The House
Le Belvedere is a luxurious self catering home unique to the Valley and was originally built over 300 years ago, located near Lourdes and the village of Argeles-Gazost, Pyrenees, in the south of France. Built by a nobleman in the 18th century and is now a private residence. The 300 year old wooden staircase is heritage listed for its unique construction as it is entirely free standing without vertical support beams.
Le Belvedere has a private pool and terrace area with stunning views of the Pyrenees ski fields which is approximately 20 minutes away. Your home away from home...guests never want to leave as the ambience of Le Belvedere is just magical.
Nestled in the spectacular French Pyrenees mountains is the historic 300 year old Maison D’Maitre Le Belvedere. Favoured by the rich and famous, this is a region of renowned natural beauty that puts the very best of the Pyrenees Atlantiques at your fingertips.
Offering an intense authentic French style experience in the Haute Pyrenees Vallée d'Argelès-Gazost, Le Belvedere is the perfect location from which to experience the intensity of the Haute Pyrenees has to offer. The seasons, landscapes, mountains, streams and villages are adorned with unique and different appearances. The light is ever changing and the charming atmosphere seems almost suspended out of time… whilst everything else happens elsewhere at full speed.
Further details indoors
Every room at Le Belvedere offers something magical. The Grand Salon is the perfect place to relax with a glass of port in front of the open fireplace, while the living room on the first floor with its big flop couches, entertainment system and extensive DVD library is the ideal place to unwind with family and friends after a day of site seeing. Each of the bright and airy bedrooms has its own private ensuite with a guest powder room on the ground floor for your convenience. On the first level, the regal master suite features original chestnut parquetry floors, soaring ceilings, antique furnishings and adjoining anti-room with small single bed. Also on the first level is the queen bedroom. On the top floor is a triple bedroom (three single beds) and double room (a double bed and single bed) both with quaint dorma windows that offer breath taking views out across the valley.
Further details outdoors
The pool, terrace and BBQ area is yours to enjoy! The pool is can be alarmed to ensure water safety and the terrace area is fitted with a barbecue to enjoy those wonderful summer evenings and spectacular views of the mountains.Spring at Le Belvedere is truly breathtaking. The garden comes alive with colour and fragrance that lasts throughout summer. Autumn offers up a spectacular display of olds, reds and browns, while winter transforms Le Belvedere into a beautiful snow covered hideaway. Any time of the year is truly magical.
CHEESE
Ossau-Iraty – famous cheese from the Pyrenees mountains. It is a French cheese made from raw (unpasteurized) sheep's milk, considered pure sheep's milk from Manech or Basco-Béarnaise ewes that are raised along the Pyrénées mountain range in the Basque region of France. Produced with a natural tan to brownish rind, Ossau-Iraty cheeses have a semi-hard to firm texture with off-white, ivory colored meat that may appear somewhat oily. Made without containing any air holes, the Ossau-Iraty cheeses provides a rich, buttery, somewhat nutty flavour that improves and becomes lightly fruity in taste if the cheese is cut so it is allowed to breathe before being eaten.
GASCON BLACK PIG OR PORC NOIR
Artisan of taste and local produce - Pierre Sajous, artisan butcher and chef and can helps discover the flavours of the region. He is a man who is passionate about his job and who loves his local territory, can take you on a journey through Pyrenean culinary heritage: - a boutique area where he specialities are fine jarred food, charcuterie specialities, and aged cured meats home-made on site and covering five main categories: Gascon Black Pig, pork charcuterie, duck, world cuisine and local producers. He has a workshop/tasting area where he explains about his expertise and the quality of the produce from our region and will give you explanations on the specificities of Bigorre's emblematic pig (Gascon Black Pig/Porc noir de Bigorre).
ARTISAN LOCALLY BREWED BEER
Lisa and Alexandre offer their locally brewed beer, made with spring water from the Cabaliros Massif (which is like a mountain). These artisanally brewed beers are unfiltered, unpasteurised and fermented in the bottles. This means these are products that evolve over time.
TORTE DES PYRENEES AUX MYRTILLES
The Gourmandises des Pyrénées is a local shop which sells home-made jams and pastries and boasts a local specialty, the famous "Torte des Pyrénées aux myrtilles". An artisan pastry chef produces an authentic Gâteau Basque or one of their home-made, wild blueberry tarts.
ARMANGNAC
Still one of Gers flagship products. A fiery nectar with complex flavor a production on family farms remaining a closely guarded secret.
FOIS GRAS
Local to the region but also can be found in Gers
WEEKLY FARMERS MARKET IN ARGELES – Since 1292
Weekly producer’s/farmer’s market (5 minutes from the house) Argeles-Gazost. Every Tuesday morning there is a farmer’s market, which started in 1292. Market day is the perfect opportunity to sample locally produced cheeses, honey, Foie Gras, charcuterie, gateau a la broche and the local speciality dish “La Garbure” along with Fois Gras, etc.