in nearby Miramont, Soumensac, Eymet and Levignac. The area is famous for it's tomatoes and prune d'Ente and fois gras and you can also get the local cheese, plums, apples, grapes, melons, peaches and nuts (in season) which taste just delicious. If you feel brave, taste the potent eau de vie made from the prunes.

There are the castles of Duras and Bonaguil to visit, walk or cycle along the towpath of the Canal de la Garonne at Pont de Casse, round the lakes of Saut du Loup and Soumensac, quaint old churches to look at in many villages, welcoming restaurants serving delicious food and wine of the region for various budgets with many offering 3 courses with wine for 15 euros or less, boat trips on rivers at Bergerac or Nerac, take in Monflanquin, named one of the prettiest villages of France, perched on it's hill-top with fantastic views over the surrounding countryside or take the little train across the Landes.

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

Activities near by

Ballooning, Bird Watching, Boating, Boules, Canoeing, Cycling, Fishing, French tuition, Go karting, Golf, Gourmet dining, Hiking, Horse riding, Mountain biking, Photography, Rambling, Riverside activities, Shopping, Sightseeing, Spa, Swimming, Table tennis, Tennis, Theme parks, Water sports, Wine tasting, Wine touring

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

How to get here

Travel times by car to reach the house:

• Bergerac (low cost flights to Stanstead, Southampton, Edinburgh, Bristol etc) – 35 minutes
• Bordeaux international airport – 1hr 15minutes
• Toulouse international airport – 2hr
• Marmande train station (links to TGV and Eurostar) – 25 minutes
• Calais port – 10hr
• A62 Marmande exit – 30 minutes
• Atlantic beaches – 1 ½ hr

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