1st for Gascony Property » Life in Gascony

One of the disadvantages of living in the French countryside is that there is no Starbucks!

Howard — Wed, 09 May 2012 09:12:13 +0000

Having lived here over 20 years, I am quite happy to stop off at little cafés for my short, sharp shock of caffeine whilst I glance through Sud Ouest or the Depeche du Midi. However on long weekends we cheat and fill our take out Costa Coffee flasks with frothy, milky, homemade, breakfast-style coffee and head off to the mountains for a walk. When we arrive by a lake, we sit on a rock and drink from the flasks and feel very civilised with our pretend take-out coffee.

Payolle in the Hautes Pyrenees is perfect for a leisurely walk with lake and mountain views and the goal of a restaurant and wellness centre at the far end and tree top cabins that you can rent for a night or two. Out at 10am and back by 4pm but what a world away – certainly beats the AwayDay to Margate we did as children.

Useful References:
http://www.arcochpayolle.com/

http://www.payolle-evasion.com/

http://www.tourisme-hautes-pyrenees.com/web/FR/1531-campan-payolle.php

Properties: Haute Pyrenees on Gascony Property

WHY FRANCE AND WHY MIDI PYRENEES?

Howard — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:05:24 +0000

France is now the most researched holiday home destination and in a recent survey the Midi Pyrenees came in the top three places to buy in France. With its sparsely populated countryside, lively towns and villages, excellent communications and easy lifestyle, it is easy to see why.

Gascony hosts a series of medieval villages, market towns and sleepy hamlets dotted around its rolling green countryside. Having spent all my childhood holidays peering through rainy windows at the retreating sea in Pendine, I can say from experience that it’s like the Welsh countryside without the rain and sheepdogs. Instead we have four definite seasons:

Short crisp winters
Warm springs – our daffodils are starting to come through and it is still only January
Long late-night hot summers
Late Indian summer turning into autumn

The seasons are defined in the markets, where you can almost gauge the date just by looking at the fresh local produce. At the moment the local farms and supermarkets are promoting pork. Most families will buy a whole pig and then turn it into the various cuts of meat, sausage and pâté. I’m lucky enough to have a lovely friend whose husband is a whizz at pâté, so I’m saved the hassle of having to deal with the rest of the animal and just stock up their pâté – in exchange for coffee cake, chutney and jam.

Flights to Gascony

Howard — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 21:36:05 +0000

Fly to Gascony?

Flights from Ireland:

Ryanair Dublin to Biarritz, Carcassonne and Rodez

Air Lingus Dublin to Bilbao, Bordeaux and Toulouse

Ryanair Shannon to Biarritz, Carcassonne

Air France Dublin to Lourdes

Flights fom Scotland:

FlyBE Edinburgh to Bergerac

Jet2 Edinburgh to Toulouse

Flights from England /Wales:

Ryanair NEW ROUTE starts 20 Dec 2008 Stansted to Lourdes / Pyrénées / Tarbes. Birmigham and Stansted to Biarritz. Stansted to Pau.

bmibaby Manchester and Birmingham to Bordeaux

FlyBE Birmingham to Bergerac and Toulouse – Southampton to Bergerac and Bordeaux – Leeds, Exeter and Gatwick to Bergerac

Jet2 Belfast and Leeds to Toulouse

EasyJet Bristol and Gatwick to Toulouse – Stanstead to Bilbao – Bristol and Luton to Bordeaux

C’est La Vie

Howard — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 11:01:58 +0000

This is the life in Gascony. What makes Gascony such an attractive place to live? Moving home in your own country can be stressful. Moving to a different country is a different cup of tea altogether. On 1st for Gascony we hope to give a true flavour of life in Gascony. Let us introduce you to the area, explain the culture, weather, gastronomy, the places to visit and relax and much more.