Hosts: Valérie and Gilbert Foix

Guestrooms: 3

Address: La Maison Marchand, Rue Notre-Dame, 64240 La Bastide Clairence, France

Click here for location.

Telephone: 00.33.(0)5 59 29 18 27,
00 33 (0)6 82 78 50 95,
00 33 (0)971379220

Fax: 00 33 5 59 29 14 97

Activities/Attractions: La Bastide Clairence is classified as one of the "Plus Beaux Villages of France". This is a Bastide with a Basque flavour. The houses are painted white and all have shutters painted in the deep red colour, occasionally green, typical of this region.

The village is charming and lovely to amble around. Most of the shops in the town are owned by local artisans, happily producing good quality rather than tourist quality goods! If you are looking for some unusual presents this is a good place to head for. In September La Bastide Clairence hosts a pottery fair which welcomes over 50 potters from around Europe.

• Close to La Bastide Clairence you can visit Abbaye de Belloc whose monks make a famous sheep’s milk cheese
  
• South-east of the village at Saint Martin d'Arberoue are the caves of Isturitz and Oxocelhaya, the former featuring prehistoric relics and the other with impressive rock formations - stalactites etc.
  
• At Hastingues, just off the A64 north-east of La Bastide, is Arthous Abbey - active from the 12th to the 17th centuries, and now restored and open to the public it also houses a museum of heritage targetted at children and the 'Landes region Departmental Centre of Heritage'
  

"The greeting was friendly and relaxed and we knew straight away that we had made the right choice. Things just got better during our stay as we discovered what the local countryside had to offer, including good local restaurants and wonderfully friendly people. Valerie and Gilbert are excellent hosts (this includes their delightful son, Alex) and we enjoyed a very good evening meal on the second evening. The local crepes and canard were delicious, followed by an excellent cheese board and fruit salad (I still don't know how Valerie made it taste so good). Our room was very comfortable and I really appreciated the availability of some good books. We have stayed at quite a few B&B's in France and I would rank this as one of the very best in terms of accommodation, warmth of hosts/greeting, food and importantly cost. Good quality at a good price!"

"The La Maison Marchand Chambres D’hotes and Table D’Hotes was a total treat. Both Valerie and her husband Gilbert were excellent hosts - and cooks. My husband is very tall (two meters or 6’6”) so I had asked for a large bed. The room and bed were both large and perfect! The bathroom was also large. The house has three guest rooms all decorated gorgeously. Two nights a week Gilbert and Valerie fix a 5 or 6 - maybe even seven course dinner for guests who choose to eat with them. We lost track as the food and wine were so delicious. There was plenty of free parking and we were within walking distance of the town’s major attractions. Unfortunately, we were only able to stay one night; but it would be an ideal base for touring many of the other Basque towns in the area. Valerie was able to give me a list of the best places to visit. Breakfast was also very good; including fresh bread just out of the oven across the street. We enjoyed our visit, and should we ever find ourselves in the area again, we will definitely try to stay with the Foix; and especially include a night when they are hosting dinner!"

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General Information: Welcome to La Maison Marchand in French Pays Basque in the south Aquitaine ... where our house is located in the heart of one of France's most beautiful villages - La Bastide Clairence. Our home dates from 1592 and we have kept, where possible, its original architecture of exposed beams, wafer bricks, stone window surrounds and rough-plastered walls. The small salon is very cosy with its log-burner. We are only 20 minutes from Bayonne and 30 minutes from Biarritz.

The bedrooms give onto the garden at the back of the house, they are spacious, quiet and comfortable with queen/king size beds and reversible heat pumps. Our garden is not overlooked and it has several terraces where you may relax in the sun or perhaps you could be tempted into a visit to the "fronton" with Alex and Gilbert who will take great pleasure in showing you the intricacies of one of the Basque racquet games "la pelote"!

• The Bedrooms are spacious
  
• And with the luxury of very large double beds (160 or 180 cm)
  
• All rooms with private bathrooms
  
• Reversible heat pumps
  
• Each room has books, tea, coffee and bottled water to help make your stay as relaxed as possible
  
• Each room has a hairdryer
  
• Meals are served on Monday and Thursday evenings at 25 euros per person, wine included
  
• You may bring your pet to stay too
  

Payment Accepted: PayPal, IBAN and Cash.

Rates: (Prices quoted in Euros).

€50-75/night/room

Breakfast is included.

Click here for all the rates.
Click here for currency conversion.

"Valerie and Gilbert are splendid hosts. The room was spacious, the bed large and comfortable and the room boasted a hospitality tray - a rarity in France. We were fortunate to be staying on a night when dinner was available and thoroughly enjoyed Valerie's delicious meal. Gilbert is enthusiastic about the area and provided maps and welcome guidance on places to visit. Breakfast, served in the open fronted room, was jolly good and we only wish our stay had been longer."

"Our host and hostess went beyond helping us feel comfortable and welcome in their home. They helped us with our French, one purpose for going to France. The room was superb, roomy, light and bright as it looked out onto the garden which is well kept but welcoming. A great place to sit and read or just think, especially on the swing. The salon invites one to sit and watch TV or a movie on those nights when looking for something to do. It was one of the best times I have had on my travels and it was due to Valerie and Gilbert whom make that all possible. Visit them and have a great time as I know you will."

"I recently spent two wonderful weeks in the Pays Basque town of La Bastide Clairence. My friend, from British Columbia and I stayed at Maison Marchand for 14 nights and we travelled each day to outlying areas to discover the beauty and history of the country. While at Maison Marchand, we enjoyed the beautiful location, the accommodations and the lovely garden. The owners, Valerie and Gilbert Foix ( and don't forget son, Alex) could not have been more kind and helpful to us, from assisting us with our French to giving us tips on our daily "adventures". We really enjoyed the breakfasts with the family and other guests, as well as the table d'hotes, when we enjoyed a typical Basque menu. I would not hesitate to stay there again and I thank them for making my stay memorable."