©Roger Budd 2007-2012
Mentions légales
SIRET: 521 909 747 00011
Siège social: Pépoulie 81700 Puylaurens
Enregistré au RCS de Castres sous le numéro 2010 A 52
Mentions légales
SIRET: 521 909 747 00011
Siège social: Pépoulie 81700 Puylaurens
Enregistré au RCS de Castres sous le numéro 2010 A 52
About to have supper by the pool in July
Guest book
As I write this it's snowing - so hard to believe that just a few short weeks ago we were in Pépoulie, enjoying a sunny warm October.
As we were travelling from Scotland, we thought it would be sensible to book an evening meal with Roger on that first night. It was a great idea! The food was local, well prepared and tasted delicious, washed down with an excellent Gaillac wine. Just the way a relaxing holiday should start.
The next day the sun came out with a vengeance and Roger showed us how to uncover the pool - in October! We managed to use it a few times, but although the sun was very warm, it was not quite enough to heat the pool sufficiently for more regular use. However, it was a bonus we hadn't expected, and it was lovely to laze round it on sunbeds, reading and enjoying a glass (or two) of wine.
Pepoulie is a most attractive house, extremely old on the outside but with all the modern requirements on the inside. As our host says on his website, "very Ikea"! This suited our needs - it's a big house, with lots of space, which meant that, when our family came to visit, there was plenty of room for us all. Roger is talking about putting another shower and toilet in, and that would make it perfect! The surrounding views are amazing, and when the sun rises in the morning the big table at the back of the house is the ideal place to eat breakfast.
The garden grounds came into their own when our grandchildren arrived. They flew kites, played football, played pirates in the tree-house, used the swings and slide and ran madly around, which made sure they were ready for bed on time!
This is a lovely part of France, with much to see and do, and we intend to repeat our visit as soon as we can.
Joan & Bill Harvey, Scotland, December 2011
French charm at its best!
Pepoulie is exactly such a beautiful, charming and wonderful French house many of us have been and are dreaming of. It is located on a hill, with a magnificent view over the beautiful French contryside. It is quiet and picturesque, located within walking distance to the small village of Puylaurens. The house itself has a beautiful exterior, with a delicious salt water pool, whereas the interior is spacious and modern, with all necessary facilities. The owner Roger Budd is a warm, friendly, and very service minded host, always easy to ask. He was helpful picking us up at the railway station, lent us necessary equipment when needed, provided us with excellent traveling advices, and generously shared his home grown produce with us (to our great excitement!). Our group included 6 children, between 3 and 15 years old, and with the child friendly atmosphere of Pepoulie they all enjoyed their stay very much. They could run around in the garden, play games, fly the dragon, play in the tree cottage, taste home grown fruits, watch television, listen to music, etc. However, the pool was of course the number one favorite. Besides, "everything" was there, all necessary utensils, as indicated on the Pepoulie webpage. For part of our stay we were as many as 12 people, and we all fitted well in the spacious house. Although we honestly would like to keep this treasure as a secret - we cannot but warmly recommend Pepoulie to all fellow travelers. Pepoulie is something very special.
Eirik Steindahl & family, Norway, July 2011
We were lucky to spend the month of May at Pepoulie. The location was wonderful. With the rented car, we were able to visit Narbonne, Albi, Carcassonne, Toulouse and dozens of interesting towns, churches and caves in between. Having the two high chairs, crib and baby bath made things so much easier for us. Roger, you were so helpful, answering all our questions and so quick to respond when we asked for anything. Also, the gîte we went to after yours didn't have internet access, and it made planning our days much more difficult - so thanks for having that available. The gîte itself was fantastic. The view out the back was super peaceful, and my son loved to watch the tractors at work. The pool was brilliant on hot days - by mid May the water was warm enough to relax in. And finally, the extra space was a blessing. Having extended family able to stay for a few days made the trip all the better. Thanks again for everything.
Brent, Katherine and family, Canada, May 2011.
Thank you very much for a lovely relaxing time at Pepoulie. It really was just what we wanted - beautiful countryside, rural tranquility far from any tourist hordes, a taste of France, more than comfortable accommodation, hot weather (with the odd cooler interlude) and a lovely swimming pool. We all found the local history intriguing and enjoyed our visits to several of the nearby hill towns. But the main joy was being together in lovely surroundings far from the rush of life back at home. Thank you very much for your nicely judged hospitality, for the copious fruit and vegetables from the garden and for your care and attention to our needs.
Website: To be completely honest I have just looked at it for the first time and found it to be an excellent reminder of our stay (although this is perhaps not what it was designed for). Gillian had of course looked at it before in detail and it was very helpful. I like the photographs and the layout is good. All the right bits of information.
Info sent before arrival: Useful and good to whet the appetite.
Price: Not cheap but I judge, without much knowledge of competition in the area, good value (taking into account the high standards of accommodation etc).
