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

Location : Map Ref B2

Villas du Lac is located in the tiny hamlet of Ste-Hélène-de-l’Étang 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 just a 40 minute drive making this a very convenient location. There is also a TGV train station in the city centre

Accommodation :

The setting is highly tranquil. Ste-Hélène-de-l’Étang consists of just nine houses and the land is surrounded by forest. There is abundant wildlife including frogs, toads, rabbits, lizards, deer and a variety of birds.

The entrance to Villas du Lac is shared between the two homes which are a stone’s throw from each other and between them occupy a one-acre plot of land. There is a private swimming pool at each property. There are steps at one end and is at a depth of 1.6m. At Villa du Lac, the pool is protected by an approved alarm system. At Villa Hélène, the pool has an approved cover for security.

Of the two cottages, Villa du Lac has the largest garden and patio area and consequently it is here where most time is spent by guests. In addition to the pool, outside facilities include two BBQs and plenty of garden furniture. The gardens are extensive and there are patio areas for dining outside.

A telephone is provided in both houses for incoming and emergency calls only. Outgoing calls can be activated using a phone card purchased locally – please ask us for details. The fridge can be stocked with essentials for your arrival and a meal can be cooked for your first night, if required. Additionally, babysitting and tours of vineyards are local services that can be arranged for guests.

Villa Hélène is centrally heated making winter stays possible.

Inside Villa du Lac

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 the 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.

A separate bathroom includes 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.

Inside Villa Hélène

Villa Hélène also has 3 double-size bedrooms and a large open-plan living area all on ground floor level. This home also retains a summer ambience with its tiled floors and French doors. The house is fully centrally-heated however, making it suitable for low season breaks and longer winter lets.

The master bedroom has en-suite shower facilities, a double bed and French doors to the garden. The second bedroom contains twin beds whilst the third has two sets of adult-size bunk beds and French doors to the garden. There is plenty of storage space provided.

A separate family size bathroom includes bath with shower fitting and wc.

The living area of the cottage consists of a large lounge, dining table for 6 and a fully-equipped integrated kitchen. The lounge has two sets of French doors opening on to the patio and plenty of comfy seating provided including a sofa that converts into a bed.

The kitchen has breakfast bar, washing machine, dishwasher, fridge freezer, gas hob and electric oven, microwave, coffee machine, kettle and toaster.

Local Guide :

Carcans-Maubuisson Tourist Office Tel +33 (0)5.56.03.34.94

The nearest village is Carcans which has a cave well-stocked with Bordeaux wine. There is also a good bakery, fishmongers (Tuesday & Friday) and butcher in the town.

Local markets: Carcans (Friday mornings); Castelnau (Sunday mornings); Maubuisson (Wednesday mornings high season only); Hourtin (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings – seasonal); Montalivet (daily).

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 they are a short drive away from the prestigious championship courses of Golf du Medoc, Les Châteaux and Les Vignes. Slightly closer, 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 3 kms from the house.

Lac d’Hourtin-Carcans is France’s longest freshwater lake and offers great walking, cycling, waterpsorts and picnics. The Lac d’Hourtin-Carcans and Lac de Lacanau offer sandy beach resorts which provide safe bathing. There are excellent watersports on offer too. Both bases are great for sailing; there is a marina at Hourtin-Port. An enjoyable way to get around the area 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.

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. Further south Cap Ferret and Arcachon are the favoured sunning spots for wealthier Bordelais folk. Arcachon and Cap Ferret are approximately 90 minutes driving distance. Of particular interest is the magnificent Dune du Pyla – 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. 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, located on the Esplanade Alienor d’Aquitaine. At the northern tip of the Gironde - an hour’s drive - you can take a ferry from the Pointe de Grave to the resort of Royan or drive further north to La Rochelle.

The city of Bordeaux is an hour away and is a good option for a day-trip, whether it’s boutique 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 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.

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 Tourist Office
Wines of the Médoc
UK Tourist Office for France