Discover life in Gascony from our 'Gascony Life' blog...

From garlic to Armagnac, from cooking to Jazz, all you need to know here!
GASCONY LIFE BLOG

WELCOME TO SIMPLY GASCONY - October 2021

For Special Holidays...

We are your best way to find a special holiday home in Gascony to rent at any time of the year. This is a truly beautiful, unspoilt, and welcoming part of Southwest France. Each cottage, farmhouse, country house or Château on our list has its own individual character and charm. Gascony is great for families and groups of friends who want to relax, unwind, and slow down. Gascony is about proper countryside, wonderful local markets, fascinating architecture and delicious food and wine. Simply Gascony provides each Guest with personal service combined with deep local knowledge.

Gascony is the perfect place to go on holiday this autumn and winter...

Travel both ways between the UK and France is getting easier all the time. Fully vaccinated visitors to France can now return to England without having to have pre-departure Covid tests or to quarantine on their return home. So now is the perfect time to think about making the most of the rest of this year with a holiday in Gascony. Here's why:

1. Drive direct to Gascony from the UK.

Gascony is very easily accessible by car - good for social distancing - especially using the Channel Tunnel. From Calais, where the Tunnel arrives in France, it will take around 10 hours driving to reach Auch, the capital of Gascony. Alternatively, you could break your journey about halfway, and stay the night in the Loire valley to visit one or more of the great C16 chateaux that comprise this wonderful UNESCO/World Heritage area. There are lots of ferry crossing options, with the shortest route also being to Calais. Gascony is also very easy to reach by plane or train, going to major stations and airports such as Toulouse and Bordeaux.

2. Healthy area, low population density.

With practically no pollution, Gascony is one of the healthiest destinations in Europe - for both the mind and the body. The beautiful, unspoilt countryside of rolling hills and valleys offers plenty of scope for outdoor expeditions and exploring, the chance to enjoy an active holiday at your own pace. Simply Gascony has a special relationship with Gascogne Bike Hire so we can arrange for bicycles to be available at your rental property. Gascony has one of the lowest population densities in the whole of France and there is very little traffic - a holiday location that is guaranteed to be far from the hustle and bustle!

3. Great weather for outdoor living.

Gascony has a great year-round climate, with warm and temperate spring, summer and autumn months. This makes for great outdoor living, with days spent by the pool, exploring local markets full of local produce and dining al fresco. There's plenty to see and do in Gascony, with activities ranging from browsing historical towns and cities, to opportunities to hike, cycle and even surf on the Atlantic coast - many options for those who are looking to enjoy an active and outdoors holiday.

4. The food and wine are wonderful.

France as a country is a haven for foodies, but perhaps no region so much so as Gascony. This region is renowned for local delicacies such as the many recipes for duck. Flavours are generally rich and healthy, with gently reared tender red meat, really tasty chicken, the famous Toulouse Sausage, 'Cassoulet', a vast range of patés and 'charcuterie', and of course traditional foie-gras. Local markets are full of fresh fruit and vegetables, bread, patisserie and croissants, and a huge range of cheeses. Wine lovers have always known Gascony for its wide range of excellent country wines, the intriguing aperitif 'Floc de Gascogne' and its signature brandy 'Armagnac'.

5. Simple contract, personal service.

For the last two years during the Covid pandemic, we and our property owners have offered special 'No Risk' contracts to help holiday makers to come to Gascony. For the future, we will still guarantee that if you have to cancel your booking because of official government travel restrictions, and if you subsequently rebook the same or a similar SG property, then no cancellation or other costs will be charged. You will find a copy of this Contract on our Rental Agreements page.

6. Flexible Rents and Special Offers

We have a flexible rent policy for all our properties. The rent quoted on this website for each property is the maximum Summer High Season Rent per week with full occupancy. Rents outside High Season are negotiable depending on the time of year, length of stay and number of occupants, so please contact Simply Gascony for full details. In addition, we have occasional Special Offers, for existing and new properties, last minute availability, and low season rents.

Seasons:

Summer 2022 - 25 June to 3 September 2022:
Gascony is best known for its glorious Summer 'High' Season in July and August. This is when there are blue skies, hot days and long warm evenings; there are many festivals and village parties, street markets are larger, and everyone is on holiday. All our properties are available in Summer.

Autumn/Winter 2021 & Spring 2022:
During the 'Low' Season, Gascony is quieter but there is still lots to do. Many of our properties with wood fires and central heating are available during this period when rents are much lower. From April to June and September to November the weather is often lovely but a bit cooler than in high Summer. November/December can be very pleasant; Gascony is a great place to spend the Christmas/New Year holidays (18 December to 8 January) and for January, February, and March you have the extra option of excellent skiing in the Pyrenees. The minimum rental period in Winter is normally 2 weeks.

Travel between the UK and France:

For the latest information about travel between the UK and France please check these government websites:
www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/coming-to-france/coronavirus-advice-for-foreign-nationals-in-france/
www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france

Please contact robin@simply-gascony.co.uk for further information.