Secluded Character Cottage to Rent near Central Pyrenees, Trie-Sur-Baise
Built in the 1820s, this picturesque vine-clad Gascon cottage is peacefully set on the edge of open countryside with long south-west views towards the Pyrenees over small vineyards, woods and landscapes dotted with farms and villages. It's a traditional, L-shaped building with a latticed open barn on the west side. To the front, there's a pretty, lawned garden bordered by mature trees and shrubs and a lightful wisteria-covered east terrace offering lots of shade. The garden is private and south-facing. To the west, the garden opens on to a larger, unfenced area of meadow and a sunny, private terrace bordered by a rock garden. It has long views over lush forests and pastureland towards the Pyrénées.
The cottage sleeps 2-6. It's attractively furnished and well-equipped. It has comfortable seating, English and French antiques, beamed ceilings and an open fire. There's garden furniture and table-tennis, boules, a telescope and four town bikes (free use). You'll find plenty of reading material, maps, guidebooks and games.
There's no exotic night life or street bustle - come to relax and enjoy the quiet, the clear air, birds and rare butterflies, autumn colours or fantastic mountain views. See the stars and planets through our telescope - the night skies are amazingly dark and there's very little light pollution.
One of France's most tranquil and unspoilt regions, southern Gascony offers a relaxed pace of life, a rich choice of scenery, breathtaking views and great food and wine. Tourism in the area is still very low key.
Daily farmers' markets offer local produce and there's a wide range of local supermarkets and hypermarkets (20 mins). It's about 30 mins. to Marciac for the International Jazz Festival in August. The Tour de France is a regular visitor to the area.
Opportunities abound for enjoying nature, wildlife, walking, sunsets, stargazing, riding (Aubarède), golf (Bagnères-de-Bigorre/ Pau/ Tarbes/ Lannemezan/ Masseube/ Château de Pallane, Tillac) and other relaxing activities.
But the area offers plenty more to do and see, making this an ideal base for leisure and pleasure.
The location is convenient for the A64 Toulouse-Bayonne autoroute (20min) and Toulouse and Pau airports (1hr). Several low-cost carriers serve the area.
