The Cottage

La Casita de Luis is an old farm cottage, once part stable and parthome. It is probably several hundred years old built of stone and adobe, and whitewashed in the typical Andalucian style. All the bedroom furniture is handmade and hand-painted in Sevilla.

Outside the house there is an orchard meadow with old apple tree, quinces and fig trees. We sometimes have the sheep nearby, and you will hear the tinkle of the sheep bells as they graze. It is a great place for birdwatching and for looking at wildflowers.

Sitting Room

The sitting room is large and has a wood-fired stove (logs are supplied) with comfortable sofas and chairs.

Kitchen

The large eat-in kitchen has a marble work-top, electric oven, a gas hob, dishwasher, and a clothes washer. There is an extendable kitchen table which seats eight in case you feel like asking the neighbours in to eat with you! There is a stone built barbecue out in the patio, perfect for alfresco lunches of grilled fish, or Iberian solomillo.

Bedrooms

There are two bedrooms:

The twin room has an en suite bathroom with tub and walk-in shower, a handbasin, and a WC.

The double room on the ground floor has an en suite, with walk-in shower, handbasin and WC. (This bedroom has a ramp access to the living room and kitchen, and also opens directly out onto the patio overlooking the quince orchard.)

Swimming Pool

In the summer there is a private swimming pool (3m x 5m) in a sunny spot to one side of the house for refreshing to plunge into on a hot summer's day!

Internet Access

La Casita Luis has a good Telefonica mobile signal and GPRS.

The Grounds

the cottage is situated on the Buenvino estate which is a great place for birdwatching or for looking at wildflowers.Outside the house there is an orchard meadow with old apple trees and fig trees.

Local Information

In all our houses we provide a list of recommended local eating places and shops, as well as information on fiestas and ferias.

In the Autumn you may be lucky enough to see the chestnuts being harvested. Through the local cooperative we export directly to the United States and Northern Europe. Our cork forest is peeled in high summer. As the trees can only be barked every ten years, we divide the harvest into two sections so that some can be collected every five years.

If you aren't lucky enough to see the harvest on the Buenvino estate, then you might catch it on another piece of land....but make sure you are there in July and August to see the cork harvest.

The old mule trail runs behind the orchard wall and the house, and you might enjoy a walk to Los Marines (20 Mins) or Fuenteheridos (40 mins) two charmingly typical white-washed pueblos. Los Marines is quieter and we recommend Carlos’ bar in the main square for delicious home cooking and a good wine list. Fuenteheridos bustles with life. There are three or four restaurants to choose from there. Most of them serve the local specialties of Jamón and cerdo Iberico.

The nature reserve has Egyptian Mongoose, Badgers, Red deer, Foxes, Wolves, Genet cat, Moufflon and Wild Boar. Not all easy to see, but sometimes as you sit quietly sipping a sundowner on your terrace in the depths of the woods you might catch a glimpse of a mongoose coming down to drink, or perhaps the blue flash of a kingfisher's wing.

The Aracena nature park is full of charming small white-washed villages. Aracena, the local market town, is only 6 km away and has good shops and a good food supermarket for the enthusiastic cook. Try the local specialties of Serrano ham, air-dried ham made from Iberian pigs which have been fed on Encina acorns. This area makes the best in Spain.