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OTHER VERSIONS 
Espagnol | | | | Testimonials"Our decision to have a week's holiday at Le Prielle was something of an experiment. We had booked two gites in order to accommodate members of the family. We were in for a surprise -- a very pleasant surprise. The place turned out to be a veritable oasis, beautifully laid out, with a superb salt water pool and magnificent views towards the Pyrenees. The gites were comfortable, well furnished and excellently equipped. There were many toys to keep the children busy although they rarely played with them, as they were busy enough at the great paddling pool(s) Paulette and Simon Appleby turned out to be the most charming and certainly the most helpful of hosts. They were not only a mine of useful information but also provided us with a dinner that was more like a banquet, served outside the gites at tables well protected from the strong sunshine by strategically placed umbrellas. They rapidly became friends and mentors. We made good use of the BBQ and kitchens, cooking appetising meals accompanied by amazingly good local wines. Nearby Madiran has an excellent, though fairly expensive restaurant close to the church. Paulette and Simon recommended another restaurant a few kilometres outside Madiran, which turned out to be one of the best we've come across in France. Its cuisine is simple yet scrumptious, providing large portions at remarkably low prices. Tyler, aged 11, tucked into a dish of frogs' legs with absolute relish. It was the first time he had tasted frogs and loved them, much to everyone else's surprise. Patrick kicked off with soup and the landlady brought out an entire tureen filled to the brim with homemade vegetable soup. It proved too much for him so we had a plateful each... As for the wines, we bought some local Madiran at a supermarket (2008 vintage, costing less than four Euros). Frankly, we didn't expect it to be more than a vin de table and supplemented it with a far more expensive Bordeaux claret. The Madiran turned out superior to the Bordeaux! We bought a case or two to take back with us! The week went far too quickly and was certainly one of the best holidays ever -- especially en famille. June and I have had a house in Normandy since 1989, so we are true Francophiles. We shall treasure our week at Le Prielle and hope to return for a longer period." - John Izbicki, Horsmonden, Kent, UK. July 2011. "Just a quick note to say a huge thank you for the hospitality on our second holiday at your gites. This time we came with 5 other couples, all members of the Mazda MX5 Owners Club. As expected the gites were clean and the shopping that we had requested was all waiting for us on arrival. The evening meal was enjoyed by everyone, thank you. And the heated pools were terrific! Everyone enjoyed the holiday very much and we have all agreed to come back again. Please book us in again. We would recommend Le Prielle as an excellent base for any car club, group of friends or families, wanting to holiday together and explore terrific roads and the scenery that goes with it. Not to mention the food & wine…… Thanks again and see you soon." - Nick Butler & Friends May 2011 Мы бываем во Франции уже несколько лет подряд и не по одному разу в год. В этот раз у нас была цель избежать гостиниц и ресторанов, насколько это возможно. За время пребывания в Ле Приэль впервые за всё время путешествий по Франции не было никаких даже мелких разочарований и неприятных сюрпризов. Девять дней в жите Полетт и Саймона были наполнены простыми радостями. Их дом расположен чрезвычайно удачно для тех, кто ищет уединения, но при этом не готов жертвовать комфортом и качеством повседневной жизни. При наличии пары супермаркетов и деревенских рынков в нескольких минутах езды всегда можно купить прекрасные французские продукты, включая местные специалитеты, и выбрать вино, представленное весьма широко, что было очень важно для нас. Хорошо оборудованная кухня позволяет готовить самим, используя местные продукты и вино. Следующая часть нашего плана на поездку тоже превзошла ожидания. Нам удалось посетить как исторические достопримечательности, так и виноградники Мадирана, Сент-Монта, Журансона и Арманьяка. Виноделы региона весьма радушно принимают гостей, которые интересуются попробовать их высококачественное, а в некоторых случаях исключительное по качеству вино. Мы даже съездили на один день в Биарриц, что заняло всего два часа по дорогам А65 и А64. Страна Басков – это совершенно уникальный регион! Всё это было бы невозможно, если бы Полетт и Саймон не сделали процесс урегулирования формальностей (условия контракта, оплаты и т.п.) таким простым и главное - доступным через интернет. Раньше все наши попытки найти подобное жилье в других регионах Франции заканчивались неудачей, поскольку условия были совершенно невыполнимы, по крайней мере, из России. Также мы хотели бы отметить, что наш жит представлял собой полноразмерный дом с тремя спальнями и ванной на втором этаже, гостиной, кухней и еще одной ванной на первом этаже. Короче говоря, это было по-настоящему здорово! Мы определенно рекомендуем остановиться в Ле Приэль, особенно иностранцам, которые хотят узнать Францию изнутри. Игорь, Ольга и Ксения Май 2011 Россия, Московская область "Megan, Connor, Scott and I would like to thank you for the wonderful time we had during our recent stay at Le Prielle. Your willingness to help show us around the local Domains, and to come and collect us when we had lost all sense of direction was greatly appreciated, and we thank you for