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House and pool | 
House and courtyard |
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Poolside recreation | 
Using the courtyard |
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From the master bedroom | 
Adults sitting room |
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Master bedroom | 
Courtyard |
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TV room / playroom | 
Kitchen |
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Ground floor bedroom | 
Eating outside |
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Property |
Location |
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Artagnan |
Near Mielan, Gers (old Gascony), Midi-Pyrenees, France |
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One-off feature |
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Once home to the `Master of the village`, Artagnan is now home to countless guests. This large, yet perfectly proportioned house has been lovingly restored with little touches everywhere to constantly surprise and delight. The perfect base for a holiday in Gascony. |
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Property Info |
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Accommodation Type:
| House / Villa |
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Property Setting:
| Village / Rural |
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Holiday Type:
| Relaxing / Family |
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Bedrooms:
| 4 |
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Guests:
| 8 |
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Catering:
| self-catering |
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General Info |
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This classic stone "maison de maître" built in 1838 has been restored to a high standard and boasts wonderful panoramic views towards the Pyrénées. It is situated 8.5km from Trie-sur-Baïse with all shops and services, a market every Tuesday, supermarkets and tennis courts. Artagnan is situated in old Gascony where the modern world seems to have passed it by. The Gers and Pyrénées regions border each other and offer equally beautiful scenery of rolling green wooded hills, rivers, valleys with golden yellow sunflowers and maize with shimmering views of a lake or the snow capped Pyrénées, in the distance. Buzzards and kites soar overhead on the warm thermals. Situated on the same latitude as Nice with lovely warm summers but without the hoardes of people and traffic congestion. Enjoy the quiet uncrowded roads of this sparsely populated farming area, and breathe in some of the cleanest air in Europe. |
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Details on the area surrounding the property/accommodation |
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Mirande (17km) is a lively little town with a traditional market on Mondays and a selection of cafés and restaurants. The 13th Century cathedral at Auch (40km) is well worth discovering, as are the many attractive villages of Gers. There are three 18 hole golf courses within 50km, and a leisure lake at Miélan (9km) which offers swimming and fishing. Mirande has a waterpark with aqua slides. Horse riding is available at nearby St-Michel (10km). The closest skiing resort is 100km away at Saint-Lary. There is a good outdoor adventure centre near Pavie (40km). Here you will find a water park with aqua slides, a pony riding centre, pottery classes, an animal park and for the larger children a tree top adventure park. White water rafting is available in the Pyrenees and is great fun for all the larger family members. There is a "centre of well being" 10 minutes away offering a wide range of relaxing treatments. |
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Getting there & away/local amenities |
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Getting There:
| Nearest airports are Lourdes/Tarbes, Pau, Toulouse and Biarritz. Or if coming from the UK you can come by car using Eurotunnel or ferries. Detailed directions will be given on booking. |
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Nearest airports:
| Lourdes 45km/Pau 73km/Toulouse 111km |
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Car Hire:
| Advised |
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Nearest restaurant:
| 8.5km |
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Nearest shop:
| 8.5km |
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Nearest market:
| 8.5km |
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More Info |
Owner Info |
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Name |
Tim Coleman |
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Contact Phone No. |
UK 07813 775914 / 00 33 (0)5 62670526 |
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Accommodation details |
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Activities Nearby |
Birdwatching / Cycling / Fishing / Golf within 30km / Horse Riding / Therapies / Walking
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Interior Facilities |
Cot / Highchair / Dishwasher / DVD player / Internet Access / Linen provided / Log Fire / Maid Service / Television / Washing Machine
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Interior Details |
The interior has been tastefully restored and comfortably furnished with a mixture of antiques and local rustic pieces. Many original features have been retained - stone arches and walls, wooden floors and beams. On the ground floor are a living room with a beautiful arched window, a sitting room with a Gascon fireplace, a very well-equipped kitchen/dining room (with many cook books), a laundry room and a separate WC. An eclectic selection of CDs and DVDs are provided. Also on the ground floor with its own door into the courtyard is a double bedroom (brass bed) with en suite bathroom with a separate shower unit and a WC. The first floor has a double bedroom with an en suite bathroom and a dressing room, a twin bedroom (beds can be put together to make a double), a twin bedroom with two large single "lits bateaux", and a bathroom with a WC.
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Exterior Facilities |
Balcony / BBQ / Courtyard / Garden / Parking / Swimming Pool / Terrace
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Exterior Details |
The property is set in 2 acres of grounds which extend into fields offering wide open spaces and peaceful surroundings in lovely countryside. There is a vast grassy expanse in front of the house, ideal for children to play in, and a covered paved terrace by the swimming pool (8m x 3.5m) which is surrounded by grass and a high hedge. There is a fenced-off fish pond and an old well secured for the protection of children. Guests are encouraged to help themselves from the herb garden. The garden and grounds are totally fenced-off as well as the pool area. The heated pool is also fitted with a security alarm. Also outside you will find table tennis, badminton, boules, swings, slide, trampoline, sand pits, paddling pool, sit on tractor and digger, tricycles, and both adult & children's bikes.
