Spacious Villa with Swimming Pool

L' Ecurie details

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Cascade swimming pool with wonderful views

Plenty of room to relax around the pool

Private gardens and woods surround the villa

L' Ecurie - a lovely, spacious and light villa

The bedroom french doors open onto a paved terrace

Room for outdoor eating and relaxing

Nearby medieval village - St Cirq Lapopie

The living room

Home description

Ideal for those seeking to get away from it all, L'Ecurie offers everything one could need for a restful holiday. Situated in a tiny hamlet amongst wonderful countryside with no through traffic, the property has been well equipped with every convenience.  The villa is situated in the department of the Lot 15km from the bustling and vibrant town of Cahors, Quercy's capital - famous for its red wine, and approx 100 km North of Toulouse. It is ideally placed for exploring a wide and varied area of South West France including the Dordogne, Aveyron and Tarn-et-Garonne.

Your first impression as you reach L'Ecurie is simply breathtaking. Set in an elevated position, the views, nearly 360 degrees, extend over the surrounding countryside for many kilometers. The villa enjoys a position of privacy, surrounded by 14 acres of lawn, meadow-land and wood-land and there is much to explore with plenty of walks exhibiting flora and fauna on your doorstep.

The grounds abound in established trees, fruit trees, shrubs, Rosemary and  Lavender bushes. L'Ecurie is surrounded on 3 sides by a paved terrace on which to relax and perhaps enjoy a barbecue with a glass or two of local Cahors wine.

You will be welcomed by the owners who live on site, yet whose farmhouse is sufficiently distanced from your accommodation to ensure peace and privacy if that is what you are seeking. We are however, available should you need us.

For larger parties, there is another, smaller villa on site, Les Lavandes giving the option of having your family and friends join you on holiday, yet retaining some privacy if desired. 

External features on site

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

Accommodation detail

One of the bedrooms

L'Ecurie was formerly a barn and stable and has been architecturally designed to give spacious, light,  comfortable accommodation year round.   

The property is accessed by a drive, independent from the owners farmhouse, which leads to L'Ecurie,  approximately 150 metres distance from the farmhouse and 50 metres from a smaller villa Les Lavandes.    There is covered parking for 1 car available to guests of L'Ecurie in the adjoining former stables. 

The property is all on one level and is surrounded by a paved terrace.  There are barbecue facilities and garden furniture, and a grassed area surrounds the paved terrace.

There is full under-floor central heating available making L'Ecurie suitable for year-round lets.

The front of the property is south facing, with opening doors to the terrace, thus the living area and third bedroom receive the sun most of the day.  Electronic blinds ensure your comfort by keeping the sun out of the living area of the villa during the hottest part of the day. The kitchen area and two sides of the villa are west facing and receive the benefit of the setting sun.

L'Ecurie is entered via the west side door which leads to the kitchen and dining area.   The living/dining/kitchen area is spacious and ensures those involved in cooking are not segregated from the rest of the party, so everyone can join in the with preparation of meals or stand by with a drink of chilled wine or cold beer and instruct!

• The Kitchen and Dining area - Fully fitted wooden kitchen units with glass display cabinets, ample storage space below and above. Ample working area.   Equipped for 6 people with crockery, pots and pans, cutlery and cooking utensils, iron and ironing board etc.  There is a washing machine, dishwasher, gas oven and hob, and large fridge/freezer.  You will also find electric kettle, toaster, coffee maker etc.  A dining table and chairs comfortably seat 6 people.
• Living Area - A large L-shaped sofa seating 6+ in comfort with coffee table and rug set in the centre of the room. There is a television for English TV. with a DVD player. CD/Cassette/Radio. Oak display/storage cabinets.
• Small lobby - leading to Bedrooms 1 and 2
• Bedroom 1 - A large bedroom with double bed in white metal surround, matching bedside tables with lamps.   Fully fitted wardrobes with shelves and drawers.  French doors with shutters to rear terrace.  Tiled floor with bedside mats. A hairdryer is provided. Ensuite bathroom: White suite comprising of bath with tiled surround and overhead shower attachment.  Wash hand basin.  W.C.   Towel rail (heated in winter).
• Bedroom 2 - A large bedroom with double bed in white metal surround, matching bedside tables with lamps.   Fully fitted wardrobes with shelves and drawers.   French doors with shutters to rear terrace.  Tiled floor with bedside mats. Ensuite shower room: Large walk in shower.  W.C. Wash hand basin. Towel rail (heated in winter).
• Bedroom 3 - Leading from the lounge, bedroom with twin beds, bedside tables with lamps.   Fully fitted wardrobes with shelves and drawers.    South facing window with shutters.  Tiled floor with bedside mats. Ensuite shower room: Large walk in shower.  W.C. Wash hand basin. Towel rail (heated in winter).
• The Pool: The mosaic tiled salt water pool which is shared with only one other villa is a deep luxurious 12m x 7m. Salt water is much gentler on the skin than a chlorinated pool. One side of the pool cascades over the edge providing continuous filtration and the pool is strategically installed so that when one is swimming, it appears that the edge falls away over the extensive views of the surrounding countryside. The shallowest end is approximately 1.5 metres deep with corner steps descending into the pool for those less inclined to jump or dive straight in! An electronic 'robot' ensures the bottom of the pool is kept clear of debris, and a bubble cover overnight encourages the pool to retain the warmth of the day. There is a solar-heated shower at one corner of the terrace.  There is underwater lighting for those who wish to take a night-time dip and there are attractive lights surrounding the pool. The pool is fitted with alarms complient with French swimming pool safety law.
• A non-slip paved patio surrounds the pool, with a table, parasol and sun-beds for relaxation. What better way to un-wind (between 'dips') than with a good book, or perhaps just admiring the spectacular view. Parents please note children should be carefully supervised at all times, especially in and around the pool.

