Self-Catering Holidays in Atlantic Aquitaine, South West France - Villas, Cottages & Apartments

Manoir de Gosse is a highly characterful country house combining many modern comforts with authentic period features and great style. While the indoor pool, sauna, and dramatic entrance hall hint at great luxury, overall it is not luxurious in the traditional sense, but has good and high quality furnishings which give a 'bourgeois-bohemian' flavour. The villa is the second home of the owner and has many individual touches, including well-chosen items of antique furniture, paintings and colourful soft furnishings.

Please note that, like many character rentals, children's bedrooms are simple and bathroom and kitchen installations are typically French, and may seem outdated to some UK/US visitors. We feel however that the house's great plus-es more than make up for this.

Entrance
The driveway leads to a parking area at the front of the house with spaces for three-to-four cars.

Downstairs
A large door leads into a dramatic entrance - a magnificent 20 foot high hall, with stone staircase, suspended upstairs corridor-bridge, and full-size palm tree. The hall leads via 8 foot double-doors to very large dining and living rooms. The dining room has table and chairs for 12, plus an extensive library and miniature grand piano.

The spacious farmhouse-style kitchen leads off the dining room. A small breakfast table is at one end. There is also an open fireplace. Wall- and floor-mounted cupboards are well-stocked with crockery and utensils and offer plenty of storage. Equipment includes gas range, oven, microwave, fridge & freezer, kettle, toaster.

The living room seats 8 comfortably, and has an open fireplace. Double doors lead to the very spacious covered dining veranda with beautiful views of the gardens and beyond.

Adjoining the living room is the pool room with 9m x 3.5m pool. The pool is heated to a constant temperature of 24 degrees. Two sets of double doors open out on to an uncovered veranda which is ideal for sun-bathing.

Upstairs - first floor
Back in the hall, the entrance also leads to a wide stair-way to the first-floor bedrooms and the theatre. The fully functioning baroque style theatre comprises a stage, royal and orchestral boxes and sufficient seating to accommodate up to 60 guests for your theatrical or musical productions or film screenings.

The master bedroom (with double bed), includes a substantial full length veranda providing a panoramic view of the Pyrenees, and an en-suite bathroom. A further three spacious bedrooms (two doubles and a twin) are on the first floor. The twin room includes a two-level mezzanine room which could very easily accommodate four children on both levels.

Upstairs - second floor
A small staircase leads to three smaller rooms (a double and two twins) on the second floor serviced by a single bathroom. These rooms are simply furnished, and suitable for children and adults (under 2 metres tall).

Outside
Outside, the gardens stretch over 3 hectares including a forest, a bamboo garden, ponds and a professional double tennis court. At the rear (outside the living room) is a large south-facing patio area and lawn, and covered dining veranda (below the spacious first-floor balcony). Tennis rackets and balls are available but if you take your tennis seriously, you will want to bring your own rackets.

On the grounds, situated away and unseen from the house, resides a part time caretaker who is at your disposal for the duration of your stay but otherwise discreetly maintains the grounds and pool and will leave you in peace and privacy.