Your contact:	Mr & Mrs Turner
Telephone:	+33 (0) 5 62 28 96 20 or +33(0) 6 74 70 64 85
Email:	Click here to contact La Vieille Source

La Vieille Source is a conversion of a two hundred year-old stone barn on the historical estate of Domaine de Vaucluse, set in the valley of the Gers close to the town of Lectoure. The house is surrounded by landscaped gardens with a heated salt-water swimming pool.

Ideal for a couple or a family, La Vieille Source is a child friendly gite with a covered outdoor terrace facing east. The spacious and traditional open-plan home has a large family bedroom to sleep four. Two more can sleep on the new double sofa bed in the living area. The home has many original features including tiled floors, oak beams, and exposed stone walls, while offering modern comforts, including a wireless internet connection.

La Vieille Source has been independently assessed by a specialist in child safety and approved for it’s child friendliness. It has been fitted out with up to date measures designed to promote child safety.

A pair of pigeonnier towers flank the entrance to the estate, which is set in extensive grounds with lawns, fields and woodland. The heated swimming pool is surrounded by a large sun terrace equipped with parasols and loungers. A children’s play area with a slide, swings, a climbing wall and a trampoline is located in the gardens. All the water used on the estate comes directly from a private spring.

The spacious open-plan upper floor has a kitchen which is fully equipped with a dishwasher, gas oven and hob, fridge-freezer, microwave, toaster and kettle. The dining table seats eight. The full-length windows look out over the pigeonnier towers and gardens down to the swimming pool and small lake.

The living area is a relaxing space with two big sofas, a television with Sky TV in English, DVD, VCR, and CD player. Guests can enjoy a selection of books, magazines and family board games. The French windows lead out to old stone steps and down into a private garden area. There is a barbecue and an outdoor table and chairs, making it an ideal spot to enjoy coffee and croissants or a long relaxing lunch.

A mezzanine floor houses the bedroom, which has a large double bed and a pair of single beds. A full sized cot, toys and baby equipment can also be made available on request. The modern bathroom has a bath, a walk-in shower, a washbasin, a bidet and a toilet. Downstairs on the ground floor is a separate toilet, a washing machine, clothes airer, and ironing facilities. A winding wooden staircase leads up to the main living area.

Although La Vieille Source enjoys full sunlight all year, the thick walls keep the interior cool on hot days, and a wood burning stove and central heating make it a four-season home. The Vaucluse estate was once owned by the family of the Duke of Montebello, one of Napoleon’s generals. The owners live on site in the manor house and are always happy to help, but fully respect their guests’ privacy.

A child friendly baby and toddler pack full of useful equipment is available for parents with small children to assist in making their holiday more relaxing, as well as saving valuable packing space.

Special features:	• Pool on the property • Bilingual assistance available on site • Credit cards accepted
Swimming pool:	10x5m solar heated outdoor pool

The town of Lectoure, one and a half kilometres from the house, stretches down from the hill on which it sits to the plains below with views over the snow capped Pyrénées in the distance. Lectoure has plenty of shops, a supermarket, a choice of bakeries, patisseries and butchers as well as restaurants and bars.

Every Friday morning in Lectoure is the weekly street market offering the products which make the Gers so gastronomically renowned, such as foie gras, local cheeses, honey, Armagnac, Floc de Gascogne, as well as seasonal fruit and vegetables. Every day of the week, one of the nearby towns or villages also hosts a street market, with local fresh produce in abundance.

The town of Lectoure features monuments such as the 14th century cathedral of Saint Gervais, the old royal tannery, the castle of the Comtes d'Armagnac and the fountain of Diane. Also not to be missed is the archaeological museum set in the cellars of the old bishops’ palace.

Along the Saint-Jacques de Compostelle pilgrimage route, Lectoure offers more than 200 kilometres of marked pedestrian paths. The thermal spa centre located in the old 18th century Goulard hotel has been fully restored, and offers relaxation, saunas, and hot rich mineral water hydrotherapy, alongside the specific rheumatic and osteoarthritis health treatments.

