004 - Chateau d'Arlens  Plaisance du Gers 6 km

In our opinion

Beautiful château spectacularly set in the middle of its picturesque country estate of 63 hectares, with dramatic views of the Pyrenees. The château dominates its land of pastures, woods and streams and welcomes private guests to enjoy themselves in these idyllic private surroundings. The emphasis is on an easy-going family atmosphere where guests are encouraged to relax, help themselves to drinks, treat the place as home and come and go as they please. There are no meals to make.

What makes Château d'Arlens a great holiday rental

Château Arlens is offered exlusively by Alternative Aquitaine to clients on a private hire basis. It's not a conventional 'holiday let' - far from it. In fact, it's not even a self-catering property. The type of holiday experience presented by Arlens is both unique and compelling. But because it is unconventional, it is important we describe here the Arlens concept....

• Private hire of the château (Arlens also invites B&B guests all year round but when the château is hired for rentals it is on an exclusive basis with no B&B guests permitted. For anyone wishing to stay on a B&B basis, let us know and we'll put you in touch with Sally, the owner).
• Arrival and departure any day of the week, including summer, subject to minimum 3 night stay. This is a rare feature in holiday rentals and makes short stay touring holidays and celebrations possible.
• Breakfast and all drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic, cold and hot) are included. Breakfast has no hour. Lunches and dinners are available but guests are under no obligation to book them before they have arrived. After breakfast, guests are asked whether they would like to be in for lunch and/or dinner that day. Lunch in the summer months tends to be salads, cold meats, fish, cheese. Dinner is 4 course. The meals are settled by the guest at the end of their stay.
• Château proprietor Sally Mayo is at the heart of it all. She lives here in the château all the year round and her presence as hostess is central to what Arlens offers; not just in the catering but in the happy and relaxed atmosphere that is created by her. Sally is an Aquitaine pioneer, passionate and knowledgeable about the region. She is supported by an excellent team and their combined role is to make guests' stay as relaxing and memorable as possible. 
• The château team have a network of talented people locally who can provide guests access to a wide variety of activities. Staff can help you plan your day out and make reservations for you. Possibilities include: painting courses, acting courses, dancing lessons, birdwatching, vineyard tours, restaurant reservations, cookery courses, guided skiing, horse-riding lessons, etc

Best for:
The Arlens concept works for discerning travellers who work hard and have busy lives, and whose precious holiday time is about relaxation and being looked after. Self-catering holidays are hard work, and Arlens takes the effort away; at Arlens you will have a holiday.

Both the region of Gascony and the property itself will have huge appeal for Francophiles.

Arlens is a magnificent venue for hosting celebrations/events with friends or family.  Since 2008, Sally has hosted 7 weddings, 2 New Year's Eve parties and countless dancing weekends, birthday parties and anniversaries. The 288m2 principal château barn was converted into a party venue and has a dedicated catering kitchen.

The château lends itself to corporate events, or as a venue to reward key staff. The accommodation is plentiful, meals can be provided, the barn can be used as a meeting venue, and team-building events can be organised. Additional accommodation can also be arranged locally if required.  

Links for further information & insight into:
weddings at Chateau d'Arlens in Gascony
special dancing weekends at Chateau d'Arlens in Gascony

Suitability for:

• Toddlers - excellent: safe grounds to play in, cots, high chairs & infant equipment available.
• Teenagers - swimming pool & tennis on-site plus plenty of energetic local activities
• Reduced mobility - much of the guest accommodation is on the 1st and 2nd floor floors but please let us know if you have any particular requirements as Sally and her team will be happy to find a solution (occasionally, for example, a ground floor bedroom can be made available).

Anything to watch out for?
As hopefully you will have gathered, Arlens is not a self-catering holiday property - that isn't the concept. It is of course possible to prepare snacks, light meals, kids meals, etc but a holiday at Arlens is one where you don't have to cook. Guests may want to go to the local market and buy lots of 'yummy' things and then have a picnic in the garden - this is not a problem. Breakfast is included and guests are encouraged to help themselves to drinks.

We want to highlight that Arlens is not a modern 5-star 'polished' establishment. It is very much for the 'non-glitzy' guest. But, it is an exceptional home furnished with beautiful antiques and paintings. There is a non-fussy quality and elegance, and an atmosphere and ambience that are distinctly laid-back, relaxing and informal - you realise this from the minute you walk in. Guests are not 'on edge' being here. You will go home rosy-cheeked and re-charged. And probably a few pounds heavier!

