Built in 1810
using the red brick typical of the architecture around Toulouse, has been
recently entirely restored in keeping with its original style. It is flanked by
two towers and a dovecote and has large windows, which let in lots of light and
air. Surrounded by a hectare of gardens facing the Pyrenees Mountains, it lies
just outside the village of Tarabel, 25 kms from the centre of Toulouse. The
self contained guest apartment has its own entrance and parking space and a
private garden. It has two bedrooms with bathrooms and may be taken on its own
or as extra accommodation together with the house if required. The countryside
here is a cross between the gentle hills of Aquitaine and the Mediterranean
landscape of Languedoc, threaded with country lanes and sprinkled with hillside
houses that has earned it the nickname, Little Tuscany.
The House
There are five double bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms on the ground floor and
two further ones upstairs, which share a bathroom with a shower. All the
bedrooms are spacious, tastefully furnished and decorated and have comfortable
beds. The sitting room has a fireplace, lovely Oregon pine wood floors and soft
yellow walls with painted white panelling. It is furnished with two sofas and
armchairs, a bookcase and a piano, a hi-fi and satellite television. The living
room/dining room and kitchen has exposed stone and brickwork walls and a
framework of beams, which give a sense of space. There are two large farmhouse
dining table, which seat ten each. The windows open onto the terrace with views
over the hills and the Pyrenees beyond, where you can eat outside on hot summer
days. An old wood staircase leads to a mezzanine used as an office, but which
has room for extra beds if needed. The kitchen is equipped with everything
needed and includes a large refrigerator, a Lacanche cooker with five gas rings
and a large oven, a microwave, a dishwasher, coffee maker and Kenwood-Chef.
There is an adjoining pantry used for grocery storage with a washing machine and
dryer and there is a freezer in the cellar. The old billiard room has a single
bed and an armoire, wood floors and a black marble fireplace. The house has two
entrances, one through windows from the terrace, leading into a long hallway and
the other, on the other side of the house and sheltered by an ancient cedar,
leads to a bedroom with beautiful old tiled floors and a massive wardrobe.
Outside
The terrace, furnished with teak tables, chairs and sun loungers, extends along
the whole of the south side of the house, shaded by a hundred year old Sophora
tree and Sycamore and Catalpa trees. It looks towards the terraced swimming pool
(10 x 5 metres), which is entirely enclosed by a hedge. Bicycles are available
and there is table tennis.
The Apartment
The living room has French windows, which look onto the south and west side of
the garden and beautiful country views beyond. It has terracotta tiled floors
and a rose marble fireplace and is comfortably furnished with two sofas,
armchairs and a pedestal table. The kitchen is fully equipped and includes a
microwave, washing machine and dryer and a farmhouse table with assorted chairs
for eight people. There are two double bedrooms each with a bathroom. One of the
rooms has a fireplace and stairs leading to an office on the first floor, which
has a day bed. A cot and television are available on request.
Activities
There are essential shops nearby, and restaurants such as the Auberge du Poids
Public in St Félix Lauragais (15 kms), Tirou in Castelnaudary (35 kms), La Table
du Marché in Castanet Tolosan (15 kms) and the Auberge du Bout du Monde in
Verdun-en-Lauragais (45 kms), as well as a huge choice of restaurants in
Toulouse, at very reasonable prices.
Golf
There are four golf courses within a range of 30 kms, tennis courts (4 kms) and
lots of places to walk or cycle around us. The Montagne Noir (30kms) is
especially good for hiking and riding. There are hire boat bases along the Canal
du Midi and swimming and windsurfing on the Lac de St Ferréol.
Toulouse
It is a lively university city with a lovely old part and good shopping. The
European Space Agency is based there and open to visits.
