Health and safety for our guests

Hygene, cleanliness and the health and safety of our guests have always been top priorities at Perches, but the Covid-19 lockdown has given us the time to plan and carry out two changes. The first has been a two-month, in-depth cleaning and disinfection programme of more or less everything that you might touch or handle – bed-linen and towels, curtains, carpets, bedspreads, covers of chairs and sofas, door and drawer handles, light-switches, sockets, taps, handrails, outdoor furniture… The second is a revision of our daily and weekly cleaning and washing (60 degree minimum, of course) schedules to achieve an even higher standard of hygene and to minimise any risk of contagion.

Hence, for both your safety and ours, and respecting the French health protocole, we only accept stays of at least 3 nights from July 10th to August 29th.

Space and limited number of guests

The sheer space, and the limited number of guests, have been key parts of the luxury of staying at Perches, and at this time of crucial social distancing,  to maximise the use of that space is all the more important. The trauma of the pandemic means that, for the coming months at least, instead of our traditional ‘table d’hôtes, we have introduced separate, individual – and well-spaced – tables for breakfast, dinners, and light lunches, and served breakfasts have replaced the buffet. Equally, by the pool and on the other terraces seating has been re-organised, with pairs or small groups of seats well-distanced from each other.

Dining at Perches

Every year since we arrived here, we have sought to improve and extend our local sourcing of fresh organic foods and wines for our healthy balanced menus, and the lockdown has given us the opportunity to create our own organic kitchen garden – and to carry out some pruning of our fruit trees (well-needed for the figs, plum, quince and persimmon) and the planting of a few replacements to ensure future supplies of fresh fruits and home-made preserves.

Activities in Perches

Ideas for holiday stays in 2020 may include less visiting of major ‘sites’ (although we can advise when to avoid crowds in local towns and villages) and more activity or relaxation on-site at Perches. Inside, you might enjoy reading – there a few thousand books to choose from on our shelves – or painting, photography, listening to music, exercise in our large new exercise room, table-tennis and we can organise meditation, yoga, fitness, wine-tasting and cooking sessions, or aperitif discussions in the spacious Music Room – always respecting social distancing. Outside there is swimming and tennis on our own hard court, “French boules”, long-walks (randonnées) with some starting from the house, whilst bikes can be hired nearby in Gaillac.

And, just in case, there are excellent doctors, dentists and pharmacies nearby, very good hospital facilities in Albi, and, in Toulouse, world-class teaching hospitals and medical research centres.

We look forward to seeing you in Perches.

Take care!