Ground floor apartment on residence in former grounds of an 18c chateau, adjacent to the Canal du Midi and surrounded by vineyards in Aude, Languedoc, south of France, close to Mediterranean beaches
This is a very quiet, unspoilt and essentially rustic area of southern France, which apparently gets over 300 days of sunshine a year and is dominated by the Canal du Midi. The apartment is on a residence which is set in 5 hectares of grounds originally belonging to the neighbouring 18th century chateau and includes a large swimming pool with children’s paddling pool, both of which are surrounded by a large fenced sun terrace with sun beds and parasols. There is a designated BBQ area, woodland walks and large open spaces to enjoy. During high season, the residence has a bar serving drinks and light meals plus there is often evening entertainment for guests to enjoy. Free car parking is on site and only a few metres away from the apartment, whilst App operated washing machines and driers are located centrally within the residence.
The apartment being on the ground floor has its own patio and small decked garden. Inside there is one double bedroom and a “cabin” room with bunk beds which are suitable for 2 children aged 5 - 12 years. The beds have UK size pillows plus duvets for cooler nights and all bedding is included in the rental price, with the beds made-up ready for guests’ arrival. The open plan living/dining room has a sofa, coffee table, dining table and 4 chairs. There is a 32” TV (which can only pick up a couple of English speaking channels) plus a DVD player with a selection of DVDs and cards/games etc for evenings. We also have some maps and books on the local area as well as a few fiction books available for guests to use during their stay. The well-equipped kitchenette area has a combi-microwave, ceramic 4 burner hob, coffee maker, mini oven and a good selection of cookware, utensils, crockery, etc. A washing machine, iron, ironing board and outside airer plus a hairdryer are also provided for guests’ use. The bathroom has a large walk-in shower, washbasin and heated towel rail plus there is a separate toilet. Bath and hand towels are provided but not pool/beach towels. For cooler evenings there are electric heaters in the main rooms, whilst fan lights are available in the main room and main bedroom. Outside garden furniture includes a table and 4 chairs plus 2 recliner chairs and a parasol. WIFI is available in the apartment, plus it is accessible by the pool and reception areas and 4G reception is very good in the area. Cleaning of the apartment is included in the rental.
Being adjacent to the Canal du Midi there is easy access to miles of walking/cycling paths and quiet roads to explore. The residence is surrounded by vineyards so there are many local wines to sample from the local Minervois region and neighbouring Corbieres region. About a mile away is the pretty canalside village of Homps which has a small supermarket plus several restaurants and a few shops. For larger supermarkets, pharmacies, banks, local markets, etc the small towns of Olonzac, La Redorte and Lezignan Corbieres are only a few miles away. Mediterranean beaches are less than an hour’s drive away as are the historic cities of Carcassonne, Narbonnes and Beziers. The Black Mountains are about an hour’s drive to the north with the Pyrenees about two hours to the south. If you are into history, there are many ruined Cathar castles to explore in the area but if you prefer water sports these are available at various venues within a few miles of the apartment. The area is well served by airports at Carcassonne, Beziers and Perpignan plus the railway station at Lezignan Corbieres is on the main line between Toulouse and Narbonne.
Essentially the apartment is well positioned for relaxing holidays.