Key
Facts :
| Location
: |
Carcans
4 kms |
Type
of location : |
Peaceful
forest setting near to lake and ocean |
| No.
of bedrooms : |
3
+ annexe : 1x double, 1x twin, 1x bedroom with 2 sets of
bunks |
| Sleeping
capacity : |
8
+ 2 |
| No.
of bathrooms : |
1x
bathroom & 1x en-suite shower room. 2x WC's in total |
| Style
of property : |
Converted
resinier's cottage |
Quality
guide : |
|
| Prices
: |
|
»
Check availability & prices for this property GO
> Prices held at 2007 levels |
» Price includes bed linen, exit clean, electricity, water, gas but not towels
» Optional extras available - payable locally:
•
Fridge stocked with essentials for your arrival - cost
+10%
• Mid-stay cleaning €40
• Babysitting on request €10
per hour
» Security deposit £200
per week payable by cheque directly to the owner, due with
the holiday balance. The cheque is cashed only if necessary.
It is returned or destroyed assuming there are no breakages/damages
» Read important information about security deposits & insurance |
Linen
arrangements : |
Bed
linen provided & beds made on arrival. Spare set of
linen left for guests. Towels are not provided (except tea
towel) |
Cleaning
arrangements : |
No
cleaning services are included in the rental but they are
available for a local charge
» Read important information
about cleaning
|
Arrivals
& departure : |
Arrive
Saturday 4-6pm and depart Saturday by 10am. There is some
flexibility in the off season
»
Read important information about
arrivals & departures |
| Nearest
beach : |
Carcans-Plage
17 kms |
| Nearest
boulangerie : |
Carcans
4 kms |
| Nearest
airport : |
Bordeaux
45 mins |
| Nearest
ferry port : |
St
Malo 6.5 hours |
| Swimming
pool : |
Yes.
Approved alarm - clients will be asked to sign a disclaimer.
10x5m length/width and max depth 2m. Roman steps into pool.
Pool is saltwater. |
| Suitability
for children : |
Very
good: hardly any traffic; large gardens; lots of games
Cot & high chair shared with Villa Hélène |
Suitability
for infants : |
Cot,
cot linen & high chair shared with adjacent rental villa |
Facilities
& equipment : |
Washing
machine, microwave; dishwasher; BBQ |
| Things
to see & do : |
Watersports
on the Lac de Hourtin-Carcans; cycling, surfing, sailing,
golf, wine-tasting in the Médoc, horse-riding, visit
châteaux. Visit Bordeaux, Cap Ferret, Arcachon |
| House
rules : |
Smoking
is permitted in the house. Pets considered |
|
Location
: Map
Ref B2
Villa
du Lac is located in the tiny hamlet of Ste-Hélène-de-l’Etang
on the eastern side of the huge freshwater lake, Lac d’Hourtin-Carcans.
The nearest towns are Carcans (4 kms south) and
Hourtin (8 kms north).
Bordeaux airport is a 45 minute drive and there
is also a TGV station in the city.
|
Accommodation
:
The entrance to Villa du Lac is shared with the adjacent Villa
Ste-Hélène-de-l’Etang. However, with both
homes occupying a one-acre plot of land, privacy is not an issue.
The swimming pool is exclusive to Villa du Lac.
The setting is highly tranquil. Ste-Hélène-de-l’Etang
consists of just nine houses and the land is surrounded by forest.
There is abundant wildlife including frogs, toads, rabbits, lizards,
deer plus a variety of birds.
The cottage offers 3 double-size bedrooms and
a large open-plan living area all on ground floor
level. The large spaces and tiled floors give the cottage a distinctly
summery feel. Original features have been retained wherever possible
including oak-beam ceilings in the kitchen and
one of the bedrooms, plus a Girondine open fireplace in the lounge.
The master bedroom has en-suite shower
facilities and a king-size bed. The
second bedroom contains twin beds whilst the third has two sets
of adult-size bunk beds. The main cottage can therefore sleep
up to 8 people. There is plenty of storage space provided.
Additionally there is a small annexe connected
to the cottage by a gazebo. This could sleep another two children
in the bunks provided. This room also contains a sink unit and
a range of games and equipment including body
boards and bicycles.
There is a separate bathroom with bath, shower
and wc.
