Château Marcoux
47470 Beauville, Lot-et-Garonne
Sleeps 12
In the background are the Main House and the Pigeonnier
The Location
"Château Marcoux" stands in 8 hectares (20 acres) on a hill-top whose name it bears. It enjoys panoramic views over some of the most ravishing countryside in south western France. This is the land of orchards (particularly plums), foie gras, "pigeonniers" (dovecotes), medieval country churches, and romantic, mainly 13th century, fortified hill-top villages called "bastides".
"Château Marcoux" lies on the borders of the Lot-et-Garonne and the Tarn-et-Garonne, a region known as the 'Quercy' which in turn derives its name from the local oak forests. ('Quercus' = 'oak tree' in Latin). It is 2 kms north east of the attractive 'bastide' village of Beauville which has reasonable shopping facilities, and a small hotel/restaurant serving excellent local food.
It is 27 kms north east of Agen, and 35 kms south east of Villeneuve-sur-Lot, both towns of some importance with comprehensive shopping. Exit 7 on the A62 autoroute lies just south of Agen; this, the 'Autoroute des Deux Mers', runs south east to Toulouse and north west to Bordeaux, their international airports (called Blagnac and Mérignac respectively) being 1½ and 2 hours' drive from "Château Marcoux" respectively. There are also international flights to and from Bergerac airport (called Roumanière, and 1½ hours' away). The super-fast train, the TGV, stops at Agen, whilst you can put your car on a train from Calais to Toulouse or Brive-la-Gaillard (or back!), travelling with it overnight.
The Setting
For several hundred of its 800 year existence "Château Marcoux" was a 'château-fort' (a smallish fortress), and was of strategic significance in the wars which then raged through south western France. Symbolic of its military past are the spy-holes and arrow slits in the metre-thick, creamy stone walls, their very thickness helping to keep the house cool in summer and warm in winter. 200 metres from the house, and sharing the hill-top, is a fine, though very seldom used, 12th century church.
"Château Marcoux" was enlarged in 1654 and is a listed building. Owned by an English family for the past 30 years, it has been sympathetically restored, modernised and redecorated, and has an air of relaxed comfort and tranquillity. Partially shaded terraces surround the house, and provide marvellous settings for outdoor eating. Largely for safety's sake, the swimming pool and the majority of the terraces are walled or fenced.
The Main House
The Accommodation
"Château Marcoux" consists of 3 buildings - the MAIN HOUSE, the ANNEXE, and the PIGEONNIER.
The accommodation comprises:-
The Main House
Ground Floor
- Stone-floored Entrance Hall
- Spacious, fully equipped kitchen/dining room. With an open, wood-burning fireplace, a 4-ring electric hob, an oven, a microwave, a dishwasher, a fridge/freezer, a toaster etc. The dining table seats 12.
- French windows open onto a south-facing terrace which is shaded by a mulberry tree. It is furnished with a table and chairs and a large sun umbrella, is ideal for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and can be subtly lit in the evening. There is a built-in barbecue on one side of this terrace.
The Kitchen/Dining Room
- Large Sitting Room with an open, wood-burning fireplace. Furnished with comfortable sofas and armchairs. French windows give access to the south-facing terrace (below).
- Adjoining Study with ADSL (Broadband) e-mail/internet access and colour printer, and stereo CD / tape system. The satellite television (which receives only French-language channels and which also has a video player) is so arranged that it can be watched either in the Study or in the Sitting Room.
There are telephones throughout the Main House as well as in the Annexe and the Pigeonnier. - Cloakroom with a walk-in shower, a washbasin and a WC.
- Second Utility/Boiler Room containing a second clothes dryer, a second fridge/freezer and the electricity control system. (The principal utility room is off the 'Cave Voutée' - see below).
- A west-facing terrace provides marvellous views of the setting sun, and is reached via the south-facing terrace. It is equipped with tables and chairs.
