Chateau Armagnac

About this property

In a tiny village surrounded by rolling countryside in the heart of Gascony, this glorious château embodies the spirit of the Gers with its character, relaxed ambience and tranquillity. Within a short drive of three of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’, Château Armagnac is perfectly positioned for exploring this glorious region.

This 19th century maison was formerly a small well-regarded hotel but has recently been converted into a self-catering holiday home for up to 18 guests across its seven impressive en suite bedrooms and suites. The owner’s kind hospitality is still evident through the range of optional services they can offer such as a beautifully laid out buffet breakfast of delightful regional produce, wine-tastings at the château or private vineyard tours (after all, one of the owners is an oenologist!) and a concierge service for any other requests you may have.

Throughout the château you’ll find touches of Gascon character such as the oak beamed ceilings, exposed walls, stone floors, grand working fireplaces and charming reminders that you’re in the land of Grand Armagnac. There’s also a perfect blend of old and new furnishings, alongside modern décor, creating a true sense of homeliness in otherwise grand surroundings. Sit back on the sofas in one of the two living rooms, perhaps with a roaring winter fire or the sun pouring in through the windows, with a glass of local Armagnac or Côtes de Gascogne wine from the elegant bar.

The seven bedrooms each have their own individual style yet all feature air-conditioning, Wi-Fi and an en suite contemporary bath or shower room. There are four particularly spacious suites upstairs, two with a terrace with charming village views and one with a bathroom including a jacuzzi bath and private sauna. In the meantime, every guest can take their turn relaxing in the 4-person hot tub or the larger sauna in the dedicated spa area downstairs where an in-house masseur can be arranged.

Enjoy views of the undulating countryside from the long swimming pool outside, open in the summer for swimming lengths or simply cooling down and admiring the scenery surrounding you. The original moats are also still within the grounds, a lovely spot for eco-friendly fishing (indeed, the owners have been ecologically mindful in many ways when renovating this beautiful home and its gardens).

The delightful medieval villages of Montréal-du-Gers, Fourcès and Larressingle are within a short drive, all three classified one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’ whilst the charming towns of Éauze and Condom are also close by with their weekly markets and excellent restaurants. A little further afield, you can visit historic towns such as Auch and Agen or listen to summer jazz in Marciac.

Food-lovers will rejoice in this region where arguably some of the best French food is produced, not just the well-known meat dishes such as foie-gras and magret but all sorts of seasonal fruit and vegetables as well. Of course, there are endless vineyards as well, producing excellent Gascon wines and famous Grand Armagnac; the owners can provide lots of information on restaurants and wineries to visit.

Cycle, horse-ride or hike through the beautiful landscapes, canoe along the river Baise, play golf in stunning surroundings or swim in thermal baths and nearby lakes. There are plenty of ways to experience the slow pace of life of the Gers before returning to your relaxed abode at Château Armagnac.

In the very heart of the Gers, in the historic region of Gascony, Château Armagnac lies in a very small but characterful village surrounded by wonderful countryside in an area known for its natural beauty, slow pace of life and extraordinary food and drink.

The location is especially superb due to its proximity to three of the region’s classified ‘Plus Beaux Villages de France’; Montréal (8km), Fourcès (13km) and Larressingle (12km), all within an easy drive. The nearest, Montréal-du-Gers, is a bastide town with a central square dating back to the 13th century and home to a small handful of restaurants. Look out for the medieval night markets if staying in the height of the summer! Admire the impressive fortified walls in charming Larressingle and explore the winding medieval lanes in beautiful Fourcés. Both Larressingle and Montréal-du-Gers are on one of the major pilgrim paths that lead to Santiago de Compostela.

The small town of Éauze (13km) is also a picturesque place to spend some time and a useful spot for shopping (especially at the Thursday morning market) whilst the town of Condom (18km) offers further amenities alongside its Wednesday market, gastronomic restaurants and its magnificent cathedral. After exploring the historic centre, take a stroll along the banks of the Baise river; in the summer you can even hire a small motor boat for a day out exploring.

The land of Grand Armagnac and excellent wine, the owners can arrange an exclusive tasting inside your château or reserve a private tour of some of the finest vineyards and wineries in Gascony; indeed one of the owner is a well-regarded oenologist who can share his passion and knowledge with you.

The owners can also recommend some of the best restaurants in the area where you can experience wonderful regional cuisine or provide information about weekly organic and summer night markets across Gers. The local produce of this part of Gascony really is quite incredible from foie gras and magret to wild peaches, mushrooms and so much more, depending on the season.

Those who crave activities can cycle across the quiet roads of the surrounding countryside filled with incredible scenery or follow many walking trails nearby. There is also horse-riding close by and various golf courses across the region including the 18-hole Le Golf d’Éauze within a short drive. 

A little further afield, other fascinating villages and towns to visit include Fleurance (45km) and Lectoure (40km), especially on market day and the beautiful town of Auch (52km), the historic capital of Gascony. Heading over the border to Landes, the famous town of Roquefort (57km) is a must for cheese-lovers whilst prunes soaked in Armagnac are an absolute delight in Agen (58km), in the Lot-et-Garonne department. 

Not forgetting Marciac (57km), around an hour away, home to the famous summer jazz festival which attracts performers from across the world in late July and August every year. If visiting at other times of year, look out for various musical and theatre performances at the impressive venue L’Astrada, visit one of the many art galleries or soak up the vibrant ambience of this historic town. 

Accommodation

1)    Château Armagnac – all 7 bedrooms/suites (18-person price)
2)    Château Armagnac – 4 bedrooms/suites only (12-person price, not available during the high season)

Château Interiors

Ground Floor

-    Entrance with lift
-    Living room with sofas, fireplace and bar with sink and fridge
-    Second living room with sofas, fireplace, piano and office corner
-    Dining room with table for up to 18 guests
-    Kitchen, fully-equipped
-    Spa room with jacuzzi (4-person), sauna (2-person) and shower
-    WC
-    Bedroom 7 (20m2, independent private entrance from outside) with electric double bed (160x220cm) with en suite bathroom with shower and WC. Suitable for disabled guests
-    Laundry room

First Floor
-    Suite 1 (40m2) with double bedroom (180x200cm), living room with single bed (90x200cm) and private terrace looking over village. En suite bathroom with bath, Italian shower and WC
-    Suite 2 (40m2) with double bedroom (160x200cm), living room with two single beds (90x200cm each) and en suite bathroom with bath, Italian shower and WC
-    Bedroom 3 (25m2) with double bed (160x200cm) and en suite bathroom with WC
-    Bedroom 4 (30m2) with double bed (160x200cm) and en suite bathroom with WC
-    Prestige Bedroom 5 (42m2) with king-size double bed (180x200cm) and en suite bathroom with jacuzzi bath for two guests, sauna, Italian shower and WC
-    Suite 6 (40m2) with double bedroom (160x200cm), living room with single bed (90x200cm) and private terrace looking over village. En suite bathroom with WC

Outside Grounds

-    Salt-water swimming pool (20x4.2m, depth: 1.3m) with electric pool cover and fencing. Open approximately June to end-September
-    Al-fresco dining area
-    Al-fresco lounge area
-    Enclosed/fenced grounds/parkland (7500m2)
-    Moats (secured/fenced, suitable for fishing)
-    Working wells
-    Private parking

Facilities

-    Wi-Fi
-    Air-conditioning (in bedrooms only)
-    Heating
-    Working fireplace
-    Wine cellar
-    Lift
-    TVs in each bedroom
-    Cable TV (French channels)
-    Hot tub and sauna
-    Books