Chateau Chalosse

Description

Surrounded by the beauty of rural south-west France, in the heart of the Chalosse countryside yet close to idyllic villages and historic towns, experience old-world charm and warm hospitality at this characterful family chateau.

Chateau Chalosse dates back to the late 17th century and is set in nine acres of glorious grounds with a private swimming pool. Inside the main chateau you can experience the historic ambience of the comfortable living room, cosy TV lounge, perfectly equipped kitchen and wood-panelled dining room. Seven bedrooms can be found upstairs, each individually styled with character and charm, some with romantic roll top baths and all with beautiful views over the courtyard garden or surrounding countryside. Traditional features such as antique furnishings, beamed ceilings and cosy wood-burners are accompanied by modern comforts including Sky TV with Netflix, a DVD library and magazines for guests to enjoy. Two further bedrooms are in the rustic and pretty cottage just adjacent to the chateau.

Appreciate the tranquillity around you as you relax by the inviting swimming pool or play games in the lovely gardens with badminton, table tennis, boules and many more activities to keep all ages occupied. Help yourselves to whatever may be growing in the vegetable garden and fruit orchard as well as fresh eggs from the hens – this is a rural idyll where you can authentically experience French chateau life in the countryside.

Allow yourself to be looked after during you stay – the hospitable owners can cook you a four-course meal on the evening of your arrival or even offer a full-catering package throughout your stay. You will also find a well-stocked larder and drinks fridge when you arrive – just replace or pay for what you use, and extras such as baby-sitting and additional shopping can also be arranged.

With walks and cycling routes straight from the chateau's gates, grab the picnic hamper and perhaps the chateau's bikes and head out for some lovely adventures exploring the countryside, looking out for birds and other wildlife as you pass fields of summer sun flowers, woodland and vineyards.

Visit local towns such as nearby Hagetmau and historic Saint-Sever, around ten minutes by car, discover their markets or sit in pretty terrace cafes soaking up the local atmosphere. Drive to little villages, castles and parks, hire canoes along rivers, fish in nearby lakes or horse-ride through the wonderful landscapes – there is so much to do and see in this beautiful part of the Landes countryside, not to mention the cuisine and wine of this region.

You're also perfectly positioned to visit the surfing beaches of the Atlantic to the west and the magnificent Parc National des Pyrenees to the south. You can even drive as far as the vineyards of Bordeaux or the Basque country and Spanish border. That's if you can bring yourself to venture far from the peaceful surroundings of Chateau Chalosse, an ideal place for tranquil times with family and friends.

#### Features
Chateau Interiors

East Entrance

- Main living area with sofas and wood-burner
- Second living room with TV (with Freeview, Sky and Netflix)

West Entrance

- Entrance with piano
- Dining room (for up to 20 guests) with hatch leading to lower kitchen
- Library
- Guest WC

Lower Ground Floor (via west entrance)

- Kitchen, fully-equipped with dishwasher, double electric oven, gas hobs, fridge-freezer, ice machine and wood-burner (winter use only)
- Laundry room with larder, fridge and dishwasher
- WC

First Floor (via main staircase)

- Bedroom 1 with king-size double, sofa area, bathroom with bath/shower and separate WC. Courtyard views
- Bedroom 2 with twin beds (each 3 ft wide), lounge area and small en suite shower room with separate WC. Courtyard views
- Bedroom 3 with emperor-size double bed, sofa area, TV (French and UK channels) and en suite bathroom with bath/shower and WC. Countryside views
- Bedroom 4 with queen-size double bed. Has direct access to the bathroom of bedroom 3 (or can be locked off)

Tower Floor (a few steps up from first floor)

- Small sitting area
- Bedroom 5 with single sleigh bed
- Bedroom 6 with double sleigh bed
- Shower room with WC

First Floor (a few steps down)

- Bedroom 7 with emperor-size double/twin bed and small en suite shower room with WC
- Bathroom with bath/shower and WC

