A slice of paradise - Jouandassou has charm and character in abundance - and that includes the hosts! Both Nick and Dominique are fluent in English and French, and Nick is a wonderful cook who... read more bursts into song, accompanied by his guitar, at random moments. The building dates from 1707 and Nick and Dominique have kept as much as possible of the original, which means that everywhere you look, there is interest, character and general amazement.
They run their house as either a gite or a b&b. We took it as a gite and so had all four bedrooms, which came with a kitchen and a dining room plus use of all the outside space - and wonderful pool which is both warm, clean and chlorine free (it tastes mildly salty). All the rooms are decorated in a different style, all done by Dominique, all lovely - really hard to choose a favourite. Two bedrooms are accessed by one staircase, and two by another, but join through a lockable door. All are en suite, and all the en suites are lovely, at least two with large, walk in shower cubicles.
The atmosphere is laid back and friendly with lots of help when you need it. The nearby town of Trie has everything you need, including old water bottles refilled with wine at 2.20 euros a litre. Further away are the Pyrenees, and a host of visitable chateaux and old churches. And Spain is not far either, where tobacco, local pottery and olive oil are very cheap.
Come with a car, take advice of places to visit from Dominique, drive some days, relax in the grounds on other days. Heaven.