The Sitting Room
First Floor
- Bedroom 1. With a king-size bed (see photograph), and magnificent views over and down the valley. En suite bathroom with a bath, a separate shower, a washbasin and a WC.
Bedroom 1
- Bedroom 2. Also large, with a king-size bed. En suite BATHROOM with a bath, a walk-in shower, a washbasin, and a separate WC.
- Bedroom 3. With twin beds, and a washbasin.
- Bedroom 4. With twin beds (which can be zipped together to make a double bed), and a washbasin.
- Separate WC with a washbasin
The Annexe
The Annexe is situated on the opposite side of the garden from the MAIN HOUSE. It was created from part of the old stables, and has stunning views over the valley.
It comprises:-
- Bedroom 5. With a double bed.
- Concealed shower and washbasin.
- Separate WC.
The Pigeonnier
Situated near the swimming pool, and comprising:
The Pigeonnier
'Cave Voutée' (Vaulted Cellar)
- This large (11.6 x 5 metres) room opens onto the swimming pool area and serves mainly as a games room for the younger generation. It is equipped with a ping pong table, a television receiving only French language programmes, a DVD player, and a hi-fi CD/tape system.
- Adjoining this games room is the principal Utility/Boiler Room with 2 clothes washing machines, a dryer and ironing facilities. The boiler provides copious quantities of hot water.
First Floor
- Small Sitting Room. French windows open onto a partly covered terrace equipped with tables, chairs and sun umbrellas.
- Bathroom with a bath, a separate shower and a WC.
Bedroom 6
Second Floor
- Bedroom 6. With a double bed, windows on all 4 sides, and wonderful views.
The Grounds
A stone-walled herb and flower garden (which can be floodlit) lies between the Main House and the Annexe.
The ground falls away steeply on the other 3 sides of the Main House, its slopes covered by an oak wood. There are 2 (presently unoccupied!) hermits' grottoes cut into the rock below the house. For safety's sake, virtually all the cliff edges have been walled or fenced.
In the garden is the large (12 x 5 x 1.6 metres in depth) heated, fenced, floodlit swimming pool. It has shallow steps running across its entire width at one end so as to provide easy access for small children. Surrounding the pool is a combination of red-cedar decking (which smells wonderful when wet!) and local limestone flags. There is an excellent range of pool furniture including sun-beds, deck chairs and sun umbrellas, as well as a nearby outside shower.
Two sets of "boules" are kept in the Entrance Hall of the main house. The gravel area at one side of the house provides a very adequate "court".
The pool has an electrically-operated cover which, for safety's sake and in order to retain the water temperature, should be closed at night. The owners request that an adult is delegated to perform this task, and to hold the key.
The view from a terrace
Other Facilities And Information
- Unless otherwise agreed, there should not be more than 12 people including children and babies staying at "Château Marcoux" at any one time.
- Bed linen, bath and pool towels are provided free of charge, and will be changed on a weekly basis.
- Patricia Villeneuve, the housekeeper and cleaner, is employed by the owners for 3 hours per day on 3 days per week. She should be paid direct by tenants at 12 Euros per hour for any agreed additional hours of work
- As long as sufficient notice is given, a baby-sitter, a part-time cook and/or a driver can probably also be provided. His/her/their wage will be the tenants' responsibility, and will be ascertained prior to the commencement of the tenancy.
- Maintenance of the garden and the pool are the owners' responsibility.
- There is ample parking space.
A view from the swimming pool
- There is an automatic garden watering system.
- All the rooms are centrally heated.
- There are two baby's cots (both with bedding) and a high chair.
- Tenants should advise Anglo French Properties Ltd at the end of each rental of any losses, breakages or damages. This is in lieu of an inventory.
- The owners' insurance policy requires that all windows and shutters (other than those over the French windows) are closed, and that all outside doors are locked whenever tenants are away from the property.
- In the sitting-room are board games and packs of playing cards.
- Along with several strategically placed "House Operating Manuals", there is a list of doctors, dentists, plumbers, electricians etc.
