Chateau Arize

Description

At the foot of the Pyrenees, surrounded by lakes, forests and stunning scenery, you will find the idyllic Chateau Arize. A beautiful home which is perfect for all generations, it's the ideal place to relax and unwind, yet it offers an impressive array of activities and beautiful towns within a short drive.

Dating back to the 18th century, when it was re-built after the French Revolution, the chateau is full of character with 18th and 19th century antiques, beautiful traditional furnishings and Persian rugs. The complete restoration has been a labour of love for its owners who have spent years updating and restoring the home to a fine standard, creating a historical and magical ambience. Walk up the stately steps into the welcoming lounge and you will immediately notice the warm and classical surroundings of this wonderful holiday home.

Decorated with traditional furnishings and elegant French style with warm tones, the 14 bedrooms, eleven of which are en-suite, include two master doubles at the front with glorious views of the parkland and three interconnecting rooms ideal for families with young children. Explore the house and you'll also find a cinema room, library, a quirky and fun games room in addition to an antique billiards table, plus plenty of space to kick back and relax on the sumptuous sofas. A fitness room and sauna have recently been added to the amazing list of amenities across the home.

Daily breakfasts can be arranged as well as your own chef to prepare you an unforgettable feast, perfect for the wonderful terrace dining room where up to thirty guests can come together for a convivial meal overlooking the chateau's spectacular gardens. As well as a characterful chateau kitchen with a magnificent log-burning fire, there is an impressive professional kitchen with all the equipment a keen cook could wish for.

You could spend all day in the twenty acre parkland, sun-bathing by the heated swimming pool with the view of the Pyrenees, finding a shady spot under one of the many ancient trees, exploring by the streams or listening to the peaceful flow of the river that runs through the grounds. Have a lazy game of petanque, cycle around on one of the chateau's five bikes or play tennis on the fabulous tennis court which is of a professional standard. There is a delightful walking path encircling the house and within 500m keen cyclists can join a well-known trail of 40km through glorious landscapes.

Set in the heart of the Natural Regional Park of the Ariege Pyrenees, outdoor activities such as cycling, swimming, kayaking, fishing and horse-riding are in abundance amongst its lakes, mountains and forests. There are also many beautiful villages and towns to discover such as Foix (20km) with its medieval castle perched on a hill or St. Lizier (25km), one of France's Plus Beaux Villages with UNESCO World Heritage status. The nearest village to the chateau, about 5 minutes by car, dates back to medieval times and has a couple of small supermarkets, a bakery, butchers as well as a tourist office.

Whether a family re-union or a special holiday with friends, Chateau Arize is a unique and peaceful retreat in a very special setting in this glorious part of southern France.

#### Features
Chateau Interior

Ground Floor
- Chateau kitchen and separate professional kitchen, well equipped including American style fridge-freezer with ice-maker, walk-in refrigerator, drinks chiller, self-service fridge, three ovens, two sets of hobs, griddle, two dishwashers and coffee maker
- Terrace dining area (conservatory style dining room leading to al-fresco terraces)
- Laundry room
- Fitness room
- DVD room
- 3 Guest WCs
First Floor
- Entrance lounge
- Main Lounge
- Dining room
- Billiard room
- Games room
- Function room
- Library
- 3 Guest WCs
- Bedroom One Double bedroom and en-suite bathroom (bath only) with WC
- Bedroom Two/Three : Double room with door leading to separate twin room. Both rooms share an en-suite bathroom (bath with shower) with WC
Second Floor
- Bedroom Five: Double bedroom and en-suite bathroom (bath with shower) with WC
- Bedroom Six: Twin bedroom and en-suite bathroom (bath plus separate shower) with WC
- Bedroom Seven/Eight: Double bedroom with doors leading to twin room (ideal for young children). Both rooms share an en-suite bathroom (bath with shower) with WC
- Bedroom Nine: Master double bedroom (34m2) and en-suite bathroom (jacuzzi bath with shower and separate shower enclosure) with WC
- Bedroom Ten: Master double bedroom (33m2) and en-suite bathroom (bath with shower) with WC
- Bedroom Eleven: Accessed via additional staircase, double bedroom and en-suite bathroom (bath with shower) with WC
- Bedroom Twelve: Double/twin bedroom and en-suite shower room with WC
- Bedroom Thirteen: Double bedroom and en-suite shower room with WC
- Bedroom Fourteen: Double bedroom with doors leading to small room suitable for cot/single and en-suite shower room with WC
Outside Grounds
- Private heated swimming pool (size:10mx5m/depth: 1m-2m/shape: rectangular) with safety fence - open May-September
- Al-fresco dining terrace
- Gas BBQ
- Tennis court (hard court, professional standard)
- 24 acres of lawns and trees
- River and stream
- Off-road parking space
Facilities
- Wi-Fi
- Decorative fireplace
- Satellite and cable TV (English channels available)
- DVD player
- Cinema room with DVD library
- Music library
- Antique billiard table
- Games room
- Sauna
- Fitness room
- Bikes x 5
- Tennis and rackets
- Ping-pong
- Petanque
- Washing machine

