300 year old farmhouse in Southwest France.
Introduction
The Auberge de Castanet is our family homestead. This historic hamlet was built from 1700-1725. We bought it in 1999 and lovingly restored until 2018. In 1999, while working in finance in London, UK, I decided that our summers would be best spent in the Southwest of France. After much searching, we found this small hamlet, Mas de Rives, in the department of Castanet. Little did I know at that time, what a true piece of heaven we had stumbled upon. Since that time, Jack, Katie and I have worked tirelessly to restore the property to its former glory; and have added many wonderful modern touches, like a beautiful pool, a wine room, air conditioning and many other modern conveniences. We are involved with the local communities and we continue to be involved with the people of the area, supporting the local farmers and artisans as much as possible.
Show more...Home & location
Our homestead is a hamlet in Southwest France with many buildings and outside spaces. In the summer the pool and the summer kitchen and terrace are particularly nice. In the winter, the mani house has large fireplaces and a well stocked wine cellar. WWW.AUBERGEDECASTANET.COM THIS IS OUR SITE AND WILL TELL YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW !
Show more...Responsibilities
Our two cats are easy as they live outside all year. Only feed them. Sophie is our puppy that needs consistent instruction. She is truly adorable. She is trained and house broken but the training that we have put in place needs to continue. As she is very smart you will be amazed at what she can learn! Other than the pets, you must keep the house and the terraces clean. Watering the plants. We can discuss gardening and other jobs if you like doing it.
Show more...Meet the pets
SOPHIE
1 years
Rhea
3 years
Sitter Reviews (4)
Homeowner Reviews (0)
None
We had an exceptional stay at Rita's exquisite 300yr old farm house, where Rhea and Sophie made our time truly remarkable amidst the breathtaking scenery of the Aveyron region in France. Rita proved to be an outstanding host, warmly welcoming us and our children with a wonderful dinner on our arrival night. Throughout our stay, she ensured we felt right at home, enabling us to seamlessly step into our roles caring for the property and her beloved pets, Rhea and Sophie. Rita's kindness and exceptional hospitality were evident as she encouraged us to enjoy every moment on the property, exploring the nearby historical villages and vibrant local markets, all just a short drive away. During our first and second nights, we were greeted by the charming cats Biggy and Tiny, who roamed the grounds once the dogs retired inside for the evening. However, they soon disappeared for the rest of the trip, content to explore neighbouring properties and hunt for their meals elsewhere. Sophie, the curious and intelligent younger dog, loved playing with us all outdoors, chasing balls, playing tug of war and relished our excursions to nearby towns. Rhea, the older and very affectionate one, dutifully watched over Sophie and enjoyed her time outdoors, freely exploring the expansive land surrounding the property and running over the minute we started playing outside with Sophie. Our kids both adored playing with Sophie and Rhea and it took no time at all for Rhea and Sophie to feel familiar in our presence and comfortable with us taking them for walks and getting into the car with us or letting us groom them. Rita's dedication to our comfort exceeded expectations, ensuring the house remained immaculate throughout our stay and keeping us informed of any deliveries or maintenance work on neighbouring properties. Her relaxed nature and patience were so evident when we encountered a minor issue with the wood burner, highlighting how effective communication between homeowner and sitter can swiftly resolve things. As a family with two older kids we are always so grateful of those who give us a chance and realise our children are a wonderful pair of extra hands, involved in caring responsibly for the animals and loving and adoring of all the animals we care for. We were all very sad to say goodbye to Sophie and Rhea, who we grew to love so much and look forward to returning again to this house sit and beautiful region of France. Thank you so much Ellora, Jason, Arlo & Bibi x
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This is a beautiful part of France, with old villages and castles, all kinds of nice paths, and many species of birds. Sophie is a smart, kind and sensitive dog, but she is also young and nervous and does not listen at all yet. We did not find her behavior easy and would have liked to know in advance what to expect. The communication with Rita during the sit was great, thank you for this, but it would have been good to know the ins & outs of Sophie and how to handle her at the start. The people in the area are very nice and open to contact. Highly recommended is the great Sunday morning market of St. Antonin.
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What an incredible sit! We could not have had a lovelier time at Rita’s scenic country haven. Welcomed with a gorgeous meal and wonderful evening of conversation, we felt we had come to visit an old friend. Rita is kind, generous and easy going - keen to ensure you are comfortable and have everything you need to enjoy your time here. Communication was great, always a quick message away. We even had the added pleasure of meeting her assistant who is just as delightful and helpful as Rita. Not to mention a wealth of local knowledge! A couple of her suggestions made for truly memorable experiences during our stay. The peace and solitude abound here. But a 15min drive will have you in stunning medieval towns, shopping for groceries or in a nearby restaurant - loads to easily explore with a car. Sweet Sophie, we adored her. Eight months old during our sit, a silly puppy still learning constantly. She has her quirks - like shadow chasing, a serious sport for her. She will entertain herself outside for hours but loves a cuddle on the couch once most of her energy is spent. Shy around new people, she warms up quickly. She’s great in the car and did so well coming to town to meet new people and pups at the weekend market. Biggie and Tiny are living their best lives in the country. Biggie was usually cuddled up on the back porch, making the most of sunny days and loves to receive some love! He is a very sweet cat. Tiny roams free almost constantly and is a rare site but occasionally spotted lurking in the fields or on the porch late at night. We dearly hope to return to Jackryn and are so grateful to have been connected on THS.
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RIta
