Welcome to Tarn Owls in the beautiful Tarn

Vineyards, sunflowers, forests, gorges ...

Nestled in the stunning Vere valley, Bozat sits on the edge of the Gresigne Forest, one of the largest and oldest forests in Europe, said to have been planted by Louis XIV, and is a stone's throw from some of the loveliest countryside, towns and villages, and some of the most inspiring gorges and valleys in France.

You will find information below about Tarnowls gite.

On the Location Page, you will find much more information about the area, local towns and villages, and what to do.

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The Property Page has availability, booking details and the weekly tariffs.

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On the Team Page, you can find all our contact details.

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And the News Page has more comments from guests.

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The gite (Tarn Owls)

is a self-contained part of our 200-year-old farmhouse, with its own exclusive entrance.

The spacious accommodation is on two floors and includes a fully-equipped kitchen/dining room and lounge on the ground floor. Bed linen and towels (changed each week for longer lets), hot water, pool towels, barbecue, and welcome pack of basic food and drink supplies are all included in the rent.

On the first floor is a WC and two double bedrooms, each with en-suite shower room.

The accommodation has recently been refurbished to a high standard, retaining original features including lovely oak beams and part exposed limestone wall.

The pool

is a roman-ended, 10mx5m saline pool - no chlorine-induced red eyes! There is a tiled lounging area with sun-beds all around the pool, and a changing room with toilet and (cold) shower next to it. Atmospheric pool lighting makes evening drinks by the pool a romantic and relaxing experience.

There is also a covered illuminated eating area with a large table and seating for eight adjacent to the pool. If you wish to use this area occasionally for entertaining, just let us know.

"Thanks for a wonderful holiday - I LOVE the pool. I went in every day!" Lauryn

Tarn Owls Accommodation

Ground Floor

Kitchen (4.7m x 3.8m)

The light, roomy kitchen has windows on two sides, and looks out over the gardens and barbecue area. It is well-equipped, with gas hob, electric oven, microwave, fridge, dishwasher, washing machine, iron, etc.

There is also a pleasant dining area, with ample room for four to dine in comfort.

Dining Area

Lounge (5m x 4.5m)

The comfortable adjoining lounge has a satellite television, and a DVD player, for the unlikely event that you are bored with exploring and playing outdoors!

First Floor

Your own private staircase leads to the WC and the two large double bedrooms, each with its own shower room. Both bedrooms have super-king-size beds, which can be converted to twin beds if required (please specify when booking), and comfortable, attractive furnishings.

Bedroom One (6m x 4m)

looks out over the swimming pool

Bedroom One en-suite shower room

Bedroom Two (5m x 3.6m)

looks out over the vineyards and has its own shower room

Outside

Eating/Barbecue Area

Gite guests have exclusive access to an eating/BBQ area adjacent to the gite entrance, as well as use of the extensive grounds and pool.

Pergola and eating area

Millstone in the gardens

Broadband

Free connection

If you really can't get away from it, take advantage of our wifi router.

Wifi-enabled computers can be connected to the internet free via our wireless router. You will need to be able to configure your computer yourself.

NB. Our ISP is reliable (and proven by our guests), but of course we remain entirely dependent on the ISP. Also the walls in the gite are thick and reception is variable!

For availability, booking details, and tariff

see Property Page

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"Our first visit to this part of France -

and we love it! Such a beautiful, peaceful area." Frances and John, June 2007

"This part of the Tarn is particularly

beautiful, and Tarn Owls is the perfect place

from which to explore it." John and Sue, August 2007

See more guest comments on News Page

Active or relaxing holidays

Whether you want an active or a relaxing holiday, this part of south-west France is the perfect venue - and Tarn Owls the perfect place to start from!

Kayaking down the Gorges, walking the national walking tracks, horse riding, cycling (the Tour de France loves these hills and valleys - one of the stages last year started at Albi) or swimming, relaxing by the pool or simply driving around this beautiful countryside exploring towns and villages that have hardly changed in centuries - it's all here, waiting for you to enjoy.

Active

The Aveyron Gorges are about half an hour's drive away, through beautiful scenery, and even novices will enjoy the not-too-demanding pleasures of kayaking or canoeing down the river, to be picked up and driven back to your car by special bus.

Much nearer to hand, just two miles from Tarn Olws, is the Vere Gresigne centre, with its boating/pedaloe lake, swimming lake (with water-slide and life-guard), tennis courts, crazy golf, boules, bar and ice-cream parlour ...

Golf

There are several golf courses nearby (you can hire clubs) - click on the link below to take you to information on local courses.

Golf Courses

Walking and cycling

Walking and cycling are a favourite activity among locals and holiday-makers alike, and there are national walking trails on the doorstep. Local walking groups (French and English) will be pleased to welcome real enthusiasts!

Birds and other wildlife

The local area abounds in bird life, and bird watchers are rarely disappointed. Apart from our own family of Little Owls in the roof, there are hoopoes, golden orioles, buzzards, eagles, and many others.

The Gresigne Forest is home to deer, hares and wild boar, which you will may well be lucky enough to see close up if you walk on the many trails through the forest.

Wine-tasting

Not exactly hard work, but since there are scores of vineyards in and around Gaillac, 22 of them Apellation Controle, wine tasting and sampling really has to be done ...

You can visit the very friendly and helpful owners of the vineyards at will, tasting as you go, or we can arrange for you to join one of the recommended wine tasting seminars put on by the Wine Centre and Museum in Gaillac if you give us notice.

There is also a wine festival in the summer, with hundreds of producers on show, all keen to explain, demonstrate, discuss, compare, and sell their wines.

... and relaxing

Relaxing and exploring

You might prefer a peaceful, calm holiday to help you unwind. Tarn Owls itself is a haven of rural peace, despite being only a fifteen minute drive from the old market town of Gaillac and under an hour from Toulouse.

Or visit one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France, which are virtually on the doorstep - bastide towns like our own Castelnau, perched high on hills and little changed since they were built in the 12th/13th centuries. Sit in the market square, and watch the bustle of a local market, as feet tread cobble-stones that ring with history...

You might wish to venture further afield and drive to nearby Albi, with its Toulouse Lautrec museum, 1000 year old bridge, cathedral and winding streets full of traditional and modern shops and stalls.

Sainte Cecile Cathedral, Albi

View into Gaillac from the Old Bridge

Showing the Abbaye St Michel, with behind it the Tourist Office and the Wine Showroom and Information Centre.

Further Information

For further tourist information on any of the places mentioned, click on the link below.

Tourism in the Midi-Pyrenees

Gateway to the Gresigne Forest

Bozat is our small hamlet, and is also the name of the house of which Tarn Owls is a part. There are four houses and a couple of farms in the hamlet, which nestles between Castelnau and Sainte Cecile du Cayrou. The latter boasts a beautiful little medieval church, the local mayor's office, and little else - except fantastic views, walks, and the fact that it is the gateway to the Gresigne Forest, one of the largest and oldest in Europe.

Guided Nature Trails

We can organise a guided walk with a local naturalist if you are interested in flora, fauna, birds, geological formations - click on the link below to visit his website. Stephane does speak some English, but if you need it, we can arrange for an interpreter to accompany you.

Stephane Guitart, Naturalist