#### Location
In a wonderful location at the foot of the Pyrenees, you are in the heart of the Natural Regional Park of the Ariege Pyrenees, surrounded by lakes, forests and hills – a fantastic location for a great array of putdoor activities and stunning natural scenery.

You are only 5 minutes drive from a local medieval village where you can find two small supermarkets, a butchery, bakery, chemist and medical centre as well as a tourist office for the area.

There are two larger towns a little further with larger supermarkets and a greater choice of shops and restaurants – Foix and Saint Girons. Foix (20km), with its medieval castle located on a rocky hill overlooking the Ariege and Arge rivers, is just 20 minutes away. Take a stroll in the old town, exploring its narrow streets, pretty squares with ancient abbeys, local restaurants and authentic shops. There is also a superb market every Friday.

Saint Girons (24km) on the river Sarlat is an attractive town to wander around with characterful buildings and shops to admire. Combine with a trip to the UNESCO classified ancient village of St. Lizier (25km), one of France's Plus Beaux Villages. Rich in art and history, visit the lower part with the old village and cathedral then head to the upper part surrounded by ancient fortifications including the Bishops Palace, now a museum.

The bastide town of Mirepoix (52km) is also within easy reach: a vibrant gem, with one of the best markets in France on a Monday and hosting plenty of festivals and events throughout the year.

Set within the Natural Regional Park of the Ariege Pyrenees, outdoor activities such as cycling, kayaking, fishing and horse-riding are in abundance amongst its lakes, mountains and forests. Cycling is a great way to discover this beautiful National Park; a well-known cycling trail of over 40km can be accessed just half a kilometre away. Keen walkers should also visit the waterfall at Cascade d'Ars (57km) which is at its best in May and June whilst serious golf enthusiasts will love the golf course just a short drive from the chateau.

In the summer you can swim at Lac de Mondely, a lake also wonderful for fishing, walking and bird watching. Families will love the opportunity to walk with donkeys near Biert (30km) or Aleu (40km), visit the nearby reptile park, there's a Prehistoric Park near Tarascon-sur-Ariege (40km), or there are some fantastic adventure parks such as Horizon Vertical for older kids and adults in Moulis (30km) or Acro'lus for younger children near Aulus-les-Bains (55km). The subterranean River Labouiche (17km) is another brilliant place to visit nearby where you can visit the caves and caverns 60m underground.

The area has so many wonderful historical sites to discover. You are not far from the the Cathars land and a trip to the ruins of the Chateau de Montsegur (52km), one of the last Cathar strongholds, should not be missed. Another fine day trip is the Niaux cave paintings (45km), dating back 14,000 years and can be visited if you book on to one of their tours, booking in advance is recommended.
The fortified city of Carcassonne (98km) is located about ninety minutes from the chateau and is a must see. The famous summer festival, brings together over 100 performances, including opera, dance, theatre and music, most of which you can watch free of charge.