Farmhouse in Tarn-et-Garonne, France

Berniol details

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Berniol from the gardens

Berniol's 11m x 5m pool, 'belvedere' & terraces

Main house from the gardens

Relax in the shade of Berniol's lovely Lime tree

Home description

'Le Paradis en France Profonde'

Set in 2 hectares (5½ acres) of rolling park and oak woodland, 'Berniol' is a 250-year-old single storey farmhouse, or 'fermette', which has been tastefully modernised and furnished to provide a very comfortable, fully-equipped holiday home away from home.

The property is surrounded by beautiful, mature gardens and grounds which in 2006 were awarded a Diplome d'Honneur in the 'Concours des Maisons Fleuries' organised  by the local municipality.

Located barely 2km from the 13th century bastide village of Dunes, close to the point where the départements of Tarn et Garonne, Lot et Garonne and Gers meet, 'Berniol' is a haven of tranquillity set amongst the vineyards of the Côtes du Brulhois and the fruit orchards of the Garonne valley. Berniol provides the ideal base for a relaxed holiday away from the stress of modern life or for touring the picturesque scenery and numerous historic towns and villages of the Midi-Pyrénées region. For those who prefer a more active holiday, Gascony also offers an excellent choice of outdoor pursuits and sightseeing opportunities.

The ancient stone-built village of Dunes overlooks the fertile valley of the River Garonne to the east and and to the south-west it enjoys commanding views towards the rolling hills of the département of the Gers, with its many fortified farmsteads and hilltop villages. Gascony is steeped in a rich history dating back to the Visigoths and the Knights Templar, the Hundred Years war, the Wars of Religion, and,  more recently, the activities of the German troops during WW II.

Boat trips are another popular activity on the rivers Lot, Baïse and Aveyron, and cruises along the Canal Latéral a la Garonne or the Canal du Midi are unforgettable experiences.

The variety of natural beauty of the region is breathtaking, with the spectacular mountains of the Pyrenees to the south, the Lot and Tarn valleys and the Gorges d'Aveyron to the east, the plateau of Les Causses and the rolling green hills of the departement of le Gers offer endless possibilities for touring.

Accommodation detail

Pool, outdoor dining and barbecue area

The living room

Main bathroom

Master bedroom

The fully equipped kitchen

Berniol from the Garden

Diplome d'Honneur for our gardens

Berniol from the air

Berniol's garden

Main Square in nearby Dunes village

Sunflowers in typical local scenery

Sunflowers in July

Grapes growing on Berniol's vine

La Mairie in Dunes village

Valence d'Agen market - spice stall

Valence d'Agen market - cheese stall

Valence d'Agen market - cepes stall

Auvillar's famous Halle aux Grains or Corn Market

The Horlorge (clock tower) at Auvillar

The Arcades in Auvillar

Caudecoste flower and plant fair

Karting at Caudecoste circuit

Microlight flights from Caudecoste

The Pont Valentre at Cahors

Boating on the river Baise at Nerac

Mediaeval doorway to Moissac Abbey

La Place Capitole in Toulouse

Elegant architecture and modern trams of Bordeaux

The local Bar Tabac in Dunes

Superb restaurants

Fine Dining

Excellent Wines

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Indoors

• Living Room - spacious and comfortably furnished with 2 large sofas, TV, DVD/VCR, CD/Cassette music system, log burning fire, dining area with table and seating for 6. A library of paperback books and touring information booklets and brochures is also provided. A large selection of traditional board games, jigsaw puzzles and games is available for 'kids' of all ages to enjoy.
• Kitchen - comprehensively equipped with electric oven, hob, combination microwave, fridge freezer, washing machine, dishwasher and all small appliances, utensils, crockery, glassware, cutlery, herbs and spices.
• Master Bedroom - with king-size double bed, en-suite shower room with WC, large walk-in wardrobe and lovely views over gardens/parkland.
• Second Bedroom - with double bed (or twin beds, on request), wardrobe and view to rear of property.
• Third Bedroom - with single bed, cupboards/hanging space and view to rear of property.
• Main Bathroom - with luxury modern bath, shower, WC, and hand basin.

