We wanted to change our lives and to restore a character estate by ourselves; one which was large enough to install our lighting and furniture workshop, but also guest rooms combining history, comfort and conviviality. We wanted somewhere located in the south-west of France, in the sun and the countryside, where life is gentle and the climate is mild, in a haven of greenery ideally featuring a park with hundred-year-old trees. Admittedly, this was ambitious. We nonetheless found this magical place in Gascony, in the south of Gers on Isle de Noé, in the heart of a hilly landscape with the Tuscan air and the panorama of the Pyrenees on the horizon. A ten hectare estate and an 18th century mansion to restore. It was surrounded by majestic trees, and located close to Auch with its old town and cathedral, and Marciac with its Jazz Festival. It was love at first sight! Seven years have passed since we changed our way of life and our new quotidian is exquisite! Every day, we fall a little more in love with the atmosphere of this authentic, well-preserved and welcoming region. Dotted with bastides and castelnaus, it is steeped in history but nonetheless part of today's reality connected with dynamism and naturalness.
The most unique feature of the estate's the architecture is undoubtedly the gnomonic meridian located on the south facade of the orangery. It is a rare form of solar clock, of which there are only two hundred in France. This instrument is designed to indicate the precise moment of solar noon throughout the twelve months of the year. The heyday of these "general public" instruments was between the 17th and 19th centuries, when the meridian allowed everyone to adjust their watches to the sun. It is something of a trip back in time to the moment our watches connected! The house also has a domestic oratory (a small private chapel) which was created in 1831.
The oldest part of the estate dates back to the 16th century: the north facade is half-buried and the original loopholes are still visible. The estate grew in the 18th century when a mansion known as a "gentilhommière" was built here. At the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century, an orangery for the breeding of silkworms was built as an extension of the house. The park was then planted with mulberry trees and the leaves were used to feed the silkworms. The private chapel was consecrated by the Archbishop of Auch in January 1873 in the presence of Monsieur de Laclaverie and his daughter, the Baroness de Giron, who were the owners at the time. Finally, in the 19th century, which was a prosperous period for Armagnac, a wine cellar, a press room and two bread ovens were built. These successive developments over the centuries are particularly remarkable as the ensemble still retained an incredible harmony, so much so that one could easily believe that the estate has always had this layout and balance! As such, we took great care in respecting our predecessors and their expertise during our restoration.
We have created a privileged, revitalising, comfortable and welcoming place while preserving the character and charm of the old. The quality of the noble and natural materials chosen for the restoration of the buildings will enchant travelers with a penchant for the Gascon heritage. The decor of the house is unique as most of the furniture and lighting was made in our "Gascony Design" workshop, located in the orangery of the estate. The park, a veritable haven of greenery surrounding the house, features a swimming pool which also provides for relaxing moments. The sweet and savoury breakfast is prepared with fresh, local products sourced almost exclusively from organic farming which is widely practiced in the region. It is served on the terrace in summer and in the dining room by the fireplace in colder months. On site, our guests have an à la carte selection of drinks and wines, and home-cooked products and dishes to enjoy as meals or gourmet snacks at any time. As the guest house occupies the entire west wing of the estate, travelers benefit from large independent spaces. The living room allows you to enjoy roaring fires outside of the high season; it is equipped with a television, a video library and a selection of fine books. As we live on the estate, we are always nearby to provide for our guests.
The historic centre of Auch is a must-see for its cathedral, the brand new Musée des Amériques (featuring the second collection of pre-Columbian art in France) the Memento contemporary art space, or for a stroll through the pedestrian streets in search of a beautiful terrace to have a drink or an excellent bookstore like "Les petits papiers" or "Le Migou". For fans of beautiful villages, Larressingle is the smallest fortified village in France or Bassoues wich features a spectacular 14th century keep and a beautiful 16th century hall. Fourcès is a round fortified town whose houses create a theatrical setting of half-timbering and archways. The tea room, Le Carroussel Gourmand, serves an artisanal ice cream with Sichuan pepper or prunes with Armagnac, both of which are delightful. The village of Lectoure, the Mecca of the Counts of Armagnac in the 14th century, is also worth a visit for its remarkable mansions, its permanent flea market and the Maison Baudequin, a tea room and chocolate maker which serves a delicious pistachio cake, the pavlova. Just a stone's throw from the house is the Abbey of Flaran. In addition to the historical monument itself, it houses the Simonow private collection composed of works from Monet, Cézanne, Rodin, Dali, Delacroix, Rubens and Toulouse-Lautrec. The tastings at the Saint-Arailles cheese market in mid June are fabulous and the atmosphere is very friendly. Many festivals bring the region to life in spring and summer: the famous Jazz in Marciac.
The west wing of the estate is entirely reserved for guests and this provides a great deal of independence. On the ground floor are the common areas: terrace and garden, kitchen, dining room and living room. Upstairs: the south-facing Cedar suite with a surface area of ??38m2 is fitted out as a double bedroom with a lounge area, bathroom and a separate toilet. The Zelkova suite (the family suite) consists of a large bedroom with a lounge area, a bathroom and separate toilet, as well as a second adjoining bedroom with two single beds and a living room. It is south-west facing with a surface area of 86m2 and a view of the estate's park and the surrounding countryside. The adjoining bedroom is entirely under the eaves and has a relatively low ceiling. The two bedrooms share a bathroom. This suite can be booked for two people (without access to the connecting room). Each room is equipped with hotel-quality bedding (the double beds are king size), Egyptian cotton and natural linen bedding, and organic bath products. In summer, the thickness of the old walls ensures the interiors stay cool. The swimming pool is in the heart of the park. A covered car park that can accommodate four vehicles - including a space dedicated to electric vehicles (with a green'up plug) - is shared with the owners.
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The gîte occupies the west wing of the estate and has an independent entrance on the garden side. The 100 m2 on the ground floor house an equipped kitchen, a dining room and the living room, which open directly onto the terrace, the barbecue area and the garden. Upstairs are the bedrooms. The first, with an area of ??38 m2, is a double bedroom with independent bathroom, separate toilets and lounge area. The second is an 86 m2 suite made up of two adjoining bedrooms, one with a double bed and the other with two single beds. Each one has a lounge area and they share a bathroom with separate toilets. The thickness of the old walls and the quality of the ecological insulation materials guarantee a pleasant temperature in summer, without the use of air conditioning. However, for the comfort of our visitors, a Dyson fan is available. The swimming pool is close to the gîte, in the heart of the park, bordered by hundred-year-old trees in generous shade. A covered car park, equipped with a charging station for electric vehicles, allows vehicles to be parked away from the sun. Breakfasts based on fresh, sweet and savory, local, organic and seasonal products can be prepared on request with a supplement.
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