Chateau Jouarres 1
General Description
- It's the location of these modern studio apartments at Chateau Jouarres, which opened in May 2009, that makes them so appealing.
- They are located in 2 modern, stylish builings in the lovely grounds of a renovated 18th century chateau, alongside the Canal du Midi, and within walking distance of both shops and restaurants in Homps. The medieval city and airport of Carcassonne are a 20-25 minute drive and the long,fine, sandy beaches of the Mediterranean coast are just 35 minutes away by car.
- This apartment is approx. 35 sq. metres in total and has an open-plan living area for relaxing and dining, a well-equipped kitchenette, a bathroom, WC, and two single beds.
- Light and airy, and furnished in a bright, modern style, the apartments here have views over the large outdoor swimming pool, the gardens, the grounds of the chateau, or the vineyards of the Minervois. Each apartment has a balcony for al fresco dining or relaxing, or small garden if on the ground floor.
- The attractive outdoor swimming pool is large - 240 sq. metres, with a spacious sun-bathing area with loungers and parasols. There's also a children's paddling pool. Pool-side showers and WCs are nearby. Snacks and drinks are available in summer. The indoor swimming pool in the chateau is heated and is open all year round - great for out of season holidays.
- In the chateau you will also find a health and fitness centre with beauty treatments by appointment. For children, there will be some special planned activities in the high summer season. Cycle hire is available on site.
- Close by is a lake, Lac du Jouarres, where you'll find various water sports activities and swimming from a 'man-made' beach, offering you a good local alternative to just relaxing by the pool.
The Local Area
- Homps is the nearest village and you can walk there easily - it has a small supermarket, a general store, a wine cave, and various cafe-bars and restaurants. Boats trips on the Canal du Midi are a feature of the summer months. The 'capital' of the Minervois, the small town of Olonzac, is just a 5-minute drive - here you'll find a larger supermaket, further shops, bars and restaurants, a bank and a pharmacy. You can also visit the local villages of Azille and La Redorte for further shopping.
- Sports Facilites: As well as the large swimming pools and gymnasium on site you can hire bikes or walk along the Canal du Midi. Watersport activities such as wind-surfing and sailing are available at the nearby lake. For golf-lovers, you can play a round at Beziers or at Carcassonne, both courses are within a 40-minute drive. At the coast you'll find all kinds of watersports, fishing and diving, and general entertainment for families and children in the summer months.
- Activities:This is a great base for exploring the Languedoc Roussillon region and wine-lovers will find numerous chateaux and 'domaines' offering wine-tastings. Whilst here, you can also visit the ancient city of Minerve - a former Cathar stronghold, the medieval city of Carcassonne with its 52 fairytale turrets.
- Narbonne with its cathedral, archbishop's palace and famous indoor market, Beziers and the staircase of 9 locks on the Canal du Midi at Fontseranes, the abbeys of Fontfroide and Lagrasse, the Cathar castles and the beach resorts of Narbonne- and Gruissan- Plages. The Spanish border is only about a 90-minute drive away - so a day trip to Spain is possible too!
- Markets: It's hard to beat the market in Olonzac every Tuesday for it's authentic French flavour, lots of colourful regional produce, herbs, spices wine and many other things beside. But there's also another good market at Lezignan Corbieres, 20 minutes drive, on a Wednesday. Narbonne has a big outdoor market canal-side on a Thursday and a Sunday, and a fantastic indoor food market everyday in Les Halles. In the summer season there's a regular evening market canal-side in Homps, just 10 minutes walk away.
- Restaurants: In the summer months, a bar and restaurant/snack bar will be open in the grounds of the Chateau - so you don't need to go far if you don't fancy cooking. A wide variety of further cafe-bars and restaurants can be found in Homps and Olonzac.
- Supermarkets: There's a small one in Homps, and larger ones both in Olonzac and La Redorte just a very short drive away.
Facilities
- Open-plan Living Space: The studio apartment comprises a sitting/dining area, a sleeping area with twin beds, and a kitchenette with a ceramic hob, fridge, and microwave oven. It is light, bright and airy and french windows open onto your balcony or small garden if on the ground floor. It is possible to rent a television receiving mainly French satellite channels, but with some English news channels, for 40 Euros per week, payable on arrival, please reserve in advance if required.
