In the midst of rolling countryside, near an attractive small village (Lachapelle, with a classified church), Fontayres is a former farmhouse with outbuildings that lies on 5 acres of its own land. Its peaceful atmosphere is ideal for relaxing holidays for families and friends, while being near various interesting places to visit.

The house covers some 250 square metres on two levels. It is a traditionel Gascon farmhouse with thick stone outside walls that has been tastefully and simply restored and modernised. 4 large downstairs bedrooms and 3 others on the first floor (a converted attic) can accomodate up to 12/14 people at one time. The attic also contains a library/living room with tv and video.

One of the downstairs bedrooms incorporates its own bathrrom, shower and WC. There is another independant downstairs bathroom with WC, and a third, independant WC. On the first floor there is a shower with a WC.

The kitchen doubles as a living-dining room. It is fully equipped with a gas cooker, micro-wave oven, refrigerator/deep freeze and dish-washer, as well as a large open fireplace. Wi-fi internet connection available.

There is also a downstairs washing area with washing machine and clothes dryer, plus a large deep-freeze and food storage area in an adjacent building.

A vast covered terrace, surrounded by sweet-smelling plants, provides an outside sitting and dining area with its ancilliary summer kitchen equipped with refrigerator, workbench and gas-fuelled plancha.

The house and outbuildings are surrounded by 5 acres of grass, trees, shrubs and flowers that give onto the surrounding wheat and sunflower fields.

There are swings and so on for children in a secluded area sheltered by trees, and a large, fenced-in swimming pool (14m x 7m) 50 meters from the house with its own garden, terrace and pool house.

(Warning: the pool is not working during the months of April and October.)

Contacts:

Françoise Durand-Viel (in French or English) francoise.viel@yahoo.fr

David Cobbold (In English or French) d.cobbold@orange.fr

Thierry Wanègue (in French or English) thywanek@hotmail.com

Useful information

To stay at Fontayres, a car or other vehicle is necessary

The nearby village (900 metres) has no shops

There is a small general store at Mansonville (4 kms)

All shops and twice-weekly markets are at Valence d’Agen (15kms)

Other shops and markets are to be found in other small towns between 7 and 20 kms distance.

There is an entrance to the A61 motorway (Toulouse/Bordeaux) 10 kms away, towards Valence d’Agen.

Valence has a small railway station served by local trains, but the fast train (TGV) from Paris to Toulouse stops at Agen (35 kms).

Toulouse airport is 45 minutes and 90 kms away down the motorway.

There is much to visit in the region. It takes just one hour to reach the centre of Toulouse. On a smaller scale, Auvillar, Moissac, Gramont, Montauban, Lectoure and Fleurance all have much to offer, and the surrounding countryside has been compared to that of Tuscany.

There are several good restaurants within a 15 km radius (Bardigues, Auvillar, Valence d’Agen, Gramont). A couple of simpler restaurants can be found even closer (Mansonville and St. Antoine).

Local gastronomic specialities include all kinds of preparations around geese or duck, such as magret (duck breast) confit and foie gras. Mushrooms and truffles (in season) are also to be found. All vegetables are plentiful in local markets. Local fruit include apricots, peaches, strawberries, prunes and walnuts. There are various local wines, both white and red, and the local brandy is Armagnac.

Auvillar