Outdoors

• 11m x 5m swimming pool close to house - with approved pool alarm system. 
• 2 hectares gardens, parkland and oak woods, with superb views over neighbouring vineyards and rolling wooded countryside.
• Outdoor barbecue and spacious dining area overlooking pool and grounds.
• Poolside sunbathing terrace with sun loungers, parasols and seating.
• Shaded seating beneath Lime tree.
• Beautifully planted garden and terraces.

About the location

• A vast selection of restaurants, brasseries and bistros offering cuisine to suite all palates, tastes and budgets.
• Outdoor markets in Valence d'Agen, Agen, Moissac, Lectoure, Montauban, Lavit and Beaumont de Lomagne.
• Local wine producers offering the opportunity to taste and purchase their produce. Tasting and purchase of Armagnac.
• A multitude of historic towns and charming fortified hilltop villages dating back to the time of the Knights Templar and the 100 years war.
• Superb shopping in Agen, Villeneuve sur Lot, Cahors, Montauban, Toulouse and Bordeaux
• Museums in Donzac, Agen, Toulouse, La Reole.
• Art Galleries in Agen, Moissac, Albi, Toulouse, Bordeaux.
• Visits to the Aerospace Museum (Cite de l'Espace) and to the Airbus Industrie plants, including A380 'double decker' airliner assembly hall (by prior booking only) in Toulouse.

Annual Local Events

• Fête de Dunes (Village Celebrations) - mid August in Dunes.
• Journées Occitanes (Celebration of Occitan language, culture, music and dance) - mid November in Dunes.
• Marché Gourmand in Saint Maurin on Wednesday evenings throughout July and August.
• Marché des Potiers (Pottery and ceramics fair) - early October in Auvillar.
• "Au Fil de l'Eau - une Histoire" son et lumière spectacle (depicting the history of the area and the importance of the canal to the town) - early August in Valence d'Agen.
• Fête de Valence d'Agen (town celebrations and fireworks) in early September.
• Marchés Nocturnes in Valence d'Agen, Caudecoste and several local villages throughout the summer.
• ….. and many, many more throughout the summer, each one as enchanting as the others but, above all, great fun to experience!

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

Activities near by

Bird Watching, Boating, Boules, Canoeing, Canyoning, Caving, Ceramics, Cycling, Drawing and painting, Fishing, Flying, Go karting, Golf, Gourmet dining, Gym, Hiking, Horse riding, Kayaking, Mountain biking, Pottery, Rambling, Riverside activities, Sailing, Shopping, Sightseeing, Squash, Swimming, Tennis, Theme parks, Walking, Water skiing, Water sports, Wine tasting, Wine touring

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

How to get here

• Just 2Km from the 13th century bastide villages of Dunes, 'Berniol' is situated approximately halfway between Bordeaux and Toulouse. We are 800Km (500 miles) from Le Havre, 950Km (600 miles) from Calais and 25Km (15 miles) from Agen. Conveniently, the property is only 10 minutes drive from Exit 8 of the A62 'Autoroute des Deux Mers'.

From the major ferry ports the French motorway network is largely complete, enabling visitors to drive to Berniol in just under a day. If you have the time to spare, take the excellent Routes Nationales and explore the towns and villages along the way - a much more pleasant option and no Autoroute tolls to pay!

• Location - Agen 25km, Valence d’Agen 12km, Auvillar (officially classified as ‘One of the Most Beautiful Villages in France’) 10km, Moissac 25km, Cahors 75km, Toulouse 90km, Bordeaux 120km.
• By Road - Nearest motorway access at Exit 8 on the A62 Bordeaux – Toulouse ‘Autoroute des Deux Mers’ - 10km.

Local Airports:

• Agen from Paris Orly.
• Toulouse From Paris CDG & Orly, London Gatwick, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Leeds/Bradford & Dublin.
• Bordeaux From Paris, London Gatwick, Luton, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, Southampton, Galway & Dublin.
• Bergerac From London Gatwick, Stansted, Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Exeter, Leeds/Bradford, Liverpool & Southampton.
• Carcassonne From London Stansted, East Midlands, Liverpool, Cork & Shannon.

Local Train Station:

• Agen TGV services to Agen from London St. Pancras or Ashford via Lille or Paris.

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