Villa Maitagarria is a farmhouse converted to a holiday property in the quiet countryside around the village of Arbonne, just minutes from the vibrant, cosmopolitan coastal town of Biarritz.

The two-storey villa is set in a quarter hectare (half an acre) of gardens filled with mature, shady trees and flowers, with an open-air swimming pool, sunbeds and a dining terrace. Four double bedrooms sleep up to eight guests comfortably.

The ground floor is dominated by a large open-plan living-dining area under cathedral ceilings. A couch and armchairs face a flat-screen television and a large stone fireplace. An antique wooden dining table opposite it seats eight.

Or dine in the kitchen, which has bench seats for four. The kitchen is fully equipped with high-end appliances, including a stove with four burners (three gas, one electric), a coffee maker, dishwasher, toaster and fridge-freezer.

French doors open onto the terrace, where guests can cook a barbecue and dine at an outdoor table for eight.

Three of the four bedrooms are on the ground floor, and all have French doors opening onto the garden. Each has a double bed. These bedrooms share a bathroom on the ground floor with a shower and two basins; there is a separate toilet.

Upstairs, the master bedroom has a double bed, a dressing room, an ensuite bathroom with a bath and two basins, and a separate toilet.

Special features:

• Swimming pool on the property: 5x10 metre outdoor pool • Bilingual assistance available on site • Maid, Cook and Driver can be arranged on request

Villa Maitagarria is set in quiet countryside with views of corn fields, but is an easy walk to the centre of the traditional but elegant village of Arbonne. A weekly outdoor market offers local treats, flowers, and fresh fruit and vegetables.

A small restaurant with outdoor dining under the trees is perfect for a romantic night out, a lunch or coffee. The village bakery sells Basque-style treats every morning.

Biarritz is six kilometres from the house. This town became a fashionable resort in the 19th century when Empress Eugénie and her husband, Napoleon III, chose it as their summer residence and built a palace on the beach, now the famous Hôtel du Palais.

Biarritz once hosted royalty from all over Europe. Today it is well known for its excellent surfing, its famous casinos, and for the several top golf courses in the vicinity. Children can enjoy playing on the long sandy beach, the Grande Plage, or visiting the Museum of the Sea, which has 24 aquariums containing sharks and seals.

The shopping includes high end boutiques such as Hermès and local surf shops. The town's nightlife is vibrant, with two large casinos - the Barrière and the Bellevue - on the Grande Plage.

Villa Maitagarria is close to the border with Spain and forms part of the Basque Country, the region spanning France and Spain which the Basque people traditionally regard as their homeland.

20 kilometres away, the Spanish city of San Sebastian is a popular tourist destination and a great cultural city. Famous for its restaurants, it has a rich and diverse food culture.

The Pyrénées mountains form the French-Spanish border, and offer opportunities for walking, hiking, caving, camping, skiing, or paragliding, all with sensational vistas.

Other nearby towns include Saint-Jean-de-Luz, a fishing village full of local artists displaying their artwork on the streets. Bilbao, in Spain, is home to Frank Gehry's extraordinary Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. Nearby Anglet boasts several kilometres of pristine beaches which one can explore on foot or horseback.

Villa Maitagarria	The dining terrace
The kitchen	The dining area
The living area	The living - dining area
The master bedroom	The master bedroom's ensuite bathroom
One of the downstairs double bedrooms	One of the downstairs double bedrooms