Greeting on arrival and help during the stay: Excellent. We all really enjoyed your company for one thing! Any very minor problems were sorted out quickly and without fuss.
The gîte: Spacious and comfortable, pleasantly cool on the hottest days. The pool was wonderful. I particularly loved the absence of chlorine. We all enjoyed the team building exercise with the pool cover at the end of the day.
Other thoughts. Table tennis in the atelier (if you could bear the pinging and ponging)?
Please use any of the above in your website if you like. But it all sounds rather formal. On a more personal note, many thanks indeed for the whole package. We really enjoyed meeting you and hope to see you again some time. Quentin, Gillian, Jennifer, Eve and Robert, UK, August 2010
Just a short note to thank you for your very warm welcome at Pépoulie last week. We had an excellent time, and the views of the rolling French countryside, coupled with the fantastic facilities at Pépoulie, and your enthusiasm for your local produce/surroundings/points of interest contributed to a great long weekend.
Your suggestion, to fly into Rodez and then follow Stage 13 of Tour De France 2010 to Puylaurens, to see some of the local sights and develop an appetite (thirst) for a hearty meal on Saturday night was a brilliant idea. The Côte d'Ambialet and the run up to Lautrec were quite challenging, however the views en route, sleepy rural villages, some long downhill stretches, and the relatively quiet roads made for a good day in the saddle.
Finally, thanks again for access to your vegetable garden (the figs and tomatoes were abundant and delicious) which complemented our meals very well!!
We will recommend Pépoulie to our friends and family and hope we have an opportunity to stay again in the not-too-distant future.
Best regards
Andrew, Esmi & Baz, Australia/Greece, October 2010
Our stay in your gîte in late June and early July 2010 was one of the best we had. We were four adults and five kids and the gîte and your hospitality were wonderful. We also had the best weather one could have, the only bad thing with that was that we stayed by the nice pool almost every day. However we went to the market in Revel, that we recommend everyone to do, and the city of Toulouse was very nice. But what we most enjoyed was the surroundings, the pool, and barbecue every night. We stayed for two weeks and can certainly recommend your gîte to anyone who wants a quiet stay.
Regards
Mikael and Robert with families in Stockholm
We have only great memories from Pépoulie. It was indeed a fantastic week in a fantastic house with fantastic hosts! I found your advertisement on Blocket last autumn, and continued to your website to get more information. It's a really nice website with all information needed, and the photos giving website guests a nice and true picture of the place. I love France and the French language, and might have quite a romantic way of thinking about it. That romantic dream came true at Pépoulie: the beautiful old house, the grapevine, the petanque set, the surroundings with the yellow flowers (I only know the French word for them - tournesols), your beautiful garden with possibilities to sit both at the front and at the back.
The price is ok for two families, a little too much for one family like ours. But since the gîte is able to host at least 10 people, I think it was a great idea to share the place with nice friends. To be able to share the memories from such a nice place is great I think. I called you on the arrival day to check what time the grocery stores closed, and you offered to go shopping for us. That was a really nice gesture! Also the Swedish flag and you meeting and greeting us upon arrival, warm and friendly when we invaded your house. The folder in the gîte with tourist information gave us great help, and you answered every other question we had. You also helped us when our friends' car broke down, very service minded, thank you very much! The gîte was so nice: very nicely renovated, clean and well equipped. The only "problem" we had during our stay was the flies, but no one is responsible for that. Your house is really a place to long back to! To sit at the back with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine in the sun was so relaxing. The pool was also nice and clean with nice chairs.
After the week at Pépoulie, our family continued to Diano Marina on the Italian Riviera. The first night there, we all longed back to the calm and quiet of Pépoulie. Even the kids preferred your place! We really hope to return some day!
Monica, Fredrik, Johanna, Gustaf & Vilhelm, July 2010
Kära Ulla och Roger!
Tack för två härliga veckor i Pépoulie! Visserligen hade vi lite otur med vädret i början med regn, blåst och till och med en hagelskur, men det glömde vi snabbt när vi sedan fick fint sommarväder, sol och varmt.
Pépoulie ligger underbart vackert med en strålande utsikt över ett böljande jordbrukslandskap. Vi betraktade soluppgång och solnedgång från uteplatsen på baksidan och åt lunch och middag där eller på framsidan beroende på sol och vind. Lägenheten var stramt och smakfullt inredd och välutrustad och funktionell för oss sex vuxna och två småbarn. Poolen var en stor tillgång de varma dagarna och uppskattades både av barnen och av oss vuxna och körsbärsträden var en oväntad bonus!
