Welcome to La Joie de Vivre

La Joie de Vivre lies in one of the most beautiful, varied and fascinating parts of France. To the South lie the Pyrenees, one of Europe’s most spectacular mountain ranges, on the border of France and Spain. To the North-West, Bordeaux, famed for its legendary status as one of the premier wine growing regions of the world. To the East are the cities of Toulouse, with its 3 UNESCO world heritage sites, and Carcassonne (also world heritage listed), as well as the Mediterranean coast. To the West is Pau with its relaxed and friendly elegance and the Atlantic surfing mecca of Biarritz.

La Joie de Vivre was built in 1851 and is a classical French Maison d’Maitre. The barn has been beautifully renovated to provide a luxurious gîte with views over 1.5 hectares of wooded parkland, which include a swimming pool and the walls of the former chateau.

La Joie de Vivre
La Joie de Vivre
La Joie de Vivre

Relax, Discover, Enjoy

The Gite

An independent second house, within the grounds, has been beautifully renovated and is available as a spacious self-catering holiday home. It comprises of 3 bedrooms, two separate shower rooms, a large living room with high quality home theatre system (which doubles up for use in small workshops), luxury granite finished kitchen dining room and a covered veranda with views of the Pyrénées. A 12m x 6m swimming pool (heated between May and October) is also available. The gite also has access to a high speed electric car charger unit (for a fee), WiFi, road and mountain cycles and kayaks.

With its outlook onto the mountains, shaded grounds, comfortable rooms, proximity to wonderful local restaurants and lively markets, as well as access to some of the best outdoor recreation areas anywhere in the world, La Joie de Vivre offers the opportunity to unwind and relax or feed your passions for adventure.

A few things to do in the local area

While staying with us, you can take advantage of the rich variety of activities available in this region of France.

Skiing

With its 69 pistes, extending over more than 100km, le Grand Tourmalet is the biggest ski-station in the French Pyrenees.

Caving

The Médous cave in Asté is known for its stalactites, stalagmites and draperies, making for a truly stunning visit.

Cycling

In a region known for its love of the sport, enjoy endless country roads that are incredibly scenic, safe and perfect for cycling.

Surfing

Biarritz is one of the stars of the show when it comes to surfing in South-West France, offering a range of different wave styles.

Meet your hosts

We moved to Bonnefont in August 2021, having dreamed of a life in beautiful South West France for many years, and having previously lived in the UK, U.S. and Switzerland.

We look forward to welcoming you to La Joie de Vivre and making your stay as comfortable and pleasant as possible.

 Ana and Nigel Skinner