L'Ancienne Écurie du Chateau Lézian

Historic converted barn adjacent to a 16th century château, in a peaceful verdant setting among the world renown Madiran vineyards. The perfect base to enjoy Marciac Jazz festival, Tempo Latino festival at Vic Fezensac or Saint Mont and Madiran wine festivals & others. Lourdes, Tarbes & Pau within an hour away. San Sebastian, St Jean de Luz, Biarritz, Bordeaux, Toulouse and choice of ski stations or hill walking in the Pyrénées within hour 1/2 drive. Plenty of nearby attractions/activities. L'Ancienne Ecurie is classified as 4 star accommodation. The property is laid out over two floors with four double bedrooms, each one named after the four Italian musical cherub statues which surround the garden fountain. Three bedrooms are located upstairs, with kingsize beds and all are ensuite, one with bath. Two of the upstairs bedrooms have an additional single bed. The fourth double bedroom, also ensuite, is located on the ground floor, which is ideal for those who may not manage stairs easily. Two of the upstairs bedrooms have juliette balconies. The third upstairs bedroom has a demi-lune balcony. All showers are fitted with a grab rail and non-slip mat. Outdoor kitchen for guests' exclusive use, with large Argentinian bbq grill, gas hob, sink and bar counter with adjacent dining area. Full baby facilities can be made available upon request, i.e. cots (new born and up to toddler size), baby bath and highchair. Baby gates. Baby play pen. Toddler toys. Toddler cutlery and crockery. We have experienced holidays with babies and toddlers and understand their needs! 10m x 5m heated swimming pool with lockable safety cover, as well as being securely fenced in. Baby and toddler swim rings. Swimming/sunbathing towels provided. Fully reclining sun loungers. Outdoor cinema by the pool (for evening entertainment). Table tennis. Plenty of surrounding private land to explore, to take walks or play ball games. On site badminton and archery available. Plenty of space to play football with goal area. Younger children's play zone with swings, slides and climbing frame, suitable for babies to children aged up to 12 years. Bicycles are available on request. Luxurious touches such as beautiful white bedlinen; a choice of pillow thickness; generous soft bath towels; tissues in every room; hand soap, organic toiletries, spacious wardrobes in each room with plenty of hangers, including children’s. Tastefully decorated using period furniture and fittings throughout. Wi-fi. Large flat screen television fitted with Chromecast, allowing access to Netflix, You Tube and a choice of TV channels. A vast selection of DVDs are available, including many children's. Selection of books and board games. Karaoke machine. Swimming pool and games equipment; table tennis; bicycles available for guests to use; archery and badminton available on site, all free of charge. Surrounding land (grass meadows and woodland). Accompanied visits to the family's horses and ponies on request. We live in the house adjacent to the gîte so are on hand at all times to answer any questions or offer assistance to make your stay as comfortable and memorable as possible. Once hosting nobles and clergy in the 16th and 17th centuries, with visits from the family of Henri of Navarre, the then future King of France, Château Lézian and L'Ancienne Ecurie are steeped in history, firmly ensconced within their ancient walls to this day. The properties are on the outskirts of a lovely Gascon village, Castelnau-Rivière-Basse, situated off a quiet country lane at the end of a secluded drive in their own grounds of 10 verdant hectares, set among the renowned Madiran vineyards, one of the closest being that of Château Montus, and its "cave" with magnificent interior. Castelnau-Rivière-Basse is situated in the department of Hautes Pyrénées, where it borders the department of the Gers, thus perfectly placed to explore and enjoy the best of both. These departments are in the Gascony region, often referred to as the "French Tuscany", with its rolling hills and warm and vibrant colours. There are gentle sloping fields of sunflowers and conifer trees, stunning views onto the Pyrénées, peaceful villages and a beautiful, natural landscape. The region is one of the most sparsely populated areas in mainland Europe and you certainly feel like you have enough space to enjoy the atmosphere. Getting out and about to explore by car is a relaxing and unrushed experience. The local wine is a big part of the gastronomy: the Madiran with its strong and confident flavour, the Cotes de Gascogne, the Pacherenc du Vic Bilh, Saint Mont and the Buzet. Travelling around the Madiran area, which is quite compact, you can go from one producer to another, and you will hear that most of them have been proud winemakers throughout the generations. It is truly a beautiful part of the country, like a dreamland for winemakers and enthusiasts. At the heart of Gascony is the Armagnac, and in Gascony, every good meal deserves a glass of this precious 'digestif'. Some locals drink it after their coffee, using the same cup so it's already warm and reveals all the flavour of this delicious brandy. It is also used in the traditional desserts such as "Prune and Armagnac ice cream", "Apple croustade" and other patisseries. This is the perfect holiday destination for those who want to experience the French life style, good food and wine. A place of beautiful old villages, where you will find an ancient church to visit (such as 12th century Saint Jean Baptiste in nearby hamlet Mazères, classified as a Historical Monument, boasting sculptures by some of the best sculptors of the time), or a bistrot on the village square and a hidden château with a great history. The list is endless and you'll be spoiled for choice. Proximity to amenities: Marciac 20km; Golf 30km; Riding school 18km; Pharmacy 1km; Cash machine, Supermarket, Bank 9km; Restaurant 4,5km Distance from Airports: Lourdes (Paris Orly - London) 53km; Pau Pyrenees (Paris Orly - Charles de Gaule - Lyon - Marseille) 58km; Biarritz (Brussels - London - Paris - Lyon) 122km; Toulouse Blagnac 151km; Bordeaux Mérignac 148,5km Ski Stations: Gourette (Eaux-Bonnes) 73km; Barèges, La Mongie 76km; Cauterets-Le-Lys 79km; Luz-Ardiden 78km; Hautacam 68km; Saint Lary Soulan 90km Village and town markets in the area to browse on all days except Sunday. Plenty of antiques fairs to visit from early spring to late autumn. Sports and leisure: There is a large choice of sporting and leisure activities nearby, including tennis, golf, mini golf, shooting club, mountain biking, fishing or salmon fishing, walking, kayaking, horse riding, etc. Choice of beautiful lakes in the region to visit. Some allow swimming, others offer boating or are simply a wonderful place to take a walk or have a picnic by. For example, Aignan swimming lake (20 minutes drive away in the neighbouring Gers department) has an acrobatic park (accrobranche) adjoining the lake and zip line (tyrolienne) crossing the lake - perfect for adventurous teenagers. Located a couple of minutes from L'Ancienne Ecurie is a wonderful Educational Animal Farm, interesting for all but especially for children. There you can meet deer, pigs, goats, ponies, geese, ducks, peacocks, wallabies and more. Watch the farm's four jersey cows being milked and see how cheese is made. They also offer pony rides, archery and a fantastic zip line. Events: You will need a car if you stay at L'Ancienne Ecurie as the public transportation is limited. The nearest TGV train station is 40km away (45 minutes) in Tarbes. Adjacent to that there is also a National Bus station. We have horses and ponies at the property and family friendly dogs and cats. The swimming pool is open from mid April to the end of October, depending on the weather. PLEASE NOTE: Guests will be required to pay for their own electricity use, after an allowed usage of 56kW per week. The meter will be read in your presence on arrival and again prior to departure on check-out day. Charges will be at the going rate as per our local electricity charges. Payment will be accepted in cash only. Firewood for the barbecue can be purchased at cost for 80 euros per cubic metre. We quarter this into more manageable loads at 20 euros. Again, payment for this will be accepted at the end of the stay in cash.