Casa Pau - Lovely Catalan limestone villa in private surroundings with pool

Lovely holiday in beautiful surroundings for 17 people

Casa Pau is a rather unique holiday home as it is built on a gigantic rock that rises up in the landscape which creates a quite unique expression.The house is a traditional Catalan stone house of 550m2 divided into 3 floors. The house has room for 17 (+3) guests and it is located between the fields and meadows of the Catalan Pyrenees, which rises in the background.

The house itself has been well refurbished and the kind owners has managed to preserve the traditional Catalan style, combined with all modern facilities such as WI-FI, DVD, satellite TV, dishwasher and washing machine.

Casa Pau is brilliantly thought to the large group, as the two upper floors each has a living room, kitchen (both kitchens are well-equipped with dishwasher, microwave, stove / oven and many other cookware) and yet the dining area on the middle floor still has room for the entire group though you are probably more likely to dine on the terrace next to the BBQ area.

When travelling in a large group, it can sometimes be pleasant to be able to retreat. Since there are three living rooms in the house and several smaller seating area there are plenty of opportunity to make room for a quiet moment in Casa Pau.

The 550m2 large house has eight bedrooms, seven of which are doubles and one is a triple room. There are 6 double beds and 5 single beds in the holiday home. On each of the two upper floors are also 3 bathrooms (total 6 bathrooms).

Casa Pau is also an ideal choice of accommodation for the larger group with children. The house has a lovely garden that is manageable and a fenced swimming pool, which is certainly an advantage when travelling with small children, as it is fenced. There are also swings, table tennis and table football in the house, so there are lots of really good activities for children and adults.

Slightly above the swimming pool is made a good terrace (which also has direct access from the house), with long tables and a nice BBQ area. We think you will sit here and enjoy a great BBQ and the long warm evenings while you can still have an eye on the kids who may want an evening dip in the swimming pool. From the terrace there is also a lovely view of the beautiful scenery and not least the impressive Pyrenees.

The house is a good base for excursions. There are only500 metersdown the road to Vic, so no winding country roads when you have to go on trips. In one direction is Vic 30 minutes away (remember Catalonia's biggest market is here every Tuesdays and Saturdays), and in the other direction is the regional capital Berga is only 15 minutes away. Even closer (8-10 minutes by car) are smaller towns with bakery, restaurants and small supermarkets.

Facilities at the holiday home Casa Pau:
- 550m2, unique holiday home built on a gigantic rock

- 8 bedrooms (7 doubles and a triple rooms

- 6 double beds and 5 single beds and possibility of extra beds (surcharge)

- There are three good living areas, which are furnished with comfortable sofas

- Two kitchens - (one on each floor) and beautiful long table with seating for all

- Nice terrace with BBQ and longtables

- Fenced swimming pool (8 x4 meters)

- Good activities: Swings, table football and table tennis

- There is WI-FI, TV and DVD in the holiday home

- Nice location for excursions

OUR HISTORY:
Lisbeth and I (Bertel) are the owners of the company SYDENS FERIEHUSE. For the last 14 years we have engaged in letting out fantastic Catalan holiday homes, all of which live up to our criterias: they are authentic, charming homes and are all of a very high standard. We help Mercé & Jordi let out CASA PAU.

We consider the perfect holiday to consist of two parts - a nice holiday home and some great excursions and activities. For each part of Catalonia we have made an activity document with our personal recommendations. As we consider ourselves to be experts in Catalonia, you are of course always welcome to ask for help and advice. We aim to find the perfect holiday home for you :-)

Central Catalonia is situated where the Llobregat-river winds it is way from the Pyrenees down towards Barcelona. It is not heavily populated, and in the small town and villages you blend in with local life. The region is ideal for families or groups, who want a diversified vacation.

Most of all however, the region has, we found out, vacation houses of very high standard, carefully nursed by the owners, as they have been in the family for centuries, previously used for labour, in the days where agriculture needed more man-power, with all facilities you could think of, inside as well as outside. So many of the days, the car stayed in the carport and the time went with playing, swimming, reading and some nice meals from the barbecue accompanied with a glass of wine.

