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We searched for somewhere in the mountains, but uncrowded and without too many tourists. We wanted to enjoy the warm summers but also fertile, green countryside and productive gardens. When we discovered the Bearn region, it combined the magic of a 'secret' area with breathtaking scenery and views, history and traditions with uncrowded outdoor activities, fantastic restaurants and sophisticated shopping!

When we found Maison Florence, a semi derilect farmhouse with beautiful barns and its lovely but neglected land and breathtaking views in every direction, we fell in love, a 'coup de coeur', which set us up for years of hard work! We finally completed our slice of heaven a couple of years later, and now live in our converted bergerie, and let the big farmhouse with its own courtyards and gardens.

Florence is named for the family Florence who lived here for many hundreds of years. Although the history of the house is hard do trace, the big barn has a date stone over the door for 1641. The house still has many of its lovely original features, like the stone sink, huge fireplace and bread oven in the sitting room.

Over the ten years we've been here, we've been able to make gardens, plant trees and create a lovely outdoor dining area in the courtyard under the ancient walnut trees.

We love to walk every day, enjoy the amazing views of the mountains and the villages below from the tops of our two hills as well as search out the wild flowers (we have a grant for the preservation of those) in spring or the wild mushrooms in autumn.

We have also made a flourishing fruit and vegetable garden and are always happy to share the produce with our guests, with the beautiful eggs laid every day by the ducks, which the visiting children love to collect.