Vi gjorde flera trevliga utflykter, till marknaden i Revel, till Carcassonne, Lavaur, Lautrec och Cordes men i Sorèze var det mesta stängt. Linda och Sven prövade också en vingård, Cecilia och Mårten shoppade i Toulouse och Lena och Lars upptäckte att Puylaurens var en liten trevlig by att promenera runt i. De omskrivna duvslagen tyckte vi var ganska svåra att hitta. Lars firade sin födelsedag med en fin fotvandring på småvägarna norr om Pepoulie och Cecilia och Mårten tillbringade en vacker kväll och med att äta en utmärkt middag på restaurangen Cap de Castel i Puylaurens.
En oförglömlig upplevelse var midsommaraftonens svensk-fransk-engelsk-kanadensiska fest då vi försökte inviga sällskapet i våra exotiska seder! Förutom vi svenskar och Ulla och Roger var också Peter och Anna med familjer med, och vi förenades i internationellt och glatt samförstånd. Vi åt en fantastisk lunch med sill, yoghurt och Rogers egen potatis, västerbottenpaj, grönsakspaj med sallad, knäckebröd(!) och jordgubbar, glass och Ullas goda äppeltarte till efterrätt. Snapsvisorna sjöngs till den av Roger på IKEA inköpta snapsen. En fin majstång prydde gräsmattan och Roger hade översatt Små grodorna och Björnen sover till engelska för att alla skulle kunna sjunga med. Särskilt Björnen sover uppskattades av barnen som hade kunnat fortsätta hur länge som helst! Men det var en mycket varm eftermiddag och poolen erbjöd den naturliga avslutningen på festen.
Dagen efter var det dags för hemfärd men vi hoppas kunna komma tillbaka så att vi får se solrosfälten blomma!
Lena och Lars, Cecilia, Mårten och Nils, Linda, Sven och Folke, Sverige
Jean de Florette goes to Ikea
We had a truly relaxing and delightful autumn stay at Pepoulie. We loved the spaciousness of the gîte and the views, the quiet of the countryside, the slowness of Puylaurens and nearby towns. Long walks to search out pigeonniers justified two fantastic dinners at the nearby Cap de Castel restaurant. Here the owner (overhearing our conversation) led us from the table to admire his beautifully restored Citroën 2CV camionnette parked in the courtyard! He must be due an award from the French Tourism Agency. It being October, only the younger braved the pool but we all enjoyed the log fire each evening. This is a beautifully presented gîte - simple, tasteful, contemporary interiors behind the 18C rural facade - with everything necessary for comfort and cooking. A great place to read, think and talk. Thanks, Roger, for a warm welcome - we'll be back when the vines bear fruit, if not before!
Chris & Julia, Winchester, UK
Hej! Tack för en underbar vecka i ert härliga hus. Utsikten från pool kanten kommer vi inte att glömma i första taget och inte mötet med er heller.
Gerd, Gävle, Sweden
Thank you for letting us stay in your wonderful house and it has been a pleasure for all of us getting to know you and Peter and Zoë. The week just went past too fast and we are all missing it already.
Jill, Henrik & Tuva, Täby, Sweden
We would all like to thank you again for a most wonderful week at Pepoulie, it was heavenly.
Gerry, Vince, John, Kevin, Nicky and Evie, UK.
Hej Ulla och Roger
Vill tacka för våra två fina veckor i ert vackra hus med den underbara omgivningen. Tack också för det varma välkommnandet vi fick och hjälp med diverse saker.
Vi hade tänkt att göra en hel del utflykter men det blev inte så mycket av det då vi trivdes så bra i ert hus och i närområdet.
Vistelsen hos er under semestern 2009 kommer att leva kvar länge i våra minnen.
Bästa hälsningar
Mariana och Leif, Annelie, Peter och Loke, Åsa, Eamonn och Freja, Sweden
We had a fantastic 3 weeks at Pepoulie and it was exactly the sort of holiday we were after . A lovely gite set in beautiful countryside with a gorgeous swimming pool lent to a very relaxing break . The gite was really comfortable and was well equipped except for cooking utensils such as tongs, egg flips etc. David and Fran were extremely helpful and friendly during our stay and accessible if we had any queries or problems. We wouldn't hesitate in recommending Pepoulie to friends and family and hope to return when we're in Europe next. We are happy for you to include our comments in your guestbook. Natasha & Jeremy Green, Australia
Pépoulie, september 2008. Några intryck från vår semestervecka:
Det första, och som fick oss att tappa andan, är utsikten från gården. Ett panorama miltals över böljande kullar och odlade fält. Liknar faktiskt vårt Österlen i Skåne.
Det andra är själva gården. En riktigt vacker gammal gårdslänga högt ovanför odlingslandskapet. Inne är den varsamt renoverad. Sparsmakat inredd med stora ytor, vita murväggar.
Till själva byn, Puylaurens, vandrar man på morgonen knappt en kilometer för att handla baguetten till frukost i morgonsolen och kanske något gott till lunch.