The landscape at the entrance to the Pyrenees is dominated by small rivers, hills, fields and forest. From almost any point, you have view to the steep Pyrenees that raise in the distance, probably some of the most beautiful mountains of the world. The area provides excellent conditions for a variety of sports- and outdoor activities, such as hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, angling, canoeing, river crafting or perhaps a visit to the owners farm.

Central Catalonia is situated in 400-800 metres altitude and has more than 300 sunny days on a year. If you visit the region in the spring or the autumn, most days will be pleasant, with temperatures from 18-25 degrees in the day time. In the summer it is warmer. The altitude makes the air dry, and the heath is very pleasant. It is good idea, however, to have the lunch-break in the shadow. The region's houses are constructed of limestone and with tiled floors to secure a pleasant indoor temperature. More

Local life
Central Catalonia is an inland area and has a rich cultural and natural heritage, including market-towns and cities with a great historical tradition. It has many monuments (Vic, Manresa, Cardona, Igualada, Terrassa, Sabadell, granollers etc.). The appealing foothill country of the Pre-Pyrenees surprises and you won't be disappointed. In the cosy rural villages, which all have its own weekly market, with fresh vegetables, homemade sausages, bread, cheese, the best olives and splendid oils.

Towns and villages

Most of the towns are situated on the shore of the Llobregat river. Tucked into the edge of the Pyrenees, you find the main town Berga. The centre is easily walkable and is lined with pretty old houses, historic monuments and lively squares, especially along the busy Carrer Major.

From Berga towards Barcelona, the small lively towns are situated by the shores of Llobregat like pearls on a string. Gironella, Puig Reig and Navás are all towns with a lot of shops with fresh vegetables, meat, bread and fish, along with banks, bars and restaurants, great for doing your shopping while staying in one of the houses. Be aware of the siesta!

Restaurants
As there is a limited number of tourists in central Catalonia, you will get a true Catalan experience in the restaurants in the area. Most restaurants are average levelled with solid Catalan food. We will be happy to help with advice.

If you want to try a gourmet dinner in beautiful surroundings in the countryside, Els Casals, just awarded a Michelin star, is really worth a visit. You can visit the restaurant on you own, or join our "evening in Els Casals", an evening where you visit the farm and then enjoy a gourmet dinner, designed especially to allow families with children to enjoy a gourmet meal as well.

Activities
Those who are looking for an active vacation won't be disappointed. There are brilliant activities for all age groups. Explore natural surroundings and cultural sites on many different cycling adventures or break your routine by going hiking, mountain biking, kayaking or river rafting on one of the many great places in the Pre-Pyrenees. If you (or your kids) prefer horseback riding there will be a huge variety of possibilities: horse riding routes, riding classes, pony trekking etc.

Canoeing
Just before Berga, the Llobregat river is dammed in order to be able to control the water, which from time to time can be a scarce resource in Catalonia and secondly produce electricity. This has created a big lake in front of the village of Cercs. Her you can rent canoes and either just paddle around in child-friendly conditions or take a longer trip upstream and back again.

Golf
The region has several golf courses and especially the ones situated in the Pyrenees should be amazing, with the mountainous surroundings.

Excursions
Besides enjoying your house and the region, the advantage of staying central in Catalonia is that you have easy access to most of Catalonia's sights in one-day trips.

Vic
Vic is one of the regional capitols in Catalonia and has a beautiful historical town centre with a lot of shops. Visit the city Tuesdays or Saturdays, where it is market day. First Saturday in every month it is also antique market and second Saturday in every month it is also paintings market. Browse around and enjoy the roman architecture the city is known for.

Barcelona
Distance: 1 hour by car
Barcelona is of course really worth a visit on a day trip. What ever your interest is art, sports, culture, architecture or simply enjoying a day in a big city, Barcelona is really worth a visit. And after a day in the hectic city, you enjoy even more the following day by your pool in your house in the country side.

Penedés Wine district

Distance: 45 minutes -1 hour by car
One of the finest wine district in Spain is situated between Urgell and Barcelona. You can easily spend a day visiting wine yards, tasting the excellent products. For the children the tour at the Codórniu ranch is recommendable, as it includes in a train in the 40 km.