Farmhouse in Lot, France

The Farmhouse details

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200 year old farmhouse in rural setting

Pool set within the walls of the old barn

Home description

Enviously situated between the Lot and Cele rivers, in the heart of the Parc Naturel Régional des Causses du Quercy, in virtually its own private valley up on the causse (limestone plateau) , this Chambres d'Hotes, in its own acre of land is the ideal place for a peaceful and relaxing stay.

The only sounds you can hear are the ringing of sheep bells, the hooting of the owls and the barking of the deer. It is in the commune of Sauliac-sur-Cele, just off the route of St. Jacques de Compostella and the Grand Randonnee 651. We have five large comfortably furnished bedrooms which can accommodate up to 15 people in total, with the option of table d'hote (evening meals), if required. As we are 4 kilometres from the village, if you are walking the Grand Randonee, we will come and collect you by car from the village of Sauliac or Cabrerets.

Accommodation detail

Living room with inglenook fireplace

A cosy kitchen

An ensuite bedroom

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La Metairie Basse

Our old stone farmhouse, the most recent part of which dates from 1809 (the date inscribed over the front door) has been restored by us. We have kept as many of the ancient features as possible in order to retain the rustic atmosphere of this lovely building. The large sejour (living room) has a wonderful flagstone floor which is amazingly cool in summer, and we also have the old stone evier (sink) in the vaulted souillarde which was originally the kitchen. The room has an enormous inglenook fireplace and when lit makes the room extremely cosy in the spring and autumn evenings. The kitchen, (where we eat in winter)  features the bread oven which used to be fired up with brushwood in order to bake the family's bread once a week or fortnight. As you can imagine there are huge oak beams throughout the house.

Ground Floor

• Sejour  - Large communal living room with inglenook fireplace, and huge dining table for those people who wish to take an evening meal with us.
• Separate WC

First Floor:

• Bedroom 1 - this overlooks the main garden with views of the fields beyond, it has one double bed and one lit de coin (old style French single bed), chest of drawers, wardrobe, bedside table and table lamp, and one wicker chair.
• Bedroom 2 - this is a more rustic looking bedroom with a smaller window overlooking the little chemin (track) which goes past the house. This bedroom features a lit bateau (sleigh bed), blanket chest, bedside tables and table lamp, wicker chair and also a carved French wardrobe.
• Bathroom - the two bedrooms share the bathroom on the landing. This bathroom has a shower, WC and washbasin. Because of the limestone of the area, the water around here is extremely hard, however we have installed a water softener, which supplies the bathroom and of course the rest of the house..
• Library - large oak panelled library with hundreds of books, 2 armchairs are available if you want to browse.

Second Floor:

These 3 bedrooms are nestled under the eaves of our roof. They all have lucarnes, (dormer windows) overlooking the garden, and exposed roof beams giving an impressive feel. In the ensuite rooms it is possible to put an extra folding bed in and sleep 4 people.

• Bedroom 3 - Spacious, light room with old French double bed and old lit de coin (old style french single bed), bedside table with table lamp, two wicker chairs, chest of drawers and hanging space. It has an ensuite shower room, with shower, washbasin and WC.
• Bedroom 4 - With two old style lit de coin single beds, chest of drawers and hanging space, and wicker chair. This shares the first floor bathroom.
• Bedroom 5 - Spacious light room, again with old French double bed, single bed, and also a child size lit de coin, bedside table and table lamp, wicker chair, chest of drawers and hanging space.There is an ensuite shower room, with shower, washbasin and WC.

You are very welcome to make use of the living room, where we have a small bar, and some games.

A continental breakfast is included in your stay. If you wish, a cooked English breakfast is available at an extra charge.

We can provide you with a 4 course evening meal if you ask us before 5pm the same day.

Outside:

We have a secluded 9 metre by 4 metre mosaic tiled pool, which has been built within the old barn walls. It has a large terrace area with shade covered pergola, table and six chairs.

You are welcome to make use of the acre of garden, which is mainly grass, but with several large mature shade trees for those hot sunny days.

We have several sunloungers for those of you who enjoy a bit of sun, or to relax and read that book you have been trying to read all year. You can sit with a nice cold beer or kir in the evenings, watching the sun go down behind the forest behind us.