Some of the bedrooms & bathrooms are more simple than others and these are best used by kids. We make clear in the description which rooms these are. Similarly, the more basic ground floor/basement accommodation is not usually made available to guests except for 'over spill' children/teenagers in a group - and access to the snooker table!

The château obviously requires significant up-keep. Sally lives on the first floor of the château and there will be other staff present most days.

Arlens has two resident pets - Bertie the black lab and Minon the cat! Bertie is a big softy and Minon seems to just hang around in the shade...

Why Gascony?
Loved by the French and by francophiles, Gascony is known as "la France profonde" meaning it embues all that is revered about French life - the cuisine, the gentle hills and tranquility, the lack of large towns and motorways, the amazing natural light. And Château d'Arlens is in the very heart of it all.

Accommodation

Historic château and country estate providing elegant accommodation in a friendly and informal atmosphere

The château’s history can be dated back to 1666 but it is evident that there was a property here for centuries before. It was completely remodelled in 1850 and an extension added in the early 1900’s, date unknown. The owners bought the property in 1989 and have carried out various alterations and improvements. Owner and hostess Sally Mayo is very much at the heart of Château d'Arlens. She and her team run a successful private guest house business from the château and regularly host private functions such as weddings and other social events.

As you would expect, the interior is full of character features which add to the ambience of informal elegance.

The 10 bedrooms offer a variety of doubles and singles, and in special circumstances extra bedrooms can be made available on the ground floor (NB these rooms are more basic and more suitable for teenagers).

The accommodation is on 3 levels:

• The ground floor for the most part in not included in the rental. Accommodation includes laundry, boot room, billiard room, plus additional bedrooms which link to the first floor by a spiral staircase.
• The first floor is the main living area and reached by a double flanking 'perron’ (stone staircase) up to the main entrance hall. There are also paved steps up to the terrace outside the kitchen. At this level you will also find 2 en-suite bedrooms
• The top floor has 2 large landings, 8 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms and covered roof patio.

Please take a look at the floor plans for further guidance. A detailed description of the accommodation is also given below.
Ground floor > view layout (NB for the most part not accessed by guests)
First floor > view layout
Top floor > view layout
Barn > view layout

Ground Floor / Basement:
Most of the ground floor is used for staff, including the bedrooms, as shown on the floor plan.

The one room that certainly is used by guests is the billiard room with full-size snooker table - a very popular post-dinner retreat!

If you are downstairs you will certainly notice the quirky, graffiti-style decor! The artist who created this went on to become a star pupil at the Beaux Arts in Paris!

Stairs lead down from the kitchen hall to a hall off which are the laundry, shower room (used as the washing machine room), garden/boot room, ironing room with vinyl floor, WC, cellar. This area has a smooth concrete floor (à la 1920’s).

First floor:
Comprises the main living area for guests plus two en-suite bedrooms.

NB Bedroom 1 is Sally's room.

Bedroom 2 (c.25m2) – King size bed + antique French-style single bed. Fireplace, oak square floor panels, window. Basic en-suite shower room with pine flooring and panelling, shower, basin, bidet and W.C.

The 14m Hall has glazed double doors and marble mosaic floor. The hall, at the north end, includes the elegant Piano room with carpeted floor.

Additionally on the first floor you will find:

Drawing room (24m2 + 25m2) – oak herringbone parquet flooring, large carved stone fireplace, two double carved oak entrance doors and south-facing windows. Satellite TV in this room (and also in the kitchen).

Day room / kitchen (42m2) - this is the place where guests tend to gather. Direct access to the terrace, an imposing fireplace, and huge arched windows facing south. This is a really lovely room. There's also satellite TV available in this room.

Dining room (42m2) – oak flooring, dado panelling, 2 double carved doors. Adjacent Butler’s pantry.

Inner hall with stained pine floor, dado panelling and glazed double doors.

Library hall – glazed double doors, chestnut floor, oak staircase up to 2nd floor.

Cloakroom - handy independent W.C.

Main stairs - oak floor, leading to top level and featuring a colourful mural depicting local wildlife.

At the east-end of the first floor are the kitchen facilities for staff. This area includes a small kitchen for guests to prepare light meals, snacks & kids' meals if required.

Top floor:
A 17.5 m Landing is divided by glazed double doors beside the main stairs. This level is where the majority of guest bedrooms - 8 - are found. All rooms are very individual.

Bedroom 3 (c.24m2) – elegant and spacious featuring a king size bed that can be divided into singles. Wood floor, south-facing window with gorgeous views, and a north window too. Archway into dressing room. En-suite bathroom has bath with shower, basin, WC and bidet.

Bedroom 4 (c.24m2) – king size bed that can be divided into singles. Wood floor, big south window and a north window too. Private bathroom is just across the landing and includes bath with shower, basin, bidet and WC.

