L'Oustal Des Fleurs

As you first enter the former winegrower's house through the stone archway you catch a glimpse of the white wooden shutters, flower-filled pots and green foliage climbing the thick stone walls – instantly, you know that you have arrived somewhere special and that your authentic French village holiday has begun.

L'Oustal des Fleurs is an elegant 19th-century ‘Maison de Maitre' in a traditional Languedoc village known for its wine. Yet the setting couldn't feel more peaceful and rural, with a lovely flower-filled garden, pretty patio and terraces and the sound of birds in the trees. Hammocks, loungers, dining tables under shady trees, colourful flowers and a stone barbecue create a little natural haven for relaxing and dining outdoors.

Indoors, this traditional house has been tastefully restored and decorated by its charming owner who is a talented interior designer. Many period features have been preserved, such as wood panelling, fireplaces and terracotta floors, whilst creating a spacious and inviting home combining period furniture, modern comforts and personal touches. There is an authentic sense of rustic charm throughout that guests truly appreciate.

Guests usually while away the time relaxing in the garden or swimming pool or strolling to the village for coffee and croissants. On more active days, they head to Lac Jouarres only 2 km away for stunning scenery, boating, fishing and windsurfing. Alternatively, just a one-minute walk away is a delightful park with tennis courts, pond, wildlife, rose garden and children's play area.

L'Oustal des Fleurs is a unique and very personal home offering rustic elegance and period style in an authentic village setting never too far from plenty of things to do and see.

Features

Maison Interiors

• Large living and dining room with decorative fireplace and period furniture
• Open-plan kitchen, fully-equipped. French doors lead to the garden
• Drawing room with fireplace, two large sofas and two Louis square back chairs
• 2 x bedrooms with double bed and en suite bathroom
• 2 x bedrooms with double bed
• Bathroom
• Games room with professional snooker table, table tennis, plasma TV (bring your own games console) and several pieces of gym equipment

Outside Grounds

• Private indoor swimming pool (via lockable, sliding glass doors)
• Mediterranean courtyard
• Landscaped garden with plants, flowers and trees
• Shaded area for al-fresco dining (beneath two plaine trees) with outdoor lighting
• Large barbecue area
• Roof terrace above barn with village views
• Garden is gated with high walls
• Outbuildings
• Parking (one medium size car)

Facilities

• Wi-Fi
• Heating
• Plasma TV
• Snooker table
• Table tennis
• Gym equipment

Location

The sun baked Minervois region is bursting with history and spans Herault and Aude. It's filled with ancient Cathar villages and vineyards under wide, open skies.

The village of Olonzac is the capital of the Minervois and is lively and energetic all year round, and on Tuesdays hosts one of the best weekly markets in the area. The village has everything you'd ever need: cafes, bars, restaurants, grocery stores, bakers, wineries, butchers, doctors, a pharmacy, a hairdressers and more.

Only two miles away, the Canal du Midi runs through the village of Homps, where you can stroll along the banks in the shade of the trees or take a boat trip/hire a boat and relax on the water as you watch the world go by! The village of Minerve is only 20 mins away and has been selected as one of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France! Near the village the river disappears underground in a large, naturally-carved tunnel which can be explored by the more adventurous in your group.

Within the village there is a large artistic community and many of their workshops are open to the public. The Canal du Midi is an UNESCO World Heritage Site - this 360 km network of navigable waterways links the Mediterranean and the Atlantic through 328 locks, aqueducts, bridges and tunnels and is one of the most remarkable feats of civil engineering in modern times. Built between 1667 and 1694, it helped pave the way for the Industrial Revolution.

Lac de Jouarres lake is only 2km - it's worth a visit for the scenery alone, but you'll also find opportunities for boating and wind surfing on its shores. During the summer season, the lake has lifeguards and there is a restaurant/snack bar and sun-loungers for public use. You can walk the perimeter of the lake in just over an hour, and the swimming area has been prepared using pebbles and geotextiles to prevent weed growth. The sailing areas are away from the bathing area, so there's no need to worry about the two activities overlapping! In the summer season, a range of surf board courses is on offer in the sailing area.

Further afield, there's plenty to see and do thanks to range of opportunities for day trips. Narbonne and Valras beach in Beziers are only 35 minutes away. During the summer there is a childrens adventure park and fairground rides just by the harbour in Valras Plage as well as lots of restaurants, boutiques and ice-cream stalls. Narbonne Plage carries the European Blue Flag and has 5km of fine sand with plenty of sporting activities such as sailing, beach volleyball, jet-skiing, sand yachting, catamaran or sea kayak. There is also lots of entertainment in the summer such as evening markets, open-air shows and traditional festivals.

Try a day in Montpellier, Carcassonne, Nimes or Toulouse or explore the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean coast to discover ancient castles and picturesque villages that have been untouched by time. Walking and cycling are very popular in the Montagne Noire thanks to the rich diversity of wildlife and scenery. And if you really want to travel, the Spanish border is only an hour and a half away!