Les Tournesols France

In the heart of rural Gascony is the charming Les Tournesols, an idyllic stone house that has been beautifully renovated by its owners. Here your pace will immediately slow down as you immerse yourself in the real France in comfort and style with some of the most magnificent landscapes and villages in the country.
Set in vast grounds with a long private driveway, this former Maison de Maître has been sensitively restored to create a unique and stylish home. With travertine floors throughout, exposed beams and stonework, plus an open stone fireplace and some antique pieces the owners have ensured the home remains true to its past whilst adding contemporary features and modern style. The open-plan living space is remarkable with light streaming through the room, elegant furnishings and an impressive kitchen with a Falcon style range and a central marble topped island, allowing keen cooks ample room to prepare feasts for their guests.
Bedrooms have been thoughtfully decorated with pretty touches and some with marvellous en-suites featuring roll top baths or walk-in showers. The romantic ambience makes this a wonderful place for couples and friends but it’s also perfect for families with baby-friendly equipment and plenty of outdoor games for all ages.
For larger groups of more than 8 guests, a lovely children dormitory with four single beds and pretty French windows leading to the garden can be made available on request.
In the summer months you are surrounded by the sweet scents of lavender and roses across the gardens where you can seek shade on a bench under one of the many trees or play on the vast lawned gardens. You can spend long leisurely lunches dining al-fresco by the summer kitchen with its terracotta flooring before dipping into the cool swimming pool or sunbathing on the spacious terrace.
This is the real France where guests can immerse themselves in authentic, fortified villages, market towns, fields of summer sunflowers some of the best food and wine in the world. The little village of Saint Clar is nearby with its weekly market; make sure you pick up some of the local white garlic in season from July onwards. There is so much to do in this beautiful, rural part of Gascony; cycling, golf, horse-riding and hiking, not forgetting some fantastic wine tasting in this Grand Armagnac region.
As well as the nearby market towns of Fleurance and Lectoure, the city of Auch can be reached in under an hour and three of France’s Plus Beaux Villages, Fourcès, Larresingle and Montréal du Gers, can be easily visited by car.
This is a peaceful haven where the standard of living is high yet relaxed and you are in an incredible part of rural France. It’s a truly tranquil paradise. Gascony, or The Gers department, is one of the most rural regions of France with stunning landscapes, beautiful local villages and towns and a fantastic reputation for its gastronomy with local markets displaying a great variety of fresh fruit and vegetables, cheese and meat as well as the unmissable foie gras and confits.
The closest facilities to Les Tournesols are in the little village of Saint Clar where you will find a supermarket, small shops and restaurants. Visit on a Thursday morning for the village market and make sure you pick up some Lomagne white garlic which is in season from July to December.
The market towns of Fleurance and Lectoure are a little further but amazing places to pick up all sorts of local delights and their weekly morning markets, both a short drive away. The city of Auch can be reached in under an hour with its old quarter raised high above the Gers river and its incredible cathedral.
There are other pretty villages and hamlets in the area to explore. Three of Frances ‘Plus Beaux Villages’, Fourcès, Larresingle and Montréal du Gers can be visited in a day and the town of Condom, with further amenities, including a Michelin-starred restaurant as well as boat rental, is only forty minutes away.
There is so much to do in this beautiful, rural part of Gascony; cycling, golf, horse-riding and hiking. Head to Beaucaire to hire canoes on the River Baise and a little further south at Castéra-Verduzan there is a lake for swimming with waterslides. This is also Grand Armagnac country, if you have a taste for the drink then there are plenty of opportunities to visit local producers and guided tours as well as tastings can be arranged. 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 theconcierge request form or contact Excellence Luxury Villas Concierge Team 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- Bike hire
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!