£895 - £1595
(€1061 - €1890)
Per property per week
Converted barn, sleeps 6, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Contact the owner
Contact the owner directly
Steve & Fran Rock
(Advertising since January 2004)
Tel: +44 (0) 1258 840 066
If requested by the owner you can print out a booking form here
Please mention French Connections.
Breakfast on the balcony (1 / 16)
Front of house (2 / 16)
Driveway (3 / 16)
Living area (4 / 16)
Living area (5 / 16)
Dining area (6 / 16)
Master bedroom (7 / 16)
Kitchen (8 / 16)
En suite shower room (9 / 16)
Bedroom 2 (10 / 16)
Bedroom 3 (11 / 16)
Bathroom (12 / 16)
One of the shaded seating areas (13 / 16)
The private pool (14 / 16)
Canigou from nearby (15 / 16)
Vinca (16 / 16)
Converted 17th Century Barn with Panoramic Views and Private Pool
Situated in the foothills of Le Canigou, the sacred mountain of the Catalans, and above the valley of the River Têt, this house was once a traditional stone barn, converted earlier this century with recent improvements by the new owners, and retaining many original features. Whilst having the individual character of a building 350 years old it also has the convenience of a modern house with a bright living area as well as its own sheltered private pool. It sits on a tranquil hillside surrounded by bird life and secluded from nearby properties. There are panoramic views of the Pyrenean foothills and Rigarda village below.
ACCOMMODATION
The house is an “upside down” house. It has the benefit of complimentary wifi (but with a data limit of 15GB per month not suitable for streaming of films or music).
Ground Floor
- Entrance hall – with coat hanging space and stairs to first floor having washing machine in cupboard underneath.
- Master bedroom – king size bed, door to walkway and steps down to pool plus en suite shower room with power shower, basin and WC.
- Second double bedroom – king size bed, door to walkway and steps down to pool.
- Third bedroom – with two single beds.
- All bedrooms have non-allergenic pillows and duvets.
- Second Bathroom – with power shower, bath, basin and heated towel rail.
- Separate WC – with wash basin.
First Floor
Very light open plan living space extending across the whole floor (approx. 60 square metres) and comprising:
- Living area – with sofas and chairs, sideboard, central wood burning stove, 42" Plasma TV, DVD player and Bluetooth enabled music system.
- Dining area - with dining table that will seat 6.
- Fully equipped kitchen – with oven, hob, microwave, 2 fridges, freezer, dishwasher and double sink.
- East facing double-glazed doors to balcony, with dining table seating 6 and gas barbecue.
Outside
- Gravel drive with parking for 2 cars.
- Garden and grounds – on three terraces with steps, including two shaded seating areas between house and pool.
- Swimming pool – 8 metres by 4 metres, fenced and surrounded by decking with pool furniture.
- Separate parking space for 1 car.
The property is on the Traverse de Joch on the outskirts of Rigarda village. The village is conveniently located 3 kilometres from the old town of Vinça which has 2 bakers, a butchers, a mini-supermarket, cafes, a pharmacy and 2 banks with ATMs. On its outskirts there are farm shops selling local produce in season.
The area is largely rural and truly delightful. The people are friendly and by comparison with much of southern France it is not expensive.
In the town of Prades (15 minutes by car) there are all the facilities you normally need including 2 supermarkets, post office, pharmacy, doctor and dentist.
The major city of Perpignan (30 minutes by car) is the regional centre and very good for shopping. It has an old town and a number of historic buildings.
There are two excellent markets at Prades (Tuesday) and Thuir (20 minutes by car, Saturday) as well as other smaller ones.
The surrounding area provides plenty of opportunities and interest for all kinds of visitors:
- Serious hiking and cycling in the Têt valley, especially the famous Gorges de la Caranca.
- Gentler local walks including one or two starting from very near the house itself.
- Swimming and other activities at the lake and beach in Vinça which is safe for children having lifeguards present.
- Public tennis courts in Vinça.
- A variety of outdoor activities including rafting and canyoning at the river sports centre at nearby Marquixanes.
- The beautiful old fortified town of Villefranche de Conflent is a few kilometres away.
- Spectacular mountain scenery as well as caves and grottos an around the valleys of the rivers Têt and Tech.
- A spectacular journey into the high Pyrenees on the Little Yellow Train.
- Mediterranean resorts with good beaches at Canet, St Cyprien and Argelès.
- The picturesque fishing port of Collioure with its harbour and restaurants.
- Music festivals, including the Pablo Casals Festival in July in Prades and the regular Thursday festivals in Perpignan during the summer.
- Religious buildings including Romanesque churches two major abbeys at St Martin du Canigou and St Michel de Cuxa and priories at Marcevol and Serrabonne.
- The Cathar castles of Quéribus, Peyrepetuse, Puilaurens and others.
