Chateau D’Ax

The old bones of this 14th century château in Midi-Pyrénées stand proudly on a hectare of green parkland. With sweeping views over the surrounding territory (known for sunflower and wine production), your guests will commune with this countryside on the edge of the Dordogne. Inside, refined authentic furnishings let the château’s character shine; stone walls, well-loved brick fireplaces, and mysterious spiral stairs suggest a storied past. Whilst being a historic home, Château D’Ax is also charming holiday accommodation offering modern comforts including quality bedding, comfortable living areas both inside and out, a home cinema and a recently upgraded kitchen with up-to-date appliances. Up to 26 guests can spread out on the grounds here - they’ll especially love the swimming pool in the summertime and the beautiful terrace with an exceptional view over the preserved landscape - the perfect setting for lovely gatherings at all times with its long tables, outdoor furnishings and barbecue.  Furthermore, a separate apartment in the château lends extra privacy for a large family - it features its own kitchen and living area, and a dorm room with five single beds for the kids. Just 8km away is Tournon-d’Agenais, a lovely 13th century village with a central square and charming stone arcades – make sure you try some of the delicious apple-based dessert ’tourtiere’ during your visit. One of France’s most beautiful villages, Pujols, is around half an hour away or spend time visiting the Malbec producing vineyards surrounding the gorgeous town of Cahors on the Lot river. Then there’s canoeing, biking and hiking through the Lot and Célé valleys, castle ruins and many enchanting bastide villages and market towns. You may fly in through Bergerac, a hub of wine-related commerce for the Dordogne (and certainly worth a pause on your way to the château!). Features: Option 1. Ground Floor & First Floor (7 bedrooms) - 14 guestsOption 2. Entire Château (12 bedrooms) - 26 guests Only the 26-person rate (Option 2) includes exclusive/private use of the château. If booking Option 1, please also note that the rest of the château may be rented by other guests with shared access to the swimming pool. Ground Floor -    Living room with grand fireplace-    Dining room  -    TV room with home-cinema -    Kitchen, fully-equipped-    Bathroom First Floor-    Bedroom 1 with twin beds (90x200cm each)-    Bedroom 2 with double bed (180x200cm)-    Bathroom (shared between bedrooms 1, 2 and 3)-    Bedroom 3 (a side-room/annexe) with French bed (120x190cm) -    Bedroom 4 with double bed (180x200cm) and en-suite bathroom  -    Bedroom 5 with double bed (160x200cm) -    Bedroom 6 with twin beds (90x200cm each) -    Bedroom 7 (tower room) with twin beds (90x200cm)-    Bathroom (shared between bedrooms 5, 6 and 7)Second Floor Apartment-    Living and dining room with fireplace-    Kitchen-    Bedroom 8 with double bed (180x200cm) and en suite bathroom-    Bedroom 9 (tower room) with double bed (160x200cm) -    Bedroom 10 with twin beds (90x200cm each) and French bed (120x190cm)-    Bathroom (shared between bedrooms 9 and 10)-    Bedroom 11 with double bed (160x200cm)-    Dorm-style bedroom 12 (low ceiling) with five single beds (90x200cm each)-    Bathroom-    Terrace Outside Grounds-    Swimming pool (14x7m, depth: up to 2m) with safety gate/fencing, open approximately mid-May to end-September-    Al-fresco dining terrace-    Barbecue-    Grounds with fruit trees Facilities -    Wi-Fi-    Heating-    Home cinema-    DVDs-    Board games for children-    Children’s books-    Table tennis-    Table football-    Iron & ironing board Location: Château d’Ax is in a tiny village in the Lot department, close to medieval Tournon-d’Agenais and around forty minutes west of Cahors. The nearest airport is Bergerac (76km) whilst Toulouse-Blagnac Airport is about a 90-minute drive away. The owners can arrange wine-tasting at the adjoining Château d’Ax wine estate as well as neighbouring wineries. E-Bike rental can also be organised in advance (with bikes delivered to the château). There is a restaurant around 3km away as well as a tennis court within a 5-minute drive which Château d’Ax guests may use on a complimentary basis. The nearest shops can be found in the lovely village of Tournon-d’Agenais (8km) with its medieval lanes and a picturesque central square – make sure you try some of the apple-based pastry dessert ‘tourtiere’ during your stay. Montcuq (15km) is home to a brilliant Sunday morning market and is a lovely village to explore with glorious views of the Lot valley. The bastide town of Lauzerte (21km) is another gorgeous place to visit, officially classified as one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’. Drive around 20 minutes north to the Lot for peaceful picnics, canoeing opportunities and lovely walks with the most beautiful scenery. Summer boat trips depart from Puy-l’Évêque, a charming village perched above the river with an attractive Tuesday morning market. A little further away is Villeneuve-sur-Lot (34km), a historic bastide town which could be combined with Pujols, another one of France’s most beautiful villages with many wonderful views. Heading east, Cahors (37km) is known for its famous bridge, Pont Valentré, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Pick up all sorts of regional delights from the twice-weekly market including Quercy melons when in season, and stroll around the captivating historic centre with its medieval lanes, pretty squares and impressive cathedral. Terms & Conditions: ? €1000 paid via bank transfer to the owner one month before arrival or in cash on arrival and refunded two weeks after departure, subject to full inspection. 4.00 p.m. 10.00 a.m. Yes. A compulsory charge of €20 per person is payable for linen and bath towels. Not allowed. Weddings, stag/hen parties and any special events/celebrations are on request only and subject to prior arrangement with the owner and additional charges. A cot and highchair are available on request at no extra cost. When booking for 14 guests please note that only certain rooms will be available - please see the ’Layout’ tab for details. You will only have access all bedrooms when booking the 26-guest rate. In July & August it is only possible to book the entire château for a minimum of 26 guests. When booking Option 1 (7 bedrooms, 14 guests) please note that the rest of the château may be rented by other guests, with shared access to the pool. For exclusive/private use of the château guests must book the 26-person rate. Saturday (July and August) or flexible on request at other times of year. Extra €280 (14 guests)/ €420 (26 guests) payable locally. 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. It is recommended that all guests take out insurance to cover against potential cancellation and any accidental damage caused during your stay at the property. 7 nights (July and August) or 3 nights at other times of year. Yes. French Visitors Tax payable locally (typically costs €1-€10 per adult per night- please enquire if exact amount is required). No, available on request for an extra charge of €10 per person, payable locally. The pool is open approximately mid-May to end-September. Please note that pool opening dates are subject to local weather conditions and pool maintenance requirements and that cooler months may not be suitable for swimming.