Höjdpunkten är att duka middagsbordet ute i kvällssolen med traktens primörer och ett immigt Rosévin - och sedan kanske ta kaffet vid swimmingpoolen.
Byns värdshus är ett alternativ till middagen. Det finns bara ett, men desto mer högklassigt och heter Cap de Castel.
Vi kan också tipsa om trevliga utflykter:
- Fotvandringar vi gjorde en på egen hand och en milslång som arrangerades av byns vandringsklubb (lördagar två ggr/månad under vår och höst).
- Marknader: På onsdagar i Puylaurens och på lördagen i Revel, en liten stad som ligger 20 km därifrån. Titta på brokigt folkliv och handla färskvaror från gårdarna.
Vi vill återvända till Pépoulie och då gärna i juli nästa gång för att se traktens enorma solrosfält blomma!
Margareta Lindberg och Bo Forsling, Stockholm Sverige
There's much that can make a September week in Pépoulie memorable .... the house is large, solid and charming in that typically French rural way. The view over the fields and hills is magnificent, and the pool is large and blue!
The small winding lanes around the farmhouse offer excellent walking and jogging. For those with a culinary interest there's a marvellous restaurant in the newly restored hotel up in the oldest parts of the village. Its beautiful terrace is perfect for a delicious evening meal or glass of champagne. The view stretches wide and far, and in the distance you make out the blue contours of the Pyrenees.
With the help of a hire car we took the opportunity to get to know the exciting areas around. We wandered round medieval little villages with winding lanes and alleyways and charming small squares, enjoyed the friendly small towns with their cafés and bookshops, hiked on La Montagne Noire, visited vineyards and climbed evocative Cathar strongholds dramatically perched on steep mountain sides.
In the nearby town of Castelnaudary we tasted a real cassoulet for the first time, accompanied by an excellent bottle of local light red wine. In the town of Lautrec we discovered the famous mild pink garlic so esteemed by chefs and foodies. A short car drive away there's also the cave where, according to legend, the world famous green-veined Roquefort cheese originated. We didn't manage to make it this time during our short week, but will certainly do so next time we come to Pépoulie.
Lastly we'd like to share one of the best experiences of our visit: with the pink garlic and wonderful vegetables bought in the market in the village, we prepared our own poivronnade (a traditional dish with red peppers and garlic) and a fantastic meat stew with vegetables and red wine. With darkness falling and the stew ready we finally sat down in the mild September evening under a starry sky....it was a divine birthday meal that we'll never forget!
Andreas Ljungdahl and Hanna Eriksson, Sweden
We had a really good time at Pépoulie, including also some excellent stops on travel there and back. It's a wonderful location and the gîte is so cool and calming. We went to the Cap de Castel twice - lovely setting and people very nice. The market was also a real experience and the boys went canoeing on the lake near Revel. I hope we will be allowed to come back some time. Christine Williams, UK
It is a wonderful place that you have created for yourselves and your tenants. Fredrik Malmfors, Sweden
Just to say thankyou for a lovely few days at Pepoulie. We all enjoyed ourselves enormously - such fun to have the whole family together. I hope we can do it again next year. Angela Porritt, Canada
We have just come back from our week in Puylaurens (Pépoulie). We're trying to gather our impressions of a really fantastic week. We were there together with our two daughters and their families. We were six adults and three children (14 months and five months.) We appreciated the facilities in the house (dishwasher, washing machine etc.) We also thought that everything felt new, fresh and functional.
The pool was used a lot as we had fantastic weather the whole week. The twins got their first experience of water in the pool and the rest of us enjoyed the water which was really fresh and refreshing.
We can easily see ourselves coming back to Pépoulie, and until and if that happens, we will really remember this week as a fantastic success. This we're all agreed on. Anders & Eva Hall, Katarina & Magnus Aurell, Maria Hall & Johan Henriksson, Sweden
Nigel and I would like to thank you for allowing us to holiday in your beautiful gîte. All the directions and information you gave us were most helpful. David welcomed us when we arrived and again he was most informative about the local area and showed us around Pépoulie answering any questions we had. Thank you very much for the bottles of wine, we really enjoyed them and they were more than welcome after such a long journey.
When we arrived, we realised that all the photographs we had seen of Pépoulie didn't do it justice. The views were simply amazing, what a fantastic setting! The accommodation was spacious, comfortable and met all our requirements. We enjoyed BBQing in the evening, relaxing and drinking in the fantastic views, as well as the local wine. The children had a brilliant time in the pool, weather permitting. We were very unlucky with the weather as we only had five or six days of sunshine. David told us this was the worst summer he had known. However, this didn't deter us! We visited various towns and villages in and around the area, and further afield. On your recommendation we went to Cap de Castel, both the service and the meal were brilliant. Nigel has taken some photographs of Pépoulie, but again, it's not the same as being there!! Hope they might be of some use.
