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Gite de Piquetalen

The gite, constructed in 2007, is architect-designed, built and furnished in a classical style to capture the relaxed warmth of the Midi-Pyrénées region. Situated in the Tarn, some 40km from Toulouse, Le Gite de Piquetalen serves as a perfect base from which to discover the beautiful south-west of France.

The living area of the holiday cottage is open-planned with kitchen, dining and sitting areas. With its high ceiling, roof beams and spiral staircase, the gite living area has a very spacious feel to it. In the summer the French windows add to the spaciousness with views onto the garden and, in the winter, the wood burning stove gives a warm and cosy feeling to the gite.

The accommodation has two bedrooms and a bathroom with a built in shower. It is well equipped and furnished and has been awarded three stars by Clevacance. The holiday cottage is set in a large garden with an orchard on one side. It has two terraces, looking onto the garden, farmland and a small orchard.

Lavaur is 4 kilometres from the gite. It is a small medieval town which has a large lively market on Saturdays. A wide variety of goods can be found in the market including organic foods, clothes, household goods and, on alternate Saturdays, animals.

There are many good restaurants in the town and the surrounding area. The town has a medieval centre with a 13th century Cathedral. As with many towns in the area, Lavaur was one of the bastions of the Cathar religion and a monument marks the site where Dame Giraude de Laurac - Lady of Lavaur - was murdered when Simon de Montfort took the town in 1211.

The Jardins des Martels are a ten minute drive from the gîte and cover an area of 8.6 acres. They have been classified as amongst the most beautiful in France. They include a greenhouse with exotic plants, a banana plantation and a mini farm. The gardens have more than 2500 different kinds of plants. They are connected to nearby Saint Lieux les Lavaur by a steam railway.