Sant Bartomeu is set on over four acres of rolling countryside, with panoramic views of Mount Rocacobar and the Pyrenees in the distance. The setting is secluded yet has superb access — just six minutes from Banyoles and twenty minutes from medieval Girona, where you will find excellent shopping, culture and Catalan cuisine. There are also several good local restaurants. Girona airport is 25 minutes away; Barcelona is an hour; Perpignan and its airport across the French border is slightly less. Within thirty minutes, you can reach the beautiful beaches of the Costa Brava, walk in the volcanic park and natural reserves of Garrotxa, or visit the beautiful fortified town of Besalu and the Dali Museum in Figueres.

Sant Bartomeu, originally a fortified masia (field house), was given to a distinguished nobleman who returned from the Crusades with one of the thorns from Christ's coronet. After his death, a small group of Benedictine monks founded the priory and ermita (chapel), and here the thorn was kept as a relic. Often moved and hidden for safe keeping during turbulent times, the thorn can be seen today at the nearby church of St. Sadurni in the village of Vilavenut. The Benedictines continued to use the priory for centuries, until it fell into disrepair. When the current owners found the villa in 2001, the ermita was used for storing hay and the rectory was a total ruin.

Sant Bartomeu has been restored in harmony with its original architecture, using traditional materials and incorporating modern facilities to provide the highest standards of easy living and comfort. The main house offers four en-suite bedrooms. One bedroom has twin beds and also a bunk bed. The master bedroom has a bath, surrounded in stone, and a view overlooking the garden. Across the courtyard are two more en-suite bedrooms, both with air conditioning and spacious terraces with magnificent views. A large open kitchen is well equipped for culinary adventures, and a small kitchen garden produces a selection of vegetables, fresh herbs, and flowers for the house. For those who prefer not to cook, the services of a chef can be provided. Dine in style in the 'Ermita,' the wonderful capilla, where the owners have incorporated modern with ancient to create a minimal but very atmospheric ambience. After dinner, you can play a game of snooker (3/4 size table) or enjoy an after dinner coffee on the tower while watching the sun set over the mountains. Internet connection is available, but telephones are not provided except by special arrangement. All of the bedrooms have fans and the courtyard rooms are air-conditioned.

Within the garden is a 12-meter swimming pool with Jacuzzi jets in one part of the pool (unheated). There is a large area for outdoor table tennis and a golf practice-driving tee. Mountain bikes are available for exploring the beautiful countryside. Two splendid 18-hole golf courses — Golf Girona and Torre Mirona (with its superb spa) — are within 15 minutes' drive of Sant Bartomeu.