We have just returned from two wonderful weeks at Le Grenier à Blé. The hamlet of Mengue is charming and the villa itself is simply beautiful – elegant, comfortable and uncluttered, a truly lovely place to relax and unwind. We spent many hours relaxing either in the outdoor eating area, which is a great place to hang out and offers a choice of shade or sun, or by the pool. The pool itself was perfect for all of us (we have boys of 11 and 8), with roman steps and variable depth. The fact that the pool doesn’t contain chlorine was a bonus, no stinging eyes or disintergrating costumes! We all loved the daily early evening spectacle of the flock of swallows coming in to swoop over the pool and have a quick drink.
The boys loved the open fields and garden area surrounding the villa – plenty of space to explore or play cricket in. We equally enjoyed the space - sitting by the stream with a glass of something chilled in the cool of the evening is a perfect way to end the day.
The nearby town of Aurignac is delightful – great range of small shops and a super restaurant, and walking the medieval trail around the historic part of town is a lovely way to spend an afternoon or early evening. We really appreciated Elizabeth and Simon’s recommendations for places to eat – the Auberge Champtre (hope my spelling is correct!) just a short drive away did the most amazing locally produced steaks, honestly rivalling anything we’ve had in some highly rated UK restaurants and at a fraction of the cost (12 Euros a head for a 4 course lunch and wine). The Urtau tapas bar – just a wonderfully scenic one hour drive away in Bossost, Spain – was fantastic, great food and beautiful surroundings.
Elizabeth and Simon were lovely hosts, discrete but there if needed. The welcoming bottle of champagne and well stocked essential store cupboard is evidence of the care and attention they offer to guests at the villa – and the mid-week special cleans just spoilt us!
Could go on and on, but, in short, Le Grenier à Blé is a fabulous place to stay and we shall definitely be going back!
One heavenly week. Villa perfect, area delightful, wine too delicious. Most of our time was spent in the pool but we did go to Spain for the day and ate tasty tapas. We thought that the photos on the website looked special but they do not do the villa justice as it is more beautiful in real life.
We have just returned from a wonderful 2 week stay at Le Grenier. What a fantastic place to chill and recharge your batteries in a peaceful and traditional French rural setting. The house is beautiful and Elizabeth and Simon have thought of every home comfort to make the stay such a great one.
Husband especially enjoyed the Nespresso coffee machine and complimentary capsules and we all felt instantly at home in the comfy surroundings!!!
Elizabeth cooked the most wonderful celebration meal for my Birthday - locally supplied steaks superb!! - all washed down with a bottle of red - to be recommended. We made easy day trips to the Pyreneese Mountains and, for the teenagers amongst us, trips to the lovely city of Toulouse for some retail therapy.....And if you are keen to keep your fitness going during your stay you can always join Elizabeth on one of her morning training runs..hilly and exhausting but fun!!!
Thanks Elizabeth, Simon and family for a great holiday. Missing you already....
Following a recent stay at Le Grenier à Blé in the hamlet of Mengué, this has to be the most idyllic place in which to spend time to recharge tired batteries!
Mengué is so peaceful you can totally switch off and enjoy the surroundings. Traffic is almost non existent – I think we saw no more than 4 cars in one day! If you feel like taking a leisurely stroll, there is some of the most stunning scenery to be seen anywhere, right on the doorstep. The foothills of the Pyrenees are only a short drive away and the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts are within easy reach if you want to wander further afield, but with a swimming pool available as well, there’s enough exercise options ‘at home’.
The accommodation is absolutely first class, and the highest attention has been paid to all the details, which contributed to a completely stress free break. It is clear that a lot of time, love and hard work has gone into the production of this beautiful villa by Simon & Elizabeth, and they should be congratulated on this, and the truly warm welcome given to their guests – nothing is too much trouble! Marks out of 10? Definitely a 15!!!!
I don’t need to tell you how special a place Le Grenier à Blé is. Thank you again for everything and hopefully we will see you again on a return visit.
