Testimonials

"From the moment we arrived we felt at home with the warm welcome from the Appleby family and the personal atmosphere of the gites. There is plenty to explore in the near and not so near surroundings, or when we felt like just doing nothing there was always plenty to stop us getting bored just hanging around the lovely swimming pool, the courtyard with table tennis table, or just wandering around the woods and grounds. We were five people, ranging from 4 to 74, and every one of us had a great time that we will never forget. We have not visited France often in the past, but now we feel like we've found a new home. Paulette and Simon's efforts and enthusiasm for the gites and the area has certainly paid off. With these wonderful gites in a beautiful surrounding, friendly hosts, and warm baguettes for breakfast, what more could anyone want?!
- Neil Boyd, Holland. June 2010

“С момента нашего прибытия мы чувствовали себя как дома с теплом приема семьи Аплби и доброжелательно атмосфера gîtes. Как раз это место где от суеты и от работы можно отдохнуть. Mесто очень красивый, вид прекрасный виноградники кукурузный поля. Всё это славами не передать - надо видеть. Вид из бассейне очень красивыи, я даже оленя видела - уних много бывает там. Мы у них в саду просто наслаждались как все красиво. Не далеко от них много мест интересних - замки, деревня с 16 века, ресторанчики. Это место для всех возростов - нас было 5 человек от 4-х до 74-х - каждый из нас восторге от отдыха. Hикогда не забудем особено мои отец - он был из Абхазии. Мы раньше не часто посещали Францию, но теперь похоже, что мы нашли новый дом. Спасибо большой заотдых!”
- Arsenti, aged 74, Abkhazia. June 2010

“Het was heel leuk vooral ook de ligging van de huisjes met een heel mooi uitzicht over het landschap. Er was veel te doen zoals het zwembad en de schattige dorpjes waar je leuk kon wandelen en bekijken. Al met al het was een relaxte vakantie waar we vast nog een keer terugkomen.”
- Inga, aged 15, Holland, June 2010

“Just a note to say thank you for our holiday at La Prielle, we had a really relaxing time. By the end of the week we could have easily stayed for another. We were so impressed with all your facilities and making us so comfortable, especially the location. I refer to it as my 'Brgadoon'. Your knowledge of the surrounding area is exceptional. The gite was furnished to such a high standard and the attention to detail was amazing. Thank you again for making our trip to Madiran such a memorable one.We would definitely come back again.”
- Amanda Carter & family, May 2010, East Grinstead

“A lovely restful holiday in a quiet and peaceful location situated in the heart of the Madiran wine area. The gites are delightful and beautifully fitted out to the highest standard, with every amenity,and sun terraces with facilities for having a barbecue. We found the owners to be very friendly and accommodating and we certainly hope to return before long.”
- Mr & Mrs Stockall June 2010

“Nous avons découvert le gite de la grange sur internet qui semblait engageant. Sur place nous n’avons découvert que de bonnes surprises. Qualité du gite en termes d’espace et d’équipements en bonne état. Qualité du site bien perdu en campagne comme on peut le souhaiter pour des vacances ressourçantes. Qualité des équipements collectifs dont une piscine bien placée en terrasse. Qualité de l’accueil en termes de disponibilité et de discrétion. On peut donc souhaiter une bonne réussite à Simon et Paulette Appleby dans leurs entreprises.”
- Bruno Bonheur et Katherine Dieckmann, July 2010

“A great big thank you from all our family for the fantastic week in Le Prielle. We adored the beautiful tranquil surroundings and the gite was just perfect for us. The children loved the swimming pool and other activities which you provided for them and the extra toys and DVDs were very much appreciated. You made us feel so welcome to your home and nothing appeared to be a burden to yourselves. We look forward to visiting Le Prielle again but next time will definitely be staying longer (you have been warned!!!) Keep up the wonderful work and we wish you continued success in the years ahead. All the best.”
- Cormac & Martina Coyle & family, July 2010

« Le Prielle est un charmant coin dans les vignes :calme reposant avec un environnement très agréable ,de magnifiques vues tout autour de la propriété et adapté pour les enfants qui peuvent se promener en toute sécurité. Le gîte est très grand et très bien aménagé, confort idéale pour des vacances reposantes. Et le plus important : les propriétaires Simon et Paulette sont gentils et très accueillants,très prévenants auprès de leurs vacanciers.
En résumé,idéale pour se reposer et recharger ses batteries pour les grands et les petits. »
- La Famille Davis, Aout 2010.