giving us so much time and help with the many questions we had. As you know, we have spent many holidays in France, all of which have been wonderful, but Le Prielle is without doubt the finest of the gites we have ever stayed at. Simon's genius in heating the pool allowed us to enjoy many hours lazing and bathing, with the spectacular view, surely one of the most beautiful in France, adding to our enjoyment. The entire area is superb, and we have no hesitation in recommending Le Prielle as the perfect base from which to explore the region. It is certainly a beautiful, magical place and we look forward to seeing you all again. Best regards." - Andy, Megan, Connor and Scott Graham Scotland. April 2011 "I just wanted to say a big thank you for once again making us feel so welcome during our recent visit. As usual the Gite was immaculately prepared, and being equipped with UK TV and a DVD, what better way to spend a relaxing evening with a glass of Madiran wine, in the comfortable surroundings of La Prielle after a day's skiing at the nearby Pyrenees! We look forward to seeing you again very soon. This must be our fourth or fifth trip & each one has been great. Thanks!" - Andy Carter, East Grinstead, UK. Jan 2011 "Nous avons passés d'exellentes vacances chez Simon, Paulette, David et Peter. N'allez pas au Prielle si vous aimez le bruit ! C'est un endroit très calme et vraiment magnifique. Au Prielle on se détend, pas de stress. Pour les enfants il ya des jeux, mais c'est surtout la piscine que nos enfants de 8 et 10 ans ont adorés. Les propriétaires sont des gens très gentils, c'est la première année de nos vacances que nous avons été aussi bien accueillis ! Et Paulette fait des repas à tomber par terre !!! En ce qui concerne les visites à faire, ici non ne s'ennuie pas. Merci encore à cette charmante famille de nous avoir si bien accueillis. Et encore félicitations pour tout le travail de rénovation des gites, ils sont magnifiques . (ainsi que la literie).”- La famille Le Roux de Bretagne. Patrick, Isabelle, Corentin et Jérémy, July & August 2010
“We have just spent 2 fabulous weeks at Le
Prielle. Our gite, Le
Pigionaire, was very spacious and comfortable with a great shower and a luxurious freestanding bath. Our 7 year old daughter loved all the toys/games and DVDs which were provided by our hosts. It was a real treat for her to feed Paulette's chickens every day, to hold the recently hatched chicks and to eat freshly laid eggs. We all loved the opportunity to sample fruits (peaches, nectarines, plums) from the orchard. We chose this small complex of
gites because we wanted our daughter to be able to have fun playing with other children but be able to have our own space and quiet at times. Le
Prielle struck the perfect balance; the courtyard and gardens around the
gites were perfect for the children to explore and play safely while the adults relaxed in peace. The biggest hit was the magnificent salt water pool (much nicer to swim in than chlorine), we spent many happy hours in and around the pool in the hot weather. Simon and Paulette's five very friendly cats made it a real home away from home (although a lot furrier than our boys!). Many thanks to Paulette, Simon, David and Peter. Their knowledge of the local area and inexpensive activities was extremely helpful. They really went out of their way for us, booking activities and accompanying us to help translate on trips,
e.g.wine tasting, kayaking, horse riding. Their food and wine recommendations were spot on (the 'cep omelette' at
Relais D'Aydie was to die for!). They were the perfect hosts, there when you wanted but never intrusive. We won't forget their delicious meal of local food and wines and an impromptu aperitif by the pool. Paulette's beautiful painting of a sunset in the vines is hanging in our living room now and is a permanent reminder of a brilliant holiday. We will certainly return and would recommend Le
Prielle to our friends and family.”
"We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and can’t wait to endure the painful knees again!!! Our family have used this area as a base for our skiing trips for many years, and Le Prielle is a jewel we will treasure and will return to. Set in beautiful countryside with fantastic views towards the Pyrenees, our skiing "home" is a welcome retreat. We especially enjoyed the log burning stove!! Warm, comfortable and with privacy yet you always seem to be available for advice or when questions need answering. Thank you so much for making us feel so at home and making our stay a real pleasure. Beautiful food. Beautiful wine. Beautiful weather. Beautiful skiing. Looking forward to seeing you all again." - Ian Jo Matt Kirsty Emma, Sussex, UK. Jan 2011 "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?! "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."
"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." "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. "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." 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. "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." 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,
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. "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). "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. 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 ! - A la prochaine, Amicalement, Ron
- 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
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| Copyright, Le Prielle. 2006. |
