Your contact:	Victoria Oscarsson
Telephone:	+43-1 535 4023 or +43-676 508 2453
Fax:	+43 1 535 4023
Email:	Click here to contact Pech d'Aze

The property of Pech d’Aze consists of a stone farmhouse and a barn, originating from the 17th century. Restored from a near-ruin, the house is now a spacious and comfortable home in the style of a maison de maître, sleeping six in comfort. The owner, a design consultant, placed great value on the house's original details and use of traditional materials such as terracotta tiles and wooden beams. The interior is uncluttered and tastefully furnished with many regional antiques. Set in eight hectares (20 acres) of private grounds, the property includes an orchard with fig trees, and pathways winding throughout. The four by eight metre swimming pool is banked by roses, lavender and greenery. The house has a large tiled terracotta terrace, with comfortable outdoor furniture for enjoying an evening aperitif or dining under the shade of the large lime tree overlooking extensive countryside views and the occasional herd of cows.

The lower front door leads into a dining room with a long antique cherrywood table seating up to ten. Opposite this is a new open-plan kitchen, with an island on which to prepare feasts from a classic eight-burner freestanding oven – a food lover’s dream in a region of gastronomic delights. This room connects to the English library, which is painted in Pompeiian red with heirloom antique oak furnishings, with a television available. The library also serves as a bedroom, with a foldout queen-size sofa bed and an ensuite bathroom. All of the downstairs rooms have French doors opening onto the terrace and give extensive views of the surrounding countryside. Also on the ground floor is a utility room and half bathroom.

A staircase leads up to the large living room, which is also accessed from an original exterior stone staircase. The living room is dominated by an original château-scale fireplace. (Guests have access to firewood, which is stored in one of the outbuildings.) Double windows open out on three sides overlooking the garden and valley below. On this floor are two large bedrooms, each with their own bathroom. One bedroom has a double sleigh bed and the other has twin beds which can be put together. A third floor has yet to be fully developed by the owners. Pech d'Aze has a caretaker nearby in case guests encounter any problems and the owner is available by phone at all times.

Special features:	• Pool on the property • Bilingual assistance available on site • Maid, Cook and Driver can be arranged on request
Swimming pool:	4 by 8 metre pool with terrace and lighting

Pech d’Aze is located just off a small rural road, near the village of Roquecor. One of the region’s famous “perched” stone villages, Roquecor holds the prestigious village fleurie designation. It was constructed on a hillside for security reasons during the middle ages - a turbulent period in this part of France. Everyday grocery shopping can be done in the small alimentation in the village. Roquecor also has a welcoming café/restaurant, and a special market every Sunday off the main square. Seven kilometres away, the larger town of Montaigu de Quercy has a broader range of shops and services, and hosts a lively market every Saturday, selling a wide range of produce including fresh oysters and fish.

Markets can be found every day of the week within a short drive, selling fresh and tempting regional produce like fois gras, wild rabbit, locally raised duck and lamb, truffles, sweet tomatoes, garlic sprouts, and fraises de bois. Events take place regularly in Roquecor and all the nearby towns and villages, especially during the summer - including art exhibitions and concerts from jazz to son-et-lumière to opera. Each village celebrates its history in its own way, perhaps with a honey market or a bread baking fair in the medieval town oven. Antique buffs will discover extensive fairs throughout the year. For children, traveling circuses and funfairs are regular visitors. There are several public tennis courts, and golf courses within a half hour’s drive. Canoes and bikes can be rented locally. For gastronomes, Aubergade in Puymerol, awarded three Michelin rosettes, is a memorable experience. The chef, Michel Trama, also offers specialized cooking courses. There are many one and two rosette restaurants within a ten to forty minute radius, and numerous ferme-auberges where guests can savour local specialties such as magret de canard, grilled on an open wood fire.

This region of France is steeped in prehistoric and medieval history. Cave paintings such as those at Lascaux in the Dordogne, and Pech Merle on the other side of Cahors, are less than an hour away. Medieval fortifications, castles and perched villages are everywhere including Beauville, Bourg de Visa, Lauzerte, Penne d’Agenais, and Montcuq. Half an hour’s drive away is the monastery and magnificently carved cloisters of Moissac, part of the medieval pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. A range of cultural activities and festivals occur throughout the year especially in the larger towns of Cahors, Toulouse, and Rocamadour. Food lovers will also appreciate the regional French cuisine which stresses freshness and quality of local produce. In the Saturday market of Montaigu, the fish arrives practicallly swimming from the Atlantic only an hour away. Don't forget cêpes and black truffles, according to the season. The weather in the Quercy region is usually hot and dry during the summer with late sunsets. Winters are generally mild with lunches outside on occasion in the sun.

The dining area	The kitchen
The master bedroom	The front of the house
The terrace out from dining room	The view of the barn from the house
The nearby perched village of Roquecor