“Le Prielle est un lieu calme et reposant idéal pour des vacances de détente. L'accueil de Simon et Paulette Appleby est très chaleureux. Ils savent être présents quand il faut tout en restant discrets. Les gites sont bien équipés et la piscine, très adaptée aux enfants, donne envie d'en profiter un maximum avec la vue qu'elle offre sur les Pyrénées. Nous avons passé une excellente semaine chez vous. Et vous remercions pour votre chaleureux accueil. Nous avons beaucoup apprécié votre belle piscine, le fait que les draps et linge de maison soient fournis et ... la bouteille de Madiran ! Merci encore pour cette paisible semaine. Avec le petit tableau que l'on a rapporté, on ne vous oublie pas !”
- Isabelle et Thierry Adragna; Juillet 2010.

“Nous vous remercions pour le bon accueil et les attentions que vous nous avez réservés durant la location de « la Grange. L’endroit mérite le détour pour les amateurs de nature et tranquillité. Rencontrer du gibier aussi proche de la bâtisse était un moment surprenant et agréable. Les enfants ont apprécié la piscine avec les hirondelles qui virevoltaient pour s’abreuver. Félicitations pour le travail réalisé en si peu d’année et bonne continuation !
A bientôt,”
- Colette, Louise, Simon & Yves. Juillet 2010

“My family and I spent a wonderfully relaxing week with our very amiable hosts, Paulette and Simon. The site and accommodation was extremely tidy and clean and well appointed. The pool was the star attraction and we also enjoyed having access to games such as badminton and table tennis which our 8 and 11 year olds played for the first time. Paulette and Simon regularly checked we were OK, giving us plenty of ideas and suggestions of what to do and their information room was full of local guides and leaflets that we could read at our leisure. The location is wonderful – peaceful and quiet, in the middle of the countryside but within easy reach of the highway if you want to explore the region. We would highly recommend this as a place to stay. Hope all is well with you and the boys.”
- Sue Cook, August 2010

"Thanks for being such wonderful hosts during our all-too-brief stay at Le Prielle. Being our first time in the Madiran area, we quite frankly didn't know what to expect. From the moment we arrived (after programming the location from Google Maps into our GPS that took us right to your front drive), we knew we'd made the right choice. The gite was another pleasant surprise. It was spacious, bright, quiet and very comfortable. A great place for relaxing and enjoying the countryside. Needless to say, we were very pleased indeed when Simon took us round to some of the leading wineries on our first day. We had not heard of Madiran wines (along with their healthy properties) but were duly impressed. Great to find wines that taste so good and are also good for you in the mix. We've taken lots of pictures and will be sure to spread the word to our friends at our wine club. Madiran is truly a "must see" destination and we can think of no better place to enjoy it than Le Prielle! Looking forward to seeing you both again soon."
- Matt & Sheila, October 2010, Canada

"We had a great time at Le Prielle. The Gite itself was absolutely beautiful and is a credit to all the hard work that Simon and Paulette have done over the last few years. The pool is brilliant and the surroundings stunning - we were all agreed that we had not had such a relaxing holiday in a long time and it was definitely the result of the lovely surroundings. Simon and Paulette (and family) were excellent hosts and made our stay extremely comfortable (including a fantastic wine tasting session at local vineyards). All in all, a thoroughly fantastic holiday and a great place to unwind."
- Paul, Jacqui, Niamh and Ailis, August 2010

" Quel merveilleux cadre que la propriété Le Prielle; Plus d'un hectare de terrain totalement sécurisé pour les enfants au milieu des vignes , une magnifique piscine salée (sans chlore) avec vue sur la vallée, des gîtes qui, s'il ne sont pas luxueux, possèdent tout l'espace et le matériel nécessaire (lave-vaisselle, lave-linge, un barbecue au gaz, un fer et table à repasser, DVD & TV anglais ou français, Wifi...). Les propriétaires, Mr et Mme Appleby, sont extrêmement accueillants et se coupent en quatre pour que le séjour soit agréable. Ils proposent même parfois de les accompagner dans des activités extérieures pour les enfants (kayak, fête au village,...). C'est la deuxième fois que nous allons en vacances à cet endroit et nous avons pourtant l'habitude de ne jamais faire deux fois la même chose. Je trouve personnellement encore plus sympa de louer plusieurs gîtes avec des amis ou avec de la famille. En résumé, un excellent rapport qualité/prix"
- Philippe, Belgique, August 2010

"Simon and Paulette get it just right, offering a warm welcome, help and advice in a very friendly and un-fussy way. The kids absolutely loved the pool!"

- Pete Strauss & Family. August 2009

"Un accueil très chaleureux, simplicité et conviavilté sont les mots qui conviennent à notre sens pour décrire le séjour que nous avons passé à Le Prielle. Des aménagés avec beaucoup de gout, félicitations pour le travail de rénovation effectué. Nous avons apprécié le calme paisible et la beauté du site, d'autant plus que le soleil était de la partie. Vraiment merci pour tout, nous communiquerons sans hésitation votre adresse!"

