EL MONASTERIO is beautifully situated on top of a hill, where the templars in the 1400s used the house as a base. This castle has now been fully restored and to put the icing on the cake there was in the summer of 2006 made a big and great swimming pool. The house has room for 14 people as base capacity and up to 6 extra persons, as 3 new bedrooms are now available. EL MONASTERIO is perfect for one or more families on holiday together. This house is a relaxing and scenic base for an excellent holiday in the Catalan area. Templars chose his time to build their castle here, because they had a good view of the area below from the top of the hill. If you look at pictures of the view, is also not in doubt that it was a very good choice. A better view is very hard to get. Besides the view, the location provides a very peaceful atmosphere, as there are no houses nearby. If you are looking for a relaxing holiday, this is the place. Despite the renovation, EL MONASTERIO has still many relics from the time when it was the property of the templars. You can for an example still see the cannon holes in some places in the house, but the most prominent of all is that there is a small authentic church in the backyard, which dates back to the 13th century. If you are curious, you can borrow a key to the church from the owners. The pool area of the holiday home stands out. Firstly, the pool is large with a size of less than 32 m2, and secondly, the view is indescribable good, because the pool is equal to the edge of the tray. There has been put a fence for safety reasons. In addition, there are sun beds for all guests in the house. Right next to the pool there is a covered terrace, which probably will be the meeting point of the holiday. There is also another terrace with direct access to the kitchen. Here you can enjoy the homemade food during the long and warm Catalan evenings. There are 6 bedrooms in EL MONASTERIO (+ the new extra bedrooms, please enquire). These are spread over 4 double rooms and 2 triple rooms. General for all the rooms is that they have a classic design and high ceilings. 4 of the rooms have en suite bathroom, while the two others share one. The triple rooms are perfect for groups of children. The well-equipped and beautiful kitchen is located on the first floor. It has among others a microwave, a dishwasher, a oven and much more. It is even possible to book a private chef one evening - it is strongly recommended. Connected to the kitchen there is a large and classic Catalan long table, where you can enjoy the food. In the same room there is a small sitting area with soft couches. On the ground floor there is for the children and playful adults a room with table football and table tennis. There is also a cozy corner with beautiful old-style furniture. 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 Antoni and his family let out EL MONASTERIO. 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 :-) - Historically interesting holiday - Unique view over the valley - Large swimming pool with sun loungers - Two covered terraces - Well-equipped kitchen - Possibility to book a chef - 6 rooms with 4 en suite bathrooms (+ extra bedrooms now available) - Cosy town, Gironella, 4 km away - Barcelona and the beaches accesible within 1,5 hours in a day trip Catalonia - culture and landscape: Geographically and culturally, the splendour of Catalonia is so unique. It has a vast diversity of landscapes ranging from rocky coastlines to long flat beaches, from mountains to plains, and from marshlands to forest. It has great cosmopolitan cities such as the amazing Barcelona with its fantastic art nouveau buildings, or the historical Gerona and its great old Jewish quarter. It has small medieval mountain villages sitting at the foot of the Pyrenees and elegant coastal resorts in the sandy shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Catalonia has a distinct regional identity that borrows little form the rest of Spain. Catalans have their own language, and are intensely proud of their unique art, cuisine, folklore and long history. Ask the Catalans themselves and many will tell you that Catalonia is not a region but a nation. Situated in the middle of Catalonia, it is easy to visit most of it in half- or full days excursions as variety to the relaxation in the house and by the pool. Catalonia - Spain : In the north-east of the Iberian, on the Mediterranean side, and occupying a relatively small area lays Catalonia, one of Spain's most fascinating and diverse regions. Geographically and culturally, the splendour of Catalonia is so unique.It has a vast diversity of landscapes ranging from rocky coastlines to long flat beaches, from mountains to plains, and from marshlands to forest. It has great cosmopolitan cities such as the amazing Barcelona with its fantastic art nouveau buildings, or the historical Gerona and its great old Jewish quarter. It has small medieval mountain villages sitting at the foot of the Pyrenees and elegant coastal resorts in the sandy shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Catalonia has a distinct regional identity that borrows little form the rest of Spain. Catalans have their own language, and are intensely proud of their unique art, cuisine, folklore and long history. Ask the Catalans themselves and many will tell you that Catalonia is not a region but a Nation.