Chateau Arize

At the foot of the Pyrénées, surrounded by lakes, forests and stunning scenery, you will find the idyllic Château Arize. A beautiful home which is perfect for all generations, it’s the ideal place to relax and unwind with an impressive array of amenities as well as beautiful grounds. Dating back to the 18th century, when it was re-built after the French Revolution, the château is full of character with beautiful antiques, traditional furnishings and Persian rugs. The restoration has been a labour of love for its owners who have updated the home to a fine standard, creating a historical and magical ambience. The 14 bedrooms, eleven of which are en-suite, include two master doubles at the front with glorious views of the parkland and three interconnecting rooms ideal for families with young children. Explore the house and you’ll also find a cinema room, library, a fun games room in addition to an antique billiards table The château also boasts a huge gym in a separate building with a yoga space, two saunas, two jacuzzis and a new pool house with an outside kitchen featuring a huge BBQ grill, fridge, dishwasher, and pizza oven for make your own pizza nights! The château offers an on-site chef for either catering or sit down meals, served either in the beautiful conservatory, or al-fresco on the wooden terrace where up to thirty guests can come together overlooking the château’s spectacular gardens. As well as a characterful château kitchen, there is an incredibly impressive professional kitchen with all the equipment a keen cook could wish for, renovated to the highest of standards.  You could spend all day in the twenty-four acre parkland, sun-bathing by the new heated swimming pool with the view of the Pyrénées, exploring the streams by the ancient trees or listening to the peaceful flow of the river that runs through the grounds. Have a lazy game of pétanque, cycle around on one of the château’s eight bikes or play tennis on the fabulous tennis court which is of a professional standard. There is a delightful walking path encircling the house whilst yoga sessions in the new gym have been a real hit with guests. End the day with a personal masseuse who will come on site to provide a professional massage service. Set in the heart of the Natural Regional Park of the Ariège Pyrénées, outdoor activities such as golf, cycling, kayaking, fishing and horse-riding are in abundance amongst its lakes, mountains and forests. There are also many beautiful villages and towns to discover such as Foix with its medieval castle perched on a hill or St. Lizier, one of France’s ’Plus Beaux Villages’ with UNESCO World Heritage status or St. Girons where there is a lovely market on Saturday mornings. The nearest village to the château, about 5 minutes by car, dates back to medieval times and has a couple of small supermarkets, a bank and ATM, a bakery, a butchers and a tourist office. Whether a family re-union or a special holiday with friends, Château Arize is a unique and peaceful retreat in a very special setting in this glorious part of southern France. Features: Château Interior Ground Floor - Château kitchen and separate professional kitchen, well equipped including American style fridge-freezer with ice-maker, wine fridge, walk-in refrigerator, drinks chiller, self-service fridge, three ovens, three sets of hobs, griddle, two dishwashers and coffee maker - Terrace dining area (conservatory style dining room leading to al-fresco terraces) - Laundry room - 3 Guest WCs - Small children’s bedroom (ground floor) with two bunk beds (for up to three children) and a half bathroom across the hallway - 2 x shower room in the service staircase on 1st and 2nd floor First Floor - Entrance lounge - Main Lounge - Dining room - Billiard room - Games room - Function room - Library - Bedroom One: Double bedroom and en-suite bathroom with walk-in shower and WC - Bedroom Two/Three: Double bed bedroom with door leading to separate twin room. Both rooms share an en-suite bathroom with Italian shower and WC Second Floor - Bedroom five: Twin bedroom and en-suite bathroom (bath plus separate shower) with WC - Bedroom six: Twin beds  bedroom with en-suite bathroom (walk-in shower) with WC - Bedroom Seven/Eight: Double bed bedroom with doors leading to a twin room (ideal for young children). Both rooms share an en-suite bathroom (walk-in shower) with WC - Bedroom nine: Master double bedroom (34m2) and en-suite bathroom (jacuzzi bath and separate walk-in shower) with WC - Bedroom ten: Master double bedroom (33m2) and en-suite bathroom (bath with shower and WC) - Bedroom eleven: Double bed bedroom and en-suite bathroom (bath and separate walk-in shower with WC) - Bedroom twelve: Quadruple room, with double bed and two single beds and en-suite shower room with WC - Bedroom thirteen: Double bed bedroom and en-suite shower room with WC - Bedroom fourteen/fifteen: Double bed bedroom with doors leading to small room suitable for cot/single and en-suite shower room with WC **Please, bear in mind there is no bedroom four and there is bedroom fifteen in the description but the chateau still has fourteen bedrooms. Check the floor plan for more details. Separate building - Gym with shower room Outside Grounds - Heated swimming pool (20m x 15m, depth: 1.57m) with UV filtration system and pool alarm. Pool is open and heated approximately May to end-September - Large poolside terrace (200m2) with lounge chairs - Pool house with barbecue, plancha, fridge, pizza oven, dishwasher, music and tables - Sauna in the pool house (and shower and WC) - Outdoor jacuzzi - Tennis court (hard court, professional standard) - 24 acres of lawns and trees - River and stream - Off-road parking space for up to 20 cars - 3 Guest WCs Facilities - Fiber Optic Wi-Fi (up to 1GB speed) and 4G router as back-up (château and pool area) - Decorative fireplace - Cinema room with projector - DVD library - Internet TV - Music library - Antique billiard table - Games room - Sauna - Jacuzzi - Wine-tasting room - State of the art gym with shower - Bikes x 8 - Tennis court (hard court, professional standard) - Tennis and rackets - Ping-pong - Petanque - Washing machine - BBQ (x2) Location: In a wonderful location at the foot of the Pyrenees, you are in the heart of the Natural Regional Park of the Ariège Pyrénées, surrounded by lakes, forests and hills – a fantastic location for a great array of putdoor activities and stunning natural scenery. You are only 5 minutes drive from a local medieval village where you can find two small supermarkets, a butchery, bakery, chemist and medical centre as well as a tourist office for the area. There are two larger towns a little further with larger supermarkets and a greater choice of shops and restaurants – Foix and Saint Girons. Foix (20km), with its medieval castle located on a rocky hill overlooking the Ariège and Arge rivers, is just 20 minutes away. Take a stroll in the old town, exploring its narrow streets, pretty squares with ancient abbeys, local restaurants and authentic shops. There is also a superb market every Friday. Saint Girons (24km) on the river Sarlat is an attractive town to wander around with characterful buildings and shops to admire. Combine with a trip to the UNESCO classified ancient village of St. Lizier (25km), one of France’s Plus Beaux Villages. Rich in art and history, visit the lower part with the old village and cathedral then head to the upper part surrounded by ancient fortifications including the Bishops Palace, now a museum. The bastide town of Mirepoix (52km) is also within easy reach: a vibrant gem, with one of the best markets in France on a Monday and hosting plenty of festivals and events throughout the year.  Set within the Natural Regional Park of the Ariège Pyrénées, outdoor activities such as cycling, kayaking, fishing and horse-riding are in abundance amongst its lakes, mountains and forests. Cycling is a great way to discover this beautiful National Park; a well-known cycling trail of over 40km can be accessed just half a kilometre away. Keen walkers should also visit the waterfall at Cascade d’Ars (57km) which is at its best in May and June whilst serious golf enthusiasts will love the golf course just a short drive from the château. In the summer you can swim at Lac de Mondély, a lake also wonderful for fishing, walking and bird watching.  Families will love the opportunity to walk with donkeys near Biert (30km) or Aleu (40km), visit the nearby reptile park, there’s a Prehistoric Park near Tarascon-sur-Ariège (40km), or there are some fantastic adventure parks such as Horizon Vertical for older kids and adults in Moulis (30km) or Acro’lus for younger children near Aulus-les-Bains (55km). The subterranean River Labouïche (17km) is another brilliant place to visit nearby where you can visit the caves and caverns 60m underground. The area has so many wonderful historical sites to discover. You are not far from the the Cathars land and a trip to the ruins of the Château de Montsegur (52km), one of the last Cathar strongholds, should not be missed. Another fine day trip is the Niaux cave paintings (45km), dating back 14,000 years and can be visited if you book on to one of their tours, booking in advance is recommended. The fortified city of Carcassonne (98km) is located about ninety minutes from the château and is a must see. The famous summer festival, brings together over 100 performances, including opera, dance, theatre and music, most of which you can watch free of charge. Terms & Conditions: ? £850 (£1500 from 2025) paid to the owner via bank transfer before arrival and refunded after departure, subject to full inspection. 3.00 p.m. 10.00 a.m. Extra €150 over Xmas and New Year. Included during all other periods. Yes, changed mid-week for stays of 2 weeks. No. Weddings and any special events are on request only and subject to prior arrangement with the owner and additional charges. Stag/hen parties are not allowed. Saturday approximately mid-June to late September. Flexible during all other periods. Yes. However, guests are required to leave the accommodation clean, tidy and in the same condition as on their arrival. Any extra cleaning, laundry, maintenance and/or rubbish disposal required will be charged against the security deposit. Outside only. 7 nights approximately mid-June to late-September, 3 nights during all other periods. Extra €150/day approximately late September to end-April, depending on the weather, payable locally. French Visitors Tax payable locally (typically costs €1-€3 per adult per night- please enquire if exact amount is required). Yes. Gym towels are also provided. The pool is open and heated approximately May to end-September. Please note that like all heated pools, pool heating and water temperature are reliant on weather and outside temperatures.