- Estelle, Manu, Mélanie, Jérémy 'Aout 2009-09-30

"From the moment we first arrived at Le Prielle Simon and Paulette couldn't have been more helpful. Not only did they provide an excellent welcoming meal (the home-made pate was delicious) and they were both were more than willing to answer any question that we had. The accommodation was comfortable and spacious with each gite having its own private space. For those with young children, every precaution was made to ensure that not only were the large gardens enjoyable to explore but also safe - such as the fencing and key arrangement for the swimming pool to ensure that young people couldn't get into harms way. There were also games within the grounds themselves such as table tennis, badminton, a rugby ball with posts etc. Simon and Paulette had a small room where there was an encyclopaedic number of brochures giving information on numerous activities and events taking place during the summer months. This information was extremely helpful in making our stay both informative, relaxing, and on occasions extremely exciting - such as the white water rafting. The quality of the French cuisine in the area was extremely high and not exorbitantly expensive, a definite plus if you want to enjoy the ambience of the French countryside. I would happily recommend Le Prielle as an excellent place to stay whether you like peace and quiet or whether you like to explore the French countryside. Whatever you decide it is guaranteed that Simon and Paulette will do everything to ensure your stay is the best that it can be."
- Clive Darley & Family, Ipswich. August 2009.

"Un magnifique lieu de repos, de calme et de bonheur où le temps suspend son vol et permet à toute la famille de se poser, de se reposer et de profiter de soi, de sa famille et bien sur de tous les loisirs proposés par Simon et Paulette.
Un lieu de villégiature par excellence qui nous retrouvera prochainement."
- Vincent, Maëlle, Gautier, Sabine et Eric juillet & aout 2009.

"Nous avons passés d'excellentes vacances dans le gîte de M. et Mme APPLEBY. Ce dernier est spacieux, pratique et calme. Les propriétaires sont acceuillants et disponible. Il y a beaucoup de place pour s'amuser. Les enfants ont a leur disposition plusieurs jeux (badminton, ping-pong, ballon....). La pisicne est très bien et très agréable."
- Famille GOUTET. Aout 2009.

J’ai passe un agréable séjour dans ce très grand gîte. La température de la piscine est toujours très bonne et l’eau salée est très agréable. Tous vos animaux sont magnifiques j’ai particulièrement aime le lapin, le bélier nain & les 3 petits poussins – les deux jaune & le noir. Votre paon est magnifique et je me suis amusée a donner des surnoms aux chats. A bientôt Solene Lorant 10 ans.
Merci pour ce gîtes Annelle Lorant 8 ans. Merci Simon Lorant 4ans. Fondettes, France
- Juillet & août 2009.

Accueil vraiment charmant, un havre de calme savoureux au milieu d'une région magnifique, où culture et art de vivre sont omniprésents.
Nous avons adoré ! François Wohlhauser SUISSE. July & August 2009.

"Thanks for a thoroughly relaxing week in your idyllic corner of France. Our party of two adults and two pre-schoolers have had a great time. Your setting is beautiful and the recipe of a well equipped gite, large and child friendly pool and gardens, and miscellaneous kiddie toys went down well with all. Our three year old's favourite activity was blackberry picking in the lane and our toddler was won over by the local pigs! When we managed to get up the energy to venture beyond your lane we thoroughly enjoyed the surrounding towns and vineyards. We hope to visit you again soon."
- Thomas family, July 2009"

"Nous avons passé une semaine merveilleuse au domaine du Prielle ! Le gite "le chai" est spacieux, confortable et très bien équipé ; Simon et Paulette sont des gens charmants, discrets et attentionnés (surtout pour régler efficacement les problèmes matériels ou d'intendance).La propriété est isolée au milieu des vignes, elle est donc au calme et d'une tranquilité absolue.Les gîtes sont entourés de pré, verger et bien sûr, les vignes. Tout est prévu : table de ping-pong, terrain de badmington, de foot, de rugby (avec le matériel nécessaire - raquettes, ballons.. - à libre disposition), dinette et bac à sable dans la cour pour les petits.La piscine est superbe et aménagée pour tous les âges : pataugeoire et descente en pente douce pour le grand bassin.Enfin, la région est agréable: ballades en montagne, villes(tarbes à 40 km, lourdes à 60 Km, Pau à 40 Km,...) et villages pittoresques, gastronomie du terroir: foie gras du gers (tout près), confits... et vin de Madiran. la semaine est passée trop vite"
- Fabien, Florence, et leurs enfants Adèle (4 ans) et Elise (8 ans)/Aveyron/France. July 2009.

