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1998-2008
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18th Century Riverside House with Pool and Private Fishing
Fongrave, in the Lot et Garonne of South West France
4 bedrooms, sleeps up to 8 people


Arnotis

Arnotis is a beautifully restored 18th century stone farmhouse, set in 10 acres of private parkland, approached by way of a long tree lined drive. Privately situated across from our house, right on the river bank, it has sublime open views of the river from the terrace. A paradise for those who like fishing for carp, tench, pike and trout, there is a jetty, another quiet, undisturbed spot further along the bank and a boat.

Our nearest village is Fongrave 2 kms away where you can get essential things including bread in the local bar. In July and August the village has a Thursday evening market by the river, where you can buy a range of food from barbecued steak, to duck salad to an omelette, followed by fruit tarts or gateaux and sit at long tables set outside under shady trees. Sainte Livrade sur Lot (3 kms) has a choice of shops and a huge market every Friday morning that takes over the centre of the village, where you find everything from piles of gleaming fruit and vegetables, flowers and plants, fresh herbs and cheeses, sometimes country breads and home made fruit tarts, local foie gras and wine, to stalls with clothes and kitchen utensils, fabrics and tools, in the streets around the market square.


The house is all on one level, prettily decorated in soft, harmonious colours and imaginatively furnished in a country style. A central hallway leads to a large living room with television and video, DVD, a music system and a dining table that seats eight people. It opens into a fully equipped kitchen and breakfast room with doors leading out onto a large, covered terrace with outside dining facilities. The kitchen equipment includes a dishwasher, an oven and hob, two fridges and a microwave. There is also a laundry room in the barn.

The house has four double bedrooms, two with ensuite bathrooms and two sharing a bathroom with shower and separate wc, all individually decorated and furnished. The main bedroom has doors opening directly onto the terrace, and lovely views across the river.

There are ten acres to wander around in, orchards with apples, plums, pears, peaches and cherries (please help yourself to as much as you can!) and some free range chickens, so you can have fresh eggs whenever you like.

There is a swimming pool, which is totally private and secluded. The terrace has a table and chairs, there are sunbeds, also a barbecue. There is a small boat moored at the jetty, which can be used for fishing, just for fun or to cross the river to the tennis courts or the water skiing base on the opposite side of the river. We also have canoes available.


The Area

There are two or three golf courses within an easy drive. Castelnaud has a championship 18-hole course with a driving range, putting green and Pro shop. Tombeboeuf has a 9-hole course with a practice area and Pro shop. Both courses have golf clubs, trolleys and buggies available for hire.

Ramblers have an endless choice of well mapped routes and local trails that go up into the hills, through unspoilt villages and countryside that can take anything from an hour or two, to a day. The shorter trails are ideal for families. Riding is another marvellous way to explore the area over numerous bridle paths and there are three riding stables who will cater for every level of expertise and provide accompanied treks. Cycling routes, ideal for mountain biking, often follow the pedestrian or bridle paths. Pack a picnic lunch and take the route through the river valley, which is only 80 kms, along quiet country roads via ancient bastides and picturesque villages, tucked away off the beaten track. You can hire mountain bikes in Prayssas.

The Lot et Garonne is a countyside of gentle hills and valleys, farms and villages nestling between woods and orchards, fields of summer corn or sunflowers and pastureland. We are surrounded by pretty, medieval villages such as Castelmoron (5 kms), Monclar (4 kms), or Casseneuil (8 kms). Pujols stands on the hill above the market town of Villeneuve-sur-Lot. Beyond Villeneuve is Penne d’Agenais, a village clustered below the basilica, whose silver dome can be seen shining in the sunlight for miles around. Further still and a pleasant drive, are the bastide towns of Villereal and Monflanquin, which has a popular market on Thursday mornings.

The Buzet and Duras vineyards are within an hour, the Bordeaux vinyeards including Saint Emilion are a little further beyond. A good day out takes you to the beaches along the Atlantic coast where you can climb the highest dune in Europe.

Children love Parc Walabi, a theme park near Agen or the prehistoric park and grotto in Fontirou, or the magic forest in Clairac where animals and gnomes will help them discover a mysterious world. Clairac also has a splendid model train museum. The Magique Chaudron is an angora goat farm, where you can buy angora sweaters, feed the kids at certain times of year and even help with the milking and cheese making.

Travel Information

Airports
Bergerac - 45 minutes
Bordeaux and Toulouse - 90 minutes
(low cost flights from the UK
and other European countries)
Car hire available
Road
Paris/Bordeaux/Fongrave - 7h 30 minutes
Paris/Cahors/Fongrave - 7h 30 minutes
Channel ports: Saint Malo, Caen, Calais, 7/9 hours
Rail
TGV Paris or Lille/Bordeaux/Agen - 4 hours
(Agen - 40 minutes)

Availability Check


Prices and booking information

01 January - 31 May€1500
31 May - 21 June€2000
21 June - 19 July€2500
19 July - 31 August€3000
31 August - 31 December€1500

All prices are per week Saturday to Saturday
arriving at 4pm departing at 10am

Linen and towels are provided,
please bring pool towels
A ‘welcome’ pack is also provided for your arrival

A deposit of 40% is requested on booking
with the remainder paid 6 weeks before arrival

Language(s) spoken:
English, French, Dutch, German

To book or for more information please contact
Burt Krouwel


Telephone: 05 53 71 59 13 (International + 33 5 53 71 59 13)

Please mention Vacation France when contacting the owner


 
 
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