A fortnight of sheer unwinding; we really didn’t want to return home. A beautiful villa in a ‘pittoresque’ area of France. I recommend it to everyone!
Three generations in our group. The house offers everything! The children were seldom out of the pool while Mum and I perused the local farmers’ markets.
Dad and my husband enjoyed cooking on the Weber. Even our vegetarian daughter was catered for with the local veggie restaurant – thanks for booking it for us Elizabeth.
We had the most beautiful time: The best ever family holiday. The house is stunningly pretty set in a perfect location. We couldn't believe our eyes when we pulled up outside that it really was our holiday home.
Elizabeth, Simon and all the family have literally thought of EVERYTHING for the perfect stay. From a kitchen so well equipped that even Marco Pierre White could cook in it - to the tiny detail such as candles waiting to be lit on the 'romantic' balcony table by night. Elizabeth is also a wonderful cook - her 'coq au vin' dish is admired by even the locals. She is also a wonder at fitness, a bit of a 'green goddess' so if you do eat too much local cheese (which you will as it's so fabulous) and drink gallons of the local wine, she can take you on a rural 'power walk' or point you in the direction of the best local wander.
When we have a chance we will return. But for now we sit in bleak Belfast dreaming of the best holiday ever. Thank you Elizabeth, Simon and all the family. X Alison and Paul.
What a wonderful find. The place to stay if you want to chill out with a good book and a glass (or two) of wine.
Le Grenier à Blé is special - the house is furnished to a very high standard with everything we needed to make our stay relaxing and worry free. The joy of not having to rush to the supermarket on the first day to stock up with loo rolls and dishwasher tablets - we found everything there.
A big thank you to Elizabeth, Simon and family for creating such a great holiday experience - not just the house and grounds, but also the advice about the local area and your hospitality. We thoroughly enjoyed our time at Le Grenier à Blé and fully intend to return.
We arrived at Le Grenier à Blé after two days of driving, to a very warm welcome, a wonderful welcome pack including wine, bread and eggs, and a house equipped with essentials, which meant that we didn't have to rush off to the shops as soon as we got there.
The house and gardens are stunning as is the surrounding area and there is nothing you feel that is missing. The area is extremely quiet which at first we found quite strange, however we soon realised that that was the sheer beauty of the place...no noise and it meant that the children could enjoy the grounds without any worries.
There were things to do if the sun wasn't shining, including a great day out to the Pyrenees - Luchon which only 50 minutes away, is definitely worth a visit! We had a really relaxing holiday in a beautiful place and unless you are looking for busy drinking holes, would recommend it to anyone!
We had a wonderful, relaxing family holiday at Le Grenier à Blé, the setting is idyllic - so peaceful and quiet. Certainly not for those who want wild nightlife and entertainment. A perfect place to unwind and to explore the stunning scenery of the Pyrenees. My husband would also recommend the area for cycling enthusiasts.
Elizabeth and her family gave us a lovely warm reception on our arrival and looked after all our needs throughout our stay. She and her husband are great hosts.
The accommodation was very tastefully decorated and spotlessly clean. All the equipment is new and there is everything that you could possibly need.
We had our 2 boys (aged 9 & 6), my 84 year old mother, along with my sister and 2 teenage nieces - all of whom thoroughly enjoyed their stay. My boys had plenty to do exploring the surrounding fields and river banks and were entertained by Elizabeth's 2 younger children and 2 dogs, Tilly and Lily - my youngest still talks endlessly about Tilly and how much he misses her.!!!!
I would absolutely recommend this place to any of my friends for peace, quiet and tranquility and would describe it as a hidden treasure.
We spent a wonderful 2 weeks at Le Grenier à Blé. The villa was everything and more than we expected from the website - spotless, beautifully furnished and more than enough room for the 8 of us. The Ellis family made us feel like we were long lost friends and did everything they could to make our visit so special, from the initial phone enquiry to our (reluctant) farewells! Nothing was too much trouble for the family.