"After years of caravanning the time had come to try something different for our holiday and the idea of staying in a Gite had appealed for a while. So, once we had decided on the region we wanted to visit we set about finding suitable accommodation and very quickly decided that LePrielle, run by Simon and Paulette was the place for us. As first time Gite users and being used to the freedom that a caravan offers we were over the moon as soon as we arrived and saw exactly what Le Prielle had to offer, space! And lots of it.
Not only are all of the Gites very spacious but Le Prielle offers room to breath, with its lovely courtyard, gardens, surrounding vineyards and beautiful nearby villages and towns. The Gites offer every home comfort you could want, but most important for us had a very authentic ‘French’ feel to them thanks to the way that Paulette has furnished them. Having said that if the weather is kind then you would probably want to spend very minute outdoors, as we did, either relaxing in the courtyard, wandering around the gardens or relaxing by the fantastic pool which offers super views. Simon and Paulette are terrific hosts who looked after us very well. They were able to recommend various places to visit, none if which disappointed. Having done the journey to Le Prielle in our two seater sports car and discovering the amazing driving roads in the area, plus the fact that you feel 110% safe at the Gite we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this as an ideal destination for car clubs wanting to visit this part of France. There is no doubt that we will be back at Le Prielle very soon."
- Nick & Jane Butler, Crowborough, East Sussex. June 2009

"Pour passer un moment à partager des vacances entre plusieurs familles avec enfants, ou en famille seule, ces gîtes sont merveilleux! Spacieux, confortables, pratiques, l’espace de jeux devant les gîtes qui sert aussi de terrasse pour l’aperitif des parents, est vraiment un bonheur.

C’est un endroit très calme mais équipée d’une très belle piscine avec une vue magnifique, jeux pour enfants, badminton, ping pong – personne ne s’ennuit! La piscine mérite une mention speciale car elle est filtrée à l’eau salée, ce qui est très agréable, et surtout elle a un petit bassin pour jeunes enfants.

M et Mme Appleby sont aux petits oignons pour leurs locataires. Leur très belle maison se trouve à un pas mais on ne la voit depuis les gîtes. On peut demander des repas (veranda ou sous la belle étoile) – un grand soulagement pour le jour d’arrivée ou départ aussi. Produits locaux et cuisine de Madame Appleby avec proposition du vin d’un vigneron independant du village. Excellent et on mange à sa faim!

Très bien placé pour les courses aux marchés des villages autour, également pour supermarché. Nous avons découvert cette région de verdure avec plaisir et compris pourquoi les proprietaires ont été suffisament seduits pour s’y installer."

- Rachal, Florent, family & friends. July 2008

"A big belated thank you again for a wonderful stay with you in Gascony. Having enjoyed our stay so much last year we made the right decision to come back in 08 and see more of the region. The facilities were if anything better this year than last with the excellent addition of the sun facing patio and barbeque to the rear of the ccommodation. Even I had to admit that the new gas barbeques were a lot easier than the old ones although an element of danger was certainly lost. The additional two units also increased the choice of playmates for our children who at ages 10 and 8 are happy to play in the pool and run around in the fresh air rather than being dragged around a local town. Thankfully the market stalls meant that there was always something to keep them happy. Certainly my favourite was Vic where the choice of produce was second to none. Thanks for the recommendation in that regard. The better weather this time also allowed us to make use of the local lake side beaches which proved the idle place to laze around between meals. On the food front, Aydie proved popular again although the 3B's despite its road side location was worthy of a mention. Still for me a bottle of wine and a table laden with fresh market food is as good as it gets. Many thanks for your hospitality and making it yet again a special holiday. Hope that we will be able to join you again in the not too distant future."

- Stephen Baylis and Family, York, England

"A keen walking couple, this was our first visit to the Madiran region, looking for rolling countryside, tranquility and hospitable surroundings, we found it in full when we arrived at Le Prielle, the home of Simon, Paulette, David and Peter. The experience exceeded our expectations and proved to be the perfect break from our hectic home life. Our stay included visits to the local restaurants where the excellent art of rustic french country cooking has not been lost and perfectly complimented the fine Madrian wines. An ideal place for couples looking to relax. Within easy reach of the Pyrenees we will return for more GR10 adventures."
-  The Ritchies, May 2009.
 
"Six of us, 2 couples arriving in classic cars, and the third couple travelling by train, have just spent a lovely week at Le Prielle with Simon Paulette and the boys. Their hospitality was unsurpassed with delightful food and superb local wine. The Gites are well equipped and spacious, and are a credit to Simon and Paulette's hard work in restoring them. Life in rural France is idyllic, away from traffic and the rat race with only the stress of new hatched chickens to worry about! Trips to Lourdes, Biarritz and St Jean de Luz are within striking distance are well worth visiting. Not to mention the purpose of our visit the Pau Grand Prix. A return visit is definitely on the cards."
-  David and Louise, Sheffield May 2009

"Paulette et Simon riment avec gentillesse, discrétion, tout en étant efficaces et attentifs au moindre besoin exprimé, c'est agréable!

