Summary :
If you are looking for a peaceful retreat
in natural surroundings Villas Ecolos are ideal. A good standard
of comfort and modern design have been important in designing
these attractive eco-lodges, at the same time being true to
conservation principles of using local, renewable materials
and minimising energy consumption. Two and
three bedroom configurations are available, each with an open-plan
living area with wood-burning stove. The tranquil location and
lots to explore nearby make this an especially suitable place
for nature- and outdoor-loving families to enjoy the mid-Aquitaine
countryside.
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Key
Facts :
| Location
: |
Bazas
17 km, Casteljaloux 30km |
| No.
of bedrooms : |
2
- double + twin - or 3 - double plus 2 x twins |
| Sleeping
capacity : |
2
bedroom lodges = 4 people; 3 bedroom lodges = 6 people |
| Type
of location : |
Woodland,
edge of village |
| No.
of bathrooms : |
1
shower room |
| Style
of property : |
Modern
chalet-style lodge |
| Quality
guide : |
|
| Prices
: |
|
Check
availability and prices for this property:
»
Two bedroom lodges Go
»
Three bedroom lodges Go
|
The
price includes everything - linen, bathroom towels, electricity,
water, central heating.
The security deposit is 275 euros and is payable to the owner
on arrival. The deposit is returned on departure - minus any
breakages of course.
|
| Linen
Arrangements : |
Bed
linen &
bathroom towels provided |
| Cleaning
Arrangements : |
You
are expected to leave the villa clean and tidy on departure.
» Read important information about cleaning |
| Arrival
& Departure : |
Arrive
between 4-6 pm and depart by 10am. Changeover day is Saturday
in the high season.
» Read important information about
arrivals
& departures
|
| Nearest
beach : |
Lac
de Clarens, freshwater lake with sandy beach, 25 km; ocean
beaches at Biscarrosse, approx. 1.5 hours by car. |
| Nearest
boulangerie : |
1
km |
| Nearest
airport : |
Bordeaux
Merignac (80 km) |
| Nearest
ferry port : |
St
Malo 7 hours drive |
| Swimming
pool : |
No
|
| Suitability
for children : |
Very
good |
| Things
to see & do : |
Lots
of acivities, eg walks, cycling, canoeing, swimming. Many
places of interest, including local medieval towns. Also a
very gastronomique part of France, known for high quality
local beef, pates & vegetables. Bordeaux vineyards are
just a short drove away; the coast is an easy day-trip, approx.
1.5 hours by car. |
| Pets
allowed : |
No |
| Long
winter lets : |
Please
enquire |
| Short
breaks : |
Yes |
|
Location
: Map
Ref C4
Villas Ecolos are set in a small woodland hamlet of five lodges
all built from local landais pine. The peaceful setting is ideal
for exploring the woods and rediscovering the simple pleasures
of nature, especially with children. The villa is also within
the Parc Naturel Régional des Landes de Gascogne, France's
largest national park and loved by walkers, cyclists, canoeists:
a wonderful escape for city- and suburb-dwellers. To the north
lie the vineyards and medieval architectural gems of the Entre-deux-Mers
region of the Gironde.
It is a little over an hour's drive from Mérignac airport.
The TGV serves the Gare St Jean in Bordeaux, also about an hour
away by car. St Malo is 6.5 - 7 hours drive away on a reasonable
run; the port of Santander is about 2.5 hours drive in the other
direction.
|
Accommodation
:
The approach track ends at a central car parking area, a short
walk from the lodges, and not a drop of concrete in sight. Each
lodge has its own small clearing in the woods, creating an attractive
- and pine-fragrant - individual setting. For town and city-dwellers
this is a world away.
Each lodge is entered via a covered terrace with a built-in pine
table, bench-style seats and a barbecue. In summer, most of the
eating, drinking and conversation takes place out here! Inside,
either through a glazed door to the kitchen area, or through folding
back windows that open up a whole side of the villa onto the terrace,
is the main living area
There is a open-plan lounge area with fold-back glazed walls on
two sides; the one on the side opening onto the terrace, and another
letting in the sounds and scents of the forest at the front. There
is a television, double sofa and chairs, table, bookcase, plus
a great feature, a cast-iron wood-burning stove. The warmth of
the finished pine and the terra-cotta tiled floor give this space
a surprising cosiness.
One corner of the living area is taken up with a kitchen/dining
area, with pine table and seating for 4-6 people. The kitchen
itself is modern and well-equipped, including dishwasher, washing
machine, microwave, oven/hob and fridge.
Two bedrooms are accessed directly from the living area - one
double and one twin. A contemporary-styled, well-equipped washroom
(with a fully-tiled shower cubicle) is situated off a short corridor
that runs to the rear of the living room. The third bedroom in
larger lodges is also located here. All the bedrooms are simple
& uncluttered, with comfortable, modern-tyle beds, bed-side
tables and storage space for clothes.