The living area of the cottage consists of a
large lounge, oak refectory dining table
for 8 and a good-size integrated kitchen. The
lounge is dominated by a huge open fireplace. There is plenty
of comfy seating provided plus a sofa that converts into a bed.
The kitchen is English in design and well-equipped
to include washing machine, dishwasher, two fridges, freezer,
electric cooker, microwave, coffee machine, kettle and toaster.
The swimming pool is protected by an approved
alarm system. There are steps at one end and is at a depth of
1.6m. Other outside facilities include a BBQ and plenty of garden
furniture. The gardens are extensive and there is a patio area
for dining outside.
|
Local
Guide :
Carcans-Maubuisson
Tourist Office Tel +33 (0)5.56.03.34.94
There is a sandy track from the house leading
to the Lac d’Hourtins-Carcans, France’s
longest freshwater lake (over 20 kms). The lake is a 20 minute
walk or 10 minute cycle ride.
The nearby town of Carcans has a cave
well-stocked with Bordeaux wine. There is also a good bakery,
fishmongers and butcher in the town.
For wine-lovers, the nearby Médoc region
is home to several world-class vineyards including celebrated
appellations such as St-Julien, Pauillac, Haut-Médoc,
Margaux and Médoc itself. The
warm climate and gravely soil combine to produce some of the
world’s most sought-after red wines. Naturally there are
plenty of wine-tasting opportunities. To visit the best-known
châteaux such as Lafite Rothschild and Margaux, you are
advised to make a booking in advance.
And if drinking wine isn’t enough, you can also bathe
in it. Yes, vinothérapie is the latest
in hedonistic body-revitalisation treatments and you can indulge
in this treat at Martillac, just to the south
of Bordeaux.
A great way to get around is to hire bicycles. There are a number
of local suppliers and the area has many off-road cycle
tracks and there are some lovely routes in the forests
around the lake.
The pine forests, lakes and ocean are a haven for walking,
cycling and watersports. In fact,
this region of the Gironde is known as something of an outdoor
playground. Golfers will be pleased to hear
that they are a short drive away from the prestigious championship
courses of Golf du Medoc, Les Châteaux and Les Vignes.
Slightly further away, just outside of Lacanau, is Golf d’Ardilouse,
a lovely 18-hole course set in the pine forests. Other local
activities to pursue include horse-riding, land-yachting,
tennis and surfing. There are riding
stables 500 metres from the house.
Beach lovers have the choice of ocean and lakes.
The Lac d’Hourtin-Carcans and Lac
de Lacanau provide safer bathing and have their own
sandy beaches plus there is good watersports potential. Hourtin-Port
and Maubisson are the main beach resorts
at Lac d’Hourtin-Carcans and both are great for sailing;
there is a marina at Hourtin-Port.
Lacanau-Océan is the most popular resort
on this stretch of the Côte d’Argent and hosts a
world-pro surfing tournament in August. For less crowds try
Carcans-Plage and Hourtin-Plage,
or further south, Cap Ferret. This, and Arcachon,
are the favoured sunning spots for wealthier Bordelais folk.
Montalivet-les-Bains and Soulac-sur-Mer
are the main beach resorts to the north. Soulac, like Arcachon’s
Winter Town, is full of eclectic villas and mansions dating
to the late 19th century and built by wealthier residents of
Bordeaux. Soulac also has its own Unesco World Heritage
Site – the Romanesque Benedictine Abbey, Esplanade
Alienor d’Aquitaine. Further north still, at
the Pointe de Grave, you can take a ferry to the resort of Royan
or drive further to La Rochelle.
Arcachon is approximately 90 minutes driving distance
and has numerous attractions including the magnificent Dune
du Pilat – Europe’s highest sand dune.
Set on the southerly edge of the Bassin d’Arcachon, the
town is perfect for boat trips, seafood, boutique shopping and
a good old-fashioned stroll along the promenade or the beautiful
Winter Town.
The city of Bordeaux is an hour away and is
a good option for a day-trip, whether it’s forboutique
shopping, sight-seeing or culture. Walking around the 18th century
old town centre (Quartier St. Pierre), you can begin to imagine
the city’s commercial and maritime past.
For further information try the links below. Please note that
we cannot be held responsible for the content of third party
sites.
Lacanau Tourist Office
Bordeaux Tourist
Office
Gironde Regional
Tourism
Learn About Medoc Wines
UK Tourist Office
for France
|
|