Concernant leurs gîtes : les lieux sont calmes entourés de grands espaces, les enfants peuvent jouer dehors et leurs parents être tranquilles. Les gîtes sont aménagés de l'essentiel et sont agréables à vivre.

Au départ, nous avons choisi cet endroit car nous étions nombreux (16) et que les gîtes d'une aussi grande capacité sont rares à Madiran et ses alentours. Les gîtes correspondaient à nos attentes en terme de confort cuisine extrêmement bien équipée dans un des gîtes et belle pièce à vivre où nous avons pu être tous ensemble.

La région n'a pas été choisie au hasard : chaque année nous faisons une escapade dans une région différente pour rencontrer les viticulteurs et connaître leurs vins. Depuis 9 ans que nous voyageons, c'est une des années où nous avons été le mieux accueilli par les viticulteurs: ils ont tous passé du temps, beaucoup de temps avec nous, et ils ont été passionnés et passionnants ... nous en sommes en tout cas ressortis littéralement impressionnés par les blancs de la région (Pacherenc et Jurançon) avec des rencontres de personnages que nous ne sommes pas prêts d'oublier!!

Le petit + aurait été le temps ... qui ne nous pas gâté ... Je ne vais pas lister nos adresses (sauf si on me les demande!) mais ce séjour a été réellement très réussi ... avec un repas entre amis à Segos qui a bien clôturé notre semaine.

Les gîtes ont également bien contribué à notre plaisir!!!!"

- Gaelle, Marjo, Mélanie, Virginie, Stéph, Flo, Didier, Cyr, Fabrice,
Fred, Nico, David, Alain, Guigui, Thomas et Maxime!!!!
Avril 2009.

"Nous sommes un groupe de 11 amis œnophiles de la région de Bordeaux.

Nous avons passés le week-end du premier mai 2009 dans les gîtes «Le Chai » et « La Grange ».

Les gîtes sont spacieux, calmes et agréables à vivre.

L’accueil est fort sympathique et chaleureux. Les petits déjeuners sont copieux.

Bravo aussi pour le dîner : nos hôtes furent très attentionnés.

La région est intéressante à découvrir.

Un bon moment entre amis à recommander … !"

- Avril 2009.

"Nous avons beaucoup apprécié notre séjour chez vous et tout particulièrement votre accueil et votre attention. Un grand merci pour la dégustation d'Armagnac...! Vos gîtes sont très agréables et spacieux. Vous êtes très courageux et vous souhaitons bonne continuation! N'hésitez pas à venir prendre un verre de...Bordeaux (ou plus !) si vous passez près de chez nous."

- Elisabeth Dumartin et les dix autres amis bordelais.
Avril 2009.

"Nous avons passé des vacances merveilleuses à Le Prielle ! Le gite est spacieux, très confortable, et aménagé avec beaucoup de goût ; Simon et Paulette sont des gens charmants et discrets.

Nous avons été très agréablement surpris à notre arrivée de l'immensité des lieux : les habitations sont entourées de vastes espaces de verdure (pré, verger et bien sûr, les vignes) dans lesquels les enfants ont pu jouer et gambader à leur aise. Tout est prévu pour eux : table de ping-pong, terrain de badmington, de foot, de rugby (avec le matériel nécessaire - raquettes, ballons.. - à libre disposition) , vélos, dinette et bac à sable dans la cour pour les petits.

La piscine est pensée elle aussi pour tous les âges : pataugeoire et descente en pente douce pour le grand bassin.

La propriété est complétement isolée au milieu des vignes, à quelques kilomètres du petit village de Madiran, ce qui lui confère un calme et une tranquilité incontestables.

Enfin, la région est riche d'activités en tous genre : ballades en montagne, océan à 2 heures, villes et villages pittoresques.... et - pour les parents - foie gras du gers (tout près) et vin de Madiran. On ne trouve pas le temps de s'ennuyer!"

- Sabine, Bruno et leurs enfants: Nino (20 mois), Esteban (6 ans) et Josepha (14 ans).
France - Juillet 2008.

"In the same way that Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, my introduction to Le Prielle was completely by accident. I performed the obligatory searches of the region, looking for gîtes that would accommodate a family of 5 and stumbled across Paulette and Simon’s web page. Well, before I even got to the “Dates Available” page, I realised this was the place we would be going to!

We booked a three bedroom gîte and put down our deposit. Booking was very efficient and we had several emails with useful information prior to our arrival. Our accommodation was clean, simply furnished and un-cluttered with lots of space for children and adults to relax. The courtyard outside the gîte is a car-free zone – a marvellous idea which meant that I could quite happily leave my three children wandering about outside without any fear for their safety!

