SURROUNDINGS
The Château is conveniently situated near shopping outlets for food and groceries, as well as all kinds of sports and leisure activities, historic sites and restaurants. The beautiful city of Toulouse is 45 minutes drive away by car.
Local Shopping
The nearest village is five minutes drive from the Château and has an excellent small supermarket and very good butcher. The village also has a baker, patisserie, petrol station, pizzeria and a restaurant.
The nearest market town is just over 15 minutes drive away which has a hypermarket and a further two large supermarkets as well as many other shops, and a Saturday market where local farmers sell their produce.
There are local markets every day of the week in the surrounding villages and towns, except Sunday.
Toulouse is approximately 45 minutes drive away and is well known for its excellent shops.
Sports
The Château boasts a lap length (20m) pool and also offers table tennis, badminton and petanque.
The breathtaking countryside surrounding the Château is ideal for walking and cycling. Not far from the Château, you can find facilities for water skiing, sailing, windsurfing and canoeing. A number of riding establishments are also close by. There are newly refurbished tennis courts at Le Fousseret, only 5 kms away.
There is an 18 hole, par 72 Golf Course in Buzet sur Tarn, and another in Lombez (30 minutes), and Lannemezan (45 minutes).
Winter skiing is possible within an hour’s drive from the Château. A popular resort is Viella on the Spanish side of the border, 75 minutes drive away.
The Surrounding Area
The Château is set in the rolling hills that stretch from the department of the Gers to the foothills of the Pyrenees. In the summer, driving to the Château feels like sailing through a sea of sunflowers. Wherever you drive, in a 360 degree radius from the Château, the countryside is enchanting and varied, dotted with historic villages, towns, churches and chateaux, dominated by the massive Pyrenees to the south.
Countless sites can be visited within 1-2 hours' drive from the Château: the medieval town of Mirepoix, the holy city of Lourdes, the city of Pau, the Cathar castle at Puillaurens and other Cathar ruins, the castle in Foix. The tiny city of St Bertrand de Comminges, the smallest in France, with its stunning fortified cathedral is forty minutes away. This world heritage site also hosts extensive Roman ruins and is reputedly the resting place of Salome.
The vineyards of Bordeaux and the Mediterranean are around 2 hours drive away. Carcassone with its enormous medieval chateau fortress is a popular day trip, as is Albi with its breathtaking cathedral.
The Pyrenees and the many wonderful natural walks that are available on both the French and Spanish sides are nearby, and the Spanish ski resort of Baqueira is an hour and a quarter's drive away, just beyond which are some of the most breathtaking nature reserves in Europe. Andorra is two hours away as is the beautiful Basque Atlantic coast also.
Toulouse, the fourth largest city in France, with its first class amenities in terms of shops and restaurants is 45 minutes drive from the Château. The city boasts magnificent renaissance architecture, and cultural attractions such as the opera house, three stunning cathedrals and many great museums and art galleries. A visit to the European Space Centre is ideal for children. Walks and boat journeys along the Garonne river are a popular activity. Bicycles can be rented almost anywhere in the city.
Restaurants
There are many excellent restaurants to choose from locally, and a list is available in the Château.