- Laundry Facilites: There is a separate laundry area in the Chateau for washing clothes, towels and bed linen.
- Sleeping Area: This is part of the living space and normally has 2 single beds. Bed-linen is provided for you in the rental price. Two more people could sleep on the convertible sofa, but larger apartments whic would be more comfortable for 4 people, are available here
- Bathroom: The bathroom has a bath with shower over, and a washbasin. The WC is separate.
- Photographs: Please note that the photographs shown are typical of the apartments here.
- Additional Accommodation: There are further larger apartments here sleeping 4, 6 and 8 people. So if your group consists of 2 or 3 families holidaying together, but requiring separate accommodation, then the apartments at Chateau Jouarres could be ideal for you.
- Outside: Each apartment has a balcony, or small garden if on the ground floor. There are large, public areas for relaxing and sunbathing, gardens and trails through a small forest. Parking is available within the grounds of the chateau.
- Swimming Pools: these are shared facilities with the holiday-makers in the other apartments. The outdoor pool is very large, 240 sq.m., and there's a paddling pool for children. The pool is secured by a fence. The indoor pool is also large; it is heated and open from April to October - ideal for those early and late season holidays!
- Internet: Free access via WiFi and your own laptop is available in the reception area of the chateau.
- Telephone: There is no landline telephone in the apartment, but mobile signals in the area are generally good.
- Baby Facilites: A cot/child's bed is available to hire at a cost of 20 Euros per week - payable direct.
- PRICE AND AVAILABILITY: PricFZozlAIdXIQpAA&split=0&llase send us your enquiry and we will reply promptly with the price for your dates and the availability.
- Heating in the cooler months: Is included in the price.
- Electric and Water: Are included in the rental cost.
- End of Stay Cleaning: Is not included in the rental cost. It can be arranged for you at the Reception desk for a cost of 56 Euros, payable direct.
- Bathroom and Bed Linen: Bed linen is included for you in the apartment and in the rental price. Please take your own pool/beach towels. Bathroom towels, should you do not wish to take your own, are available to hire for 8 Euros per person per week, payable direct. We can pre-reserve these for you if you wish.
- Taxe de Sejour: In France it is necessary to pay the French taxe de sejour at the end of your stay. It is not included in the rental price, and is payable here at the guide price of 1 Euro per person per day.
- Damage Deposit: The owners request a damage deposit of 460 Euros per apartment - payable by credit card upon arrival. This will be refunded to your card shortly after the end of your stay less the replacement cost of any breakages or any additional cleaning that might be required.
- Change Over Day: Flexible according to availability - please enquire.
- Long weekend stays and mini-breaks: Stays of 2 nights or more, for a minimum of 2 adults, are available on a 'bed and breakfast formula'. The nightly rate includes accommodation in an apartment of the correct size for your party, towels, bed linen and breakfast, and end of stay cleaning. The prices are per adult and per child per night and vary according to the season - please enquire for short stay prices - we'll be happy to help!
- Pets: a small dog may be permitted by prior arrangement and approval. The cost for your pet is 35 Euros per stay, payable upon arrival.
- Smoking: Is not pemitted inside the apartments or indoor public areas of the estate.
How To Get There
- By Car: Chateau Jouarres is located between the villages of Homps and Azille just North of the D610 road. The nearest autoroute exits are: No: 36 Bezier Ouest on the A9 Languedocienne Autoroute, and No: 25 Carcassonne Est/Trebes on the A61 Entre Deux Mers Autoroute. The area is about an 11 hour drive from the Channel Ports in normal traffic conditions with a minimum number of stops.
- By Air: The nearest airports, about 30-40 minutes drive, are Carcassonne and Beziers both serviced by Ryanair - www.ryanair.com. The next nearest are Montpellier and Perpignan - both about 60 minutes drive, anf then Toulouse, Nimes and Girona - all 90 minutes - 2 hours drive.
- By Train: The nearest railway station is Lezignan Corbieres. Please visit the website: www.raileurope.co.uk for train tickets to this region.
Full directions etc will be sent once you make a booking
