| Summary |
La Gréze is located just outside the beautiful old village of Castelnau de Montmiral in the Tarn. The “grange” at La Greze has recently been converted into two luxury gites.Each gite has 1 bedroom & sleeps 2-3 people but the gites can be connected to accommodate parties of up to 6 people. Set in 17 acres of orchid studded, rolling meadows and woodland, there are glorious views across the valley to the village and the Foret de Gresigne beyond. The perfect place for a peaceful, relaxing holiday. La Gréze lies close to the “golden triangle”, the area between Gaillac, Albi and Cordes, and is a perfect base to explore the local vinyards and the many ancient hilltop, fortress villages known as “bastides”, the most famous being Cordes itself. Other beautiful bastide villages such as Bruniquel, Puycelsi, Penne and Castelnau de Montmiral itself are only minutes away. Each one is different, with its’ own character and history, and it’s own bars, restaurants and cafes where you can sample the local cuisine and the excellent local wine. Throughout the summer there are many activities in and around these towns and villages including jazz festivals, classical music and rock concerts, markets and fairs. Comments from recent guests:- "A really beautiful location and the gite was spacious & extremely comfortable. We would have no hesitation in recommending La Greze - definitely the best gite we've ever stayed in". "The photographs do not do it justice, we were very pleasantly surprised when we arrived. The gite was much better than other self catering places we have stayed in." "It was like being in our own place for a fortnight. You gave us a great feeling of being welcomed to your home and garden but at the same time we felt very independent". " A delightful gite, beautifully decorated. Wonderful setting and stunning views". |
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| Property Name | La Greze | |
 The pool and meadows | ||
 La Greze + gites | ||
 Lounge/kitchen | ||
 Castelnau de Montmiral | ||
| Bedroom(s) | 1 Bedroom(s) Sleeps 6 | |
| Nearest Town |
Gaillac, Midi-Pyrenees, France |
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| On our site since | 8 June 2005 | |
| Pool | Yes | |
| Detail |
Each gite has a large, light and airy double bedroom, an open plan living room/kitchen and a luxury bathroom with full sized bath, separate shower, washbasin and WC. The kitchen has a full range of units with an integral oven and hob, a refrigerator, dishwasher and a dining table. The lounge is comfortably furnished with a double sofa bed, easy chair, sideboard and coffee tables. Patio doors lead to a private terrace for outdoor dining and if you’re lucky you may just see one of our resident deer coming to take a drink at the old “lavoir”. Pick the right week and you can pick your own cherries,plums, apricots, peaches, apples or figs just a few steps from your terrace. If you miss your favourite there's usually home made jam available from our own produce. All rooms have electric radiators for those cool autumn evenings or winter lets. A radio/CD player and a selection of books and games are provided, to help you while away a leisurely evening. The two gites have a connecting door and can be let as one unit sleeping up to 6 people. There is also a washing machine available shared between the two gites. We also have a "wifi" hotspot for which we make no charge. Grounds and Pool The 12 m. by 6 m. saline pool, surrounded by meadows full of wild flowers, affords wonderful views across the surrounding countryside. There are loungers and umbrellas for relaxing in the sun and watching the many birds of prey soaring overhead, or you could take a stroll through the meadows and try to identify some of the wide range of wild flowers, including several varieties of rare orchids. One of the great joys of the South West of France is the abundance of wild orchids that can be found in the fields and forests in the spring and early summer. In the Tarn, with its unique geographical location and both Mediterranean and Atlantic weather influences, over 50 varieties of European orchids have been identified. La Greze lies within an area surrounding the Foret de Gresigne which has the highest concentration of orchids, with at least 35 varieties. In our own meadows we have identified over a dozen to date, including some quite unusual examples such as the “heart flowered serapias” (serapias cordigera) and the “lizard tongued orchid” (himantoglossum hircinum). There are also a number of examples of the Ophrys family, one of the best known being the “Bee Orchid” (Ophrys apifera). We believe we have at least 5 different varieties but are still trying to differentiate between them all! The best time to see them is usually mid April to mid June (this does vary a little with the climate of course), so maybe you would like to come and help us put names to faces so to speak! There is also a BBQ and picnic table under the shade of the old walnut tree. |
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 The terrace | ||
 Lounge | ||
 The pool | ||
 A pool with a view | ||
| Location |
