Property Overview
Sleeps: 12/14
Bedrooms: 4 doubles, 1 twin/double, 1 twin plus a further self contained double in a recently converted cottage called 'Le Petit Nid'
Bath/Shower rooms: 3 bathrooms (with showers), 2 shower rooms plus a further bath/shower room in 'Le Petit Nid'
Rent per week: €3,300 - €5,300 plus a supplement of €100/night for 'Le Petit Nid' if required/desired.
- Key features:
- Listed historic Chateau
Main House, Annexe and Pigeonnier - Newly converted annexe/cottage as an optional extra if required.
20 acres of grounds
12 x 5 metre heated swimming pool
Stunning panoramic views
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Château Marcoux
Château Marcoux has been transformed from a 12th century hill-top fortress into a stunning and luxurious holiday Manor House with panoramic views on all sides. The Main House provides spacious living areas and 4 bedrooms, and in addition there are two further double bedrooms in an adjacent Annexe and in a converted ‘Pigeonnier’. A more recent conversion of a further building, now known as 'Le Petit Nid' provides a charming additional self contained annexe with a doube bedroom, a shower room, studio and kitchenette.
'We recently returned from a week at Chateaux Marcoux with family and friends, and can highly recommend the property. It is perfectly situated on a remote hill in a beautiful rural area filled with fields of sunflowers. The house itself is full of character, exceptionally tastefully furnished, well-equipped and very comfortable with plenty of seating areas inside and out. The separate buildings allow for privacy for different groups or families. We can also unreservedly recommend Anglo French Properties. Over the years we have now stayed at 4 separate houses in different parts of France booked through the agency, and every one has been a beautiful property maintained to a high standard, ensuring we had a great holiday. Unlike a lot of agencies, they are genuinely familiar with each property they rent, and provide the highest level of service throughout the rental process.'
James Rieger USA 2023
"Château Marcoux is an absolutely beautiful place and a wonderful treat - so very comfortable and thoughtfully detailed. Patricia Villeneuve (the cleaner/caretaker) was marvellous. We cannot adequately express how much we enjoyed 'Marcoux', and working with you. You are often mentioned when we're recounting our trip - there is no comparable service, and we hope to have the benefit of your counsel for many years."
Brad Davis and Kai Ichikawa, Monte Sereno, California, USA
"We have just rented Château Marcoux for the second half of September, this being our second visit. On the first occasion we were there for a whole month, celebrating our joint 60th birthdays. It was utterly wonderful - action-packed days of walking, cycling, swimming and nearby tennis or simply sitting by the pool, on the terraces or in the garden soaking up the atmosphere and the exquisite views, eating, drinking, reading or just chatting. The contrasts made for a wonderfully happy experience all round! This September we had rather less time, but after a ferociously busy summer, two weeks at Marcoux refreshed and reinvigorated us all. It is a special and magical place, and we can't wait to find another excuse to go back!"
Sally and Richard Lang, Hampshire, England.
Accommodation
For several hundred of its 800 year existence, Château Marcoux was a 'château-fort' - a smallish fortress of strategic significance in the medieval wars which raged through south western France. Reminders of its military past are spy-holes and arrow slits, whilst the metre-thick stone walls keep the House cool on the hottest summer days and warm in winter. Château Marcoux was enlarged in 1654 and is a listed building.
Owned by an English family for the past 35 years, the Château has been magnificently restored, modernised and furnished to provide every possible comfort, whilst maintaining wonderful original features which add to its authentic character.
Château Marcoux comprises 3 buildings - the 4-bedroom Main House, the 1-bedroom Annexe and the 1-bedroom ‘Pigeonnier’. In addition a recent conversion of a further building, 'Le Petit Nid' provides additional self contained accommodation for a couple taking the total potential accommodation to 14.
The Main House
Ground Floor:
- Entrance Hall with a stone floor.
- Kitchen/Dining Room – spacious, bright and well-equipped with a 4-ring electric hob, an oven, microwave, dishwasher, large fridge/freezer, toaster etc., and an open, wood-burning fireplace. A farmhouse dining table seats 12. French windows open onto a south-facing terrace, shaded by a mulberry tree, with a table and chairs, a large sun umbrella and a built-in barbecue.
- Sitting Room – very large and comfortable, with a high, raftered ceiling and creamy stone walls, a wood-burning fireplace, sofas and armchairs. French windows lead to the south-facing terrace.
- Study – adjoining the Sitting Room and equipped with Broadband/WiFi internet access, a colour printer and a stereo CD /tape system. The satellite TV, receiving both English and French-language channels, also has a DVD and a video player and can be watched either in the Study or the Sitting Room.
- Shower room 1 - with a walk-in shower, a washbasin and a W.C.
