Monday 7 December 2009

La Cordonnerie, St. Antonin-Noble-Val, France


This property is being advertised for another year on the jmlvillas.com site.

Two restored 18C detached houses, linked by a charming terrace, offering flexible accomodation suitable for parties between 2 and 12 persons. Large sunny gardens feature a 6x12m floodlit pool with diving board. These facilities are not shared and have a tranquil atmosphere and superb country views. An hour’s drive from Toulouse Airport and 2 miles from the Gorges of the River Aveyron, the hamlet is close to Cordes and St Antonin-Noble-Val boasting elegant cuisine and notable vineyards nearby.






The farmhouse on its own - sleeps 8-9
1 double en-suite
1 twin (can be double)
1 triple
1 single + sofa bed
2 bathrooms
1 shower room

The annexe as an independent unit - sleeps 4
1 double en-suite
1 twin en-suite
a double sofa bed
1 shower room
1 bathroom

Both properties linked by the outdoor dining terrace - sleeps 12-14
4 double (of which 3 en-suite)
1 triple
1 single
2 sofa beds
3 bathrooms
2 shower rooms

Garden and Pool area:

Acacia, walnut and fruit trees border the tranquil, sunny garden overlooking the countryside and offering plenty of space for family games and a superior 6x12 metre swimming pool, 2.5m deep, with diving board, plenty of loungers, poolhouse and a childproof locked fence standard to French safety regulations.

Plenty of loungers, a table and chairs are supplied around the poolside. The pool is located in a very sunny open position, but remains private and shielded to outside viewers. On balmy summer evenings a swim in the flood lit pool is exciting and invigorating.

As the pool is not heated, the season for swimmers lasts from mid-May to early October.

The hamlet consists of 9-10 houses, most of which are permanently inhabited and is overlooked by the church of St Pantaléon. There are no shops or other amenities and only local traffic, guaranteeing tranquillity and a peaceful enjoyment of your holiday. Passing the hamlet is the GR 46, part of the great walking routes in France. The area is attractive to lovers of nature and birdsong and in spring becomes a haven of wildflowers and orchids.

The hamlet is generally very quiet, but comes to life in summer during the feast of St Pantaléon on the last Sunday of July, with a grand fête inclusive of a meal, dancing and Musette. Everyone can join in and for €13, take part of a 5 course meal à la champêtre, including plenty of wine! A very good humoured and enjoyable evening!

There are many churches of St Pantaléon in France, from northern Troyes to Provence in the south. Our St Pantaleon, physician to the Roman Emperor and martyred in 305 AD, patron of the suffering and of doctors, midwives and bachelors, is given sanctuary in an austere and decaying 17th C church, with dust on St Francis’ huge stone shoulders and birds nesting in the beams. This little church rarely opens for service, except on the Saints’ day 27th July. It attracts people from hills and valleys far around, just as rural churches would have done over the ages.

Our hamlet lies a km beyond and is reminded three times a day by its bells calling out its ancient song. Only the odd car reminds you that we are in the 21st C.

The roads are quiet, there are few traffic noises, the air is pure and birds, crickets, and the odd frog compete for an audience. Wildflowers thrive and the cows still get driven home every night for milking.


One of the many comments about this holiday home:

"I do feel compelled to write a few words on La Cordonnerie as I think it is the most magical place I've ever stayed in. The tranquillity was exquisite, the views straight from childhood images brought about by Enid Blyton's 'Secret Seven' and 'Famous Five' books.We absolutely adored St Antonin Noble Val, which looked especially gorgeous when the sun was out. We went nearly everyday to have coffee in the square imagining the film crew and actors from Charlotte Gray, milling about - it was lovely to re-watch it back at the gite also.

The swimming pool was in wonderful surroundings and so unusual to have flowers at the edge. I could sit in one of those loungers gazing at the hills beyond, through the many trees, whilst listening to the breeze in the bamboo and watching the insects on the flowers - awh, I'm back there!

You have thought of just about everything that a holiday-maker could require - absolutely brilliant!"

Want to find out more? Visit the property page at jmlvillas.com HERE

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