There is also a small secluded vine covered terrace at the back of the house.

We look forward to welcoming you. We are open all year.

Also, if you are house hunting, we can offer valuable help and advice

About the location

If its sightseeing you are after, you will be spoilt for choice. Within a few kilometres you have:

• St Cirq Lapopie - perched on the hilltop, overlooking the Lot valley, this is a picturesque village with quaint winding streets, one of the most beautiful villages in France
• Chateau Cenevieres - Romantic chateau, parts of which date from the 13th century, and strategically placed overlooking the Lot valley.
• Grottes du Pech Merle - If you like caves you must visit this, it has some of the most renowned prehistoric cave paintings, as well as lots of stalactites and stalagmites, and also the largest colony of long eared bats in Europe.
• Musee de Cuzals - this is an open air museum, showing all aspects of life in the country, ranging from various types of house from medieval times to early in the last century, lots of farm implements and machinery, and in the summer amongst other things, a working bakery.
• Marcilhac-sur Cele with its ancient ruined abbey
• Espagnac - with its priory
• St Gery- with its railway museum

Further afield you have:

• Cahors - with its famous fortified Pont Valentre bridge, and medieval quarter with Cathedral.
• Gouffre de Padirac - Amazing cave accessed by a huge hole in the ground. Then you are taken on a boat along the underground river.
• The Cahors vineyards - go and taste some of this wonderful nectar, and take some back home.
• Lalbenque - which is famous for its truffle markets in the autumn
• Rocamadour - the second most visited site in France (outside Paris) after Mont St. Michel. It is an amazing place built under the cliffs. See the Black Madonna in the Cathedral, and climb the ramparts of the old Chateau, and the last week in September go and see the balloon festival.
• Figeac - with its Champollion museum. Also a good place for looking at Brocante's. Market on Saturday mornings.
• Bonaguil - one of the last old style castles, in our opinion the best one around.
• Riverboat trips - from the Pont Valentre along the Lot river.

There are also the obligatory French markets and local restaurants where you can get a fixed menu for only €12. In Cahors they have a couple of night markets and in July a Blues festival along the main Boulevarde Gambetta. These have an absolutely brilliant atmosphere, you can sit outside in one (or more) of the bars and listen to the music for free!

We have a folder with plenty of tourist information at the house

Notable Points about the Area

• This area of France is the best for star gazing due to the lack of light pollution. (Lot is one of the most sparsely populated areas in France). So if you are a keen astronomer, bring your binoculars and prepare yourself for a visual feast. The Milky way is magnificent, and if you come at the beginning of August you can see the Perseides - many shooting stars!
• There are more kms of road per person than any other department in France, so the roads are less busy.
• There are more michelin starred restaurants per person than in any other department in France

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

Activities near by

Bird Watching, Canoeing, Caving, Cycling, Fishing, Hiking, Horse riding, Kayaking, Mountain biking, Rambling, Rock climbing, Sightseeing, Swimming, Tennis, Walking, Wine tasting

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

How to get here

We are situated between Cahors, the departmental capital and Figeac, along the Cele valley.

By Car

Take the A20 motorway to junction 57 at Cahors nord and then at Vers, turn along the Lot valley towards St Gery, at Conduche turn left along the Cele valley, (passing through Cabrerets) until you reach Sauliac-sur-Cele. Don't go into the village but continue along the road until you reach the bridge (there is a telephone box right next to it). From here the route is now signposted with black and white signs saying la Metairie Basse chambres d'hotes. Cross the river and follow the signs up the hill direction St Martin Labouval. We are 4.2 kms from the village of Sauliac. It will probably take about 9 hours from the northern ferry ports.

GPS coordinates: Longitude 1-41-55E, Latitude 44-30-15N

By Plane

Ryanair do cheap flights to Rodez (the nearest airport) Limoges, Bergerac and Carcassonne. EasyJet fly into Toulouse. British Airways and Air France fly to Toulouse but are more expensive, however if you look in advance on the internet, you can now also find cheaper flights with BA. You will need to hire a car as there is no public transport in the area

By Rail

Eurostar to Paris, then express train to Cahors. Car hire is available just opposite the station.

By Coach

Eurolines run a coach service from London to Cahors, but again you will need transport once you arrive. The coaches may not run every day.

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