Florizel's Dream

This authentic Aranese-style home is dripping with character at every turn. It’s a picture of a mountain village idyll, from the moment you step from the quiet cobbled street into the welcoming living room. Inside, it’s like a forest cabin with sloped wooden ceilings and thick timber beams on display. The brick fireplace in the living room completes the cosy scene. Darkwood cabinets in the kitchen hark back to simpler times, and they hide all the mod cons you need for 21st-century self-catering. Wending your way up the wooden staircase, you’ll find all the bedrooms upstairs with the main bedroom taking up the entire loft space, natural light spilling across the hardwood floor from the wall of glass. From here, you can step out onto the top-floor balcony and spot the mountains that surround the town.

Location-wise, you’re in the heart of the charming village of Gessa on the Garonne River. A couple of restaurants lie within walking distance, but the real buzz is a short drive away in Baqueira, where the valley’s main ski resort has runs for all levels and there are plenty of spots for apres ski.

Home truths:
*This home is spread over three floors and all the bedrooms are upstairs, so it may not be suitable for those with limited mobility
*A private parking space is included, but this is in a nearby building and guests here have access to a parking space and ski locker at the foot of the slopes at Val de Ruda
*One of the bedrooms has two sets of bunk beds so would be best suited to children sharing
*Your host can provide a cot and high chair for infants – just ask
*Though there isn't a dedicated desk here, the dining table doubles up as a laptop-friendly workspace
*You'll have your own private entrance here