Walking, cycling, swimming, fishing, horse riding, canoeing, golf and tennis, and even hot air balloon flights are all available nearby. The list of places to visit includes museums, galleries, festivals, antique shops, vineyards and châteaux.

Gascony is a region of unspoiled natural beauty. Taking its name from the river that runs through the region, the Gers is situated in the heart of Gascony. The Gers and surrounding regions have plenty of culture and history to be discovered, such as the Abbaye de Flaran, the Roman villa of Séviac at Montréal, and the circular bastide village of Fources.

Auch, the capital of the Gers is only 30 minutes away. There are events all year round, including motor racing at Nogaro, bull fighting at Vic-Fezensac, the famous jazz festival at Marsiac, and numerous wine and flower festivals.

D’Artagnan, Dumas’ most famous musketeer during the time of Eleanor of Aquitaine and the Hundred Years War, was born here. His statue dominates the vast stone staircase that climbs from the river Gers up to Auch cathedral. The many local Armagnac and wine tasting tours are also well worth a visit.

It is a short drive to the medieval market town of Condom, with its historic cathedral, shops, cafés and restaurants. Also within easy reach are the larger historical towns of Agen, famous for its prunes, and the lovely riverside Nérac.

Only two hours away are the Pyrénées mountains. Here in the foothills is Lourdes, one of the most visited holy sites in the world. Closer to home, about 30 minutes away is Parc Walabi, an amusement park with rides for the entire family.

Also within easy reach for a day trip to the west is the seaside resort of Biarritz, with its historical port and town centre, miles of beaches and great surfing.

At close hand is the city of Bordeaux, France’s wine capital, which is surrounded by famous wine châteaux and historic villages such as St. Emillion. To the Southeast lies the cities of Toulouse and Carcassonne, Europe's most famous fortified medieval city.

The front of La Vieille Source	La Vieille Source
The living and dining area	The kitchen
The living area	The bedroom can be configured with a double bed and two single beds
The bathroom	The gardens
One of the pigeonniers in the garden	The entrance to the main house
The sun terrace	The spring from which the estate gets its water

This is a lovely gite, very carefully and thoughtfully restored, in a beautiful part of France. We loved the villages and countryside, and our walk into Lectoure on our last day.
Mr and Mrs. D. B. - Eccleshall, United Kingdom

It’s always the people who make the difference. Thanks for a most authentic and unforgettable week at this extraordinary place with a wonderful family.
Mr and Mrs. Jens B. - Clonmel, Ireland

Thank you for your hospitality. We have enjoyed our stay in Lectoure and visiting other towns and villages, such as Condom and Agen with its beautiful frescoes in the cathedral.
Mr and Mrs Carl C. - Bicton, W.Australia

You are lucky to live in such a beautiful area of France. The food was fantastic and the weather just great. The gite was a really comfortable base from which to explore. Lectoure is truly a beautiful town. Well worth a visit.
Mr and Mrs Martin B. - Devon, United Kingdom

We were made to feel very welcome at your beautiful gite. We loved the food and wine, our girls loved the swimming pool and you were both so helpful. Wonderful weather and a really unspolit region of France. We will definitely visit you again.
Mr and Mrs Jonathan H. - Kent, United Kingdom

We very much enjoyed our stay in this spacious, attractive and comfortable gite. The swimming pool is a real plus. The surrounding countryside is incredibly attractive, yet uncrowded and populated by warm and welcoming people.
Jim and Anne S. - Ontario, Canada

The essence of a great host and hostess is they are always at hand but never about. We had a lovely holiday and will remember you all with great fondness.
Aileen O. - County Tipperary, Ireland

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the gite. It was great to find somewhere so pleasant that was also baby friendly, saving us a great deal of trouble. Thank you for the relaxation and superb food.
Lou Z. - Surrey, UK