Bedroom 5 (c.30m2) – French antique double bed. Wood floor, 2 south dormer windows. Private bathroom across the landing with large (2m) old fashioned rounded bath, bidet, W.C. and basin.

Bedroom 6 (c.18m2) – 3x single beds, so ideal for kids. Fitted carpet, south dormer window. 

Bedroom 7 (c.18m2) – Twin beds. Fitted carpet, south dormer window. Simple accommodation so best for the kids.

NB Bedrooms 6 and 7 do not have a private bathroom. They tend to be used by kids who can share their parent's bathroom.

Bedroom 8 (c.20m2) – Double bed. Wood floor, west dormer and north dormer window. En-suite bathroom (#6 on the plan) realtively basic, with wood floor, small bath, large shower, basin and W.C.

Bedroom 9 (c.21m2) – Double bed + single bed. Wood floor, en-suite bathroom (#7 on plan) - bath, basin and bidet.

Bedroom 10 (c.17m2) – Double bed. Access via a (sheltered) flat roof, the bedroom has wood floor, and shower room as part of the room separated by a curtain, with shower, basin, and W.C. This room is one of the more basic but perfectly comfortable.

Barn:
Bedroom 15 (57m2) - King size double + single bed. A vast sitting room / bedroom adjacent to the party barn. The room has a basic en-suite bathroom with bath, shower & WC.

Outside:
The château ambience continues outside with its fabulous grounds to explore, pool and outbuildings that are ideal for parties and events. It's the package of château & grounds that makes Arlens feel like a country estate.

The grounds of 63 hectares include wooded areas and streams and offers lovely walks.

Most of the gardens are on the east side of the château. This area includes the pool, the tennis court, lawns, summer house, orchard. In front of the château is a lawn with old trees planted to complement the house and not to obscure the beautiful views, in particular a very old beautifully shaped oak tree and cedars.

The large terrace facing east and south is ideal for meals and can be covered by an awning which is electrically operated. 4 wide steps (4m) descend to a protected semi-enclosed paved area, on the south side of which is the 'summer dining room’. 

Swimming pool - 12m x 6m with a recess for the steps (3m x 1.5m) extending beyond the shallow end. The pool is protected by fence (within a hedge) and has Roman steps into the shallow end. The max depth is 2m50.

Tennis court - surfaced with artificial grass, measures 34m x 17m and is situated between the garden and the orchard. 

The many out-buildings include the 'party barn' where events and receptions are held. Very spacious at 280m2, the party barn has a highly polished cement floor which resembles polished slate, impressive old beams and pillars exposed to the roof and large sliding glazed doors opening west on to the courtyard. It's a perfect venue for celebrations and is often used for dancing weekends!

Prices & Availability

Location

GPS: (43.62344816539925, 0.09690284729003906)

We endeavour to be as accurate as possible using Google maps but some error is possible.

Things to Do & See

Nearby Activities
Water-skiing · Kayaking · Golf · Cycling · Horse-riding · Birdwatching · Fishing · Spa & thalassotherapy · Course Landaise · Wine-tasting · Hiking · Mountain biking · Mountain sports · Skiing & winter sports ·

Day-trip Ideas

Within 2-3 hrs by car you will find some excellent destinations including:

• Cordes/Ciel, a hill top medieval village
• Pujols, one of the 100 most beautiful villages in France, a must for a Sunday morning.
• Albi with its Toulouse-Lautrec museum and superb painted cathedral
• Auch for its famous cathedral
• The virtually unknown yet beautiful city of Pau
• Prehistoric caves: Pech Merle, Les Eyzies, Lascaux

Our Personal Highlights

Unwind to the pace of Gascony life...

• Cruising the local towns and villages on market day
• Visiting one of the many Armagnac producers - and tasting of course
• Finding a Gascon auberge and dine with the locals
• Visiting historic Gascon bastides - Barbotan, St Justin, Labastide
• Lazy day exploring the Adour villages: Aire, Grenade & St Sever
• Marciac jazz festival - the first of half of August

The Local Area: Plaisance du Gers 6 km

Plaisance
6kms away is the market town of Plaisance du Gers in the Arros valley. The town is well-served for the staples of French holiday life - boucherie, boulangerie, supermarche, weekly market.

Gascony
Sublime, hearty food and red wine, armagnac and rural tranquillity. It's little wonder that Gascons enjoy the highest life expectancy in all of France!

The land is gently undulating, punctuated by the occasional picturesque fortfiied villages, or bastides. It is barely changed from centuries ago. And the land is still relatively free of tourists too. This is what French refer to as "la France profonde" (deep, real France).

