LE
MOULIN D’AUVILLAR
Gill &
Jeremy Hiley
Le Moulin D’Auvillar
82340 Auvillar
France
Telephone: (33)
05 63 94 52 63 Or Email: gill@a-retreat.com
The windmill
stands as the king of the castle within the grounds of Jeremy & Gill Hiley’s
beautiful French home and is the perfect spot for a relaxed holiday.
The property is
set in a most enviable position high above the Bastide village of Auvillar, which is classed as one of
France’s most beautiful. The windmill has commanding, far reaching views, over the tops
of the sun baked roofs of Auvillar’s village houses,
it’s chiming church and clock towers, and beyond to the broad green valley
with it’s winding River Garonne.
The
circular rooms give this holiday home a charming simplistic uniqueness and
the furnishings compliment it beautifully.
You can really escape here. There
is no telephone or television to interrupt your peace. The accommodation,
which is strictly non-smoking, is well-equipped for two adults, spread over
three floors. It is surrounded by garden
with fruit and nut trees, has it’s own patio table and chairs plus
b-b-q, and looks down on the leisure pool.
The
ground floor comprises a compact kitchen / living room with comfortable seating
and a dining table and chairs.
There is a fridge, microwave and a tabletop cooker with two rings and a small
oven.
Open sided stairs rise from the kitchen to the the bathroom and on to the second floor. The bathroom has a typical small French bath
with hand held shower attachment, wash hand basin, bidet and toilet. There is a large cupboard in which guests can
hang their clothes and store suitcases.
The
stairs continue round, rising
to the open plan bedroom with its old beams, and dual aspect.
There are two single beds. As the accommodation is self
catering, linen and towels are not included, but are available for a small
charge per person, per week.
On arrival a small welcome
pack is supplied including a bottle of local wine to help visitors get their
holiday off to a relaxing start.
. The leisure pool is situated
just below the windmill.
The
views from this high point are superb, and the sunsets memorable. Those keen on
photography and painting will have a field day!
The village of Auvillar as
seen
from the
windmill
Guests can
take a leisurely walk down into the village of Auvillar each morning for fresh bread
and croissants. The village also has
a small supermarket for every day needs, a butcher, tobacconist and chemist.
There are several restaurants and a bar.
Beyond the archway
of the clock tower is the centre of the village, with it’s cobbled streets
and the Halle de Place. A little further on is the walled village edge with splendid views
from this high point. In years gone by Auvillar had a thriving small
port and although all signs of boats have long gone,
the houses that front the river are charming.
Just below the village,
in the valley, is a golf course where visitors are welcome.
Auvillar
(www.auvillar.com)is an excellent spot from which to explore this beautiful
area and lies on the ‘Grande Route 65’, used by pilgrims walking the Compostela
route. Pilgrims are virtually a daily sight, many displaying their scallop
shells.
The area offers
fine walking and cycling, and is a paradise for photographers and artists.
There are many beautiful villages and wonderful countryside.
The nearby town of Valence D’Agen has a lively Tuesday morning
market, shops and cafes.
Also nearby is St. Nicolas de la Grave, home to the Cadillac museum and a
leisure park with riding, tennis and free launching for sail boats (no power
boats allowed).
Other recommended places to visit are:-
The ancient historic town of Moissac with it's fine Benedictine
monastery and cloisters.
Auch is an attractive hilltop town
with a bronze statue of d’Artagnan, one of the three
musketeers, who was born nearby. The cathedral boasts
the finest carved choir stalls in Europe.
Toulouse is a city
probably best explored on foot.
It has lovely cafes, a wealth of antique shops at the Ville Rose, and
markets on Wednesdays and Sundays. The space centre is known for its Arriane rocket, and is popular with tourists.
Carcassonne
is a must for those who love walled cities.
With its narrow cobbled streets, busy shops and cafes, it is a good
day out.
Cahors has a fine Roman bridge over the river Lot and is
just over an hour’s drive to the north. Further on is the breathtakingly beautiful
village of Rocamadour, the caves at Padirac, and many prehistoric sites.
Guests find the drives
to Lourdes and Andorra worthwhile with the magnificent backdrop of the Pyrennes.
Additional
information:
A car is a must (cycling
is popular in this area) - off road parking
No pets allowed
Strictly no smoking
Travelling
Travelling from England, guests have a choice of airports:
Carcasonne – approximately
1hr 45 away
Toulouse – approximately 45 minutes
away
Bordeaux. – approximately 2hrs
away
Budget Cars
offer good rates for hire cars and the drive to Auvillar is very
simple. Full details, with map, are
provided at time of booking.
From England by car, the journey is about
10 hours from Calais.
Be warned: speeding tickets
are expensive in France
Booking the Accommodation
A ten percent, non refundable,
deposit is required at time of booking with the balance to be paid no later
than four weeks prior to arrival. It is recommended
you telephone or email for availability.
Fees per
week:
High season: July, August - 350€
Mid season: May, June &
September - 280€
Low season: all other times
- 180€
Bedding and towels - 10€ per person
For more information
contact:
gill@a-retreat.com
or telephone: (33) 05 63 94 52
63