- Utility Room – with a fridge/freezer, clothes dryer and the electricity control system. (The main Utility Room is off the 'Cave Voutée' - see below).
First Floor:
- Bedroom 1 - the magnificent master bedroom with an exposed beamed ceiling, creamy stone walls, an imposing king-size bed and magnificent views over the valley. An en-suite (Bathroom 1) has a bath, a separate shower, a washbasin and a W.C.
- Bedroom 2 - also large, with a king-size bed, and an en-suite (Bathroom 2) with a bath, a walk-in shower, a washbasin and a W.C.
- 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
Situated on the opposite side of the garden from the Main House and created from part of the old stables, with stunning views over the valley:
- Bedroom 5 - with a double bed.
- Shower Room 2 – with a shower and a washbasin.
- Separate WC.
The Pigeonnier (situated near the Pool)
Ground Floor:
- Sitting Room – cosy and comfortable, with a sofa bed and French windows opening onto a partly covered terrace, equipped with tables, chairs and sun umbrellas.
- Bathroom 3 – with a bath, a separate shower and a W.C.
- First Floor:
- Bedroom 6 – with an exposed beamed ceiling, a double bed and windows on all 4 sides offering far-ranging views.
‘Cave Voutée’ ('Vaulted Cellar')
11.6 x 5 metres and opening onto the pool area. This mainly serves as a games room and has a hi-fi CD/tape system, and a table tennis table.
- Utility/Boiler Room - with 2 washing machines, a dryer and ironing facilities. The boiler provides copious quantities of hot water for Marcoux as a whole.
Le Petit Nid
Newly converted for 2023 this superbly situated former cottage in its own spectaular position comprises a studio with its own balcony to the views to the East, kitchenette and shower room and
Bedroom 7 - with double bed.
Garden & Grounds
Château Marcoux stands in 8 hectares (20 acres) of grounds comprising dining terraces, herb and flower gardens, lawns, woods, grottoes and a panoramic swimming pool.
Partially shaded terraces surround the Main House and provide marvellous settings for eating al fresco. Off the Sitting /Dining Room and Kitchen is a south-facing terrace with a barbecue, whilst a west-facing terrace provides marvellous views of the setting sun.
A stone-walled herb and flower garden, which can be floodlit, lies between the Main House and the Annexe. On the other 3 sides of the Main House the grounds fall away steeply into an oak wood with 2 hermits' grottoes cut into the rock below the House. All the cliff edges have been safely walled or fenced.
The heated swimming pool measures 12 metres x 5 metres x 1.6 metres in depth. It has shallow steps running across its entire width at one end 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 laid out with an excellent range of pool furniture including sun beds, deck chairs and sun umbrellas. There is an outside shower nearby. The pool can be floodlit, is fenced and has an electrically-operated cover which, for safety's sake and in order to retain the water temperature, should be closed at night.
The gravel area at one side of the Main House provides a pitch for ‘boules’, two sets of which are kept in the house.
Location
The Château shares its hill-top with a 12th century church and commands far-reaching views over some of the most glorious countryside in south western France. This is the land of fortified hill-top villages, called ‘bastides’, medieval churches, ancient ‘pigeonniers’, foie gras farms and woodlands of chestnut, plum, walnut and oak. Situated on the borders of the Lot-et-Garonne and the Tarn-et-Garonne, the Château is at the heart of the Quercy region which takes its name from ‘quercus’ meaning oak tree in Latin.
Château Marcoux lies 2 kms north east of the 'bastide' village of Beauville which has useful shops and a small hotel/restaurant serving excellent local food. There's a Tourist Office in the village which provides much useful information. The House Manual details a number or local restaurants in various price categories, shops, markets (and the day/s on which each takes place), 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 Marcoux pinpoints many of these, and tenants are invited to add extra pins and to leave notes/brochures about new discoveries.
The nearest large towns for shopping and supermarkets are Agen (27 kms), Moissac and Villeneuve-sur-Lot (35 kms). The closest access to the autoroute is just south of Agen at junction 7 on the A62. This is the 'Autoroute des Deux Mers', running south east to Toulouse and north west to Bordeaux, making the international airports (called Blagnac and Mérignac respectively), 1½ and 2 hours' drive from Marcoux. There are also international flights to and from Bergerac airport (called Roumanière), 1½ hours' away. The the TGV stops at Agen.
Additional Information
- A housekeeper and cleaner is employed by the owner for 3 hours per day on 3 days per week. She should be paid direct by tenants at Euros 12 per hour for any agreed additional hours of work.
- She is willing to collect pre-ordered cold or ready-to-heat meals from the Hotel du Midi in nearby Beauville, or items from its 'patisserie' or 'épicerie' (grocer), and to have them ready for tenants on the evening of their arrival, together with whatever is requested for breakfast next morning.
