Experience the famed douceur de vivre (“sweetness of life”) of Gascony RELAX The rare position of the house on a large clearing amidst forests and surrounded by unspoilt landscapes flush with wildlife - but in close reach by car of everything one needs or wants to see in this beautiful French region rich in tradition and history - makes it an ideal spot for nature lovers, sporty or even creative people. HIDE-AWAY Well…and not to forget the ones who long for the most relaxing, invigourating, lazy, stress-free, secret location, a place with no demands, only peace, crystal air and bird song – but buzzing life and people only ever when you feel like it. VILLAGE Lugane is situated only 2.5 km from the ancient village of Sos (yes, really) in an interesting corner of the Lot-et-Garonne (Gascogne, Aquitaine), which reaches into other, adjoining regions. The whole area and in particular this village has strong Roman roots. This is the region of D’Artagnan of the Musketeers, Foie Gras and Armagnac. REGIONS The endless, little populated forests of the region Landes with its Atlantic coast beaches stretching all the way from Bordeaux to beyond Biarritz, begin only a few minutes away. In the other direction you find yourself already after another few minutes drive amongst the rolling hills of the Gers (the “Tuscany” of France) scattered with tiny, ancient villages and farms, chateaux and far-reaching views over vineyards and sunflower fields - and in clear weather the Pyrenees. The great mountains of the Pyrenees are only about 1.5 hours away, even the Mediterranean coast only about 3 hours. So, Lugane is centrally positioned amongst contrasting regions of great beauty and history, the sea, the mountains…and several airports of your choice. The fertile greens of this rural region are untouched, at times as if in another century. There are not many tourists, so people are still friendly with an endearing, old-fashioned touch of politeness elsewhere lost. NATURE Past our forests there are many vineyards, rape fields blooming in early spring, then sunflowers everywhere for weeks with falcons circling in the sky. There are frog concerts down the path at the lake down one of our forest paths, where one can also watch the odd shy crane before a refreshing swim. The nightingales everywhere sing until late in spring before the hot peaceful summers with lush and vibrant nature. Warm and long colourful autumns are scattered with an abundance of mushrooms and edible chestnuts, the weather often pleasant until the end of October. The really cold weeks of winter are few and crisp but quiet and contemplative, lovely by the fire. Throughout most of the year a myriad of birds can be heard in the forest and fields, cuckoos and owls during day and night, shy wild boar roam around the forest in the night and deer are grazing in front of the windows at dawn or dusk. PEACE… …or Buzz …There is so much choice. During the whole summer the region is brimming with life, the true joie the vivre of the French and everybody is enjoying conviviality, lots of good rustic food and wine during the still upheld tradition of having summer village fêtes accompanied by countless events and performances. Also tiny Sos manages to have its own fête plus a big producer’s market every Wednesday evening for six weeks, with live music, long, long tables where all the locals gather for hours to talk animatedly and enjoy the wine and local delicacies from the stands around the market place. So you have the choice to undertake a vast variety of excursions and activities or sports, visit fêtes or performances, concerts, eat out in restaurants – or to retreat to the tranquillity of your spot in the forest, unwinding – or recovering – away from it all.