Our Garden:
Chateau Rieucaze' boasts magnificent, mature gardens & parkland; nature lovers may explore the grounds discovering hundreds of stunning roses, a sunken herb garden, a white wisteria-clad pergola, an exotic garden, a giant-bamboo walk, a green house & cactus collection, a large pond filled with Koi-Carpe & Goldfish with bog garden, stepping stones & many ancient trees in fairytale surroundings.
Our garden is best enjoyed in the Blooming Season and in Summer.
It's easy to spot on the premises humming-bird moths, great white owls, falcons, hawks, dears, colourful butterflies, dragon flies, frogs, hedgehogs, pheasants....
The Chateau's situation on its own hilltop affords uninterrupted, breathtaking views of the valley & the Pyrenees in one of the most beautiful parts of France. The closeness to the Spanish border affords the house long, hot Summers with a gentle breeze from the nearby mountains and snowy Winters enjoying skiing in nearby resorts followed by cosy time by our fireplaces
Facilities include::
Large salt-water swimming pool with sun loungers, umbrellas, children pool alarm, inflatable lilos etc. Steam room, bathroom with shower by the pool, Table tennis, children swings & hammocks hanging from the mature trees around the Chateau, shaded areas, huge yoga floor in the barn with amazing views of the Chateau and pool, Gaudiesque mosaic wall and seating area, Large Koi Carpe & Goldfish Pond, Giant bamboo walk, outdoor eating facilities under the catalpa trees & BBQ.
Large plasma screen Satellite UK TV/DVD/VCR, Ipod docks & WIFI high-speed Internet, large Library.
Exquisite antique furniture and original features and fittings throughout the Chateau, Fireplaces, as well as central heating for winter bookings.
Amazing views for meditation, drawing, outdoor eating, photography
Rare plants and flowers, exotic shrubs, centenary trees, cactus collection, sunken herb garden, bog garden, extensive flower borders, formal rose garden with rare and mature roses, trailing vines and rose
Activities/local attractions:
Come see the Tour De France zoom past, enjoy a cafe' creme in the pretty village of Aspet (10min drive), visit the local farmers' markets in Aspet, Salies Du Salat or St Gaudens.
Go for a walk locally or to Lac d'Oo, one of the prettiest walks in the Pyrenees!
Visit the local SPAs or St Giron/St Lizier or the pilgrimage towns of Lourdes and nearby St Bertrand Des Comminges, a Unesco World Heritage Site, or cosmopolitan Toulouse, the 'Pink City', with its canals and bridges, its 'Aérospatiale', home to the Airbus 380, the biggest jumbo in the world, & its fantastic shopping around Place Capitol
Distances: 30mins from the nearest ski resort, 1.5hrs from the famous walled city of Carcassonne, 50 mins from Toulouse Blagnac Airport and 1hr from Pau Pyrenees Airport, 2hrs from Biarritz/Bayonne or the Mediterranean, 4hrs from Barcelona or Bilbao make Rieucaze' perfectly situated for excursions, seaside or city trips, walks, hiking, skiing, white water rafting, tennis, golf, horse riding
Ski:
The nearest Ski Resort is only 30 mins' drive away & there's a wide choice of resorts all over the Pyrenees. You may also want to go to the famous Spanish Ski slopes of Baiqueira or Andorra, only 1 and a half hours' drive away.
Golf:
Nearest golf course only 30 mins away in St Girons, set in some of the most stunning countryside of France.
Guest Book:
'Dawn breaking in front of the house and burning off the mist from the river Job is worth seeing...' H Porter, London Editor, Vanity Fair.
'The Chateau is truly magnificent...is beautifully maintained.. enjoyed wandering round the delightful gardens as well as relaxing by its superb swimming pool... we look forward to returning..' Tattersall family & Susan Powell Aug 2004.
'...lovely, especially the pool, table tennis, long walks through the unspoilt countryside also white water rafting in Barbazan... I have had a really really great time and I only wish I could stay longer...' Gemma Corcoran, County Kilkenny, Ireland 14-24/8/00.
'The views were amazing, your garden was the best part... my little brother found a baby hedgehog' ... Lauren Reagan.
'an idyllic place with a magical and greatly welcoming atmosphere and so many beautiful trees...' ACooper.
'Thanks for an amazing week. The house is perfect, the views stunning... everything was idyllic' - Michael Tomlinson.
Other Activities:
botanical tours, local farmers markets, white water rafting, hunting, shopping in Toulouse, the pink city, trips to Lourdes, hiking, Tour de France