Apartment Arcolan 1
General Description
· This welcoming and homely one-bedroom apartment is located in a large, authentic country house on the south-facing edge of the village of Azillanet, near Olonzac, in the Minervois wine-producing area of the Languedoc. It's a beautiful region, with the Montagne Noir behind and vineyards as far as the eye can see. The Pyrenees can be seen in the distance to the south. Wild flowers abound especially in the spring and the area is rich in birdlife. It is a veritable nature lover's paradise. The surrounding countryside is always green, even in winter, due to the many cypress, pine and olive trees.
· The apartment is on the ground and 1st floor of the house. On the ground floor there's a large country kitchen with a dining area, comfortable sofas with a TV receiving French channels and a magnificent marble fireplace. This room opens out onto the lovely garden where there is a patio, and a table and chairs for al fresco dining. You can cool off in the above ground swimming pool after a busy day's walking, cycling or sightseeing! Upstairs there's a spacious bedroom which sleeps 2 or 3 in comfort with a double and a single bed and an en-suite shower room with washbasin and WC.
· Outside in the mature garden, you can enjoy the Mediterranean sunshine or relax in the shade if your prefer. The summer evenings are often warm enough to sit out until late watching the stars appear in the night sky and listening to the cicadas. The local auberge is open in the summer months where you can enjoy the local cuisine and sample the delicious wines of the Minervois and Corbieres at a very reasonable price. A short walk into the village brings you to small grocery store and the boulangerie van brings fresh bread to the village every morning. There is an excellent wine cave just up the road.
· Your hosts, who live in a separate part of the house, are English speaking and want you to feel relaxed and at home, enjoying the house, garden and swimming pool. They will happily provide you with a home-cooked evening meal on the day of your arrival and breakfast on your first morning if you wish. The catering is wholesome and healthy and can include vegetarian, fish and meat dishes. The lady owner is trained in massage, reiki, body-balancing and other relaxation therapies - so this could be a lovely holiday for those wanting to escape from a busy, stressful life and really relax. Ask Joie de Vivre for more details of the therapies on offer.
The Local Area
· The village of Azillanet is a pretty village with lots of stone houses, a little grocer's, a boulangerie van that arrives daily at 8.30am, and an 'auberge' open in the summer months for delicious local cuisine, with wine included, at a very reasonable price. Azillanet also boasts a great wine cave 'Les Trois Blasons' where you can taste the local wines and buy direct. The neighbouring town of Olonzac is a short 5km drive away, and has further shops, banks, markets, bars and restaurants. The fascinating ancient town of Minerve, steeped in the history of the Cathars, is just 6 kms away.
· Sports facilities: As well as using the pool in the garden, you try something different and swim in the man-made 'swimming hole' in the River Cesse at Bize-Minevois, or from the Blue Flag beaches on the Mediterranean coast 40-minutes from here. All types of water sports are also available at the coast at Narbonne Plage or Gruissan - and many at the Lac du Jouarres more locally. Although a little hilly, the quiet roads are great for cycling and both mountain and road bikes can be hired locally - please ask Joie de Vivre for details. Walkers - please take your boots, and birdwatchers your binoculars! You can also enjoy a round of golf at Carcassonne or Beziers. And in Narbonne, there's an extensive leisure centre 'Espace Liberte' with an Olympic size swimming pool and 10-pin bowling.Sports facilities
· There is an abundance of attractions in this area - it's hard to know where to start. But a visit to this area would not be complete without a trip to the medieval city of Carcassonne, the lively and attractive town of Narbonne, the Canal du Midi, the beach resorts of Gruissan and Narbonne-Plage, the vineyards of the Minervois and Corbieres, Minerve - just 6kms away, the abbeys at Fontfroide and Lagrasse and the Cathar Castles.
Children and adults alike will enjoy a day at the African Nature Reserve at Sigean where you can see over 3000 species of animals in close-to-nature surroundings. You can also buy the local wine direct from the many 'domaines' and 'chateaux' in the area - many of whom will offer you a wine-tasting - you just need to decide who is driving first! Another interesting visit locally is to the Dolmen des Fados (the Dolmen of the Fairies) said to be the largest dolmen (ancient burial mound) in the South of France. A little further afield but well worth the drive - why not try a day trip to Spain as the border is only an hour and a half away?
