Villa d’Antibes
Stunning Belle-Epoque vacation villa rental with heated outdoor pool located a short stroll away from the old town of Antibes and the beaches around Cap d’Antibes.
The feedback we’ve received emphasizes the peaceful atmosphere and the opportunity to experience nature in a way that most people have never had a chance to before.
Château Marteret
Go for a swim in the château’s private lake with a sandy beach.
Incredibly peaceful and secluded on 180 ha land, surrounded by wild animals, forests and hills.
Restaurants and farmer’s markets are 10 minutes away.
If you are the active type wanting to explore the region every day, this may not be for you.
How would you describe Château Marteret in a nutshell?
Château Marteret is a fairy tale castle framed by four centuries-old cedars and set into the middle of 180 hectares of land. Built in 1846 as a hunting lodge, the château has since then been turned into a luxurious seven room vacation home in Gascony, France.
What can you tell us about the interior design of the castle?
The interior design of Château Marteret is all about the small but intricate detailing that can be found all around the house. With works by internationally renowned architects and designers, the house beautifully merges old structures with modern design.
Eriko Horiki, a Japanese artist who works with Washi paper, designed the incredible light structure right in the entrance hall as well as two others in the chateau. We have replications of Gaudi armchairs and Claudy Jongstra, a Dutch artist, created the hand-felted curtains, partially from wool and silk. Each of these curtains is unique and was color coordinated just for this château.
Our furniture is made from solid oak, which was oiled not treated in order to keep in line with our biological concept that we base everything on. Clay plastering was used for the bathrooms, crystals were artistically inset into the plaster and the floors were laid with Moroccan tiles.
What kind of guest would find this to be the ideal vacation spot?
This is a very secluded and peaceful vacation home. There are no neighbors close by; instead woods and fields surround the château. Consequently, Château Marteret is ideal for guests who are looking for a relaxing vacation, not someone who is looking to stay busy.
We often host families with small children, as well as several groups of people together. It is possible to stay here for seminars with a small number of participants. We can also host weddings or offer the ideal hideaway for a romantic trip or honeymoon.
What is so special about the property, which the château is sitting on?
Due to the sheer size of the property, which the château is located on, it feels almost like a remote paradise. There is a private lake that our guests can swim in, which is fed by a spring and isn’t very deep. We also have a small boat, which can be used on the lake.
The feedback we’ve been receiving from guests emphasizes the peaceful atmosphere and the exceptional chance to experience nature in a way that most people have never had a chance before.
What has been the biggest reward to you personally?
The contrast between this ancient castle and its modern ambiance offers a special charm that is in itself already quite unique. I truly appreciate being in such a beautiful and luxurious setting that enables me and others to experience its grand space, comfort and freedom – all of that in this incredible natural surrounding with wild animals, forests, hills, and much more.
The house itself is about 500 square meters in size and all of the furniture and bedding is in accordance with Château Marteret’s ecological concept. There are a total of seven rooms of which five are doubles and two rooms have two twin beds each. Most of the rooms are located on the upper floor; only one of them is on the ground floor. The guestrooms are all very spacious and together share a total of five bathrooms.
Château Marteret has a big kitchen for our guests to use, as well as a living room, a dining room and a big room, which can be used for seminars for up to 15 people. There is also a chapel room in the castle, which is ideal for simple gatherings or taking time away to meditate.
In the gardens there is also the pigeon tower with two levels, which was developed so that now there is room for two people to sleep in.
We keep everything rather simple at Château Marteret so that according to our guests’ needs pretty much everything is possible. We are always available to give recommendations on what to do and what to see in the area.
The château is self-catering but we can bring in a chef who can cook for or with our guests and catering is also possible. The same goes for the cleaning of the guestrooms, it all depends whether our guests would like their rooms to be cleaned daily, every other day or every week.
You will find the typical small and romantic French villages in this area. There are several markets on different days of the week and within 10 mins from the château our guests can shop for whatever they might need on a day-to-day basis.
The sights here will take you on a trip back to the Middle Ages! There are castles, bastilles, ancient villages and of course many museums telling about times long gone. Within a short drive to Auch you can reach the cathedral and see old towers as well as nice shopping streets. While it is rather quiet in the winter, during the summer months there is always a lot to do, like going to the jazz festival at Marciac in August. I would also recommend going to see the castle of Carcasonne, which is a longer trip away.
This region is also well known for the Armagnac, which is produced here, as well as foie gras. In some wine cellars the owners still do guided tours and wine tastings. Recently more and more star-rated restaurants have opened up in the area. A lot is offered here on the culinary side.
On the property guests can swim, use our trampoline, play table tennis and boules, or go on bike trips. Horse riding on the château’s own horses, of the robust and calm Merens Pyrenean breed, and archery are available at the château as well. And not too far away there are several golf courses and there are of course many great hiking trails waiting to be explored.
Château Marteret is located at the foot of the Pyrenees, in the Gascony region in southern France. Toulouse is 90 kilometers away and Auch, the historical capital of Gascony, can be reached in just 20 mins by car. Basically the château is set right between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
It is a rural and wild region with picturesque hills, which is sometimes called the Tuscany of France. I like how sparsely populated it is, there is not much industry and therefore also not much traffic so the air here is very clean.
Each seasons holds something special, of course. Spring in this part of France is beautiful and early on has the first warm months of the year. Often enough we already have 20 degrees and more in early February. During summer you will find lots of festivals and markets, including night markets. It is much more busy then but truly ideal for those guests seeking to enjoy the sun and go swimming.
Fall is the most beautiful time, in my opinion. The weather stays nice until the end of November. It is still warm then and guests can go swimming and hiking. The winter months are very special as well. Our guests can celebrate Christmas at the castle, stay indoors and get cozy in front of the fireplace or go outside and take ski trips.
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