La Maison Asteguy
About us
In the
year 1594 "La Maison Asteguy" was mentioned in old chronicles for
the first time. The ground plan of today was probably created in 1845.
From 1880 - 1960 a tenant's family worked on the farm, which was passed on from
generation to generation. A hard life, even at that time, half of the harvest
had to be paid for the lease. The last family living on the farm - father, mother,
eight children, grandparents and occasionally uncle and aunt - worked in the
surrounding fields and lived with cows and pigs under one roof like generations
before them. But even for them time had come to find new way of working and
living.
For 20 years the
house was empty. From 1980 - 1989 the first activities of renovation began:
the grounds were reorganised, a loggia was attached to the house, sheds and
stables were eliminated and the roof was raised. We are very grateful to our
pre-owner for his appropriate and far-sighted renovation. For personal reasons
work was halted, and the house remained empty for another 8 years.
In the year 1997
we crossed for the fist time the farmstead of our dear neighbours Vivier / Guichenduq,
we went along the little gravel path and were in front of "our Ferme Basque".
Immediately we fell in love - with the house, with the magnificent landscape,
which we saw - the hilly Pre-Pyrenees and the majestically high Pyrenees. Yes,
this was exactly what we wanted as our challenge. But still there was no electricity,
no water in the house, no floor, no heating, no rooms, no staircases; bats and
a marten were the actual residents. There was much to do. We have renovated
and made some alterations, we have brought in our personal ideas, conceptions
and desires; but always we have made all efforts to preserve the style and the
character of our "Ferme Basque". Three separate apartments (with separate
entrances) were built: one for
us and two for holiday-makers. We had to master many problems, to overcome some
depressions in the two years of reconstruction, but we made it with the help
of two dear friends, our architects.
We have long since
settled in our old, new house and have taken roots, where for more than 400
years generations have been living before us.
In these old traditional surroundings we now experience and see in a new light
many of the modern things we have collected over years.
Your holiday place in Southwest France
Two very well and individually furnished and equipped apartments in our "Ferme Basque" offer you recreation and relaxation in absolute silence.
From
the terraces you have a lovely view over the hilly Pre-pyrenees up to the majestically
high Pyrenees. We have chairs and tables, deck-chairs and sun-umbrellas for
you on the terraces and in the garden.
Hiking, jogging, biking (we have bicycles available for you) - direct from the farmhouse to the open country side.
Watersports of
all kinds, walking-tours along the miles of long beaches, bathing and sun-bathing
in little bays - for everyone the Atlantic (within 30 km distance) offers the
right thing.
Golfers will enjoy the great number of excellent and different golf-courses in this region. Golf has a long tradition in this area; in 1888 le club "Le Golf du Phare" was founded in Biarritz, the second oldest club in France. Within half an hour from Bardos you will easily find 10, within one hour 20 marvellous golf courses with very different degrees of difficulty.
Bayonne (ca. 28 km), a city with flair invites you to visit the historical monuments and museums, the cathedral and castle, invites you for a promanade in "Grand Bayonne" and "Petit Bayonne" along the ancient houses with numerous shops and boutiques, cafés, bistros and restaurants.
In Bardos you have
found an ideal starting point for various excursions in all directions. Spain
is not far; you can simply reach San Sebastian and Hernani with the Museum of
Eduardo Chillida and Bilbao with the Guggemheim.
The Vacation homes
45 sq.m for 1 -2 persons Euro 385,- per week
77 sq.m for up to 4 persons Euro 560,- per week
Both apartments have separate entrances.