Chateau des Frontieres France
Holiday Home Rental Description
In the foothills of the Pyrenees, Château des Frontieres is all about authentic French living in wonderful surroundings, whether gathering for a much-needed holiday with family and friends or celebrating your marriage with a bespoke event in timeless style.
With graceful living spaces, an elegant bar, a fine dining room and pretty bedrooms, Château des Frontieres exudes old-world charm in every way. Yet contemporary touches have also been added from the impressive Neptune kitchen with its Aga to the reversible air-conditioning and heating in every room. After recent renovations, the owner’s keen eye for refined detail is evident throughout this historic château with such beautiful original characteristics.
Each bedroom features antique furnishings and works of art alongside luxurious linen, high quality mattresses as well as bathrobes and high-end toiletries in the en suite bath or shower rooms. Amongst the nine en-suite bedrooms, the bridal suite awaits with its clawfoot bath standing romantically in the room, perhaps awaiting a newly wedded couple.
Indeed, this French village château is ideal for a picture-perfect wedding at any time of year, whether feasting by candlelight indoors or seeking summer shade beneath the ancient blue cedar tree, followed by dancing in the barn and cocktails on the roof terrace.
Whatever your reason for staying here, guests are sure to love the six acres of grounds surrounded by forested hills and mountain views. Relax with your coffee as you hear the village bells ring, you may even spot occasional cows or ponies who have come to graze amongst the verdant lawns. Enjoy long summery afternoons by the heated swimming pool, then dine al-fresco poolside as the evening nears in the fresh mountain air.
Set in a village on the edge of the Hautes-Pyrénées and Haute-Garonne, look out for the atmospheric market that is set up by the château’s gates on the first Sunday of every month and watch the Tour de France whizz by in July. This is indeed a classic French setting, yet you are also so close to the border with Spain – drive under half an hour to the Catalan village of Bossòst for Michelin-starred dining, lovely shopping and more stunning landscapes.
Elsewhere, visit nearby Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges, one of France’s Plus Beaux Villages and on the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage trail, with its UNESCO-listed cathedral. Experience the thermal baths and attractive surroundings of the Pyrenees spa town, Bagnères-de-Luchon.
Further afield, either Lourdes or Carcassonne could be visited within a day or spend time exploring the Armagnac vineyards, idyllic villages and market towns of the Gers, just west of the pink city of Toulouse, La Ville Rose.
That said, closer to home there are so many ways to appreciate the incredible region around Château des Frontieres from hiking, cycling and river-rafting to horse-riding and playing golf with the most spectacular Pyrenees scenery around you. In the foothills of the Pyrenees, on the edge of Hautes-Pyrénées and Haute-Garonne and around a 20-minute drive from the Spanish border, Château des Frontieres and its parkland is set in a small village with beautiful mountain landscapes all around you.
On the first Sunday morning of every month, the village market takes place at the gates of the château whilst the Tour de France whizzes by in July. Indeed, this region offers some of the best road cycling in France straight from the village whilst mountain biking, climbing, hiking, horse-riding, 9 and 18-hole golf courses, rafting and even winter skiing can all be found in the area.
Head to local villages and towns for some wonderful restaurants from bistros to Michelin-starred establishments – start in Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges (11km), one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’ with an incredible cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Aspet (27km) is also very charming with several cafes and restaurants as well as a twice-weekly market. You can also cross the Spanish border and drive to Bossòst (30km) for fine dining and great shopping in picturesque Catalan surroundings on the Garonne River surrounded by black pine forests and mountains.
Back in France, the spa town of Bagnères-de-Luchon (24km) offers fishing, canoeing, mountain biking, hiking and all sorts of other mountain activities alongside its thermal baths. Balnéa Spa in Loudenvielle, around 50km away, is another fantastic option for thermal baths and treatments whilst there is also a lake in the mountain village with pedalos, canoes and supervised swimming in a summer lido.
Further afield, there are some magnificent day trips across southern France. Visit the pilgrimage town of Lourdes, around a 90-minute drive away, perhaps stopping off at one of the elegant gardens in Tarbes en route. Pau (115km) has such a beautiful old quarter as well as tree-lined boulevards, pretty cafes, restaurants and many shops. You could even drive as far as the Atlantic shores of Biarritz (226km), an elegant seaside resort much-loved by surfers from across the world.
Heading north to the Gers, Auch (94km) and its impressive Cathedrale Saint-Marie is a very attractive town close to picturesque Armagnac vineyards. The grand university city of Toulouse (123km), also known as ‘La Ville Rose’, is another brilliant trip whilst famous and historic Carcassonne (206km) could also be visited within a day. At Excellence Luxury Villas we pride ourselves on going that little bit further for our guests. From private chefs to babysitters we can help you arrange those little extras that make it a truly memorable holiday. Simply fill in the
concierge request form or contact the Excellence Luxury Villas Concierge who will be happy to help. We can typically help you arrange any of the following:
– Maid service/extra cleaning – Private chef/cook/catering- Welcome hamper/pre-stocked fridge- Local day trips or tours- Airport pick-up/drop-off- Babysitting/childcare services
Extras available at this property (payable locally):
– Bar drinks (stock can be arranged in advance and paid for accordingly or you can agree to pay for what you have used afterwards)- Private chef- Extra cleaning- Pre-stocked fridge/shopping- Airport transfers- Local trips
Please note that all extras are subject to availability and must be requested in advance of the holiday (prices on request). Due to some rural/remote locations, not all services will be available at all properties. However, we will always do our best to fulfil your requests!
Property Details
Château Interiors
– Lounge with a projector (bring your own portable media)
– Dining room
– Kitchen, fully-equipped including two dishwashers, 5-oven Aga, induction hob, filter and boiling tap and coffee machine
– Bedroom 1 (ground floor) with double bed and shower room
– Bedroom 2 with king-size double bed and shower room
– Bedroom 3 with king-size double bed, adjoining small bedroom with single bed and shower room
– Bedroom 4 with king-size double bed and bathroom with bath and hand-held shower
– Bedroom 5 with king-size double bed and bathroom with clawfoot bath and hand-held shower
– Bedroom 6 with queen-size double bed and bathroom with clawfoot bath and hand-held shower
– Bedroom 7 with single bed and shower room
– Bedroom 8 with king-size double bed and shower room
– Bedroom 9 with king-size double bed and bathroom with clawfoot bath and hand-held shower
Outside Grounds
– Heated swimming pool (10m x 4m) with black composite lining and safety cover. Open approximately May to October
– Roof terrace
– Barbecue and pizza oven
– Secured bike storage
– Parkland (6 acres)
Facilities
– Wi-Fi
– Reversible air-conditioning/heating
– Projector (bring your own portable media)
– Bar (drinks on request)
– Board games
– Books
– Table tennis
– Laundry facilities