Spacious Converted 19th Century Farmhouse with Pool

Lassere details

Home description

"We feel privileged to have shared this place", Mr & Mrs N, Aylesbury

"This has to rate as the best gite we've ever stayed in", the Davis Family, Birmingham

"Lovely break, so quiet and peaceful", Julie & Peter, Kent

"A lovely, well equipped gite..with views to die for", Barry & Rose, Hemel Hempstead

Lassere is a spacious converted 19th Century farm building that retains many of the original features including timber frames and beams and stone 'galet' walls. It has an enormous 12x6 metre pool. It is set in 40 acres of private woodlands and meadows and sleeps 4 to 6. It offers offer somewhere peaceful and secluded to relax and unwind.

Lassere offers you a fabulous base to explore the Pyrenees, the Gers, and Spain which is only 45 minutes away. It is based in the commune of Bazordan which is just off the D24, between Lannemezan and Boulogne-sur-Gesse.  There is also the Madihran wine country to explore (a locally kept secret not usually heard of further a field) and a huge amount of natural landscape and activities to enjoy.

Lower Gascony, bordering the Gers (32) and the Haute-Garonne (31), 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 from Toulouse and Pau airports but is largely unexplored, even by discerning French travellers. There are bucketloads of charm and interesting things to do, just without loads of people wanting to do the same as you.

Gascony is food country and is quite rightly 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. Here, it's all about terroir and real produce – the tomatoes don't all look the same and the food tastes like...well, food actually.

Chris is a qualified translator and interpreter, so if you're house hunting and need some help...you've come to the right place!

External features on site

• Garden
• Swimming pool (shared use)
• Scenic views

Accommodation detail

The accommodation at Lassere is a restored 19th Century farm building that has been recently converted to provide the best of modern facilities whilst preserving the charm and warmth of the original building.  It has been largely rebuilt using traditional local materials, and you can still see some of the original 'galet' walls (large pebbles) and a great deal of exposed chestnut and oak timber.

The site is south 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 terrace 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.

Downstairs

• Main room provides a large and cool open living space that combines kitchen, dining and living space. The room itself is very substantial measuring some 10 x 6.5m and is floored with terracotta tiles. It is equipped with satellite TV and DVD player. There are French doors that open out onto the terrace and the garden beyond.  There is a dining table for 6 and 3 settees for you to choose from, one of which is a double sofa bed.  There is a very large 'Godin' log burner that will bang out as much heat as you need through the winter months or on chillier evenings.
• Fully fitted kitchen, with all the modern equipment that you would expect from a property of this calibre – including electric oven, halogen hobs, dishwasher, fridge/freezer, microwave etc.
• Bathroom suite - 3 different rooms so that one person doesn't block the facilities for everyone else.  Comprises bathroom with full sized bath, sink and a view over the Pyrenees, separate toilet and separate shower room.
• Corridor for cloakroom storage and a washing machine.

Upstairs

• 2 bedrooms - 1 double and 1 twin - both fully oak-beamed with the unusual feature of their own separate staircase.  Both look out onto the Pyrenees and the hills near by, so whichever room 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 large 'galet' wall with a king size bed and is tastefully furnished with traditional French textiles.  The twin bedroom is also timber framed and has lots of room for either children or adults, again it is decorated with traditional French fabrics.

Outside, there is a private garden, two terraces (one sunny, one shady), barbecue facilities and most important of all...a 12 x 6m heated swimming pool that is south facing and overlooking the Pyrenees.  Although the owners use this too from time to time, they can promise that with a pool of this size there'll be plenty of room for everyone. The pool is open from June to the end of September, although this may be curtailed or extended depending on the weather and the owner's discretion (the pool opening season duration CANNOT be guaranteed!). They provide sun loungers and pool towels.

There are over 40 acres for you to wander around, including pastureland, woods, a small stream and 400 vines.

About the location

Halfway in between Pau and Toulouse, Lassere is situated in Le Magnoac, which is one of the 5 ancient cantons that were put together to form the modern-day departement of Hautes-Pyrenees.  It is on the lea-side of one of the many hilly 'fingers' that stretch out from the famous delta of the Lannemezan plateau.

The countryside itself is fabulous with many hills, pastureland and deciduous wood (mainly oak and chestnut), crossed with plenty of interesting rivers both large and small; and a myriad of caves, grottos and places of historic interest.

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.  If you're not into stars, you will be by the time you leave here – 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 near by

Gourmet dining, Swimming, Sightseeing, Canoeing, Cycling, Rock climbing, Skiing, Walking, Fishing, Wine tasting

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

How to get here

Please contact the owner for full directions.

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