Eco holiday mountain retreat in Pyrenees, Catalonia, Spain

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Rustical´s review                                                     See prices

A quick look is enough to tell you that this house is different, something special.

Vegetation climbs the rear of the cottage and spreads to cover the entire roof: a design feature that allows for heat conservation in winter and a similarly insulating effect in summer, as well as contributing to the building’s integration in its natural Pyrenean setting. In springtime, the roof is decorated by a panoply of irises.

The cottage is situated in the county of Pallars Jussé, in the early folds of the Pyrenees, in a pristine area of great ecological wealth. The Sierras of Pallars are part of the continuum of banked mountains that rise up to form the high Pyrenean peaks. But the climate is quite different here. While the high peaks have cold winds blowing though them, Pallars Jussé is protected from these in a sunny enclave, where it is distinguished by its distinctly Mediterranean feel.

The road which leads to the house is one of Michelin’s recommended routes for the most spectacular drives in Catalonia. The Lerida Province landscape changes all the time and is all the time extraordinary and beautiful.

The eco-house sits on its own beneath a rocky pinnacle, where it blends with an organic fittingness into the unspoilt environment. It has true taste, style and workmanship. Natural local stone and wood are the materials that have gone into it, the joint German-Catalonian owners using medieval building techniques to assemble wood blocks and panels without the use of a single metal screw. The property is solar powered and the generator back-up is only used as a last resort.

The accommodation is on two floors, split-level to coincide with the hillside behind the house. Natural warmth and light in the downstairs area make it a very inviting space. A nicely designed kitchen area with wooden work surfaces is open plan with a dining area and comfortable living room. Curtains have been deliberately omitted to avoid clashing with the natural mountain style, but there's no need to worry about privacy here: there are a few other equally individualistic homes dotted around the sierra, but each is deliberately well isolated from the next.

Also on the ground floor are a double bedroom, shower room/WC and utility room housing the fridge and solar installation. From here you can quickly pump enough water into the deposit for a full day’s use. Heating is from the open fireplace and the old-fashioned range in the kitchen, supported by gas heaters if required.

The first floor of the house has two more bedrooms and a small lounge. The double-bedded room has its own terrace-balcony with superb vistas. The twin-bedded room has an extra bunk bed and both it and the lounge have direct access to the garden and woods to the rear of the house. It’s a delightfully natural spot.

The private land that goes with the property is extensive and largely forested. There’s also a small meadow with a pergola, where outdoor furniture can be found. Apart from walks in the woods, we recommend the half-hour walk down to the Riber Boixol, where you can take dips in natural pools by a waterfall and wander a thrillingly wild setting.

There are also public swimming pools in Isona (12 km) and Coll de Nargó (25 mins) which open during the summer months.

 It's ruggedly picturesque here in the borderland between Mediterranean and alpine forests. The views are magical and birds of prey soar overhead. And yet, although you are gloriously off the beaten track here, you can still get to villages quite quickly. Romanic Isola, for example, and its (good!) restaurants are only a 15-minute drive.

Just over one hour by car takes you to the Vall de Fosca and the National Park of Aigues Tortes, an area of outstanding natural beauty, or to Andorra, a shopper’s paradise amongst other things.

The Roman heritage of the area is to be found in a surprisingly good state of preservation and there are excellent examples of popular architecture, churches and medieval bridges.

The normal and nearest airport has always been Barcelona at 2½ hours, although Ryan Air now operate flights to the regional capital of Lleida (Lerida) from Frankfurt and Milan, cutting the driving time to well under 2 hours, and say they are considering flights from the UK.

Facilities
Extensive private grounds with pergola, barbecue and outdoor furniture; old-fashioned range cooker; VCR/TV (for videos only); open fire (firewood included); cot; all linen provided.

Distribution
On two floors
Ground floor: open plan living / dining / kitchen area; double-bedded room; bathroom/WC (with shower); utility / storage room (with fridge).
First floor: two bedrooms, one twin-bedded with extra bunk bed (accessed up rungs) and with door out to rear gardens; one double-bedded with its own terrace and desk; second lounge also with access to the rear gardens.
Exterior: Flat area around the house with views and forests all around.

Notes:
-The house is solar powered. and has a generator back-up.
-Water comes from a deposit above the house and the pump needs to be activated approx. 15 minutes each day to fill up the tank.
-Pets may be accepted, subject to request. There is a 20 euro fee per pet and per booking.

Location and Distances
In private grounds, down a 200-metre track in good condition, in the early Pyrenees.

Isona (bars, restaurants, simple shopping)	15 mins
Coll de Nargó (shopping, bars, restaurants, good bread!)	25 mins
Montanisell (good restaurant)	25 mins
Vall Fosca (extraordinary mountain area)	1 hr
Andorra (excellent shopping, ski resorts)	1 hr
Aigues Tortes National Park (exhilarating natural environment)	1 hr 20mins
Lleida (Lerida) Airport	1 hr 45 mins
Barcelona Airport	2 hrs 30 mins
Girona Airport	3 hrs
Zaragoza Airport	3 hrs