The swimming pool and surrounding gardens are also a delight and just begged to be enjoyed. We spent many hours just relaxing by the pool enjoying the paper, reading a book or just listening to the children messing about in the water. I am not usually a fan of “do-nothing” holidays but there are occasions when doing very little is an absolute must! After a few days we had forgotten about our hectic life of work, meetings, travelling, school runs, play dates and everything else that encompasses the modern UK lifestyle. I found I even had time to enjoy badminton and table tennis with my children – up until then, I didn’t even know I liked table tennis!

For those that are more active, rest assured, there is plenty to do in the surrounding areas and the gîte is stocked with plenty of leaflets for all sorts of activities: museums, restaurants, historical sites, vineyards to name but a few. I would thoroughly recommend Le Prielle to anyone wishing to come to the area; the gîtes are lovely, the restaurants and wines of Madiran are scrumptious and Paulette and Simon are such welcoming hosts!"

- Tom & Summer Brunnings. July 2008.

"Thank you for such a relaxing week – we all had a brilliant time."

- Michele, Pete, Ross and Joe. July 2008.

"Both Simon & Paulette made my aunts & me most welcome during our stay in September. They took the trouble to make sure we were all comfortable & were very attentive to our needs; their hospitality is second to none!

The gites were well equipped and in pristine condition. Hats off to them both for the renovation of what was a derelict building, and I have seen the changes over the 2 years that I have been visiting Le Prielle.

A perfect area for both young & old to relax and enjoy a peaceful holiday, with plenty to explore. The views from the pool area of the Pyrenees are spectacular."

- Pat, Rugby. September 2008 and 2007.

"A few lines to say how much we enjoyed our 3rd stay at Le Prielle in its quiet attractive setting.

We found the accommodation spacious, well equipped, with comfortable beds and even UK TV for a wet day.

Ideally situated in the beautiful countryside within easy reach of the coast, Pyrenees & many place of interest.

The large pool is inviting in the hot summer days. A short drive away we found some excellent restaurants serving good regional food, at very reasonable rates, try Le Relais d’Aydie, not forgetting the wine from the surrounding vineyards.

Our thanks to the hosts for their welcome & kind attention.

- Isabel and party, West Sussex. September 2008, 2007 and 2006.

"What a beautiful & peaceful holiday we had, once again, at Le Prielle. It is lovely to sit & sip tea in such beautiful surroundings, enjoying the warmth & tranquillity.

It’s is such a pretty place & so good for the soul to just be able to wander around the grounds, feed the hens, peacock, turkeys & pheasants.

Thank you once again to you both."

- Mrs Ursula Robets, Haywards Heath. September 2008, October 2007 and September 2006.

"Le gite le Prielle, nous ne manquerons pas de le recommander ! Paradis des enfants, tranquillité des parents.

En couple, en famille, entre amis, tout est prévu pour que votre séjour soit une réussite.

Accueil chaleureux mais discret de Paulette et Simon, qui ont répondu à tous nos souhaits.

Le gite, est particulièrement bien aménagé, avec goût et confortable.

Nous y avons séjourné 3 jours et ce court séjour, nous a donné l'envie d'y revenir."

- Josette-Gilles et Daniel - Paris/Seine et Marne - France. Octobre 2008.

"Just a quick email to say thank you very much for your hospitality when we stayed in your gite. The gite was very clean and served us very well for the fortnight.

I particularly enjoyed the FANTASTIC cycling in the area. It was so varied between flat in the wide valleys through gentle undulating hills, along beautiful ridges with stunning views and, the highlight of course, the real challenge of the Pyrenees. And to come back to Le Prielle after a good few hours cycling and to plunge into the pool was a delight!

Your individual attention, taking us round the vinyards for instance, was highly appreciated.

All in all it was one of the best holidays we have had and we would certainly like to return one day. Thanks once again."

- Anthony Johnson and Harriet Gross

"Many thanks for a really great holiday. The gite was superbly presented and in a really wonderful location. The patio overlooking the vineyard was outstanding.

Visits into the Pyrennes, Biarritz and Lourdes were excellent as was the meal in the local restaurant which completed our week.

Our two teenagers thought that the pool, badminton, table tennis and table football - in the gite were great, but the views and the peaceful location are the main attraction for us.

We would not hesitate to recommend La Prielle to anyone. Thanks again."

- Jill Nic Cara and Nathan, Mansfield, August 2008

"Le Prielle sits in a stunning location on the ridge above Madiran and enjoys views to the Pyrenees. The gites are spacious and comfortable inside and out. With the addition of a child friendly swimming pool they provide a peaceful and relaxing base to explore the countryside. The Pyrenees mountains are under two hours away so we could cycle up some of the climbs to Cols that feature in the Tour de France, and also enjoyed routes around Le Prielle.

Simon and Paulette have mastered the difficult trick of being readily available to share their extensive knowledge of the area and invisible when you want to relax.

Strongly recommended."