- 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 owner's responsibility. There is an automatic garden watering system.
- There's a table tennis table, with a net, bats and balls.
- There is ample parking space.
- Bed linen, bath and pool towels are provided free of charge and will be changed on a weekly basis.
- This is very much an all-year-round House with fans in all the Bedrooms and central heating throughout.
- Swimming pool heating is included within the rental price from June to end September. Ouside of these months a charge will be made for swimming pool heating and for house heating.
- There are telephones throughout the Main House as well as in the Annexe and the ‘Pigeonnier’.
- There are two baby's cots (both with bedding) and a high chair.
- In the Sitting Room are a selection of family board games and packs of playing cards.
- There are masses of English-Language books throught the House plus reference books and maps of the surrounding area.
- Along with several strategically placed House Manuals, there is a list of doctors, dentists, plumbers, electricians etc.
Things to See & Do near Château Marcoux
- 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. Details are in the House Manual.
- There is both an indoor and an outdoor tennis court in Beauville (2 kms). Tenants can also play at the Dondas Tennis Club (7 kms) where teaching/coaching is available. Details of both are in the House Manual.
- There are wonderful walks all over the area starting from Marcoux itself and a much larger choice locally - suggestions and details all to be found in the house book, guides and maps kept in the bookcase at Marcoux.
- There are canoeing and cruising on the local canal and/or on the Lot and the Garonne rivers. Details in the House Manual.
- There are bicycles for hire in Montaigu de Quercy (10 kms) and riding stables in nearby Lacour-de-Visa. Details in the House Manual.
- In winter, there is ski-ing in the Pyrénées, 3 hours' drive from Marcoux.
- Nearby is a foie gras farm and museum, 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.
- Moissac is a 30 minute drive. At its cente is one of the great Abbeys of France and the market here (on Sundays) combines well, as also to eat in one of the bar/retaurants around the Abbey.
- The town of Agen (25 minutes drive) is also a very popular destination. A charming town, classical buildings, small streets full of interesting shops, some fun clothes (Promode) and household (Maison du Monde) shops and an excellent covered market open every day.
- These towns (and the cities of Bordeaux and Touluse - easily within reach) are cultural treasure troves but the local bastides (fortified) villages scattered all around the area are an enduring source of pleasure and interest. Many are perched on hilltops with enormous views and often (as with Marcoux) occupied for long periods by the marauding English! Starting with the local Beauville they fan out - Puymirol, Montjoi, Frespech, Pujols, Roquecor, Lacour, Tornons d'Agenais, Lauzerte, Miramont de Quercy, Penne d'Agenais and Monflanquin are all good examples.
- A by product of these jewels is an appreciation of the wonderful pigeonniers scattered about - a lovely book on pigeonniers is in the house and of course the perfect little 12th and 13th century churches - the best often by themselves in the depths of the countryside sometimes almost hidden in the most surprising spots. The church of St Etienne beyond Lacour just one example next to a lovely picnic spot.
- There are number of vineyards in the area where tastings can be held and purchases made.
- Children might enjoy the animal farm at Le Jougla.
- Information on all of the above, and much more, is contained in Marcoux's outstanding House Manual which is a wonderful and detailed reference, developed over many years by the owners.
- A large map in the house references many of these local activities, interests and destinations, and is added to continually.
- It is a treasure trove - a week is more than easily filled many times over!
Rents & Terms
2024 RENTS and TERMS
Weekly rates as follows:
January - 6th April POA
6th April - 28th April €3,300
28th April - 25th May €3,600
25th May - 29th June €4,300
29th June - 31st August €5,300
31st August - 21st September €4,300
21st September - 28th September €3,600
28th September - 19th October €3,300
19th October - 21st December POA
Christmas & New Year 2024/25 21st December - 4th January €5,300
If tenants wish to book Le Petit Nid (taking the accommodation to 14 in 7 bedrooms) then a supplement of €100/night is charged.
Le Petit Nid is never let to a separate party at the same time as the main house so exclsuive occupation is always assured.
All tenancies from the beginning of June to end of September will be for a minimum of 1 week and will begin and end on a Saturday.
At other times of the year a variation on the start/completion days can be agreed.
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.
A deposit of 25% of the rent will be payable to Anglo French Properties Ltd on signing the Rental Agreement, with the 75% balance to be paid 8 weeks prior to the commencement of the tenancy.
A Booking and Security Deposit of €800 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 the house telephone, fax and internet usage, pool heating if required @ €200 per week, 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 4 weeks of the conclusion of the tenancy.
Unless otherwise agreed there should not be more than 12/14 people staying at Château Marcoux at any one time.
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 owner's insurance policy requires that all windows and shutters are closed, and that all outside doors are locked whenever tenants are away from the property.
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