French holiday cottages and pool in the Pyrennees.

OMS near CERET

Restored Catalan farm estate

La Rondelle sleeps 4/6. The Cottage sleeps 2/3

France's most reliable sunshine: 300 days a year

Lo Mas d'en Llinassou: La Rondelle and The Cottage

Lo Mas d'en Llinassou is about a mile from the village centre. Over the past few years the property has been completely restored within the original stone walls, using the traditional materials of stone and red tile, with wooden shutters. "La Rondelle" is a separate house next to the main building. Across the courtyard is the smaller "Cottage".

La Rondelle

A detached house rebuilt on the foundations of the original medieval walls to modern standards in the traditional style. The whole property is built on a hillside, so the lower floor is built into the slope and remains pleasantly cool even on the hottest of days. La Rondelle is available from May to October.

La Rondelle from main terrace La Rondelle from below

La Rondelle from main terrace and from below

Lower Floor

Bedroom 1 furnished with double bed, bedside tables, a marble-topped dresser and a painted two-seater wooden bench. Two windows look out over the valley and a sliding patio door gives onto a private terrace, for which there are a small table and chairs.

Bedroom 2 currently arranged with two single beds, with a window on valley side.

Separate bathroom with full-length bath (shower mixer tap + shower curtain), shelves, hand basin, mirror and shaver point. Separate WC with hand basin.

Main (entrance) floor

This is a large double height room roughly bisected at normal ceiling level (+/- 2m 25cm) by a massive beam, which supports a large mezzanine platform above one side of the room.

The living room end, which has a picture window is furnished with sofas, coffee table etc, and includes a DVD player and TV set. The other end, equipped with a dining table (seating for 8) gives onto a further terrace (3 x 4 m) (pictured above), equipped with garden dining table and chairs, with views towards Spain. Sun awning over.

The kitchen corner is equipped with a sink, dishwasher, large fridge/freezer, a full-sized 4-burner gas stove with oven. Crockery, glassware and cutlery settings for 8+. La Rondelle shares a laundry room, with washing machine, with The Cottage.

Mezzanine

This floor has a round window (giving "La Rondelle" its name), with views towards Spain. It is currently arranged as a sleeping platform with 2 or 3 single beds. There is a large wardrobe. The mezzanine has an internal balcony, which looks down over the living room.

The terraces can be accessed respectively from the main bedroom and from the kitchen area. Internal wooden staircases with varnished steps go down to the bedroom floor and up to the mezzanine.

The Cottage

Similar to La Rondelle both outside (two private terraces and balcony) and inside (lower bed/sitting room with separate bathroom including WC; middle floor kitchen/dining room; upper sleeping platform). There is an internal wooden staircase with varnished steps down to the bedroom floor and open-tread varnished wooden steps up to the mezzanine. This house is suitable for 2/3 adults or 2 adults plus small children. It is fully winterised (heated with a wood burning stove) and can be occupied all year round. Includes a DVD player and TV set. No dishwasher.

The Cottage

The Pool and Pool House

The Pool and Pool House are just above La Rondelle and the Cottage on the slope (see photographs at top of page). The pool area is enclosed by walls and gated railings in compliance with French government standards. The pool house comprises a covered terrace outside and a changing room inside, together with a shower room with WC and basin. On the sun terrace around the pool there are sun loungers and a ping pong table.

Surroundings

The property, which comprises some 60 acres, is set in extensive mixed woodland and farmland in hilly country at about 450 metres above sea level. A gated chain link fence encloses the "home" area of about 4 acres, which features cork oaks and live oaks and several grassy terraces. There are two open wells with retaining ponds inside the perimeter and another in our more distant chestnut grove. At the bottom of the hillside is the Llinassou ravine (generally dry in summer - and walkable).

Local Activities and Attractions

We chose Oms for its ideal situation for so many activities in summer and winter alike. At the Mas there is the pool, table tennis, some old children's bikes, or you can explore the extensive wooded grounds.

Choose to venture away from the poolside and you are less than an hour from almost anywhere in French Catalonia. Perpignan, Arles, Elne or Prades and its neighbourhood have historic and Romanesque architecture. There are unspoiled beaches for swimming: or the historic port of Collioure, as well as the ports of Banyuls and Vendres, all with excellent fish restaurants. You can go walking or climbing on the Canigou, or above Prats de Mollo, duty-free shopping at Le Perthus, or visit the spa and casino at Le Boulou. The Casino at Amélie also combines a fine restaurant.

If you enjoy good French cuisine, Céret has a couple of restaurants in the Michelin rosette zone as well as numerous other cafes and restaurants. It also boasts Museums of Art and local archaeology. On Saturday there is a colourful local market. The cinema shows films in French twice a week.

Over the Spanish frontier is Figueras with its magnificent Dalì museum in the old theatre; Cadaquès, the Roses peninsula and La Bisbàl for traditional pottery. Cosmopolitan Barcelona is only 2 hours away.

The tourism office in Céret is a good source of information on events and activities in the region and we will also be very happy to advise you.

Getting there

By air Ryanair daily to Perpignan and Carcassonne in France and to Girona in Spain; British Airways or Iberia and others to Barcelona. Also Montpellier with British Airways or Toulouse with British Airways or Air France and several others. Seasonal flights to Girona. Flights via Brussels with Brussels Airlines or via Paris Orly with Air France.
Flights with Flybe to Perpignan from Southampton and Birmingham and with British Midland from Manchester (seasonal).
By rail/TGV to Perpignan.
By road to Le Boulou, last/first exit in France on the A 9 motorway before the Spanish border. Then follow the signs to Céret. At Céret follow D 615 Llauro/Oms.

Prices and booking information 2012

High Season with pool operating ( Mid-July to end-August)
Rondelle	£1100
Cottage	£750
Mid Season with pool operating (June, early July & September)
Rondelle	£950 (£875)
Cottage	£650 (£600)
Low Season (pool not operating)
Rondelle	£650
Cottage	£500
Linen hire (if required) per person per week	£8

For your current exchange rate go to:

Currency Converter by OANDA.com, The Currency Site

The properties should be vacated by 10.00 a.m. and are available for occupation after 5.00 p.m. All starting dates are Saturdays.
These rates include electricity and water and Calor gas. Broken items should be replaced, and the house must be left clean and tidy for the next occupant.
A 25% non returnable deposit of the total rental fee is payable on booking, with the balance due 6 weeks prior to departure date.