- Steve and Deb Nicholls. Warwickshire August 2008

"Nous avons trouvé votre gîte parfait pour des vacances familiales reposantes au milieu d'un paysage splendide. Une mention particuliaire pour votre aceuil charmant et la magnifique piscine à l'eau salée (avec pateaugeoire!) Excellente cuisine également. Merci! Nous vous souhaitons une trèsbelle fin d'été, avec nos meilleures salutations."

- Kristine et Didier Reynaud, Genève. July 2008

"After our visit (May 2007) we can confirm that this is a perfect place to stay if you are looking for a spot to relax either with or without a family. Exactly as described, the Gite was comfortable and well fitted out and the environment altogether peaceful. Simon & Paulette are superb hosts with an excellent knowledge of local foods and wines and have plenty of helpful advice if you are new to the area around Madiran. Le Prielle suited us perfectly and we cannot recommend it too highly."

- Hugh & Sarah, The Cotswolds.

"We had a very pleasant relaxing stay at Le Prielle. We were staying in the area for a friend’s wedding and the Applebys were most helpful taking us to and from the venue. They even refused to take any money for the petrol! We found the swimming pool was a particularly attractive part of the property – many hours were spent there enjoying the lovely view. Thanks very much to the family for being so attentive – if we were to visit the area again I would have absolutely no hesitation in rebooking the gite."

Mr & Mrs Thom, Cheshire.

"The Applebys have done a remarkable renovation at Le Prielle, turning an 18th century ruin into charming and spacious accommodations with all the amenities you’d need for a pleasant stay. Paulette and Simon were superb hosts, and were an excellent resource on the area. Don’t miss the pool and the spectacular view. I’m looking forward to a return visit."

- Ron Blumenfeld, Fairfield, Connecticut

"Cher Paulette et Simon (aussi Peter et David, bien sur), Mon séjour était formidable. J’arrivais chez moi sans problème, et avec tous mes bouteilles !
Merci encore une fois pour votre hospitalité et votre amitié. Bonne chance cet été avec vos clients, et avec les rénovations ! Ma femme était étonnée à voir le photo avant."

- A la prochaine, Amicalement, Ron

"La Prielle is in an idyllic location amongst the vineyards. The Appleby family are terrific hosts and ensured we had a splendid week. Our city children were delighted and amazed to be collecting eggs, feeding rabbits, catching frogs and visiting new-born goats in the neighbouring farm – leaving their parents free to fully test the health benefits of the local Madiran wine. The gite is fantastically kitted out for children with toys and videos etc. All in all a great holiday."

- David + Penny Anderson, London

"Beautiful, spacious and well-appointed gites in a courtyard setting in a gorgeous rural area of France. The Applebys are wonderfully helpful with local contacts and recommendations. We will absolutely be back next year."

- Mr J. Taylor, Saffron Walden.

"We spent a wonderfully relaxing holiday, with the genial Appleby family, in October. With plenty of fine food & wonderful wine to celebrate a family 40th birthday - so all ages were there & were well catered for. I even took my shirt off (a rare sight indeed) and relaxed pottering about in their vegetable patch, which they were more than happy for me to do! There is plenty of space & tranquillity, for large groups such as ours, for everyone to find their own peaceful space & truly relax. A great holiday & we have booked a return this year"

- Mr & Mrs Roden, The Lake District.

"We had the most wonderful stay at La Prielle. It was easy for the family to feel very much at home there. Rebooked already."

- Mr & Mrs Carter, Sussex.

"Bonjour, Un petit mot simplement pour vous remercier de votre accueil et de votre gentillesse lors de notre " week-end" . En vous souhaitant beaucoup de reussite et de bonne location......vous avez en main un tres beau site, et, de quoi apporter beaucoup de plaisir aux vacanciers. A une prochaine fois."

- R Hocede

"We had a wonderfully relaxing and peaceful holiday in late June/early July 2007 at Le Prielle. The gite was perfect for our needs and well-equipped for the our little, 4-year old son with lots of toys provided and a wonderful swimming pool for him to splash around in. The Appleby family were the ideal hosts and often went the extra mile to help us get the most from our time in this idyllic part of rural France."

"We returned to Le Prielle again in 2008 as we had such a lovely time in 2007. Once again we had a relaxing and tremendously enjoyable time and it's no surprise to hear that they are already receiving bookings for 2009 and 2010."

- Steve and Dominica, Ruislip, Middlesex

"Le Prielle is the perfect place for a relaxing and thoroughly enjoyable holiday.Simon and Paulette Appleby are the perfect hosts, there if you need them but invisible if you don't. Nothing is too much trouble for them and their knowledge of the area means that they are able to recommend the best places to eat and visit. As it happens the best meal we ate on holiday was cooked by Paulette and Simon, agreed by prior arrangement for a special wedding anniversary.The location is perfect to enjoy the tranquility of the rural French countryside but also with plenty of interesting places to visit close by which would suit all family members. The gites are beautifully clean and very comfortable with plenty of games and DVD's for children of all ages. The pool is a fantastic addition to the property and is excellently maintained. As a family of 7, at the gites, the pool and the Madiran area meant there was something for everyone and we all had a lovely holiday and one which we would thoroughly recommend."