About the location

Within a 15 kms radius there are a number of small interesting villages to explore, where local markets can be found on different days of the week

A visit to Cahors is a must. A large tourist office in the centre of the town will help you to plan your visit to all the interesting sites Cahors has to offer, including the famous Pont Valentre bridge noted for its outstanding architectural design and fascinating folklore.  

There are two markets in Cahors; Wednesday mornings and the huge market on Saturday mornings which extends into the Gambetta square. The sight, smells and sounds of this bustling market will surely entice you to pick up some fresh produce for your evening meal back at the villa!

Other towns within a 45 minute drive that are worth a visit are Figeac and Villefranche-de-Rouerge.

Smaller villages along the river that should not be missed are Puy l'Eveque, Praysac and Bonaguil with its famous chateaux.

The unforgettable village of St. Cirq Lapopie is 20 minutes away and is an absolute delight. Set perched on a hill overlooking the River Lot, you will find apart from the history this village has to offer, many gifts for family and friends. The narrow streets are lined with dwellings which offer local artisans' work from leather goods to jewellery, and cafes and restaurants in which to stop and refresh oneself before ascending to the highest view point over the villages, roads and river below.

Close by to St. Cirq is Cabrerets where the famous Grotte du Peche Merle is found. Here you can witness one of the most beautiful legacies left to Europe by the painters and engravers among our prehistoric ancestors. Human figures, mammoths, bison, horses and other animals are found on the walls of these caves and human footprints can be seen at the bottom of a dry pool!  As well as Stalactites and Stalagmites cave pearls or pisolites have formed - specks of grain or gravel carried down by the water and coated with calcite and polished by the running water which continues today.

Further sites of Pre-History can be found by a visit to Rocamadour approximately 1 hours drive away. The village, built into the hillside, can be visited by using the little train which travels up and down the village for those less energetic, stopping at the shops and cafes. Leading from the village to the spiritual heart of the old city is the Grand Escalier with 216 steps! The Abbots' Palace, formerly the palace of the Bishops of Tulle has been well restored and well worth a visit.

Needless to say, there are excellent 'walks' around the area - we have some booklets available for 'suggested walks' which you are welcome to borrow.

South, from Les Lavandes is Albi, the " rose city ", so called because of it's pink granite stone and famous for among other aspects, the Toulouse Lautrec Museum.

The university city of Toulouse (just over 1 hr by autoroute) with its international airport, offers everything one would expect from a large city and is well worth a visit. With its beautiful historic centre, Toulouse is one of the most vibrant and metropolitan provincial cities in France.  It is immensely pleasurable to sit at one of the cafe tables in the great square of Place du Capitol enjoying a crisp salad lunch and a glass of wine and watch life go by!   The lanes of shops spiral out from the main square and are great fun to explore.  The tourist office is just behind the Place du Capitol and with so much to do and see, allow a full day (or more)  to do Toulouse justice.

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

Activities near by

Bird Watching, Boating, Canoeing, Cycling, Horse riding, Mountain biking, Riverside activities, Sightseeing, Swimming, Table tennis, Walking, Water sports

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

How to get here

Air

Toulouse Blagnac is the nearest international airport and is about 1 hour away by car. EasyJet offer cheap flights from London Gatwick. Carcassonne Salvaza Airport is approximately 2 hours and Ryanair from Stansted in the UK often offer extremely good deals.

Road

The journey from Calais is around 600 miles and can be done in a day, taking around 8.5 -10 hours depending on the traffic and number of breaks you take. A comprehensive route from Calais can be supplied on booking including a detailed route round the Francilienne ring round outside Paris. The property is conveniently situated within 10 minutes drive from the Cahors Nord exit of the A20 Autoroute.

From St Malo the Journey takes around 6.5 hours.

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