23 p. B&B & self-catering cottage "rural Gascony"

We speak English. Please feel free to write a message in English to get all possible details from us. With 9 bedrooms we can host up to 23 adults. The host is the former owner of a successful dive centre on Tenerife (2000-2012) who did work with all British tour operators and got an excellent 2 pages report in the Sunday Times, in June 2010. The place is perfect for nature lovers, you can enjoy some snorkelling in our pound, play tennis for free in Saint-Mézard, eat our fruits, berries & eggs. With 9 bedrooms on 2 separate buildings, this offer is suitable for stays of large groups up to 22 adults. In the middle of nature, on the hills upon the Gers river valley, these 18th century stone houses got renovated with all modern comfort in 2016. Very comfortable new beds in all bedrooms. Young kids under 5 years should sleep in special children's beds; we can provide 2 of these beds and this point should be discussed prior to the booking. Pets owners should also discuss this point prior to the booking. The Southern building which can host up to 7 adults, is usually proposed as a self-catering accommodation with a beautiful view on the Gers river valley & surrounding hills, the pounds and their domestic & wild life. This cottage includes 3 bedrooms (7, 8 & 9), 2 bathrooms with showers, 1 kitchen, 1 cellar, and a sheltered place facing the view outside; the stairs towards the first floor cannot be used from guests with low mobility, who should use the ground floor bedroom. On the other side, the main cottage can host up to 14 adults; guests can be left on their own if they wish after 24 hours at least, which is usually the necessary time to be able to handle all expensive furniture properly. The level of interactions with the owner should be discussed prior to the booking. Sauna (5 places) & whirlpool (2 places) are available for our winter guests. Our whirlpool can be used for young children as well during summers. There is not, strictly speaking, a gym but an indoor-bike, an elliptic, and a traction bar are available. The southern cottage is independent with its own entry, approx. 30 m away from the other building. The northern cottage has a main entry through the veranda, which host 4 nice dogs and a cat as well. Another door opposite side can be used if the weather is OK. Slippers or indoors shoes should be used on parquet floors and stairs. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult to go beyond the garden gates - 58 ha of woods, orchards, pasture, various crops and water points. A roof terrace can be reached from the veranda, which gives a good view on the medieval villages and castles around the place and allows our guests to contemplate the stars in summer with our telescopes. Most of the guests arrive by car from the village of Astaffort (Lot-et-Garonne), 15 minutes from Agen exit on the motorway: at Astaffort southern exit, just after the police station (Gendarmerie) on the right, take the small road on 5,5 km until you cross the Gers, in the small hamlet of Lourtiguet (5 houses), turn left and then right again towards Saint-Mézard, another 250 m and your goal is reached, the only stone houses on your left side. We will be glad to help you during your whole holiday, organize a visit of the whole estate, introduce you to the Icelandic horses, show you where to pick fruits, eggs & berries, share some board games & outdoors games. We prefer to communicate with our guests however we understand that some guests prefer to be on their own. We only need a good communication on that point prior to your arrival and during your stay. This is a very rural area of France, with small medieval villages around the place, a great area to ride bicycle. The Gers is one of the 4 French Departments with the lowest population density. We own many poultry, chickens, geese, 2 Islandic horses, many white pigeons, blond cows & calves and wild animals can be spotted on a daily basis: coypus (big but harmless, they stay around the pound), herons, water hens, deer and many different birds. Toulouse-Blagnac airport is less than 1 hour & half away, Bergerac & Bordeaux airports less than 2 hours away. Agen train station is 25 minutes away and I can pick-up my guests there or from the bus station in Astaffort if necessary. Cars are however very useful in a low-density area like ours, if you wish to visit beautiful towns & villages in the area. We are 13 minutes drive from the medieval city of Lectoure and St. James Path. It is important to read & understand our additional rules prior to the booking. Camping places and sheltered hammocks are available, Golf field 20 is minutes away, Walibi Water Park 25 minutes away, free tennis / basketball place 5 minutes away, Olympic swimming pool 25 minutes away. Our accommodations are declared & legal and subject to a 10% VAT rate. You will enjoy the place if you love nature and quiet places. For basic shopping and all main services, Astaffort is 6.5 km away. You can use our 5 bicycles. We do not offer a real swimming pool so far - an inside pool might be ready for end of 2018 - but a natural pool with all its natural life, fish, frogs & newts.