Rustic Luxury in the heart of South West France
For a special gathering, it is the ultimate rambling French farmhouse. The house has been lovingly renovated to the height of rustic luxury and packed with high spec finishing touches. Besides the 16th century farmhouse, they converted the traditional Pigeonniere, Grain Store and even the original Bread Oven building, so groups of up to 16+, from toddlers to grandparents, will never be under each other's feet.
Given its age, Claux de Bouscou has all the character of original gnarly beams, honey-coloured stone walls and even a timber Minstrels gallery, but they have also incorporated their own hand-crafted additions. These include an Elm window seat in the kitchen and sliding doors in the Master bedroom made from huge slices of Walnut.
It is surrounded by a large grassy garden which has a lovely 14m x 5m heated swimming pool with a 5m x 3m paddling area that's perfect for babies and toddlers, being just 30cms deep. There's table tennis by the pool and plenty of space to play football, badminton and boules, or spread out a picnic in the orchard, find a quiet corner in the walled gardens of the Grain Store and Bread Oven, or sneak a snooze in the hammock, slung between chestnut trees or in the Apple day bed that rotates to chase or avoid the sun. From the pool and the outdoor terraces, there are scenic views over the surrounding fields towards the foothills of the Pyrenees and as evening falls, children will be pestering to toast marshmallows around the fire pit, sizzle Toulouse sausages and watch for shooting stars snuggled in a blanket.
The big, high ceiling living room is a comfy place to come together, with its Loaf soft furnishings, Invicta wood burning stove, underfloor reversible heating/cooling and 60-inch wide screen TV with UK Satellite channels and surround sound, plus there's a 4m long dining table for family feasting. Leading off the Sitting Room is a children's playroom, full of toys, games, books, dress-up costumes and soft toys, plus a second TV with separate access to the satellite channels, another DVD player and a huge range of DVDs. The farmhouse kitchen has been given a brand new, designer makeover, featuring a Smeg induction hob and oven, a double Smeg American-style fridge with an ice machine, Bosch integrated dishwasher and a Nespresso machine, plus there's a second fridge, second dishwasher, washing machine and dryer in a separate utility room. Each bedroom has been designed to feel like a boutique hotel room, including Loaf Super-king beds with the finest John Lewis mattresses and bed linen, plus there is are decadent roll top baths in the master bedroom, Pigeonierre and Grain Store ensuites along with luxury walk-in rain showers. In the children's room, bespoke, built-in bunk beds double as a play den, with a porthole under the steps for secret midnight feasts and a smooth wood slide to slither out of bed.
Main House
First Floor Master Bedroom
The air-conditioned master bedroom in the main house has a Super-king size bed and a luxury ensuite with a huge freestanding bath, a walk in rain shower, his 'n' hers washbasins and a WC. There is also a Loaf chaise longue and footstool for some quiet time.
First Floor Kids Bunk Room
At the other end of the minstrel's gallery is the fab children's bedroom, also air-conditioned, with four, bespoke built-in bunk beds each with their own reading light that have a porthole den beneath the steps and a wooden slide to slip down onto a cushion. With a curved hobbit hole style WC with basin.
Ground Floor bedroom 1
In another wing of the farmhouse, there is a second bedroom with a super-king size bed, French doors out to the courtyard and a window overlooking the West facing terrasse. A shower room with double Belfast basin and walk in rain shower with a separate WC, shared with the bedroom 2 are just along the corridor.
Ground Floor bedroom 2
In the same wing is a twin bedded room, with a window looking out over the West facing terrasse.
Pigeonierre
The Pigeonniere has a super king size bed on the mezzanine floor and ensuite with a slipper bath, walk-in rain shower and separate WC. An Invicta log burner and Loaf sofa for snuggly winter evenings nestled under the amazing exposed roof timbers and mezzanine.
Bread Oven
The Bread Oven has a super-king size bed and ensuite walk-in rain shower/WC. With high ceiling and original features, the Bread Oven is a unique and beautiful room. A pretty round window, high in the gables, casts a beautiful red light into the room at sunset.
Grain Store
Grain Store has a super-king size bed, a children's bunk room and a family bathroom with a roll top bath, walk-in rain shower, his 'n' hers washbasins and WC. Underfloor heating/cooling and a Loaf sofa complete this little hidden home.
Way down in the South West of France, in the Tarn-et-Garonne, Bouscou is surrounded by peaceful, unspoilt countryside, with the foothills of the mighty Pyrenees in the distance. There are lots of medieval towns to explore within a short drive or families can pack a picnic to follow the many footpaths which criss-cross the countryside, or simply to spend the day on lake and river beaches.
The nearest amenities are in the medieval village of Parisot, just 3 minutes' drive and other attractive towns and villages nearby include Caylus and Najac – listed as 'one of the most beautiful villages in France. Both are a pleasure to stroll around narrow winding streets, browse the shops in ancient arcaded squares and stop for lunch in pavement cafes. The historic 'bastide' town of Montauban (25 minutes) has a lively shopping area and is definitely not to be missed, with its distinctive pink buildings and arcades on all four sides of the Place Nationale. The town shares its pink buildings with its bigger sister, Toulouse, 50 kms to the south, which is also known as La Ville Rose.
The hilltop 'perched village' of Cordes Sur Ciel is a 45-minute drive, with a maze of medieval cobbled streets to explore and panoramic views for miles. Down in the valley, the riverside town of St. Antonin is a centre for outdoor activities including rock climbing, mountain biking, watersports and treetop-trails, as well as having plenty of excellent restaurants and café bars. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Albi is around an hour away, with a towering cathedral, manicured gardens and Toulouse Lautrec museum.
THe owners have poured their hearts and souls into creating this property and they hope you feel the love and attention that has gone into making this home a magical place, if you choose this house for your holiday.
