Babies and Toddlers
 We were recently introduced to the BabyGoes2 website.
This well-visited site is dedicated to identifying holiday destinations
which cater particularly for parents who are holidaying with babies and young
children. One of those responsible
for the site stayed at Peyloubère and suggested that we include our cottages.
This we have done and we have also decided to dedicate a page on our own
website to our youngest visitors.
Baby Paraphernalia
First, there is all the paraphernalia that accompanies babies
and toddlers wherever they go. Three
cots (with linen) and three high chairs, suitable for newborn babies up to small
children, are available to borrow (at no charge) during your stay.
There is also a baby bath and ‘bunnikin’ china.
Children’s knives and plastic bowls and beakers are supplied in all the
cottages.
Electrical equipment
If you wish to bring your own baby equipment such as
sterilisers, baby walkie-talkies, liquidisers etc. we are happy to provide
suitable adaptors. A Microwave is
standard in all the cottages and although televisions are not standard
equipment in the cottages, these may be hired at €25 per week. The large library of children’s videos is invaluable for
those quiet moments first thing in the morning and during siesta hours.
Games and Toys
 In addition to the indoor and outdoor games provided for all
our visitors, there is a special chest for young children full of soft toys, puzzles, lego,
farmyard animals and lots more. There
is also a large library of books for young children as well as the videos
mentioned above. And in the garden,
a toddler slide and cubby house as well as a larger slide for older children,
giant snakes-and-ladders, quoits and monster dominos.
.. and talking of Gardens
 All the cottages at Peyloubère have there own private gardens
with outdoor furniture, umbrella and barbeque.
In addition the gardens of Les Cedres
and Giulietta
are fully enclosed and are therefore recommended for visitors with toddlers.
There are also pathways up to the lakes and around the estate which are
kept cut and easy for prams and buggies.
The Cottages
All the cottages have been fully refurbished and re-equipped
during the past few years to provide plenty of space which is easy to maintain,
durable and, above all, comfortable. Thus
floors are either tiled or wooden, beds and sitting room furniture are
comfortable, bath/shower rooms and loos plentiful and the latter on both floors,
and kitchens fully equipped and spacious. All electrical installations have sensitive circuit breakers.
The Swimming Pools
 The
main heated swimming pool is enclosed by a fence and
two self-closing gates and complies with Law no 2003-9 of 3 January
2003 which is directed particularly at the security of children under the age of
five. The pool has a fresh water system which has a
natural chlorination system that uses lightly salted water and is much kinder to
young eyes. There is a second pool for
the family, and guests to the chambre d’hôte use this in July and August.
This pool is protected by a fixed
cover which also complies with the above regulations. It goes without saying that these security measures in no way
replace parental supervision and surveillance of all children.
Animals
The family have two Labradors, Suki and Meg, and two Burmese
cats, Rowan and Nutz, all of whom look forward to and enjoy the presence of
young visitors at Peyloubère. Suki
is especially fond of babies and is happy to be led around on a lead for hours
at a time. Both dogs will happily
retrieve balls and sticks for as long as they are thrown and become part of the
‘gang’ of young children who explore and set up camps and dens around the
estate. Younger children never seem
to tire of throwing bread for our family of ducks (and sometimes ducklings) on
the lake and accompanying Theresa or Ian to collect the daily offering of eggs
from our chickens who are kept happy and
safe by their magnificent cockerel, Voltaire.
Babysitters
… can be arranged and one of our regular babysitters is
usually available. The rate varies
from €8 to €10 per hour.
Hospitals and Doctors
Our own doctor is available in the village and the General
Hospital has an excellent emergency department five minutes away by car.
Medical care is covered by the reciprocal arrangement between all
European countries but it is as well to have your form E111 to meet all
eventualities. There is also the
invaluable Pharmacie in the village of Pavie a few minutes from Peyloubère.
Things to do in the area
Five minutes walk from Peyloubère in the village of Pavie, there is a
small children’s playground with slides, swings etc. and another larger
one in Auch with climbing frames,
cubby houses etc.
Within 30 minutes drive ….
There are several leisure lakes within 30 minutes of
Peyloubère with playgrounds, water slides and often with sandy beaches,
pleasure boats and other holiday facilities.
There are also river trips on the Baïse or around the
canals of Toulouse.
The Zoo at Plaisance du Touch (just outside Toulouse)
has a drive-through Safari as well as a sea lion show, children's corner and
other attractions.
Le Jardin Carnivore with
its wide selection of carnivorous plants, is a great
favourite and seems to appeal to the imagination of even the youngest visitors.
Just five minutes from Peyloubère, a visit to the tree-top
acrobatic park, Le Vert en l’Air, is enjoyed by all the family.
The smallest acrobats must be 1m20 at the wrists with arms lifted and there is a
special course to cater for these younger participants.
La Fenière riding stables is
located in the same park as Le Vert en l’Air and young riders are taken on a
leading rein for gentle walks through the sunflower fields.
Many of the farms in the Gers welcome visitors and some are Fermes
Auberges where lunch ingredients are the produce of the farm.
These auberges are usually informal and the children are free to visit
the animals and enjoy the surroundings of the farm.
At Le Houga there are over 600 animals including deer, boar, cows
and a wide variety of poultry.
The Bell Museum at L’isle
Jourdain is one museum which will appeal to both adults and children.
It is a fascinating museum, housed in a beautiful building and there is
plenty of interaction …… and therefore plenty of opportunity for making a
noise.
When you enter the walls at Larressingle, you walk into
a medieval world showing the story of the pilgrims of St Jacque de Compostelle
and the workings of full-size siege machines which the children are invited to
help fire at the walls of this wonderfully preserved medieval village - with
bullets of water-filled-balloons!
Further afield ………….
The Aquarium at Lourdes
Aqualand at Toulouse
The Grotto and Prehistoric Park at Fontirou – also with
mini-golf, baby-karting and promenades in a horse-drawn buggy.
Cetonia, the insect zoo at Lézat
The Walibi Theme Park at Agen
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