Thank you again, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and would highly recommend Pépoulie to anyone wanting a peaceful, relaxing holiday in a beautiful gîte with unrivalled views. Jane & Nigel Sanders, UK
As I write this it's snowing - so hard to believe that just a few short weeks ago we were in Pépoulie, enjoying a sunny warm October.
As we were travelling from Scotland, we thought it would be sensible to book an evening meal with Roger on that first night. It was a great idea! The food was local, well prepared and tasted delicious, washed down with an excellent Gaillac wine. Just the way a relaxing holiday should start.
The next day the sun came out with a vengeance and Roger showed us how to uncover the pool - in October! We managed to use it a few times, but although the sun was very warm, it was not quite enough to heat the pool sufficiently for more regular use. However, it was a bonus we hadn't expected, and it was lovely to laze round it on sunbeds, reading and enjoying a glass (or two) of wine.
Pepoulie is a most attractive house, extremely old on the outside but with all the modern requirements on the inside. As our host says on his website, "very Ikea"! This suited our needs - it's a big house, with lots of space, which meant that, when our family came to visit, there was plenty of room for us all. Roger is talking about putting another shower and toilet in, and that would make it perfect! The surrounding views are amazing, and when the sun rises in the morning the big table at the back of the house is the ideal place to eat breakfast.
The garden grounds came into their own when our grandchildren arrived. They flew kites, played football, played pirates in the tree-house, used the swings and slide and ran madly around, which made sure they were ready for bed on time!
This is a lovely part of France, with much to see and do, and we intend to repeat our visit as soon as we can.
Joan & Bill Harvey, Scotland, December 2011
French charm at its best!
Pepoulie is exactly such a beautiful, charming and wonderful French house many of us have been and are dreaming of. It is located on a hill, with a magnificent view over the beautiful French contryside. It is quiet and picturesque, located within walking distance to the small village of Puylaurens. The house itself has a beautiful exterior, with a delicious salt water pool, whereas the interior is spacious and modern, with all necessary facilities. The owner Roger Budd is a warm, friendly, and very service minded host, always easy to ask. He was helpful picking us up at the railway station, lent us necessary equipment when needed, provided us with excellent traveling advices, and generously shared his home grown produce with us (to our great excitement!). Our group included 6 children, between 3 and 15 years old, and with the child friendly atmosphere of Pepoulie they all enjoyed their stay very much. They could run around in the garden, play games, fly the dragon, play in the tree cottage, taste home grown fruits, watch television, listen to music, etc. However, the pool was of course the number one favorite. Besides, "everything" was there, all necessary utensils, as indicated on the Pepoulie webpage. For part of our stay we were as many as 12 people, and we all fitted well in the spacious house. Although we honestly would like to keep this treasure as a secret - we cannot but warmly recommend Pepoulie to all fellow travelers. Pepoulie is something very special.
Eirik Steindahl & family, Norway, July 2011
We were lucky to spend the month of May at Pepoulie. The location was wonderful. With the rented car, we were able to visit Narbonne, Albi, Carcassonne, Toulouse and dozens of interesting towns, churches and caves in between. Having the two high chairs, crib and baby bath made things so much easier for us. Roger, you were so helpful, answering all our questions and so quick to respond when we asked for anything. Also, the gîte we went to after yours didn't have internet access, and it made planning our days much more difficult - so thanks for having that available. The gîte itself was fantastic. The view out the back was super peaceful, and my son loved to watch the tractors at work. The pool was brilliant on hot days - by mid May the water was warm enough to relax in. And finally, the extra space was a blessing. Having extended family able to stay for a few days made the trip all the better. Thanks again for everything.
Brent, Katherine and family, Canada, May 2011.
Thank you very much for a lovely relaxing time at Pepoulie. It really was just what we wanted - beautiful countryside, rural tranquility far from any tourist hordes, a taste of France, more than comfortable accommodation, hot weather (with the odd cooler interlude) and a lovely swimming pool. We all found the local history intriguing and enjoyed our visits to several of the nearby hill towns. But the main joy was being together in lovely surroundings far from the rush of life back at home. Thank you very much for your nicely judged hospitality, for the copious fruit and vegetables from the garden and for your care and attention to our needs.
Website: To be completely honest I have just looked at it for the first time and found it to be an excellent reminder of our stay (although this is perhaps not what it was designed for). Gillian had of course looked at it before in detail and it was very helpful. I like the photographs and the layout is good. All the right bits of information.
Info sent before arrival: Useful and good to whet the appetite.
Price: Not cheap but I judge, without much knowledge of competition in the area, good value (taking into account the high standards of accommodation etc).
Greeting on arrival and help during the stay: Excellent. We all really enjoyed your company for one thing! Any very minor problems were sorted out quickly and without fuss.