· The Markets of the region are colourful, varied and full of local seasonal produce. Locally to Azillanet they can be found at Olonzac on a Tuesday morning, Lezignan Corbieres on a Wednesday morning and in Narbonne - outdoor markets on a Thursday and Sunday morning and a superb indoor market in Les Halles every day until 1.00pm. In high season there's an evening market fortnightly at the canal-side town of Homps. Out of season, many of the villages hold a 'vide grenier' on a Sunday morning - these are very popular with both locals and visitors.
· Restaurants: in Azillanet itself in the summer months you can dine at the Auberge, or various restaurants in Olonzac, Homps and Bize Minervois.
· Supermarket: There's a supermarket 5-minutes drive away in Olonzac and another 15-minutes drive away in La Redorte.
Facilities
· Living room/Country Kitchen: This is a cosy traditional room on the ground floor for cooking, eating and relaxing after your meal, reading or listening to music. There's a cooker, fridge-freezer, microwave (on request), and a washing machine. For the cooler months there's an open fireplace for a log fire and a TV receiving French channels. This room opens out onto the garden and patio.
· Bedrooms: A hallway and staircase leads to the spacious bedroom on the 1st floor. This bedroom has a double and a single bed, bedside table, lamps, a wardrobe and dressing table.
· Shower room: Is en-suite to the bedroom with large shower, WC and washbasin. A further WC is available on the ground floor.
· Hall and staircase: Please note these areas are communal as the owners require access to their own separate accommodation.
· Additional accommodation: The accommodation here is flexible and we can offer - a 2 bedroom apartment sleeping 6, and a 3 bedroom apartment sleeping 8. Please enquire.
· Outside: Is a lovely mature garden with a patio with table and chairs, a parasol and sun-loungers.
· Swimming pool: This is an above ground pool 5 metres in diameter for cooling off in after a day's sight-seeing. It is normally open in June, July, August and into September. Please enquire.
· Internet: Use of the owners internet connection for checking flights etc is possible.
· Telephone: Sorry - there is no telephone connection in the apartment.
· Baby facilities: A cot and a high chair are available on request.
· Winter heating: Is not included in the rental cost. The owners make a charge of €50 per week from 1st October to the end of April, payable direct.
· Electric, & water: are all included in the rental cost.
· End-of-stay cleaning: is included in the rental cost.
· Bed & bathroom linen: is included in the rental cost.
· Welcome evening meal and breakfast: A home-cooked 4-course meal can be pre-booked for the evening of your day of arrival. The price is €17.50 per person. In addition or alternatively, you can enjoy a continental breakfast on your first morning for €6 per person. Please book in advance, and pay direct on arrival.
· Taxe de Sejour: in France, it is necessary to pay a “Taxe de Séjour” at the end of your stay. It has been included here in the rental cost.
· Damage deposit: The owner requests a damage deposit of £100 or 150 Euros on arrival and this will be refunded to you at the end of your stay, less the replacement cost of any breakages.
· Change over day: Flexible, subject to availability.
· Long weekend stays and mini-breaks: Please enquire, subject to availability. Longer term lets may also be possible.
· Pets: are not permitted here - sorry.
· Smoking: is not permitted inside, but you may smoke outside if you wish.
How To Get There
· By Car - The village of Azillanet lies just 5 minutes north of the town of Olonzac, to the West of Beziers. The nearest motorway junctions are No: 25 Lezignan Corbieres on the A61 (Entre Deux Mers) and No: 36 Beziers Ouest on the A9 (Languedocienne)..
· By Air - Carcassonne (Ryanair from East Midlands, Gatwick, Liverpool and Ireland) and Beziers Airports (Ryanair) are the nearest - approximately 40 minutes drive away. Other possible airports are Montpellier, Nimes, Perpignan, Toulouse and Girona (N.Spain).
· By Train - Please visit www.raileurope.co.uk for details of the overnight Motorail service to Narbonne (summer months only).
Full directions etc will be sent once you make a booking
