Artist's Gite Holiday Rental sleeps 4. Lot near Cahors, SW France

This artist's house rental holiday gite is located in the vibrant French village of Montcuq near Cahors and puts the rich heritage and cuisine of the Lot region, South of the Dordogne, right on your door step. A perfect place for exploring the history and charm of the area, as captured in the original watercolor paintings on this page that were painted by the owner.

This vacation rental gite is available: - 2010: Available through April until 15 May, 30 May - 5 June, 21 August - 4 September, 2 - 16 October and 23 October onwards. The property is also available for Bed & Breakfast with a 3 day minimum stay for June through August. If your dates don't match, please scroll down to the links for other villas gites and holiday apartments to rent in France.

Tourist Information ~ Lot ~ House Rental Montcuq ~

Tourist Information ~ Lot ~ House Rental Montcuq ~

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The Lot-Quercy region of France is spoilt for prehistoric caves, still active ancient pilgrimage routes with their 1000 year old churches, reminders of the Hundred Years war, and Medieval villages seemingly on every hill top.

The outstanding natural beauty of the area provides ample opportunites for canoeing, horseback riding, walking or backpacking in the more remote areas. Add to all this, the local delicacies that include local Cahors wines, truffles, and Roquefort cheese made in nearby Aveyron, and you will find that however long you choose to stay, it simply won't feel long enough.

THE GITE - HOLIDAY HOUSE FOR RENT

Built in a traditional French style with shutters and tiled floors, this gite to rent is double-glazed and well heated.

The walls of the rooms in this artist's house are all hand stencilled, giving it a homely cottage feel. The gite is airy, light, comfortably furnished and in a large garden setting with plenty of outdoor furniture, including parasol and sunloungers.

The large dining area boasts a refectory table that seats 6 and you can retire afterwards to the cosy sitting area, which is furnished with an English linen-covered suite.

The kitchen is modern and fully equipped, and includes a dishwasher and washing machine.

During the Summer you can enjoy French wine outside on the terrace or under the trees in an idyllic garden setting, and when the nights draw in, you can light a romantic wood fire in the fireplace.

THE RENTAL ACCOMMODATION - (2 bedrooms sleeps 4)

There are two bedrooms, which can either be two double (both king size beds) or one double and one twin. All linen is supplied.

The bathroom has a shower over the hot tub.

AREA

Montcuq is a thriving 'real' French village with a population of around 1200, unlike so many in France that are now deserted except for weekend tourists.


There are local chapels with hand painted frescoes and the remains of windmills. There are jazz and music festivals, art galleries, and colourful local markets, including two a week in Montcuq itself during summer (the biggest one on Sunday is held throughout the year). Drop into one of the three cafes in the centre of Montcuq or the garden restaurant at one of the hotels. There are also special celebrations for Christmas, New Year and Bastille Day in the village.

Each season brings its own activities and its unique joys. In mid Winter there is Christmas and special festivities for New Year. Spring see the flowers and new growth in the valley. The garden round the house is filled with Lily of the Valley, tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and other bulbs from February to April. As Summer approaches, the roses come into bloom and the many trees provide shade, together with grape vines and wisteria. Then Autumn brings a crispness to the air and the prospect of evenings in front of the open fire.

Surrounding the village in this beautiful area of South West France are unspoilt valleys with sweeping fields of grassland, sunflowers and grapes. The roadside verges and meadows are home to wild flowers.

Swimming

Within walking distance of the gite is the local Plan de l'Eau (recreation lake) where you can swim (there is a lifeguard) and picnic at its white sandy beach. Alternatively, the village swimming pool is just around the corner. (Please bring your own swimming towels.)

Hill-top villages

St Cirq Lapopie is one of the prettiest villages of France, situated high above the river overlooking canal boats, and rolling fields. The French writer Andre Breton who settled here late in his life, because he "could stop wishing himself elsewhere", described the village as an "impossible sort of midnight rose"... and with good reason.

Rocamadour is unbelievable. It appears to cling to a sheer rockface and includes several beautiful chapels and churches, chateaux and narrow streets. It was already a place of pilgrimage prior to the 12th century. Leading from the village to the spiritual centre of the old city is the Grand Staircase of 216 steps.

Prehistoric Caves

There are prehistoric caves nearby at Peche Merle and on the way there you can see houses built into the high cliffs of the Lot Valley.

History

The area was influenced by the Cathars, and the religious wars of the 15th century. The French villages in this area were built on the top of hills for defence during the 100 years war, and the vestages of gateways and other defensive features can still be seen.

Art and Crafts

During the summer most villages and towns have an exhibition featuring artists of their village or town. Indeed, the owner of the house is a water colour artist who paints pictures of the Midi Pyrenees and Quercy in particular, and some of her work can be seen on this webpage. There are many antique shops, galleries and art and pottery exhibitions to be enjoyed in the village of Montcuq and surrounding area. The antique grandfather clock shop in the village should not be missed.

Food and Wine

The South West of France is famous for its food: Confit du Canard, cassoulet and foie gras, are all specialties of the region. The Romans introduced wine making to the area and it remains the source of some of the best wine in France. The food in this region can make your vacation rental something special. While the gite is self catering there are cafes in the local villages and we have provided a restaurant guide in the gite's book. There are several Michelin starred restaurants in the area also.

To find the local yummy French cheeses, foie gras, pates,confit and wine you have many choices. Just a short walk away is the local supermarket which although small is excellent. In the centre of the village less than a kilometre away are three bakeries, an English bookshop, newsagents (with foreign language newspapers), post office, pharmacy, banks, 2 charcuteries/boucheries (delicatessen and butchers) a wine cellar, 3 cafes and several other shops, and of course the weekly market, one of the 100 plus beaux markets in France.

LOCATION

The gite for rent is located within easy reach of the numerous towns and medieval hill-top towns; Correze ( Collonges La Rouge), Aquitaine and Lot and Garonne (Villereal, Monflanquin, Penne d'Agenais), Dordogne (Sarlat, Bergerac, Monpazier), Tarn (Albi and Cordes Sur Ciel), Tarn and Garonne (Moissac and Montauban, Auvillar) , many parts of the Lot (St Cirq Lapopie, Rocamadour, Pech Merle, Cahors, Figeac), Aveyron, (Najac, Rodez, Laguiole) all in less than 1 1/2 hours drive, and Toulouse (just over an hour), Bordeaux - 2 hours.

Temperatures in the area are around 10 - 22C in April through to days in the 30s in July and August.

The International Airport of Toulouse is just over an hour's drive away.
Please ask if you would like us to arrange pick up and return to Toulouse.

The English speaking manager of the house lives near the village and can be readily contacted by phone.

When the owners are in France they live in the house that contains both their apartment and this gite, so you can relax in the knowledge that English speaking help is always near at hand, should you need it.

PRICE

The price range is from 325 Euros per week to 445 Euros per week.

Special rates are available for couples booking this 4 person gite, to make it more affordable, and a welcoming food basket can be provided on requested.

Please note: Regrettably pets NOT allowed and the gite is NOT suitable for small children

If you are interested, please enquire

Tourist Information ~ Lot ~ House Rental Montcuq ~

Tourist Information ~ Lot ~ House Rental Montcuq ~

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