This is a place to escape today's fast times, and relax in a region of history, culture, great cuisine and tranquility.

Don't forget that Sally and her team can help you plan and book local excursions and activities, for example...

• Acting courses
• Painting courses
• Cooking courses
• Vineyard tours
• Water skiing tuition
• Birdwatching
• Guided skiing
• Dancing lessons
• Yoga & massage treatments
• Horse-riding lessons

Here's a few ideas of places to visit...

Eauze
A very pleasant market town which bursts into life every Thursday morning on market day. There's some nice examples of half-timbered architecture too plus a good choice of places to eat. Amenities include a cinema and supermarket plus an excellent antiques fair (normally in May).

Condom
Claims to be the 'capital' of the unofficial Armagnac region and is home to the Musée de l'Armagnac. Condom's market is a foodie's paradise but a duck's worst nightmare.

Marciac
If jazz is your thing, there is much to enjoy: for two weeks in August Marciac hosts an internationally-renown jazz festival; Vic Fezensac hosts a latino festival in the last week of July; Mirande holds a country festival in the second week of July.

Mont-de-Marsan
Has a summer party lasting two weeks at the end of June. This is a good time to watch corridas or sample the Gascon pastime, Courses Landaise ('bull jumping' - it's great fun to watch and family-friendly).

Pau
A much under-rated city with a fine history, superb views and excellent shops. At various times of the year, the city hosts car-racing festivals and major horse-riding and show-jumping events.

Food & Wine
Gacony is a gourmet's paradise and has long been a rich source of emerging culinary talent. The region is well-know for its foie gras, confits and magrets. Fresh produce, excellent wine and armagnac, and colourful local markets every day of the week - this is living alright! 

The auberge (Bar Restaurant du Centre) at Bassoues (15 mins' drive along the ridge) is particularly popular, fun and inexpensive.

Foodies will be spoiled for choice. Highly regarded local restaurants include Les Caprices d'Antan, Place de la Mairie, Lannepax: this restaurant was the winner of the The Guardian's Readers' Tips: France on the Cheap. Also, Michel Guerard at Eugenie-les-Bains (advance booking required).

This area is little known, outside of France, for its wine despite a number of highly rated labels including Tursan and Madiran appelations. You will find Plaimont in most UK supermarkets. Colombelle, Hauts de Bergelle and Maestria can all be purchased from the local wine co-op.

It is Armagnac that southern Gascony is famous for and there are plenty of places where you can taste a drop. Many Armagnac producers locally are open to the public or you can visit Ecomusee de l'Armagnac near Labastide d'Armagnac, another medieval bastide renowned for its exceptional arcaded square.

Fetes:
Festivals are a big part of rural life in France. Here are some of the better-known ones in this corner of Gascony:

• Marciac - jazz in early August
• Vic Fezensac - Latino Tiempo Festival at the end of July and a crazy festival at Pentecote.
• Mirande - country and western concerts in mid July

Local activities:
If you are feeling active (Why? You're in Gascony!), here are some ideas to try locally...

Historic car racing and modern car racing at Nogaro and Pau.

At the delightfully maintained village of Barbotan-les-Thermes, you can enjoy a day's pamering at the town's thermal spa station.

Why not enjoy the area by river and take a boat trip along Le Val de Baïse. Between Valence-sur-Baïse and Condom you will pass rolling countryside, castles and fortified villages.

Many kms of walking, biking and horse-riding trails and GRs. Bike hire is available in the village (Plaisance). On water, try water-skiing, canoeing and kayaking, on land quad-biking and adventure park.

There is an 18-hole golf course at Chateau Pallanne (between Marciac and Tillac) and another one at Eauze.

Ski-ing in the Pyrenees is feasible - allow 1.5 hours to reach la Mongie.

Something quirky
Somewhat bizarrely, the area around Labastide d'Armagnac does a nice line in sports-themed churches: Notre-dame-du-Rugby in Grenade-sur-l’Adour; Notre-dame-du-Courses-Landaises in Bascons and Notre-dame-des-Cyclistes in Lasbastide d'Armagnac!

Striking a similarly bizarre note is the delightful Gascon village of la Romieu (lying just east of Condom). Its peculiarity is that it boasts a colony of stone cats! It's all to do with an old legend that saw the number of cats in the town reduced to two. See if you can hunt down all 15 stone cats that now reside in the village! True or not, the village is worth a visit - the 14th century collegiate chapel is quite a sight - and the Armagnac pruneaux ice cream delicious! The town also has a lovely arboretum.

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