Maison Des Pelerins

About this property

Surrounded by the glorious landscapes of Gascony and with everything you could wish for in a holiday home, historic Maison des Pelerins is all about enjoying the slow pace of life that this captivating region is so famous for.

The history of this former farmhouse is fascinating – still referred to as ‘the monastery’ by locals, it was once thought to be a place for pilgrims to sleep on their way to Santiago de Compostela. Some original features from this period remain even though it was transformed into a farmhouse in the seventeenth century. Nowadays, it’s an exceptional holiday home which has been renovated and restored in the most beautiful way.

The heart of the home is no doubt the spacious kitchen-diner, brilliantly equipped with two dishwashers, an Aga, American fridge-freezer as well as its smart kitchen island and even a snug with sofas and TV. The living spaces are also superb such as the elegant sitting room and fireplace, the charming dining area with its wood-beamed ceiling or the library with doors leading out to the courtyard.

Upstairs, find five beautiful bedrooms, each one with its own personality and en suite bathroom. Outside in the courtyard an annexe leads to a large sixth en suite bedroom with its own lounge area as well as a romantic double and pretty bathroom in the enchanting pigeonnier.

The games room annexe is a relaxing area for watching a film, playing pool or table tennis whilst outside the tennis court is perfect for the most active of guests. A large swimming pool, 12-foot trampoline, mountain bikes, boules set as well as a Sonos music system and Sky TV are some of the features that make this maison such a fantastic place to stay.

Enjoy your morning coffee and pastries looking out towards the Gascony countryside, whilst the courtyard is one of the lovely spots you can choose for al-fresco meals with family and friends. When in season, pick apples, pears, plums and figs from the orchard or find a quiet spot to sit and enjoy the mesmerising sunset in the evening.

It’s a 10-minute drive to the nearest boulangerie, shop and restaurant or head a little further to the historic and characterful market towns of Fleurance and Lectoure. The three well-known French ‘Plus Beaux Villages’, Larressingle, Fourcès and Montréal, are also nearby for wonderful days out or head to Auch, the capital of Gascony, to be inspired by its cathedral and historic setting.

As you walk, cycle or simply drive through the stunning scenery of this alluring region, you will no doubt be following the footsteps of Comte d'Artagnan, always enjoying Gascony’s exceptional cuisine and admiring its extraordinary beauty.

Surrounded by fields of sunflowers in the heart of the Gers region, Maison des Pelerins has over twelve hectares of land and is reached via a long and private lane. It’s just over a kilometre to a small quiet village and around a ten-minute drive to another picturesque village with a bakery (except Mondays), small supermarket and restaurant.

There are larger supermarkets and a wider choice of amenities in Fleurance (13km), a bastide town with a lot of character and an atmospheric market on a Tuesday morning, a brilliant way to introduce yourselves to some of the gastronomic delights of Gascony. Lectoure (17km) is another great market town with some delightful shops whilst food-lovers will also appreciate Condom (19km), a historic town on the River Baise, with its Michelin starred restaurant.

There is a wealth of idyllic medieval villages to visit as well as undulating landscapes of hills, woodland and summer sunflowers to admire – it’s no surprise that Gascony is also known as the ‘little Tuscany of France’.

Three of the region’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’ are within easy reach - Larressingle (24km), Fourcès (30km) and Montréal (35km). Even closer, the flower-filled village of La Romieu (20km) is also an enchanting place to visit which can be combined with a stroll around the beautiful botanical gardens at Les Jardins de Coursiana.

Another way to discover the region’s great natural beauty is by cycling, walking or horse-riding through the gorgeous scenery or hire canoes along the River Baise in Beaucaire. In July and August, spend time at the Base de Loisirs in Castéra-Verduzan with its lake, swimming, pedalos, water slides and inflatable course. If you prefer golf, the 18-hole Golf De Fleurance is around a 20-minute drive away.

A little further afield, spend the day exploring Auch (31km), the historic capital of the region, with its grand cathedral resting high up above the Gers river. Agen (50km) is another fine trip out or head south to Marciac (65km), an impressive town known for its art, music and theatre, especially around the time of the summer jazz festival in late July and August.

As well as the extraordinary cuisine of the Gers, from duck, goose and foie gras to white garlic, melons and even kiwi fruit, Gascony is also Grand Armagnac country and there are many producers to visit for tours and tastings.

Accommodation

Maison Interiors

Ground Floor (243m2)

-    Living room with fireplace
-    Dining room with table for 8 guests and woodburning fire
-    Library
-    Drawing room
-    Kitchen-diner, well-equipped including kitchen island, two dishwashers, Aga, gas oven and hobs, American style fridge-freezer, second fridge-freezer, ice-maker and table for 10 guests
-    Open-plan snug with TV (next to kitchen)
-    Utility room

First Floor (237m2)

-    Master bedroom 1 with double bed and en suite bathroom with rolltop bath, large shower, two sinks and toilet. Bedroom connects (via glass doors) to a nursery with cot
-    Bedroom 2 with king-size double bed and en suite bathroom with bath, shower, sink and toilet
-    Bedroom 3 with twin beds (can be joined as a double) and child’s single bed. En suite bathroom with bath, two sinks and toilet. There is a second door connecting the bedroom to the nursery (and through to the master bedroom)
-    Bedroom 4 with four-poster bed and en suite bathroom with bath, overhead shower, two sinks and toilet
-    Bedroom 5 with queen-size bed, countryside views and en suite bathroom with bath, shower, sink and toilet
 

Separate Annexe I

-    Bedroom 6 with double bed, open-plan lounge area and en suite bathroom with shower

Pigeonnier (two levels, next to the annexe)

-    Bedroom 7 with queen-size bed (first floor) and en suite bathroom with bath (ground floor)

Separate Annexe II

-    Games room with TV/home-cinema, pool table and table tennis

Outside Grounds

-    Swimming pool (12x5m, depth: up to 2m) with safety alarm. Open approximately May to September
-    Courtyard
-    Various areas for al-fresco dining
-    Weber gas barbecue
-    Tennis court
-    Bikes (x5)
-    Trampoline (12 ft)
-    Boules set
-    Orchard

Facilities

-    Wi-Fi
-    Heating
-    Fans in every bedroom
-    Satellite SKY TV
-    DVD player
-    Sonos sound system
-    Table tennis
-    Pool table
-    Tennis court
-    Bikes
-    Trampoline
-    Boules
-    Board games
-    Hairdryers
-    Washing machine and dryer