The gîte: Spacious and comfortable, pleasantly cool on the hottest days. The pool was wonderful. I particularly loved the absence of chlorine. We all enjoyed the team building exercise with the pool cover at the end of the day.
Other thoughts. Table tennis in the atelier (if you could bear the pinging and ponging)?
Please use any of the above in your website if you like. But it all sounds rather formal. On a more personal note, many thanks indeed for the whole package. We really enjoyed meeting you and hope to see you again some time. Quentin, Gillian, Jennifer, Eve and Robert, UK, August 2010
Just a short note to thank you for your very warm welcome at Pépoulie last week. We had an excellent time, and the views of the rolling French countryside, coupled with the fantastic facilities at Pépoulie, and your enthusiasm for your local produce/surroundings/points of interest contributed to a great long weekend.
Your suggestion, to fly into Rodez and then follow Stage 13 of Tour De France 2010 to Puylaurens, to see some of the local sights and develop an appetite (thirst) for a hearty meal on Saturday night was a brilliant idea. The Côte d'Ambialet and the run up to Lautrec were quite challenging, however the views en route, sleepy rural villages, some long downhill stretches, and the relatively quiet roads made for a good day in the saddle.
Finally, thanks again for access to your vegetable garden (the figs and tomatoes were abundant and delicious) which complemented our meals very well!!
We will recommend Pépoulie to our friends and family and hope we have an opportunity to stay again in the not-too-distant future.
Best regards
Andrew, Esmi & Baz, Australia/Greece, October 2010
Our stay in your gîte in late June and early July 2010 was one of the best we had. We were four adults and five kids and the gîte and your hospitality were wonderful. We also had the best weather one could have, the only bad thing with that was that we stayed by the nice pool almost every day. However we went to the market in Revel, that we recommend everyone to do, and the city of Toulouse was very nice. But what we most enjoyed was the surroundings, the pool, and barbecue every night. We stayed for two weeks and can certainly recommend your gîte to anyone who wants a quiet stay.
Regards
Mikael and Robert with families in Stockholm
We have only great memories from Pépoulie. It was indeed a fantastic week in a fantastic house with fantastic hosts! I found your advertisement on Blocket last autumn, and continued to your website to get more information. It's a really nice website with all information needed, and the photos giving website guests a nice and true picture of the place. I love France and the French language, and might have quite a romantic way of thinking about it. That romantic dream came true at Pépoulie: the beautiful old house, the grapevine, the petanque set, the surroundings with the yellow flowers (I only know the French word for them - tournesols), your beautiful garden with possibilities to sit both at the front and at the back.
The price is ok for two families, a little too much for one family like ours. But since the gîte is able to host at least 10 people, I think it was a great idea to share the place with nice friends. To be able to share the memories from such a nice place is great I think. I called you on the arrival day to check what time the grocery stores closed, and you offered to go shopping for us. That was a really nice gesture! Also the Swedish flag and you meeting and greeting us upon arrival, warm and friendly when we invaded your house. The folder in the gîte with tourist information gave us great help, and you answered every other question we had. You also helped us when our friends' car broke down, very service minded, thank you very much! The gîte was so nice: very nicely renovated, clean and well equipped. The only "problem" we had during our stay was the flies, but no one is responsible for that. Your house is really a place to long back to! To sit at the back with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine in the sun was so relaxing. The pool was also nice and clean with nice chairs.
After the week at Pépoulie, our family continued to Diano Marina on the Italian Riviera. The first night there, we all longed back to the calm and quiet of Pépoulie. Even the kids preferred your place! We really hope to return some day!
Monica, Fredrik, Johanna, Gustaf & Vilhelm, July 2010
Kära Ulla och Roger!
Tack för två härliga veckor i Pépoulie! Visserligen hade vi lite otur med vädret i början med regn, blåst och till och med en hagelskur, men det glömde vi snabbt när vi sedan fick fint sommarväder, sol och varmt.
Pépoulie ligger underbart vackert med en strålande utsikt över ett böljande jordbrukslandskap. Vi betraktade soluppgång och solnedgång från uteplatsen på baksidan och åt lunch och middag där eller på framsidan beroende på sol och vind. Lägenheten var stramt och smakfullt inredd och välutrustad och funktionell för oss sex vuxna och två småbarn. Poolen var en stor tillgång de varma dagarna och uppskattades både av barnen och av oss vuxna och körsbärsträden var en oväntad bonus!
Vi gjorde flera trevliga utflykter, till marknaden i Revel, till Carcassonne, Lavaur, Lautrec och Cordes men i Sorèze var det mesta stängt. Linda och Sven prövade också en vingård, Cecilia och Mårten shoppade i Toulouse och Lena och Lars upptäckte att Puylaurens var en liten trevlig by att promenera runt i. De omskrivna duvslagen tyckte vi var ganska svåra att hitta. Lars firade sin födelsedag med en fin fotvandring på småvägarna norr om Pepoulie och Cecilia och Mårten tillbringade en vacker kväll och med att äta en utmärkt middag på restaurangen Cap de Castel i Puylaurens.