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Further Details |
The interior has been tastefully decorated to retain many beautiful original features. There are panoramic views of sun-kissed countryside and the snow-capped Pyrenees to the south. The owners occupy a detached converted barn next to the main house - they have a separate entrance and do not have access to the heated pool. We pride ourselves at Artagnan on being child friendly. All your beds will be made up with "The White Company" bed linen so all you have to do is make yourself at home. On the large flat grassy area there are goal posts, balls of all shapes and sizes, swing ball, a badminton/volleyball net, swings, a slide and a sandpit with buckets and spades. On the flat courtyard area is a basketball net, table tennis table, boules, toddler pusher, sit-on pedal digger, bike with stabilisers, kids bikes up to 10/11 years, helmets and 2 adult bikes 1 with a detachable child seat. From a safety perspective the swings, slide and sandpit (under the shade of an oak tree) are entirely separate from the fenced off pool area. The pool is also alarmed. Inside there is a wide range of toys from baby toys to videos and DVDs.
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Conditions of
Rental |
Sleeps 8 including babies (maximum 6 adults). Weekly rates from Saturday to Saturday. All prices in £ sterling. The White Company bed linen, pool towels, bath towels, hand towels, tea towels, bath mats, soap, cleaning products, local phone calls, electricity, gas, water, swimming pool/garden maintenance and cleaning on departure. We are more than happy to shop for any food or baby items you may require prior to your arrival. We will need 1 weeks notice for this free service and you only pay for your additional goods. There is a lovely local lady (highly recommended) who can cook and deliver delicious home cooked meals in advance or during your stay (vegetarian & gluten free menus available). Babysitting and housekeeper also available on request.
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Other Information |
Babysitting available / Child Friendly / Cook available
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What visitors have said about Artagnan |
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This is a piece of heaven and we have loved every minute.
Oscar has had the time of his life and does not want to leave.
Your kindness and generosity are among the amazing memories we take away with us.
Clare, James and Oscar Barclay, UK, Aug 2010 
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Our fourth family holiday at Artagnan and it just keeps getting better !
We have enjoyed a perfect holiday of relaxation (goodness knows how with all the activities we tried – swimming, visiting/feeding chickens, swings, observing lizards, table tennis, golf, market visits, riding, cycling, BBQs’ wine tasting) should be exhausting but it is not due to all the facilities, your generous and warm welcome, sounds of birds and frogs, fragrant flowers by the pool, star gazing etc. Surprise ... we will be back !
Catriona, Albert and Sarah Fleming and friends, UK, Jun 2010
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We have just returned from Artagnan having had what can only be described as the perfect family holiday.
The setting is Idyllic. The standard of the property is suberb and enhanced by Tim & Razia's eye for quality and detail, which is applied to everything in the house, including the toys (we suspect their children have a hand with these!)
We have three children and finding the right setting can be a challenge by far. The house is full of everything you would ever need to cater for young children - from sterilisers, high chairs,toys and bikes. Everything.
However what set this trip apart was the hospitality of the Coleman family. Prior to our arrival they were a source of great advice and whilst we were there they went to great lengths to make our stay as enjoyable as possible. Arrival shopping, babysitting, culinary advice all included. And their wonderful children were equally as welcoming and helpful.
A fantastic holiday.
David, Rachel, Ruby, Oliver and Jem Prasher, Twickenham, Aug 2009
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Our ideal dream holiday. Fantastic house, hosts, location – everything. We loved it.
Lucy, Nik, Jessica & Megan, UK, May 2010
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What a fantastic holiday! The best and by far the most relaxing one since the birth of our son. The house and surroundings are very well equipped and very safe. It is also extremely clean, convenient and of very good quality (I already miss The White Company towels). Our son was thrilled by all the toys around and loved playing with George, Eva and Louis. The heated swimming pool is also fantastic and very much appreciated having a 10 month old daughter. Razia, Tim, Louis, Eva and George made us feel like friends of the family. They spared no efforts to make our stay enjoyable (the welcome pack alone is something to remember). Razia kindly babysat our children twice while we were there and we felt extremely confident about it as she definitely has a special sense with children. We cannot recommend this place highly enough. Thank you again to the Coleman's family for its kindness and generosity.
Isabelle,Jan,Ronan & Charlotte de Laat-Leuenberger, London, Aug 2009
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When you are in need of quality family time Artagnan is the place to be ! A beautiful setting with EVERYTHING you need for 2 small children.
We will not need a holiday to get over this holiday but we will need to book again.
Last but not least the Coleman family – a huge thank you. Your warmth and hospitality has made our holiday and we are very sad to be leaving.