Cottage Interiors

Ground Floor

- Living room with TV (with Freeview) and wood-burning stove
- Kitchen-dining area, well-equipped including washing machine

First Floor (via steep stairs from living room)

- Bathroom with bath/shower and WC
- Bedroom 8 with queen-size double bed
- Bedroom 9 with emperor-size double/twin bed (accessed via steps from bedroom 8's balcony)

Outside Grounds (nine acres)

- Salt-water swimming pool (10x5m, depth 0.75-1.5m) with safety alarm. Open approximately May to end-September
- Solar poolside shower
- Sun-loungers, shades and other garden furnishings
- Shaded al-fresco dining area
- Outdoor kitchen with fridge
- Charcoal BBQ
- Small Weber BBQ
- Courtyard garden
- Vegetable and fruit garden
- Hens
- Badminton set
- Rackets and soft balls
- Swing
- Boules
- Bikes (inc. two for children)
- Table tennis
- Pool inflatables
- Spin ball
- Out-buildings (not accessible)
- Parking on-site

Facilities

- Wi-Fi
- Central heating (chateau)
- Wood-burners
- Fans
- 3 x TV with UK/French channels (one with Sky, Freeview, Netflix)
- DVD player
- DVD library
- Books and magazines
- Board games
- Arts and crafts
- Badminton set
- Boules
- Bikes
- Table tennis
- Pool inflatables
- Spin ball
- Cool box and picnic hamper
- Beach shades
- Nets on windows and beds
- Washing machine and dryer

#### Location
In the tranquil Chalosse countryside, in the heart of the Landes, surrounded by woodland, vineyards and fields of maize and summer sunflowers, Chateau Chalosse is a rural paradise yet also close to a village and many wonderful places to explore.

You can experience the joys of the countryside on your doorstep with walking, cycling and running routes straight from the chateau gates – look out for an abundance of birds and other fascinating wildlife including deer.

This region is also known for its excellent Gascon cuisine – specialities include foie gras, poultry from Saint-Sever, Bayonne ham, and cheeses from the Pyrenees as well as a wealth of fresh fruit and vegetables and even seafood from the Atlantic coast. You will find a number of restaurants within a 10km radius and you can also discover regional delights in Farmer's markets in nearby towns and villages – the quality of locally produced food in this part of France is very high. Those seeking Michelin starred restaurants can try the magnificent three star Les Pres d'Eugenie. Some great wines are also produced in the region with vineyard visits and tastings easy to arrange.

Whilst there is a small village only 3km from the chateau, you will find the nearest shops and supermarkets in the local towns of Hagetmau and Saint-Sever. Look out for the Wednesday morning market in Hagetmau and sport-lovers will find golf, tennis and an Olympic sized swimming pool at the brilliant La Cite Vert Sports Stadium. Hagetmau is a lovely place to spend some time in cafes or restaurants, soaking up the local atmosphere.

Saint-Sever is another charming town filled with history and tradition. It's Benedictine abbey is a UNESCO World Heritage site and its also on the Santiago de Compostella's pilgrim route. Enjoy a coffee on one of the many cafe terraces, explore the weekly market and look out for a number of cultural events or festivities throughout the year.

There are many other beautiful villages and historic towns to visit across this region as well as enchanting castles, interesting museums, farms and picturesque gardens – the owners will provide you with an information folder with all sorts of recommendations for days out. Hire canoes along the Luy de Bearn in the idyllic village of Amou or along the waterways even closer near Arboucave. There are also many places for fishing as well as horse-riding and various walking trails. For those looking to be pampered, a day out in the spa town of Dax is a must.

If you are wishing to explore further afield then you can reach the Atlantic coast in around an hour with its magnificent sandy beaches, superb surfing spots and vibrant seaside villages and towns. The stunning Parc National des Pyrenees is ideal for hiking through meadows of wild flowers with incredible scenery around you. You can even head across to Spain and savour the flavours of the Basque country with the border town of Hendaye, on the Atlantic coast, under 2 hours away.