Hilltop villages in the area
Make time to visit the following - Vaour, Bruniquel, Larroque, Puycelsi, Castelnau de Montmiral, Cahuzac-sur-Vère, Cordes-sur-Ciel are just a few. Prettiest by far - and most spectacular castle - is Penne.
Villa La Plaine
Monclar-de-Quercy, South West France
- 8
- 4
- 4
FROM
£ 1,198
PER WEEK
Accommodation
At a glance
- Sleeps 8
- 3 Double Bedrooms
- 1 Twin Bedroom
- 4 Bathrooms
- WiFi
- Table Tennis
- Heated Pool
- Small Party Rate (up to 4 people)
- Ground Floor: Spacious entrance hall with double doors at either end. Large open plan room: kitchen (oven, microwave, dishwasher) with dining and sitting areas (TV, DVD, CD) and French windows to garden. Pantry (fridge) with door to exterior. Double bedroom (ceiling fan) with door to garden, and en suite bathroom. Study/library (TV, DVD) with door to garden. Utility room (washing machine, WC). Principal double bedroom (ceiling fan) with door to garden and en suite bathroom (with separate shower). WiFi.
- First Floor: Landing. Double bedroom (ceiling fan) with en suite shower room. Twin bedroom (ceiling fan) with en suite bathroom.
- Outside: Spacious grounds of two acres, dotted with trees and shrubs. Garden area with terracing. Covered terrace by pool. In-built barbecue. Table tennis. Badminton net. Private parking.
- Private heated swimming pool (10m x 5m) with corner steps
A fine example of a beautiful French country residence, Villa La Plaine can be found in the heart of the Tarn countryside, and only a 5 minute drive to the lovely bastide town of Monclar-de-Quercy (3km) with its selection of restaurants, cafes and shops. From the moment we approached the property by way of a lavender lined drive, we could not fail to be charmed by the 360° views, the setting, the décor and the ambience. This restful and welcoming atmosphere will ensure that Villa La Plaine becomes a firm favourite with our guests.
Large double doors lead into the impressive entrance hall, which sets the scene for the rest of the house. The soft natural tones of the light stone and brick work as well as the age old terracotta tiles evoke a sense of calm. To one side, an archway opens into the focal gathering place: a large double height room zoned into living, dining and kitchen areas. Individual pieces of artwork can be found throughout, many by local artists.
The bedrooms are split evenly over the two floors: two doubles on the ground floor, a double and a twin on the first floor. Each has its own en suite facilities making Villa La Plaine a great choice for a group of friends or multigenerational family, and are furnished in the same relaxing style, oozing comfort and charm.
Many of the ground floor rooms have access to the garden, allowing effortless outdoor living. The garden has been kept stylishly simple so not to detract from the surrounding far reaching views. Drink in the vistas from all sides, whether enjoying an aperitif on the terrace or taking a dip in the pool. The poolside covered terrace provides lovely cooling shade, appreciated by all during the summer months.
It is easy to while away the days at Villa La Plaine, with the nearest amenities and restaurants only a short 5 minute drive away in Monclar-de-Quercy. But we would suggest that a day or two is spent exploring the area. From hilltop villages, such as Puycelsi (15km), Bruniquel (18km), Castelnau-de-Montmiral (23km) and Cordes-sur-Ciel (43km), to the larger towns of Montauban (25km) and Gaillac (28km), there is no shortage of gorgeous places to visit. Closer to home, children will enjoy a day out at the lake near Monclar, which has been transformed into an activity centre with huge inflatables on the lake, beaches, water slides, woodland playgrounds and picnic areas.
- Due to the age of the building, there are some internal doorways with low headheight.
- Please note that there is a local tourist tax to pay: £2.30 per night for guests aged 18 and over.
Pricing & Availability
Additional Pricing Information
All Prices are per property, not per person.
Please note that all visitors to France aged 18 and over are required to pay a Tourist Tax. We collect this tax prior to your holiday and remit it on your behalf. The notes above specify the amount per person per night which will be added to your booking.
Where two or more prices are shown for the same date, you pay the amount shown for the number of people in your party. When the small party rate is paid not all bedrooms will be prepared.
Location of Villa La Plaine
Locality
Great Things to Do Near Villa La Plaine
Take an old train round the lakes of Monclar-de-Quercy
A little old steam train that has been saved from destruction and restored to take you on a lovely 3km tour (daily trips in July and August, otherwise on Sundays only).