- There are plenty of maps, guides and brochures re: the many excellent local restaurants, shops, markets, picnic spots, antique/bric-a-brac emporia, fairs/festivals, museums, medieval castles, ecclesiastical buildings of all kinds, and other cultural activities, as well as the marvellous walks in the vicinity. A large-scale wall map covering an area within 30 to 40 minutes’ drive of "Château Marcoux" pinpoints many of these features. Tenants are invited to add extra pins, and to leave notes/brochures etc. concerning the attractions pinpointed by them.
- The nearest supermarkets are in and on the outskirts of Agen and Moissac.
- Patricia Villeneuve is prepared to collect pre-ordered cold or ready-to-heat meals from the Hotel du Midi in nearby Beauville, or a tart (or whatever) from the 'patisserie' or the 'épicerie' (grocer) in this small town, and to have them ready for tenants on the evening of their arrival, together with whatever is requested for breakfast next morning.
The south-facing terrace
- There are a number of 9 and 18-hole golf courses within 30 minutes/an hour's drive. These include ones near Casteljaloux, Marmande (only 10 holes), Agen, Valence d' Agen, and the very pretty 9-hole course at Sauveterre (east of Lauzerte and called Golf des Roucous). There is also a challenging 18-hole course near Villeneuve-sur-Lot.
- There are both an indoor and an outdoor tennis court in Beauville, as well as outdoor courts at Dondas. There are canoeing and cruising on the local canal and/or on the Lot and the Garonne rivers, nearby riding stables, bicycles for hire in Montaigu de Quercy and, in winter, ski-ing in the Pyrénées (3 hours' drive from "Château Marcoux").
- There is an excellent local car hire firm.
- Nearby is a foie gras museum and farm (with a shop and a restaurant).
- The ancient city (and wine-making centre) of Cahors is within an hour's drive - its 14th century fortified bridge is particularly noteworthy.
- Children may like to visit the splendid animal farm near Montaigu de Quercy.
A corner of the Garden
The Rents per week in 2008
| Month | Price |
|---|---|
| 5th January to 15th March | £1,120 per week |
| Easter Week | negotiable |
| 29th March to 31st May | £1,600 per week |
| 31st May to 28th June | £2,370 per week |
| 28th June to 30th August | £3,630 per week |
| 30th August to 4th October | £2,370 per week |
| 4th October to 20th December | £1,340 per week |
| Weeks beginning 20th & 27th December
(i.e. Christmas 2008 and New Year 2008/2009) |
£1,870 per week |
N.B. All the above dates are a Saturday.
Except by prior arrangement, all tenancies will be for a minimum of 1 week, and will begin and end on a Saturday. However, between 5th January and 15th March, bookings may also be accepted for long weekends (Thursday to Tuesday), and will be priced pro rata.
A 15% discount will apply on tenancies of 2 weeks or more between 5th January and 15th March.
All one week rentals between 15th March and 4th October will carry a supplement of £140.
Tenants should arrive as soon as possible after 4 pm on the commencement day, and must leave before 10 am on the agreed day of departure. They will be met on arrival at "Château Marcoux".
The Deposit
A deposit of 25% of the rent will be payable to Anglo French Properties Ltd on signing the Rental Agreement, with the balance to be paid 6 weeks prior to the commencement of the tenancy.
The Booking And Security Deposit
A Booking and Security Deposit of £500 will also be payable to Anglo French Properties Ltd on signing a Rental Agreement. This will secure the booking, and will cover the cost of telephone, fax and internet usage, a central heating surcharge (if used) of £55 per week during the months of October to April inclusive, as well as the cost of replacing/making good any losses, breakages and/or damages which occurred during the rental, and any exceptional cleaning work that may be required at its conclusion. This Booking and Security Deposit will be refunded (less any deductions as outlined above) within 8 weeks of the conclusion of the tenancy.
"Château Marcoux" is to be seen on the summit of the hill in the distance