En oförglömlig upplevelse var midsommaraftonens svensk-fransk-engelsk-kanadensiska fest då vi försökte inviga sällskapet i våra exotiska seder! Förutom vi svenskar och Ulla och Roger var också Peter och Anna med familjer med, och vi förenades i internationellt och glatt samförstånd. Vi åt en fantastisk lunch med sill, yoghurt och Rogers egen potatis, västerbottenpaj, grönsakspaj med sallad, knäckebröd(!) och jordgubbar, glass och Ullas goda äppeltarte till efterrätt. Snapsvisorna sjöngs till den av Roger på IKEA inköpta snapsen. En fin majstång prydde gräsmattan och Roger hade översatt Små grodorna och Björnen sover till engelska för att alla skulle kunna sjunga med. Särskilt Björnen sover uppskattades av barnen som hade kunnat fortsätta hur länge som helst! Men det var en mycket varm eftermiddag och poolen erbjöd den naturliga avslutningen på festen.
Dagen efter var det dags för hemfärd men vi hoppas kunna komma tillbaka så att vi får se solrosfälten blomma!
Lena och Lars, Cecilia, Mårten och Nils, Linda, Sven och Folke, Sverige
Jean de Florette goes to Ikea
We had a truly relaxing and delightful autumn stay at Pepoulie. We loved the spaciousness of the gîte and the views, the quiet of the countryside, the slowness of Puylaurens and nearby towns. Long walks to search out pigeonniers justified two fantastic dinners at the nearby Cap de Castel restaurant. Here the owner (overhearing our conversation) led us from the table to admire his beautifully restored Citroën 2CV camionnette parked in the courtyard! He must be due an award from the French Tourism Agency. It being October, only the younger braved the pool but we all enjoyed the log fire each evening. This is a beautifully presented gîte - simple, tasteful, contemporary interiors behind the 18C rural facade - with everything necessary for comfort and cooking. A great place to read, think and talk. Thanks, Roger, for a warm welcome - we'll be back when the vines bear fruit, if not before!
Chris & Julia, Winchester, UK
Hej! Tack för en underbar vecka i ert härliga hus. Utsikten från pool kanten kommer vi inte att glömma i första taget och inte mötet med er heller.
Gerd, Gävle, Sweden
Thank you for letting us stay in your wonderful house and it has been a pleasure for all of us getting to know you and Peter and Zoë. The week just went past too fast and we are all missing it already.
Jill, Henrik & Tuva, Täby, Sweden
We would all like to thank you again for a most wonderful week at Pepoulie, it was heavenly.
Gerry, Vince, John, Kevin, Nicky and Evie, UK.
Hej Ulla och Roger
Vill tacka för våra två fina veckor i ert vackra hus med den underbara omgivningen. Tack också för det varma välkommnandet vi fick och hjälp med diverse saker.
Vi hade tänkt att göra en hel del utflykter men det blev inte så mycket av det då vi trivdes så bra i ert hus och i närområdet.
Vistelsen hos er under semestern 2009 kommer att leva kvar länge i våra minnen.
Bästa hälsningar
Mariana och Leif, Annelie, Peter och Loke, Åsa, Eamonn och Freja, Sweden
We had a fantastic 3 weeks at Pepoulie and it was exactly the sort of holiday we were after . A lovely gite set in beautiful countryside with a gorgeous swimming pool lent to a very relaxing break . The gite was really comfortable and was well equipped except for cooking utensils such as tongs, egg flips etc. David and Fran were extremely helpful and friendly during our stay and accessible if we had any queries or problems. We wouldn't hesitate in recommending Pepoulie to friends and family and hope to return when we're in Europe next. We are happy for you to include our comments in your guestbook. Natasha & Jeremy Green, Australia
Pépoulie, september 2008. Några intryck från vår semestervecka:
Det första, och som fick oss att tappa andan, är utsikten från gården. Ett panorama miltals över böljande kullar och odlade fält. Liknar faktiskt vårt Österlen i Skåne.
Det andra är själva gården. En riktigt vacker gammal gårdslänga högt ovanför odlingslandskapet. Inne är den varsamt renoverad. Sparsmakat inredd med stora ytor, vita murväggar.
Till själva byn, Puylaurens, vandrar man på morgonen knappt en kilometer för att handla baguetten till frukost i morgonsolen och kanske något gott till lunch.
Höjdpunkten är att duka middagsbordet ute i kvällssolen med traktens primörer och ett immigt Rosévin - och sedan kanske ta kaffet vid swimmingpoolen.