Sean, Gemma, Aaran and Euan Lamont, UK, Jul 2010
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Just wanted to say what a fantastic time we had satying in this wonderful house. It exceeded all our expectations and everything has been catered for down to the finest details. If Carlsberg did holiday homes, this would be it!
The making of the week was the welcome of the entire Coleman family allowing the grown ups to have more relaxing than we could ever have imagined. Many thanks.
Jacqueline, Ross, Amelia & Fergus MacEacharn, Twickenham, Aug 2009
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Shhhhhh - we shall tell people about this wonderful holiday but not too many as we want to return !! Thank you again for such a wonderful holiday.
James, Michelle, Oliver and Theo Hone, Yorkshire, Jul 2009
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Comment by the guest to the agent: The service and attention to detail by the owner was exceptional and probably the best I have ever seen.
Guest comment to owner: Just wanted to drop you a note to say thank you for a great holiday. Your level of commitment to ensuring we had a great holiday, attention to small details and effort you put into making our holiday a success was exceptional and was greatly appreciated by us.
Giles, Amelia, Matthew & Josh Heeger, South Africa, Jul 2009
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Glad we came back !! Another lovely family holiday. Perfect! Thank you.
James. Petra, Jessica & Toby Venton, Kent, Jul 2009
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Tim and Razia have realised everybody's dream of being "Lost in France". Artagnan has a unique ambience of comfort and relaxation - this was a wonderful experience thank you again to your delightful family. We had a super time in your beautiful house - you provided absolutely everything we needed which made our family holiday very special indeed. Thank you for your generous hospitality.
The extended Smith family, Yorkshire, Jun 2009
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Firstly an enormous thank you again for your kind hospitality and for all your help and advice before and during our stay. It was a very memorable stay which we all enjoyed tremendously and we really appreciated all your assistance that definitely went that extra mile and far surpassed our expectations.
Olivia, Michael, Sebastian & Christian Veal, Ireland, Jul 2009
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At last - a place that's perfect for our toddler and baby, and great for the grownups too! There's nothing that you haven't thought of! Thank you for a marvellous holiday home and for all your thoughtfulness and attention to detail which was much appreciated. We are still raving about our wonderful week with you and are busily recommending you to all our friends. We can't thank you enough for making us so welcome and for such a glorious week in your beautiful Artagnan. I'd be back like a shot. The house is just marvellous. We have treasured memories of our time with you and can't thank you enough.
Adrian, Tessa, Ralph & baby Hugh Suggett, Buckinghamshire, Jun 2009
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I just wanted to say that we had such an amazing holiday and we have not stopped raving about it to everybody we see and who dares ask about our holiday, we then proceed to bore them to death as to how perfect the house was and you guys made it for us. You have been such a welcoming family and we are just trying to work out when we can next come out.
Thank you so much!
Charlie, Rob, Freddie and Bella Timmis, Shropshire, May 2009
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Thank you for the most relaxing family holiday in the history of ever. Your hospitality has been second to none and it has been a dream holiday. The house you will be pleased to know was as fabulous as I had dared to dream. The children didn't want to leave. We agreed that it was our first family holiday
that we have ever had where we all enjoyed it equally as a family.
Our host and hostess Tim and Razia were grace personified and couldn't do too much for us. We were spoiled and pampered, pampered and spoiled and I cannot recommend it highly enough if you have children or if you don't. The house was beautiful and fantastically furnished. It was blissful.
Katy, Jason, Tilly, Tallulah and Oscar Wheatley, Lancashire, May 2009
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Another fantastic holiday at Artagnan. The kids have adored the garden and the pool and we will all be very sad to leave.
Tim and Razia you know just how to make a holiday feel like a holiday with two small children. You really do think of every detail and it is appreciated.
Gemma and Sean Lamont with boys Aaran and Euan, May 2011
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Another very special stay at Artagnan. There is nowhere else like this! Stunning Gers countryside, amazing choice of local activities, great local produce, a beautiful house but what makes it unique is the Coleman family and their wonderful children.
Siobhan, Gavin, Milo and Zac, Jun 2011
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Our favourite holiday place in the world. So glad we came back and already planning our next visit. The house, setting and facilities are only bettered by the unbeatable Coleman hospitality.
The Prasher Family, Aug 2011
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Thank you so much for all your kindness. We had a lovely time and Sam loved all the toys, tractors and pool. You have created a special place and worked hard to keep it so lovely. It wouldn’t be such a wonderful place though if it weren’t for the wonderful family who are lucky enough to call Artagnan home.
Don, Linda and Sam Howell, Jun 2011
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Another fantastic stay but a week just doesn’t seem long enough. Thank you so much for your hospitality and thanks to the kids for spending so much time entertaining our children. We really wouldn’t change anything. Wonderful.
The MacEachan Family, Jun 2011
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