Ariège-Pyrénées ... the other south of France
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L'ATELIER D'ARTISTE - A STUNNING HOLIDAY BARN FOR TWO IN THE FRENCH PYRENEES
L'Atelier d'Artiste is a huge (110m2), light and airy gîte for two, created from a former barn and surrounded by lush green gardens and woodland. Named for its previous incarnation as an art restoration studio and workshop, it majors in comfort and is full of slightly quirky charm and character. The barn and its gardens are very private: we live next door in the adjoining house, facing away from the barn, which means that you're not overlooked, and nor are we.
We've restored the barn using traditional methods and eco-friendly materials - hemp and lime render, lime wash, clay paint and tadelakt; upstairs all the new woodwork is from reclaimed chestnut that we 'liberated' from one of the barns when we first arrived here. It's the perfect base for your independent nature or walking holiday.
We've restored the barn using traditional methods and eco-friendly materials - hemp and lime render, lime wash, clay paint and tadelakt; upstairs all the new woodwork is from reclaimed chestnut that we 'liberated' from one of the barns when we first arrived here. It's the perfect base for your independent nature or walking holiday.
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IN A NUTSHELL
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OPEN PLAN LIVING
Double French doors from the terrace and garden lead you into a big (7m by 7m) space perfect for sociable cooking, living and eating. In one corner, a sitting area with a comfortably squashy sofa, two armchairs and colourful kelim rugs on the floor; in another, a modern oak kitchen: spacious, well equipped and designed so that you can cook pretty much anything you want to. Opposite is the dining area with an old farmhouse pine table, and an antique dresser. Metre thick stone walls keep you cool in the heat of the day; radiators and a cast iron flame effect stove warm you on the odd chilly evening. The walls are plastered and painted with natural clay paint - a lovely, soft and earthy finish.
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LIGHT, LIGHT AND YET MORE LIGHT ...
Climb the stairs and the first thing that hits you is the light. You're in a vast cathedral ceilinged space that has kept the original ferme (triangular wooden roof truss), but now has huge glass windows to three sides. They've been made to measure to fit the original barn openings, which not only maintains the original 'sense' of the building but gives great views over the surrounding hillsides and woodland - you're up with the birds at treetop height here - and allows a phenomenal amount of light into the space. When you slide them open it feels like being outside and a gentle breeze will keep the air cool.
This is where you'll sleep; you'll hear the dawn chorus and watch the sun come up from your bed. It's a great place to spend time, especially in spring when you can watch birds from your window - so there's a second sitting area here too, with sofa, TV and combined hi-fi/DVD player/iPod dock, and a table with a couple of chairs. The sleeping area has a king size (160cm wide by 200cm long) double bed, made up with soft cotton bedding, and the usual storage for clothes and incidentals.
This is where you'll sleep; you'll hear the dawn chorus and watch the sun come up from your bed. It's a great place to spend time, especially in spring when you can watch birds from your window - so there's a second sitting area here too, with sofa, TV and combined hi-fi/DVD player/iPod dock, and a table with a couple of chairs. The sleeping area has a king size (160cm wide by 200cm long) double bed, made up with soft cotton bedding, and the usual storage for clothes and incidentals.
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An original stone step leads up to the adjacent bathroom in the former grenier (grain store). There's a tile and stone 180cm x 120cm shower big enough for two, a glass bowl sink on an acacia slab, a discreet wall hung WC, and enough space to lounge around and relax. The room is finished in a mixture of hemp and lime render, plaster, tadelakt and reclaimed chestnut.
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OUTSIDE
You'll be surrounded by lovely natural gardens and woodland that we manage organically, which means they're a paradise for birds (Maison Grillou is a registered LPO bird refuge), butterflies, moths, insects and other wildlife. Immediately outside your door there's a gravelled terrace with small table and chairs; a larger, private dining terrace with table, four chairs and parasol is a few steps away, while the gravelled 'Zen' terrace is a few more steps away.
You'll have a large private garden with sun loungers and parasol, a welcome retreat with a glass of wine after a long day in the hills, plus a fairy-lit, covered dining space in another barn opposite your entrance door.
You'll have a large private garden with sun loungers and parasol, a welcome retreat with a glass of wine after a long day in the hills, plus a fairy-lit, covered dining space in another barn opposite your entrance door.
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WHAT'S INCLUDED?
Lots of space! A bit over 110 square metres altogether. To put that into perspective, most local 3 bedroomed gîtes are smaller... In the kitchen Crockery, cutlery, glasses for red/white wine/champagne/water/beer, wine cooler, saucepans, frying pans, steamer, cooking and kitchen utensils, Kitchen Aid food mixer, hand blender, scales, bowls, baking dishes, toaster, espresso machine, cafetière, Bialetti stovetop coffee maker, sharp Sabatier knives, knife sharpener, fridge-freezer, Siemens electric oven, stainless steel 4 ring gas hob, hob extractor, ventilation/air replacement system, wine rack, generous worktop and storage space, dishwasher, bread machine, cook books, washing machine. There's a store cupboard larder with some basics to get you going, plus a 'community larder' of basic foodstuffs available on a use-it-and-replace-it basis. Cleaning materials Washing up liquid and cloths, rubber gloves, dishwasher tablets and washing liquid, all purpose cleaner, hoover, dustpan and brush, floor cleaner, starter packs of kitchen roll and loo rolls. For playing Books, music, hifi, TV, DVD player, iPod docking station, Wifi internet access, walking maps and guides, binoculars, walking poles, astronomical telescope, Chromebook preloaded with links to local information, walks, restaurants and more. For sleeping and waking 100% cotton bedlinen and towels, outdoor towels, shampoo, shower gel, moisturiser, liquid soap, hairdryer, little box of 'emergency supplies'. Outside Large private garden, 3 private terraces, garden tables and chairs, sun loungers, parasols, BBQ and covered eating barn. |
STARRY STARRY NIGHTWith no light pollution, on a clear night the skies here in the Ariège are breathtaking and the view of the Milky Way is enough to send you into existential overload. We provide you with a simple astronomical telescope so that you can zoom in on the moon, Saturn, Jupiter and all the rest.
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HOW MUCH IS IT?
For 1 or 2 people in L'Atelier d'Artiste, in 2020:
635 euros for 7 nights, then pro-rata up to 14 nights; 14 night price is 1225 euros.
Simple. Same price all year: no high season hikes, no haggling, no discounts. Read more >>
635 euros for 7 nights, then pro-rata up to 14 nights; 14 night price is 1225 euros.
Simple. Same price all year: no high season hikes, no haggling, no discounts. Read more >>
MORE THAN 2 OF YOU? OR 2 FRIENDS WHO WANT A BEDROOM EACH?
If you'd like to holiday with friends, or there are two of you and you'd like a bedroom each, L'Atelier d'Artiste can be 'extended' to offer an extra double bedroom, shower room and sitting room, connected to the barn by a dividing door. One person or couples only (and no under 18s, sorry!), who must stay for at least 7 nights. Please click here for more details, photos and prices.