- Bob and Jackie Warren, Nottinghamshire, July 2007

"Without doubt one of the most relaxing and memorable holiday that the family has enjoyed in years.

The accommodation was clean and comfortable and was supplied with many extras particularly for the children (Emily 9 and Olivia 7) which kept them busy even when the weather was not going to script.

The hosts the Applebys could not have done more to help my whole family make the most of our stay. Paulette seemed to have the measure of all the local restaurants and directed us to those which suited our criteria.St Mont and Aydie were both hits with good quality local cuisine. As recommended by Paulette the cep omelet is to die for.

Further a field the deer park serves a good lunch and allows you to feed some of the still walking versions of the game after you have eaten your fill. Feeding the wild boar (of which there must have been 50) including the adorable stripped youngsters was the highlight.

Where Paulette did not have the answer to hand she went out of her way to help and organised a very successful mornings pony riding for the children.

All of the Appleby family made us very welcome without intruding on our family time.

Our children were particularly grateful to David and Peter, the Appleby's children, for the Go Kart demonstration. Equally I know that the children derived much pleasure from more gentle pass times such a toad hunting and just splashing around in the stunning pool. The view from the pool across to the Pyrenees justifies the stay at Le Prielle alone.

In terms of things to do in the area there is plenty to see and do even if the weather means that the pool is off limits. The first week of the two was a bit on the wet side. This forced us to explore. If you are looking for low impact, low tech attractions (which I prefer) there is plenty to do.

We all enjoyed our day at the local Camel farm which can be found just off the main road. It‘s not every day that you get to dance with a pig!

Visit the place and you will see what I mean! Combined with a basic but very tasty and enlightening lunch at the le Routier transport cafe you have a full and pleasurable day.

In addition there are plenty of towers to climb, markets to visit and just beautiful views of the countryside to enjoy.

The Highlight for me, however, was the Course Landaise - Bull fighting, of a sort, but where the competitors show their skill by avoiding the bull rather than putting it to the sword. We happened upon the student contestants taking part in a local event where the bull clattered the cleary very brave, but also probably mad, Matador on at least one in 3 passes. For a man who likes his rugby I have to take my hat off to these guys. This is a tough sport.

I have no hesitation in thoroughly recommending LePrielle to any one who wants to explore this region of France or even any one who just wants a fantastic holiday."

- Stephen Baylis and Family, York, England

"We spent a most pleasant and relaxing week at Le Prielle during August 2007 as part of a larger family group. The accommodation is spacious and characterful and is located in a particularly attractive part of rural France and with a glorious view of the surrounding countryside. The excellent swimming pool was greatly enjoyed, as were facilities for badminton and table tennis. There are also some fine walks and interesting villages and buildings not far off. But perhaps most important of all was the way that we were made to feel entirely at home by hosts who were friendly and attentive without ever being intrusive. We would have no hesitation in rebooking should we visit the area again."

- Michael and Sandy Bonnett, Cambridge

".. We cannot say how much we enjoyed our holiday at Le Prielle. Paulette and her family have put their hearts into making this work and it shows. We felt welcome but not intruded upon, whilst being able to mix in with all that was around. They are a font of knowledge on the local area and wines!We went on holiday but ended up having a complete break from it all. The children have told us we're going back and we couldn't agree more. Thank you, we'll see you next year!.."

- Stephanie Powell & Family, Hereford. August 2007

"Thank you so much for your hospitality, you really made us feel at home.

You have a beautiful property. The gites are very well equipped and the children really enjoyed going through the books and toys that were there. They also had a great time in the pool, running around in the garden, playing with the cats and feeding the hens. We all enjoyed the evening walks, and of course the badminton and table tennis games.

You also had a lot of information on anything that was to see or to do in the area and as far as the Bearn and the Pays Basque. It was very useful to organize our daily tours.

Did I forget to mention the wine? Very good indeed! Sorry for all the empty bottles we left behind.

I am sure that you will have many more visitors and that they will all have a great stay at Le Prielle."

- The Bonnett and Tonnellier families, South Korea & Bordeaux.

"Le Prielle is a wonderful place to relax and enjoy this beautiful part of France. The Gite itself is in a tranquil setting, in a lovely rural part of the French countryside, a car is required to explore the vineyards and chateaux of the region. Simon and Paulette provided lots of information about places to visit. They are very welcoming people who want you to enjoy your time with them. The pool is in a lovely part of the garden with wonderful views of the countryside We had a perfect holiday here."

June & Ian Abernethy, September 2007