- Art galleries, including the Musée d’Art Moderne in Céret and the Dali Museum at Figueres in Spain.
- The two solar furnaces (Fours Solaires) at Mont Louis and Font Romeu/Odeillo.
- Spanish Catalonia and the cities of Girona and Barcelona.
Local amenities
Nearest bakery: Vinça (and Bread Van Delivers To Rigarda Daily).
Nearest supermarket: Vinça, Prades
Nearest market: Prades
Nearest pharmacy: Vinça
Nearest bar: Vinça
Tourist information: Vinça, Prades
Vinca on the map
Property 5041 –
Nearby place of interest
How to get to 17th Century Barn
By air
The following are the nearest airports (travel times are by car and are approximate):
- Perpignan – 35 minutes
- Beziers – 1 hr 20 minutes
- Girona – 1 hr 20 minutes
- Carcassonne – 1hr 30 minutes
You can also fly into Toulouse, Montpellier or Barcelona but these are at least 2 hours away.
By land
Rail. At present the nearest railway station is Perpignan which is served by the TGV. The rail connectiion to Vinca is currently suspended following a fatal accident last year.
Road. Total driving time from the Channel ports is realistically between 11 and 13 hours.
There is some local public transport and there are taxis but really a car is essential.
Access options
Car Essential
Nearest airport
The nearest serviceable airport is Perpignan [PGF]
Stayed here? Add your review >
We thought the house was of a very high standard, extremely well equipped. And the pool was excellent.
Guest rating:
We had a great holiday in Rigarda.
The house has everything you need. and is very confortable.
Many things to see in the area where you can choose between the mountains and the Coast. In the mountains we took the yellow train, walked in the Gorges de Carança (not for the faint of heart!), climbed the Col Palomère with my bike, and visited Eus and Villefranche-de-Confient. Add the Coast we visited Perpignan and stayed for a day at Racou Plage and the nearby harbour. I recommend this property! Peter & Sandra
Guest rating:
We had a fantastical stay at Rigarda. The house is charming, spacious, very well equipped and safe for children. We can recommend this place without any hesitation. We will come back for sure.
Guest rating:
Having stayed in many villas and gites, all of which have been perfectly fine, this won hands down as our favourite. It really had the wow factor, with its rustic charm, views, mod cons and location. On arrival there were gasps of excitement from all my children who went about trying to bag the best room, but all being equally lovely, they quickly agreed and ran for the pool. The views are exhilarating and can be enjoyed on 3 levels, upstairs is the living area which is large and well equipped and the balcony was a joy to sit on and relax with a glass of local wine. The pool was ample sized and spotless clean. As a family of 6, it felt like there was plenty of space to get away from each other and enjoy the peace and quiet, while at the same time it was secure and safe. It’s a lovely area, beaches, mountains and Spain all within a short drive. Thanks Steve and Fran for great communication, good instruction and thinking of all the things needed to make a holiday house a home. We were sad to leave and already miss being there, and hope to return for longer next time.
Guest rating:
Anybody deciding to stay at this wonderful gite is guaranteed a fantastic holiday, whatever the weather.
We arrived [at the gite] after spending the day driving through the hills from Carcassonne. The route took us through some lovely villages [like Largrasse, Termes and Cucugnan,] and then around the Chateau de Peyrepertuse and then up through the Gorges de Galamus[. Driving through the gorge is] – not for the faint hearted as the road is cut into the rockface and is very narrow in places, but the view from the top makes it all worthwhile.
The gite is situated overlooking the lovely quaint village of Rigarda with a view down the valley with the Orgues at Ille-sur Tet in view in the far distance. Inside the gite there are three bedrooms, one of which is ensuite, on the ground floor along with a another bathroom and shower. Upstairs is the open plan kitchen, dining area and lounge. The whole gite is fantastic with everything one would need for a lovely holiday. You can sit out on the veranda, soak up the sun, listen to the birds and if you are lucky, get a view of the elusive Golden Oriole instead of just hearing its whistle.
The villages of Rigarda and nearby Joch are lovely to walk round but not to drive round as the roads are very narrow in places. [We had to elicit a local guy to get us out of a part of Joch. It was just too scary for us to drive up this steep, narrow road.]
Rigarda is only 25 minutes from Villefranche-de Conflent were the Yellow Train starts its 3 hour journey to Latour-de-Carol. This is a great day out with the train leaving at 9.30 am and returning at 18.30. You have 3 hours at the destination and would strongly recommend the restaurant Mirasol at nearby Enveitg only 5 minutes by taxi. It is advisable to book a table as there are many people arriving off the train looking for a meal.