Gaillac wines
Gaillac is famous for the wine produced from the vineyards in the area. The rows of vines stretch as far as the eye can see, and the area is one of the oldest wine producing regions in France, dating back to the 10th century. Visit the tourist office in Gaillac to pick up more information about the wine and the map for the Route de Vin. And finally, don't forget to buy some of the local produce!
Spend the day at the Cité de L'Espace,
just outside Toulouse - perfect for adults and older children. Here is a showcase for the space technology that happens in Toulouse. There are some excellent interactive exhibitions and shows with guided tours and lectures available. You can spend a day here or combine it with a visit to the Airbus factory, Europe's largest aircraft factory. Here guided tours take 1½ hours and must be booked in advance. It is great for older kids and the extended tour includes Concorde.
Toulouse - La Ville Rose
Spend a day in Toulouse, wandering through its streets, soaking up some history, then finding a nice spot for lunch. This beautiful 'ville rose' or 'pink city', so called because of the warm coloured bricks used for many of the buildings, is a lively and bustling place.
Canoeing & kayaking
Go for a paddle on the river Aveyron, starting out from Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val. The scenery is dramatic with the river snaking through the Aveyron gorge!
Visit Les Abbatoirs in Toulouse
This art gallery houses over 2,000 pieces of modern and contemporary art from World War II to the present day. www.lesabbatoirs.org
UNESCO World Heritage Site of Albi
A visit to the city of Albi and its awesome Cathedral are a must and the tour of the choir cloister is worth it for the extra cost. The peace and cool of this building is very moving. From the Cathedral you can take a selection of walks around the town that take you up charming back streets and across the River Tarn. It is fascinating to see the old mills that flank the River and bear witness to the milling history of the area.
The riverside bastide of Lisle sur Tarn
This charming riverside town Lisle sur Tarn sits on the banks of the Tarn and is a lovely place to wander around. Many of the buildings have half timbered fronts, with cantilevers and what are known as 'pountets', which are living rooms built between two buildings and overhanging the road, creating arched access underneath. Head to the square, which is one of the largest arcaded squares in south west France. It is surrounded by arcades on all sides and in the open central area a ring of plane trees provide shade.
Escape rooms in Montauban
'S ROOM AGENCY' in Montauban offers live 'escape room' games with 4 different missions to choose from.
Cool off at the lake beach
The lake just beside the village of Monclar-du-Quercy is a great place to relax on a hot day. You can swim and splash about in the lake itself, and there is also a heated pool. And yhe young people in your party will surely love the aquapark - jumping on and off big inflatables in the lake! The site is open from June to September.
Little Paris
You may be a long way from Paris here, but Petit-Paris is close at hand! The capital city's main sights have been painstakingly recreated in miniature by creator Gérard Brion, and beautifully laid out so you can walk around and admire the intricate work up close. There are also some models of iconic buildings from other parts of France.
Thursday morning in Monclar-du-Quercy
Head into Monclar on a Thursday morning to take in the local market, mix with the locals, and buy fresh produce to cook up at the villa.
Museums of Montauban
On a much smaller scale than Toulouse, Montauban was largely built using the same pink/red stone giving the town a warm pretty look. Have a wander around and if you have time, visit the three museums: Musée des Jouets (Toy Museum); Musée Ingres Bourdelle (featuring artworks by the artists Ingres and Bourdelle); Musée d'Historie Naturelle (Natural History) and Musée de la Résistance (the Resistance museum.
Nearby
Towns/Villages
| Monclar-de-Quercy | 5 mins | |
| Bruniquel | 20 mins | |
| Gaillac | 30 mins | |
| Montauban | 30 mins | |
| Albi | 45 mins | |
| Cordes-sur-Ciel | 45 mins | |
| Toulouse | 1 Hr 10 mins |
Airports
| Toulouse | 1 Hr | |
| Brive | 1 Hr 45 mins | |
| Carcassonne | 1 Hr 45 mins | |
| Bergerac | 2 Hrs 30 mins | |
| Bordeaux | 2 Hrs 30 mins |
Train Stations
| Gaillac | 30 mins | |
| Montauban | 30 mins | |
| Toulouse-Matabiau (TGV) | 1 Hr |
ports
| Santander | 5 Hrs | |
| Bilbao | 6 Hrs | |
| St Malo | 7 Hrs 45 mins | |
| Caen | 8 Hrs | |
| Dieppe | 8 Hrs 10 mins | |
| Le Havre | 8 Hrs 30 mins | |
| Cherbourg | 9 Hrs | |
| Roscoff | 9 Hrs 5 mins | |
| Calais | 9 Hrs 20 mins |
