MAISON GRILLOU, CHAMBRES D'HOTES AND HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION WITH A DIFFERENCE IN THE FRENCH PYRENEES

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listen to the sound of silence ... 

Grillou is a beautifully restored old stone farmhouse nestling in the woods on the slopes of the Pyrénées, in the department of Ariège (09) in south west France. Set in half a hectare of wooded grounds, almost at the end of a forest track with just one other (out of sight) house beyond, the silence here is broken only by birdsong and occasional cow bells in the valley below.

outside ...

there are various garden areas with tables, chairs and sun loungers. Our acre-and-a-half grounds are shared between ourselves, our guests and the large numbers of birds, mammals, lizards, bats, butterflies, and other insects that live here with us. 

There are barbecues, a fire pit for campfire evenings, a covered dining space in one of the barns and (new for 2013) a summer kitchen in another. Our land is hilly and unfenced and runs off into woodland all the way round; the whole environment is wild, natural and completely unspoiled. Don't come expecting manicured lawns and immaculate borders - we work organically and take much inspiration from permaculture, which means working with nature rather than trying to tame it. You'll find ancient oak and other trees, lots of fruit trees, natural paths and rockeries, and an organic potager where vegetables, flowers and beneficial insects happily cohabit.

There are no street lights anywhere near Grillou and the air is clear and unpolluted, so our night sky is breathtaking with the Milky Way clearly visible to the naked eye.

original features, modern comforts

We've lived here since 2007, during which time we've slowly restored the house in order to create just the kind of peaceful, laid back maison d'hôtes that we’d love to find ourselves staying at. That means space; stylish, flexible and eco-friendly accommodation; furniture with character; good showers and beds, and pure cotton bedding. There are books and music; TVs and DVD players and hifi systems with iPod dock and USB connections; WiFi is freely available throughout, and a tablet computer is available for guests. We've kept the spirit and atmosphere of the house along with all its original features, but have opened it up and added colour, joy, life and all the comfort you would wish for. Maison Grillou is completely non-smoking.

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l'atelier d'artiste, a gîte with a difference for couples, in a renovated barn  

L'Atelier d'Artiste is a huge (110m2), spacious and light space with cooks’ kitchen, sitting and dining areas on the ground floor, sleeping plus further sitting areas on the first floor, a bathroom with XXL shower in the old grenier, and two terraces and a private garden outside. Although L'Atelier is fully equipped for self-catering, we include breakfast so that you can start each day in relaxed fashion.
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la p'tite maison, chambre d'hôte for two in a spacious self-contained suite

Next door to L’Atelier and once a farm workers’ house, a separate chambre d’hôte suite (65 m2) on three levels with a large double bedroom, mezzanine chill out area and shower room upstairs, and its own sitting room downstairs. Breakfast is included.
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ariège-pyrénées: a stunning green oasis in the south of france

Grillou is in the region known as the Séronais, right in the middle of the Parc Régional Naturel des Pyrénées-Ariégeoises: 30 minutes from historic town of Foix, 15 minutes from St Girons, the capital of the Couserans.  Set at an altitude of 500 metres in a woodland clearing, with access via a kilometre of unpaved but perfectly driveable track, we’re just 3 kilometres from our nearest village, Rimont. In spite of its small population, Rimont has an boulangerie, an épicerie-bar, an artisanal distillery/bar which also stocks local produce, a post office and a small charcuterie. There's a twelfth century abbey, Combelongue, and the village is surrounded by beautiful scenery. Our central situation means that Grillou is a fantastic base for exploring the area: the high peaks of the Pyrénées are just half an hour away, the nearest prehistoric caves a 15 minute drive, while even the farthest flung bits of the department can be reached in little more than an hour.

The whole area is fantastic for walking, with endless well-marked paths for all levels, for birding, for photography and painting, or just for chilling with a picnic by a lake, a river or one of the mountain cols with fantastic views right into Spain and Andorra.
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"We have had the most wonderful time here ... Thank you for your wonderful hospitality, for all the interesting cakes and jams and breads at breakfast, for the delicious dinners and entertaining chats. We will definitely be back!"