The coast is just over an hour away with a visit to Collioure a must see. Further inland Ceret is a very pleasant village to walk round. The gorges of Caranca and also gorges de la Fou are a must if you like a good walk.Guest rating:
Having visited this property two years ago we knew it would not be long before we returned. The house is even better as there are quite a number of new features, not least a splendid canopy sunshade by the pool. Everything you need for a relaxing and luxurious holiday is provided. The setting is splendid: spectacular views from the balcony. We enjoyed the peace and quiet so much. Last time we stayed we vowed that on our return we would travel on the famous yellow train over the mountains but somehow, in the two weeks we were there, we didn't quite manage it! Far too busy doing very little. If you are more restless there are lots of activities to do and places to go. The waterpark in Vinca looked popular with local children and there are so many interesting walks in the area and further afield, not to mention the beaches nearby in France and Spain. One of our favourite haunts is Villefranche-de-Conflent - good for touristy shopping and restaurants. Our best times, though, were preparing barbecues, pre-dinner drinks and enjoying dinner on the balcony as the sun sets. Perfect. Looking forward to returning soon.
Guest rating:
Lovely house directly above the little village of Rigarda. The views from the property, as per the photos, do not do it justice. They are stunning. The living area of the house (upstairs) is open plan and is full of light, roomy and airy. At entry level are the bedrooms and bathrooms. The kitchen is well appointed and modern with plenty of crockery and cooking implements. Plenty of space to lounge about in. We are a family of 4. Two adults and two children; one 11 and one 5 years old. The stairs up to the living area are quite steep with narrow treads but our 5 year old did not have any problems. The bedrooms are a good size and the beds are very comfy. The main bedrooms lead out onto a raised timber decking area which goes down to the pool area. The pool is surrounded by another raised decking area with plenty of space for lounging about. Though, as our 5 year old pointed out there is not much room for skipping. The pool was loved by our kids - one can swim the other in armbands; they had no issues with depth etc and there are lockable gates for security. It was just nice to sit there and listen to the church bells chiming. There is lots to do in the area be it: castles, towns, villages, abbeys, trains, beaches, caves, mountains, lakes etc. Or just walking around. The walk to Joch is lovely, as is the walk down through Rigarda itself - just wish I had my roadbike with me. All in all we had a great holiday here and wouldn't think twice about going back.
Guest rating:
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Rigarda. The house was beautiful and really comfortable. We had a 2 year-old and a 1 year-old with us and the property was just so well equipped for both of them. The property was peaceful and relaxing but also the grown-ups and kids thought the swimming pool was amazing and it is definitely a good idea to have pool towels. We would love to be able to come back again in the future.
Guest rating:
We had a wonderful time staying in this charming house. The views were breathtaking even on cloudy days. The attention to detail made our stay very comfortable. Clean and tidy with twice weekly pool clean showed the quality that the owners want to maintain. The property maintenance guy was courteous and gave some good ideas for eating out. We ate in mainly making good use of the barbecue. The property itself was plenty big enough for six adults. We would thoroughly recommend a stay and we would love to return in the future.
Guest rating:
We are a party of four adults of mature years, travelling round France. Having now stayed in three other gites, they suffer from the comparison to Rigarda. This gite in the foothills of the Pryrenees is spacious, offering beautiful views across the countryside providing a level of comfort that will be second to none. The care and detail arranged by Steve and Fran is exceptional and it was simply a pleasure to be staying in such a comfortable house. The only time we felt any disappointment was when we had to leave.
Thank you Steve and Fran for all the care you have put into your house, but more particularly for the thoughtful and considerate response you showed to all my requests for information.
Our very, very best wishes,
Leonard,Gillian, Pamela and Barry.
Guest rating:
My husband and I have just spent a week in this lovely converted barn with our 3 children and their grandparents. We've had a wonderful holiday- it was hot, but we could cool off in the pool and relax on the comfy poolside loungers and at night the fans in each of the bedrooms, and the extremely comfortable beds, made for a great night's sleep. This hillside house is on 3 levels, with the bedrooms downstairs and pool below. It's well equipped and comfy with (for example) excellent, sharp kitchen knives and luxurious towels. The large living space upstairs leads out onto a good-sized balcony with a really stunning view of the surrounding countryside. It was lovely to be in the foothills of the beautiful mountain, Le Canigou. The Abbaye St Martin de Canigou is a short drive and exhilarating climb away which we all managed, including my 74 year old dad and 4 year old son. (I did the same climb with my dad when I was 4!) There are pretty places to visit nearby, including the hillside village of Eus, with brilliant views of Le Canigou, and excellent market at Prades. The owners provide good information in their useful handbook. We recommend this house to anyone who wants a really comfortable break in a stunning location.Guest rating:
The directions we received from Steve and Fran were perfect as was everything else. The first impression as we got out of the car and walked up to the door was whoa! Exploring inside and it just got better. The pictures on the site are great but to be there was fantastic.
Looking down the valley from the balcony was source of constant amazement. Farmers in the fields and vineyards, the local residents work in their vegetable gardens and the aerial display of the many species of birds including great birds of prey.
