ClardeBosc, Albanyà. Holiday Rentals & B&B

Description for B&B:

Experience the charm of a stunning 17th-century farm-house nestled in the untamed beauty of the Girona Pyrenees. This hidden gem is a paradise for hiking and mountain-biking enthusiasts, offering endless opportunities for adventure. Surrounded by untouched woodlands and serene tranquility, the only lights that illuminate the night sky are the moon and the stars. Positioned on a mountain pass, the farm-house boasts breathtaking views of two valleys, creating a truly awe-inspiring setting. With over 300 sunny days per year, this destination is a haven for nature lovers.

We offer two guest-rooms on the first floor of our meticulously restored home, as well as a separate apartment on the ground floor. The larger room features a private bathroom and is furnished with a double bed and a double futon sofa-bed. The second room offers two single beds. Additionally, our guests have exclusive access to a charming dining room with a cozy wood-stove. The apartment showcases a spacious and luminous hall with high vaulted ceilings, an American kitchen, a fireplace, a large dining table, and a comfortable living area with a sofa-bed. It also includes a bedroom with a double bed and a set of bunk beds, a generous bathroom, and a delightful garden terrace under stone vaults, complete with a barbecue.

Our farm-house operates on self-sufficiency principles, utilizing a central fireplace for heating and solar panels for electricity. We take pride in creating our own bread, pasta, game sausages, marmalades, and jams from the fruits of our trees and the bountiful wild berries and nuts that surround us. Additionally, we cultivate organic vegetables and raise chickens and ducks. For an indulgent culinary experience, we offer half-board and full-board meal options, showcasing our organic produce alongside the offerings of local farmers.

Situated in an idyllic middle-mountain region, ranging from 600 to 1,500 meters above sea level, our farm-house provides a privileged vantage point overlooking the radiant Empordà plain, which stretches towards the sea. Alta Garrotxa, known for its rugged and solitary middle-mountain landscape, presents a captivating contrast of Mediterranean dry forests (featuring holly oaks, oaks, and pine trees) on sun-soaked slopes, and lush, humid vegetation (including chestnut trees, beeches, and black poplars) in shaded areas. Deep ravines, babbling mountain streams, gorges, cascades, alpine meadows, and sheer rock walls add to the region's captivating allure. Despite its historical sparseness in terms of population, the area is adorned with scattered farm-houses and Romanesque chapels perched in seemingly impossible locations. Encounter deer, wild pigs, hares, and foxes more frequently than other humans in this untouched sanctuary. The air is filled with the symphony of birdsong, undisturbed by electricity or telephone cables, and untouched by any asphalt roads across its vast 32,865-hectare expanse. Here, you can leave behind the stresses of daily life and immerse yourself in the embrace of nature, wander through enchanting chestnut forests, and relax in a hammock beneath the shade of an oak tree. Just 15 minutes away lies the Muga River, named after the Basque word for "border" as it meanders along the French-Catalan divide. During the summer months, dive into its crystal-clear natural pools for a heavenly experience. Autumn offers the opportunity to forage for mushrooms, chestnuts, figs, and blackberries, while spring unveils wild strawberries, cherries, and asparagus, along with an abundance of mushrooms. Winter graces the landscape with a gentle dusting of white under a clear blue sky, providing a respite from the harsh cold of higher altitudes.

We are thrilled to offer guided hiking and horse-back tours, allowing you to explore the region's most breathtaking vistas. This area, renowned for its challenging terrain and historical significance as a crossing point over the Pyrenees, boasts over 40 Romanesque chapels dating back to the 10th to 12th centuries. These chapels serve as a testament to the Christian presence in these lands during that time. For avid mountain-bikers, numerous marked routes traverse this region, providing exhilarating adventures.

Escape to our magnificent farm-house, where nature's wonders unfold at every turn, inviting you to embark on a journey of discovery and rejuvenation.