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This is one of two houses for rent on this enormous property, consisting of five edifices: the ancient mill and its restored granary, the restored stables (Capsec de la Vila), a ruined barn, and the fortified 12C baronial mansion where the blue-blooded descendants of the original owners now live. Situated in the Bianya valley, perennial favorite of Barcelonan nature lovers, this areas offers an endless variety of outdoor activities, and the possibility of a great many day trips to lovely towns and monuments of special interest: Beget, Monastery of Sant Joan de les Abadesses, Ripoll, and the high Pyrenees. The French border at the stunning Coll d'Ares pass, with views of the Pyrenees to the sea, is only 33 km away.

Click here for comments on this house from past visitors

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El Molí (the Mill)

  • sleeps 6 or 7 in three bedrooms, each room with private bathroom
  • central heating, washing machine, dishwasher, TV, etc
  • beautiful private setting
  • natural reservoir for summer swimming
  • 200 meters from the owners shared large designer pool
  • altitude: 480mtrs
  • 3km from little town, 10 kms to Olot and Camprodon
  • 70kms to sea
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  • rates: high season: (mid-July to end-August) 1500 Euros per week, rest of year: 1300 Euros/week

A movie I took at El Molí de la Vila

I've often been told that El Moli is one of those best-kept secrets sort-of houses.  No video can hope to show the romantic beauty of this spot, of the gorgeous old stone millhouse, like something from a fairytale.  But I stood by the natural swimming pool backing the house and did a 360º turnabout with my digital camera, Ana, the owner, hiding behind some bushes so as not to be filmed, and voilá ...!

Of the two houses on this vast property, its the ancient mill that really caught my fancy. This is the quintessential dream house for romantics. To reach the front door, you must drive across a shallow stream (or walk across a rickety footbridge). The mill is backed by a large reservoir where you can swim or lounge around on floating chairs, the pool constantly fed by cool spring water straight from a virgin source just uphill from here. The thick stone walls envelop an interior almost entirely fashioned of dark-stained cherry wood. Each of the three floors measures approximately 50m2. The main floor has a cozy sitting area with two sofas around a large fireplace, TV, and nearby, a fully equipped small kitchen and dining table.

 

An uneven wooden-planked staircase leads upstairs to a hallway lined with closets and a large bedroom under sloping wooden beamed ceiling with a king-size 2x2m bed and an elegant full bath. The views from the double-glazed windows from this second floor suite are fantastic, especially at dawn, when the sun rises over the misty valley to the east. To the south, you look out over the curved shore of the reservoir and the forest beyond some grassy knolls, and to the west you look out (and hear the trickle) of the stream which surrounds three-quarter of the house.

 


Downstairs from the main floor is a very atmospheric and somewhat primitive looking room with bare stone walls, the intact millstone occupying center place, with a queen-size bed under decorative mosquito netting (mosquitos are not a problem up here), and there are also two little single beds that fit one under the other. In 2007 the owners put in a new designer bathroom down here, with a large window looking out over the steam behind the house, and a walk in shower. Off in a corner and behind a curtain there is a the washing machine. This downstairs room has a large barn-type door, so you have direct access to the front of the house and you needn't go through the living room to get in and out of the house. This is quite important I think....


Ten meters or so across from the millhouse is a small granary that has been partially restored into a small bedroom suite with a low wooden-beamed ceiling, a queen-size bed, and a full bath with an semi-sunken bathtub. On the other side of the granary there is a sheltered sitting area with padded wicker seating and a iron barbecue on wheels facing a good-sized grassy lawn dotted with flowerbeds, and an opening in the woods for easternly views down the valley. Bird song and the trickling sound of the stream fill the air. Be sure to read comments from past visitors. I stay in this house as often as I can. A beautifully restored historic building in a very private setting of unmatched natural beauty.



  • free firewood
  • 3 km to horse club
  • 15 km to golf and tennis(Camprodon)
  • 12 km to Monastery of Sant Joan de les Abadesses
  • 19 km to ballooning
  • 5 restaurants in the valley, of which 3 are top quality
  • daily market in Olot
  • excellent hiking and biking from el Moli's front step!

 

Here are two more photos of the owner´s award-winning designer shared pool 200 meters from El Molí de la Vila:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


... and there are quite a few more photos of this amazing property below.

Catalan Tourism Authorities

This sign indicates that the Catalan Tourism Authorities regularly inspect and license the property. We have also visited and recommend all the properties we have selected for our listings.

 

and some very old photos

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