The facilities in the house were so good that we only ate out on one evening. A lovely restaurant at the end of the valley called Le Rabassou. The rest of the time we enjoyed the view from the terrace. Breakfast ,lunch and dinner there was always something to catch your eye. We visited the Cafe de France in Vinca on a number of occasions for drinks and got to meet some of the local residents. It was a good test of our French!
Another great feature of the house was its privacy. We could see out but no one could see in. The pool was sheltered from the breeze which at times can be quite strong.
We had family and friends visit while we where here and they all thought is was very relaxing place. There are many places to visit in the surrounding area and don't be afraid to explore the quiet roads away from the tourist routes. The village of Baillestavy up in the hills behind Rigarda was a treat, a great welcome in the village cafe as I was on my bicycle. On up the valley the views were spectacular and next to no traffic.
I would highly recommend family and friends to come and stay here. Very comfortable beds and nothing has been left out.
A big thank you to Steve and Fran.
Guest rating:
We spent two weeks here and would not hesitate in recommending this charming property. The house has spectacular views over the surrounding countryside. It is extremely well appointed, scrupulously clean and has excellent facilities. The owners’ thoughtfulness is evident throughout. There is a detailed housebook which deals with essential housekeeping and gives lots of information about shops, markets, restaurants and things to do. There are so many touches which we appreciated and made the place that bit better than other properties we had rented: the pool towels, the comfy chairs by the pool, the fans in the bedrooms, the vast array of utensils, pans and crockery, books, dvds, games and large wine glasses! Although there is much to do in the area, we spent many days lounging by the pool and then enjoying a barbeque on the terrace as the sun went down over the mountains. There are some lovely walks to be had around the property as well as short drives to Eus and Villefranche, our favourite spots for a bite to eat or a wander. Perpignan is not far away – an easy drive and full of good cafes and restaurants. We had a fabulous time here and could only cope with leaving by assuring ourselves that we would return soon!Guest rating:
Having rented a variety of properties in the past this one stands out as something special. I expect to manage and improvise in holiday lets, but this house is like being at home. The owners have thought of everything, making a stay in Rigarda relaxing and stress-free. The house feels welcoming and you would be hard-pushed to find anything lacking. The new kitchen is very well equipped: food preparation using delicious local produce is easy, and the local markets and hypermarkets allow some sensible ‘cheating’ since they are a source of excellent local dishes such as Boules de Picolat. The views are stunning, and in addition to the scenery the local birdlife will keep any twitchers happy. The area lends itself to exploration on foot or by car: it would be possible to plan an action-packed trip for adrenalin junkies, a holiday looking at rock and cave formations, an exploration of Cathar country, a cultural trip to art and architectural treasures in the vicinity or an opportunity to sample the local foods and wines. Best still is the chance to relax completely, making use of the pool and enjoying the peace and quiet in this beautiful setting. The house is not overlooked but is easily accessed from Vinça and the N16.Guest rating:
| Property type | Converted barn (Self-catering) |
| Bathrooms | 2 |
| Bedrooms |
2 double bedroom(s) 1 twin bedroom(s) 1 cot(s) |
| Occupancy | 6 |
| Suitability | Suitable for children, Unsuitable for wheelchair access, Non-smoking |
| Linen | Bed linen (non-allergenic), towels, tea towels are included in the price. |
| Kitchen facilities | Dishwasher, Freezer, Fridge, Ironing facilities, Microwave, Washing machine, Gas hob, Electric oven |
| Internal facilities | CD player, DVD player, Exclusive rental, Hi-fi system, Internet access (broadband), Low allergen environment, Owner not on site, TV, Wood burning fire or stove, Fans in rooms, Central heating (oil), Radio, Hairdryer, Board Games, Wi-Fi Broadband Internet, MP3 Player |
| External facilities | Garden, Scenic views, Swimming pool (exclusive use), Barbecue |
| Activities nearby | Boating, Canoeing, Canyoning, Cycling, Fishing, Hiking, Horse riding, Mountain biking, Museums, Rambling, Riverside activities, Shopping, Sightseeing, Skiing, Spa, Swimming, Tennis, Theme parks, Via Ferrata, Walking, Water sports, Wine tasting |
Changeover day: Saturday
Last updated on: 5th July 2022
| Available | Booked/Unavailable |
|---|
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| Accommodation rental period | Price |
|---|---|
| 23 July 2022 – 30 August 2022 |
£1595 Per property per week
(€1890 / $1924) |
| 01 September 2022 – 08 September 2022 |
£1295 Per property per week
(€1535 / $1562) |
| 24 September 2022 – 21 October 2022 |
£895 Per property per week
(€1061 / $1079) |
Additional price notes
- Pool/beach towels are available at are available at £6pp per stay.