- La Rondelle

Just returned from spending a relaxing fortnight in this quiet, isolated retreat located in the oak-clad foothills of the Pyrenees Oriental above the lovely old town of Ceret. The three stone buildings are beautifully constructed from the remains of an ancient farmhouse. The 2 bedrooms are on the lower ground floor, this was a relief in the hot summer heat. There are insect nets on all main windows so the breeze can float through the house and keep it cool. The big treat here is the beautiful, deep pool situated above the 2 accommodations. This means it is not overlooked and feels exquisitely private. We tended to use the pool at different times from the people in the other accommodation so that each family could enjoy this treat, but sharing was fine as well. It is gently cleaned with salt and an elegantly constructed filtering system so the water is very pleasant.

The area is has many interesting, historic places to visit including notable Romanesque churches, but most are at a distance and the hill roads are very bendy. There are also good walks, again at a distance, though I would not recommend staying here if you are after a serious hiking holiday. Both the families who rented the other accommodation rose early to go on major day trips, leaving the pool and its stunning terraces to us. So some use the place as a base from which explore and relax on return, while others simply enjoy the beautiful, quiet location, the summer heat, the refreshing smell of the oaks and pines and doing very little of anything at all. It is a perfect place for reading, cooking a little and being very, very lazy.

The owner’s daughter Arabella was on hand as she lives in the main house, we became great friends with her beautiful dog Roxy.

A week of indulgence doing nothing more than walking in the hills, swimming in the pool and sampling the local food and wine under the watchful gaze of the Pyrénées.

The house is very pleasant and well equipped. The pool is fantastic and was enjoyed by every one. Not much to say about the nearby village of Oms but historic Ceret a 25 minute drive away provided supplies, culture and restaurants.

La Rondelle is one of two cottages adjacent to the owners' renovated farmhouse, situated down a track off a minor road near a remote hilltop village. Don't book here if you want to be minutes away from supermarkets (although there is a useful Alimentation in the nearby village of Oms), bars, restaurants and general touristy liveliness. However, if having bats whirring close by at dusk; great views across to the mountaintops that signify the French/Spanish border; spacious, comfortable living spaces; a well-equipped kitchen; a pool you can swim properly in; and access to a hidden part of French Catalonia - then La Rondelle is the perfect location. We were here at the height of late summer, so found it hard to drag ourselves away from the views and the pool, but the walking in the nearby mountains is good; there are great beaches at Argeles and Collioure (good fish restaurants); and the little town of Ceret (20 mins away down a twisty mountain road) is a gem with a marvellous Art gallery and a genuinely rural Saturday market. The owners were accessible but discreet; the property clean and thoughtfully equipped; and the resident dog Roxy a friendly but well-behaved presence.

Maison trop petite pour 6 personnes. Une seule "vraie" chambre, les autres ne sont que la mezzanine et une petite pièce en sous sol. Peux convenir pour une famille mais surement pas pour des couples voyageant ensemble. Il aurait été juste et honnête de le préciser dans l'annonce. Sinon belle localisation dans les collines, endroit reculé et calme.