Superb Hosts, beautiful location

Peaceful holiday home in a rural area, known for its quality food producers. Eat outstanding meals at the gîte from simple, local produce and local AOC wine bought 15 mins away. Or eat out in one of the several "10 most beautiful villages in France" which are within an hour's drive. The valley has no light pollution, so you see dozens of stars at night. The gîte's owners live next door, and are very helpful.

We were looking for a convenient, relaxing holiday off the beaten track, and found it at Fabregues.

About 20 minutes’ drive from Rodez airport – and a very pleasant drive too – the gite is in a stunning valley with great views; you feel yourself unwind from the very moment you arrive.

The house is perfectly equipped with all the bits and pieces you wish every host could provide – from tea-towels to dishwasher tablets, from charcoal for the BBQ to tea, coffee and milk for your arrival Cuppa. The shop in St. Christophe (on the road to / from Rodez), though a little pricey, gives you all you need in addition and is open until 7pm, making your first evening a breeze after the flight arrives and you collect your car if hiring one from the airport. Rodez itself has larger, more economical hypermarches.

The gite was also spotlessly clean and very comfortable both upstairs and downstairs. There is a tv with (some english-speaking) satellite channels, DVD player and a music system, as well as dvds, books and cds for your entertainment. The owners are also on hand and very welcoming, if you are in need of tips about the local area. You can see from the image that there is an outdoor eating
area where you can enjoy the view along with the local wine...

The local maps at the gite are sprinkled with symbols indicating villages which are highly deserving of their ‘plus beaux [most beautiful] villages en France’ awards. Up narrow streets leading to church squares, the golden stone of the Marcillac valley region is a treat, and the old bridges make for a truly romantic setting. (I was with two friends but I can imagine…!)

On Friday night in the village of Bel Castel there is a wonderful street market/dinner where the whole village eats together at long tables. Food is served up at stalls, including fantastic crepes. We returned by day as even in the dark we could tell it was worth another visit, and the 15th century buildings were indeed quite different to those in some of the other villages.

We enjoyed our time exploring at a leisurely pace, and sitting outside cafés, but the area is also a dream location for walking and biking – maybe next time!

Bonnes vacances!

This is a great find in a lesser known area of France, with beautiful scenery and a peaceful setting. You can forget all about traffic and crowds here, sit back and enjoy the views from the terrace (which we did a lot of!), go walking, or check out any of the historic and picturesque villages in the region. We particularly liked Belcastel, which also has a couple of good restaurants. It's easy to get around, although you're best off with a car (which you can hire from the airport). The gite is immaculate, with all the right touches - fantastic big beds, great kitchen facilities, lots of space and also Robert and Delia are on hand to help with anything you need. We particularly enjoyed use of the BBQ on the terrace on balmy evenings! Recommended for a chilled-out escape from the rat race.

From the minute you arrive at Fabregues it is clear that this Gite is above average in terms of facilities , service and comfort. It is like a home from home with modern equipment and outstanding attention to detail from the owners. The Gite and all its contents are immaculate and very well maintained. The owners find nothing too much trouble and whilst they melt away into the background to give you an undisturbed stay they are also on hand to cater for your needs.

we would - and have been recommending this Gite to all our friends