Byns värdshus är ett alternativ till middagen. Det finns bara ett, men desto mer högklassigt och heter Cap de Castel.
Vi kan också tipsa om trevliga utflykter:
- Fotvandringar vi gjorde en på egen hand och en milslång som arrangerades av byns vandringsklubb (lördagar två ggr/månad under vår och höst).
- Marknader: På onsdagar i Puylaurens och på lördagen i Revel, en liten stad som ligger 20 km därifrån. Titta på brokigt folkliv och handla färskvaror från gårdarna.
Vi vill återvända till Pépoulie och då gärna i juli nästa gång för att se traktens enorma solrosfält blomma!
Margareta Lindberg och Bo Forsling, Stockholm Sverige
There's much that can make a September week in Pépoulie memorable .... the house is large, solid and charming in that typically French rural way. The view over the fields and hills is magnificent, and the pool is large and blue!
The small winding lanes around the farmhouse offer excellent walking and jogging. For those with a culinary interest there's a marvellous restaurant in the newly restored hotel up in the oldest parts of the village. Its beautiful terrace is perfect for a delicious evening meal or glass of champagne. The view stretches wide and far, and in the distance you make out the blue contours of the Pyrenees.
With the help of a hire car we took the opportunity to get to know the exciting areas around. We wandered round medieval little villages with winding lanes and alleyways and charming small squares, enjoyed the friendly small towns with their cafés and bookshops, hiked on La Montagne Noire, visited vineyards and climbed evocative Cathar strongholds dramatically perched on steep mountain sides.
In the nearby town of Castelnaudary we tasted a real cassoulet for the first time, accompanied by an excellent bottle of local light red wine. In the town of Lautrec we discovered the famous mild pink garlic so esteemed by chefs and foodies. A short car drive away there's also the cave where, according to legend, the world famous green-veined Roquefort cheese originated. We didn't manage to make it this time during our short week, but will certainly do so next time we come to Pépoulie.
Lastly we'd like to share one of the best experiences of our visit: with the pink garlic and wonderful vegetables bought in the market in the village, we prepared our own poivronnade (a traditional dish with red peppers and garlic) and a fantastic meat stew with vegetables and red wine. With darkness falling and the stew ready we finally sat down in the mild September evening under a starry sky....it was a divine birthday meal that we'll never forget!
Andreas Ljungdahl and Hanna Eriksson, Sweden
We had a really good time at Pépoulie, including also some excellent stops on travel there and back. It's a wonderful location and the gîte is so cool and calming. We went to the Cap de Castel twice - lovely setting and people very nice. The market was also a real experience and the boys went canoeing on the lake near Revel. I hope we will be allowed to come back some time. Christine Williams, UK
It is a wonderful place that you have created for yourselves and your tenants. Fredrik Malmfors, Sweden
Just to say thankyou for a lovely few days at Pepoulie. We all enjoyed ourselves enormously - such fun to have the whole family together. I hope we can do it again next year. Angela Porritt, Canada
We have just come back from our week in Puylaurens (Pépoulie). We're trying to gather our impressions of a really fantastic week. We were there together with our two daughters and their families. We were six adults and three children (14 months and five months.) We appreciated the facilities in the house (dishwasher, washing machine etc.) We also thought that everything felt new, fresh and functional.
The pool was used a lot as we had fantastic weather the whole week. The twins got their first experience of water in the pool and the rest of us enjoyed the water which was really fresh and refreshing.
We can easily see ourselves coming back to Pépoulie, and until and if that happens, we will really remember this week as a fantastic success. This we're all agreed on. Anders & Eva Hall, Katarina & Magnus Aurell, Maria Hall & Johan Henriksson, Sweden
Nigel and I would like to thank you for allowing us to holiday in your beautiful gîte. All the directions and information you gave us were most helpful. David welcomed us when we arrived and again he was most informative about the local area and showed us around Pépoulie answering any questions we had. Thank you very much for the bottles of wine, we really enjoyed them and they were more than welcome after such a long journey.
When we arrived, we realised that all the photographs we had seen of Pépoulie didn't do it justice. The views were simply amazing, what a fantastic setting! The accommodation was spacious, comfortable and met all our requirements. We enjoyed BBQing in the evening, relaxing and drinking in the fantastic views, as well as the local wine. The children had a brilliant time in the pool, weather permitting. We were very unlucky with the weather as we only had five or six days of sunshine. David told us this was the worst summer he had known. However, this didn't deter us! We visited various towns and villages in and around the area, and further afield. On your recommendation we went to Cap de Castel, both the service and the meal were brilliant. Nigel has taken some photographs of Pépoulie, but again, it's not the same as being there!! Hope they might be of some use.
Thank you again, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and would highly recommend Pépoulie to anyone wanting a peaceful, relaxing holiday in a beautiful gîte with unrivalled views. Jane & Nigel Sanders, UK