The immediate surroundings, with no cars to worry about, are safe
for children to explore independently whilst remaining in sight
of their parents. Views on three sides, including from the terrace,
are out into the woods - most calming!
Overall, these are original, thoughtfully designed holiday homes,
especially suitable for nature- and outdoor-loving families or
groups of friends to enjoy the variety of the mid-Aquitaine countryside. |
How
To Book :
STEP 1.
Check
availability. NB Website availability is refreshed daily but not
"live" so please contact us to confirm availability. Call
+44 (0)870 609 2845 or email us
Once we have confirmed availability we can normally hold a property
for up to 48 hours if you need to confer with friends or family).
STEP 2.
Call or email us
if you want to go ahead and make a provisional booking.
STEP 3.
To confirm a provisional booking we need, within 5 working days,
your completed Booking Form and your deposit payment of 35%.
|
Local
Guide :
The forests, and characteristic mixture of stone and half-timbered
archirecture of this part of France give it a timeless quality
that make the surroundings very relaxing.
Captieux itself is a sleepy village, with typically imposing
church, local bar and restaurant and a few shops. The lodges
are located next to a Landes conservation farm and restaurant,
which raises threatened local animal breeds, and offers an appealing
menu of locally-sourced produce.
Two walking trails start at Captieux, the nearest
town a kilometre away; several cycle routes pass
this way too. The Mairie next to the dramatic church in the
centre of Captieux has more information.
A nearby must-visit is Bazas, 18 km north of
Villa Ecolo: an arcaded main square, dominated by the giant
facade of its cathedral (a world heritage site),
atmospheric streets with boutiques and restaurants, all combine
to make it very memorable. The traditional market,
held in Place de la Cathédrale since 1491, takes place
on Saturday mornings; don't leave without buying some boeuf
de Bazas! Another 18 km trip east takes you over into
the departement of Lot-et-Garonne and to Casteljaloux,
with some wonderful 15th century streets.
To the south is the Parc Naturel Régional des
Landes de Gascogne, a vast area of natural landscape
extending over 300 sq km. It contains numerous lakes perfect
for sailing, boating, swimming,
picnic-ing or just observing the wildlife,
there are innumerable places for horse-riding,
cycling (trails away from the road criss-cross
the entire park) and rambling along marked
routes.
To learn more about the history of the Landes there is the popular
Ecomusée des Grandes Landes, where a traditional
'airial' of 19th landais farm-buildings have been sympathetically
reconstructed and brought to life by demonstrations of rural
life back then. It is reached by a 6 minute train ride from
Sabres (60 km south west) and is worth making
a day for, especially for those with children. Guests at Villa
Ecolo receive a 'carte d'hotes' entitling them
to a discount on the entry price.
Canoe and kayak trips on the river Leyre (known
as 'la petite Amazone') are a unique attraction of this part
of France and is suitable for all ages - Belin-Beliet
just over half-an-hour's drive west is a good place to start
an organised trip.
And being inland doesn't rule out swimming! On the way to Casteljaloux
is the Lac de Clarens, a 45 acre lake set in
750 acres of forest; there is sandy beach and, between June
and September, bathing there is supervised. About a half-hour
drive in the other direction is the Domaine de Loisirs
de Hostens, another lovely woodland park with cycling
and wildlife trails set around a beautiful lake that has beaches
and is suitable for swimming (bathing is supervised in summer).
It's very popular day-out for families - take a picnic!
A few kilometres north brings you into Entre-Deux-Mers
countryside, one of the loveliest parts of the Gironde - soft,
undulating hills, ancient villages (St Macaire,
Sauve-Majeure and Cadillac should
be high on anyone's list for a visit), baroque châteaux
and some excellent white wines. Château de la
Brede (about 30km north west of Uzeste), is a particular
highlight, once home to the 18th century philospoher Montesquieu
(a major influence on the US Constitution) and still wine-producing
today.
Alternatively, Château de Malle (near
Langon, 30 km to the south east) organises recommended tours
and tastings in its exceptional surrondings. The Sauternes,
Graves and Pomerol & St Emilion
appelations are not much further.
Further afield, many of the highlights of Aquitaine are within
an hour's drive, easily day-trippable. There's the endless expanses
of golden sand and rolling waves characteristic of the Atlantic
coast's beaches at Mimizan-Plage; for gentler
ripples, try Arcachon (where the beaches are
less exposed to the Atlantic by the natural bay of the bassin
d'Arcachon), or for a change from the ocean beach, Biscarrosse
lake - with shade from the forest and no currents to
worry about families with young children often prefer it here.
If you are out this way, don't miss the Dune de Pyla,
Europe's highest sand dune standing 117 metres high - the top
is like standing on top of another world and has stunning views
all around.
For more information feel free to consult the following links.
Please note that Alternative Aquitaine is not responsible for
the content of external web-sites.
Tourist
information - Entre-deux-Mers
St
Emilion visitors' guide
Tourism
in and around Arcachon and Cap Ferret
Gironde
Tourist Information
Hostens
Lac guide
Landes
National Park - information |
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