Chateau Jouarres 5
General Description
- Location,location,location is what these recently-opened apartments are all about. Alongside the Canal du Midi, near a lake where there are watersports activities, 30 kms from the Mediterranean beaches, and a short drive from Carcassonne - they just couldn't be in a better spot!
- The apartments are located in 2 magnificent new buildings in the large grounds of the 18th century Chateau which integrate beautifully with this lovely environment of vineyards, fields and forests.
- This 3 bedroom apartment of around 71 sq.m has one double bedroom, one twin bedroom and either a small 'cabin' bedroom with bunkbeds for 2 young children, or two single beds on a mezzanine level above the sitting room . Sleeping accommodation for an extra 2 people, if required, is provided by the convertible sofa bed in the living area.
- The modern open-plan living living area has lots of natural light and comprises kitchen, dining area and living space. It is comfortably furnished with modern furniture. From the living area, glass doors lead onto a balcony overlooking the swimming pool, the vineyards, the gardens, or the grounds of the chateau.
- A large 240 sq.m. outdoor swimming pool is at your disposal AND a heated indoor pool which is open all year round. By the outdoor pool is a spacious sun-bathing area with sunbeds and parasols and also a children's paddling pool - poolside showers and WCs are located nearby.
- A snack bar /restaurant is open on site in the summer months - and it's a 10 minutes walk to the shops and restaurants in Homps.
The Local Area
- Homps is the nearest village; it has a supermarket, a general store, a wine cave, and variety of cafe-bars and restaurants. Boat trips on the Canal du Midi are possible in the summer months. The small town of Olonzac, the 'capital' of the Minervois, is just a 5-minute drive - here you'll find a larger supermaket, further shops, bars and restaurants which are open all year round, 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 on site you can hire bikes or walk along the Canal du Midi. There is also a gym/fitness centre on site. 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: This apartment is around 71 sq.m and open plan; it is on 2 floors. It comprises a sitting room, dining area and kitchen with a ceramic hob, fridge, dishwasher and microwave oven. The ambience is light, bright and airy with french windows that open onto a spacious balcony. It is possible to rent a TV receiving mainly French channels but with some English new channels for 40 Euros per week, payable on arrival, please reserve in advance if required. WiFi internet access is available in the reception area of the Chateau.
- Laundry Facilites: There is a separate laundry area in the Chateau for washing clothes, towels and bed linen.
- Bedrooms: There are 3 bedrooms: one with a double bed, storage and hanging.one with twin beds, and either a small 'cabin' bedroom with bunk beds for young children, or one on a mezzanine level with twin beds suitable for older children and adults.
- Bathroom: The bathroom has a bath with shower over, and a washbasin. The WC is separate.
- Photographs: We show general photgraphs of the interiors of the apartments - the furnishings and decor are similar in them all.
- Additional Accommodation: There are further apartments here sleeping 2, 4, and 4-6 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: This apartment has a spacious balcony with quality outdoor furniture. 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 all year round - 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: Prices vary from week to week so please 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.
- Bathroom and Bed Linen: Bed linen is provided for you in the rental price. Bathroom towels, should you do not wish to take your own, are available to hire for 8 Euros per person per kit, payable direct. We can pre-reserve these for you if you wish. Please take your own pool/beach towels.
- 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 also 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 isit the website: www.raileurope.co.uk for train tickets to this region.
Full directions etc will be sent once you make a booking.
