This is a Catalan farmhouse built about 1730 with two storied living accomodation built above the stabling. The latter has now been turned into more useful rooms. It appears that we are only the third family to have lived here as the descendants of the original buyers occupied the property until the early 1960's. From then until 1982 a local farmer/builder took it over utilising much of the land for vines, a cherry orchard and vegetable growing together with goats, rabbits and sheep. We bought the property when he and his wife retired to live in nearby Ceret.

We have attempted to keep it as much as we took it over and furnished it simply in what might be termed "farmhouse" style. As we spend about a third of the year here it is comfortable, easy to keep clean and a place to relax without being inhibited by formal gardens or overlooked by neighbours.

Although only a kilometre from the nearest D-road the mountain in front of the house cuts out much of the road noise and the situation was obviously originally chosen so that it occupies the prime position in this part of the Vallespir by being accessible but not remote. Ready access to sea and mountain is a part of the attraction of this part of France and indeed you can start walking part of one of the 'Grandes Routes' right from the door. It takes about a ½ - 1 hr drive to the sea, depending on traffic and your choice of beach, where you will find sand for miles.

The local towns all have their own varied characteristics; Arles sur Tech is "working", Amelie les Bains is a spa town, Ceret is artistic, Le Boulou is supermarkets, Le Pertus is a "duty free" area and possibly appropriately named "The armpit of Europe" by one guest.

Spain is easily accessible by several routes - mountainous but beautiful, speedily by autoroute, highly spectacular along the coast or through the dreaded aforementioned Le Pertus. This part of Spain inland is quietly prosperous and there are some excellent good value restaurants tucked away.

House accomodation is primarily on two floors, one with three separate two bedded rooms plus a small washroom and the ground floor with the old farm kitchen and an airy comfortable sitting room. Below this there are the old stable and farm buildings which have been turned into a "Garden Room" where the chairs etc are stored and a decent sized shower room with washing machine. The remaining room remains a wine storage area which we keep locked!

The land around the house is terraced with vines, cherry trees and a sitting area. Our ground embraces more woodland up the valley but it is almost impenetrable. At the foot of the land we have a small tributary of the River Tech running round the property which is dry in summer but can be 3-4 meters high during the occasional flood. Because the land is terraced, with 1-2 metre drops, we regretfully consider the house unsuitable for children under primary school age.

This part of France is not well known even to the French but we find the Catalans very welcoming with the younger generation speaking enough English to make a sensible conversation possible in the market place etc. The restaurants are getting better and our very comprehensive House Guides give many recommendations and even some 'thumbs down'. Children are well catered for and encouraged locally to eat 'en famille' but their table manners are generally excellent - and nobody worries if one or two dogs are under the table.

As we are in the Pyrenean foothills one can literally walk out of the front door and cross high country either to the Mediterranean or Atlantic on GR 10 . The house is filled with books, many about the area, and day trips within easy reach could cover exotic gardens, music festivals, Barcelona, Dali in Gerona, various museums ranging from nautical to vintage cars via Picasso, and a host of chateaux - some vinous and others mysterious. Even after 20 years we still uncover interesting things to do, see or eat!