Gite Chardonneret
General Description
· In the magnificent walled private garden of a former master wine-maker's house, this 3-bedroomed holiday property in the village of St. Marcel sur Aude has been sympathetically renovated from an ancient building connected with wine-making. Guests may use the stunning indoor swimming pool here (great for early and late season holidays!). You enter the property from the garden via an external staircase leading to the first floor of the building into the spacious, open plan living area and kitchen.
· Upstairs from the living accommodation are 3 bedrooms: one double, with en-suite , and two twin rooms. There is also a 'family' bathroom which has a multi-spray shower, a vanity unit and WC. The architectural features of the old building have been preserved where possible and you can look out onto vineyards from the rear of the property.
· The village of St Marcel sur Aude is surrounded by vineyards and yet it's only 6 miles from the lovely city of Narbonne. It's also close to the Canal du Midi, great for walking and cycling, and also the River Aude for lovers of fishing. In the village you'll find a good restaurant, a bar, a boulangerie, a supermarket and a pharmacy.
· The well-maintained lawned gardens extend to approximately a 1/2 acre with open spaces and large, mature trees for those that prefer the shade. Other guests here have described the garden as an oasis, hidden away in the ancient village.
The Local Area
· St Marcel sur Aude is an ancient village associated with wine-making and is only 10 minutes drive from the lively and interesting city of Narbonne, which itself is only 10 minutes drive from the beach. The local village has a bakers, a pharmacy, a small supermarket, a restaurant and a bar all within a very short walk. On the edge of the village is a larger Intermarche supermarket. There are many local wine 'caves' where the local red and rose wines may be tasted and bought direct.
· Sports facilities - on site there is swimming, table tennis, table football, swings and a badminton net. Walking or cycling along the Canal du Midi can be enjoyed close by - a local cycle hire company will deliver bikes to your door if you wish to hire them. At the coast there are all kinds of water sports available and wind-surfing is very popular on the coastal lagoons. If you enjoy horse-riding, an equestrian centre is only a 5 minute drive.
· 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, Narbonne, the Canal du Midi, the beach resorts of Gruissan and Narbonne-Plage, the vineyards of the Minervois and Corbieres, 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. The Pyrenees and the Spanish border are about a 1hr 30mins drive.
· Markets - mobile delivery vans with all kinds of meat, fish and produce visit the village daily. The local markets are colourful and interesting with a variety of seasonal produce, wines, herbs, basket ware etc. You can visit the market in Olonzac on a Tuesday morning, Lezignan Corbieres on a Wednesday morning. Narbonne has open-air markets on a Thursday and Sunday morning and also has a delightful indoor market 'Les Halles' open everyday until lunchtime including Sundays.
· As well as the restaurant in the village - 'La Salette' and 'Les Oliviers' at Cabezac, 'Cafe du Port' at Paraza, and 'En Bonne Compagnie' at Homps are recommended.
Facilities
· Living / Dining room: A large open-plan area with architectural features. 2 settees, an armchair, a coffee table, ceiling fan, a TV with Sky satellite channels and a DVD player (a selection of DVDs and books are provided). The dining table seats 6.
· Kitchen: Open plan to the main living area there's a cooker, extractor fan, microwave, fridge freezer, dishwasher and a washing machine. A cool box with freezer blocks is provided for picnics or for shopping.
· Garden room: There is a garden room on the ground floor level where the garden furniture, sun-loungers, etc are stored. Games Room: a newly-installed pool table is available.
· Bedrooms: Up a pine staircase from the main living area are 3 bedrooms: a double, with en-suite, and a two twin-bedded rooms. All have ample storage and hanging, bedside tables, lamps and free-standing fans.
· Bathrooms: There is a 'family' bathroom with WC, vanity unit and a multi-spray shower. The master double bedroom has a multi-spray shower, vanity unit and WC.
· Additional accommodation: You'll find here a further 4 bedroom gite also on the 1st floor level and a 1 bedroom gite on the ground floor level. Subject to availability all 3 properties may be booked for a large family or a group of friends travelling together. Elderly or infirm people may prefer to have the 1 bedroom gite on the ground floor level.
· Outside: There is a beautiful, mature and well-kept garden where you are free to sit, sunbathe, play games or eat al fresco. A secluded barbeque area is provided. There is safe parking for your car within the grounds which are accessed via a code on the electric gates.
· Swimming pool: There is a stunning, shared, heated indoor swimming pool with a 'wave' feature. It is large, being 8m long x 5.5m wide - 1.5m deep at the shallow and and 2.0m deep at the deep end. There is underwater lighting for night time swimming and it is open from Easter to the end of October.
· Internet: There is no internet connection here - sorry
· Telephone: There is no telephone here - sorry
· Baby facilities: A cot and a high chair are available on request
· Winter heating: Not applicable as this property is only available from late March to October.
· Gas, electric, & water: are all included in the rental cost.
· End-of-stay cleaning: The hirer is required to clean the gite at the end of their stay.
· Bed & bathroom linen: is included in the rental cost. Pool and beach towels may be hired for £2 per week each, payable direct to the owners..
· 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 within 7 days of the end of your stay, less the replacement cost of any breakages.
· Change over day: Normally Saturday in high season. Otherwise flexible subject to availability.
· Long weekend stays and mini-breaks: May be available, subject to availability
· Pets: are not permitted here - sorry.
· Smoking: is not permitted inside the gite – sorry. Ashtrays are provided should you wish to smoke outside.
How To Get There
· By Car - The village of St Marcel sur Aude lies just 10-15 minutes drive on the D607, north west of Narbonne. The nearest motorway exit is No: 38 on the A9 Languedocienne.
· By Air - Carcassonne, Beziers, Perpignan, and Montpellier airports are the nearest - all within a 60 minute drive, and serviced by low cost airlines from the UK and Ireland such as Ryanair. Other airports are Toulouse and Girona (N.Spain) - approximately 1hr 30 minutes drive.
· By Train - Please visit www.raileurope.co.uk for details of the overnight Motorail service to Narbonne (summer months only) or if you require train tickets to visit this lovely region.
Full directions etc will be sent once you make a booking