The Area La Gréze is situated between the Tarn and the Aveyron rivers, an area of rolling hills patterned with vineyards, of forests, rivers and dramatic gorges, of medieval hilltop villages and pretty riverside towns. The pace of life here is leisurely and relaxed; despite new autoroutes into the area, little else seems to have changed in a hundred years. The local village, Castelnau de Montmiral, is less than a kilometer away and has and excellent restaurant, a bar/bistro, a small general store, a pharmacy, a patiserie and a post office. Gaillac, the centre of one of the oldest wine producing areas in France, lies on the banks of the Tarn just 10 minutes drive to the south. Though little known outside France, the gourmet wines of this region date back over 1000 years. The town itself can trace its’ history back almost 2000 years and has much to offer the modern visitor. As well as the 10th century Abbaye Saint Michel on the banks of the river, there is the Musee des Beaux Arts located in the Chateau de Foucard and the museum of Natural History; there are many “caves des vins” where you can taste or buy the local wines and a colourful market every Friday. Throughout the summer there are various concerts and fêtes and the Gaillac wine festival in August. The small city of Albi is less than half an hour’s drive away. The mellow, pink bricks of the old quarter give this city a soft, dreamy atmosphere; the elegant squares with their fountains and cafes make it an ideal place to sit a while and watch the world go by after a stroll round the old streets of the pedestrian shopping area. The spectacular cathedral of Ste. Cecile dominates the centre of the Place Ste Cecile and the nearby Toulouse Lautrec museum, with its’ beautiful gardens on the banks of the Tarn, is well worth a visit. 30 minutes to the north lies the riverside town of St. Antonin Noble Val. Situated on the banks of the Aveyron beneath the spectacular cliffs of the Gorges d’Aveyron, St Antonin has its’ own unique charm. Originally a Gallo-Roman settlement, the town developed rapidly during the middle ages due to the trade in cloth, fur and leather and many of 13th, 14th and 15th century houses, once the homes of wealthy merchants, still remain. There are many other attractive and interesting villages around the area such as Lisle-sur-Tarn with its’ large, arcaded market square, Rabastens with its’ ancient buildings and wall paintings, Salvagnac with its’ 15th century castle and church with frescos and many more. If you are feeling energetic, the nearby Fôret de Grésigne offers fabulous walks and cycle trails, and stunning views. This huge, old oak forest is full of rare birds, deer, wild boar and other animals. Further afield, but still less than an hour away, there is the beautiful, red brick city of Toulouse with its’ art galleries, museums and elegant shops. Or you may prefer the delights of the old walled town of Carcassonne, a Cathar stronghold, rich in history and dating back to the 6th century B.C. The Pyrenees and the Mediterranean coast and the spectacular Tarn Gorges are also within reach for a day trip. Things to Do Museums and Galleries There is a wide range of traditional and specialist museums and galleries ranging from the Museum of Chocolate Art in Lisle Sur Tarn (20 mins) to the world famous Toulouse Lautrec Museum in Albi (30 mins). Swimming & Water Sports In addition to the pool at La Gréze, there are many places to swim ranging from the Bas Vère-Grésigne which also has wind surfing, pedal boats and sailing (5 minutes), to the “Swim-Paradise” in Albi (30 mins) . Kayaking Full or half day hires are available on either the Aveyron ( 30 minutes away) or on the Tarn. Walking or mountain biking There are many marked trails for walking or biking, particularly in and around the Fôret de Grésigne. Mountain bikes (VTTs) can be hired from Bruniquel (20 minutes away) and many other local villages. Fishing Various |
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 Market Day in Gaillac | ||
 A couple of visitors in September | ||
| Map | Click here to see a map of the property's location | |
| How to get here |
By Air: Toulouse Blagnac airport is 50 minutes drive away and Carcassone and Rodez airports one and a half hours. All airports have car hire facilities. By Sea & Road: The recently completed A20 from Paris to Toulouse makes this an easy drive from the Channel ports. |
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Last Minute Bargain |
10-15% discount to fill our last available week. We have just one high season week left, 28th Aug. to 4th Sept. We are offering a 10% discount to fill this last week or 15% if both gites are taken together. |
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| Prices |
27 June 2009 to 29 August 2009 £410 29 August 2009 to 3 October 2009 £355 3 October 2009 to 31 October 2009 £275 31 October 2009 to 02 April 2010 £210 02 April 2010 to 30 April 2010 £275 01 May 2010 to 4 June 2010 £305 05June 2010 to 02 July 2010 £375 03 July 2010 to 03 September 2010 £440 04 September 2010 to 01 October 2010 £375 01 October 2010 to 29 October 2010 £275 30 October 2010 to 31 December 2010 £210 All prices are per week (Saturday to Saturday)and include linen, towels, cleaning and heating during the summer months. A small charge may be made for heating during winter lets (3rd October 2009 to end April 2010 and 1st October 2010 to end April 2011). A welcome pack of food and drink is also provided; specific items can be purchased for your arrival on request. A cot can be provided on request at no extra charge. A deposit of 25% is required with final payment 6 weeks before arrival. Contact the owner for Long Winter Let prices. |
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| Prop. Ref. | 1378 | |
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| Unknown please enquire - ALL DATES REFER TO NIGHTS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||