Mengue is a little haven tucked away in a beautiful part of the country we hadn't visited before - as soon as we left the A64, we felt the peace and calm of the area. Although we spent several days exploring the area (car/bike essential) - the Pyrenees (Tapas in Spain was a highlight for the kids), shopping in Toulouse, Carcassonne and visiting local wine "caves" - we were also more than happy just relaxing by the pool with a glass (or two!) of Madiran and a book.
All in all, a lovely place and fantastic hosts - we have been recommending Le Grenier à Blé wholehearteduly to friends - and hope to return to again. Thanks again.
We enjoyed a delightful stay at Le Grenier à Blé. The villa is of outstanding quality and the surrounding country-side is stunning. The fields of wheat and sunflowers stretching for miles are breath-taking.
Elizabeth and her family are a delight, very supportive without being too intrusive. Our stay was thoroughly enjoyed by parents and children alike, and will live long in our memories.
Spent a fabulous few days at Mengue and fell in love with the place. Our visit was far too short but it's inspired me to come back and taste the real France.
The gite is renovated to a very high standard, with the added blessing of proper showers! As well as being a work of art in itself inside, the gite is comfortable and practical; outside it's picturesque and idyllic: Wish we had cockerels roaming free at home. I am recommending a stay at Le Grenier à Blé to everyone I meet.
We had a really wonderful stay and only wish we could have stayed longer. The house and pool exceeded our expectations and we fell in love with the Pyrenées. The kitchen is better equipped than our own! The catering was delicious and the shopping service is fantastic - the last thing you want to do when you arrive is to have to go off tp the supermarket.
This is one of the most expensive villas we have booked but it was justified by the service and the standard of accommodation. One of the best holidays we have had. I think it's highly likely we will come in Jan/Feb (something to look forward to!).
Thanks for a great holiday; I really felt I returned home with my batteries recharged. On the cooking side, the kitchen is impressively equipped (some of the gadgets in there have to be seen to be believed!) and the Weber kettle BBQ gets my vote as the best charcoal grill you can buy.
But hey, this is a holiday, and we did succumb to the culinary delights offered by our genial hosts, at a very reasonable price which included a knowledgeable introduction to some of the excellent regional wines. The highlight for me? Definitely the sticky toffee pudding - so good I ended up arguing with my wife when she gave the kids an extra portion!
I think I can say that we all thoroughly enjoyed our Mengue experience, and would love to return, maybe next year, but I really do have to compliment you as a family on making our stay one of the best holidays we have had!! I will recommend you without hesitation, but then you may get booked up too quickly!!
This year our family decided to try a French Christmas. Our extended family arrived at Le Grenier à Blé to be met by a roaring fire and a Christmas tree in the comfortable sitting room, food in the fridge, home made bread baked and the warmest of welcomes.
We congratulate you for being able to skillfully combine the old and the new. This house offers grace, beauty and the latest in modern equipment. The kitchen is a dream, my husband (the cook of the family) especially appreciated the attention to detail. The children loved their bedroom with its mezzanine floor, we all revelled in the cosy beds and the balcony overlooking the river. I now want a walk-in shower at home! Our one regret, that time went too fast - but we shall be back! Jane Wells, Droitwich Spa.
My husband, our three sons (ages 16, 14, and 11) and I had an excellent time at the villa! It is not only very comfortable and functional (plenty of room, especially bathrooms for all of us), but it is beautiful. Everything from the linens to the furniture is so attractive, so tasteful. My boys especially enjoyed the bar-football, the large garden and sleeping in the 'loft'.
For sightseeing, we enjoyed seeing Aurignac, we had fun shopping in Samatan on market day, and it was exciting to go over the border into Spain on a day trip. It was our first time in that part of France, and it was so much more relaxing than the hustle-and-bustle of Paris. I could’ve stayed another week or two!
We’d love to go back one day! We have recommended it to our friends here in America.