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Joie de Vivre Holidays is a member of ABTOF,
The Association of British Travel Organisers to France
Gite Ivoire
General Description
- Gite Ivoire is a well-renovated and comfortable 3-bedroom gite located towards the edge of the charming Minervois village of La Liviniere, where you can walk to for your morning bread and croissants or dine out at the village restaurant.
- For those of you who need to keep in touch with work or your family, or if you are house-hunting in the region, there's a WiFi internet connection here.
- This gite has 3 spacious bedrooms sleeping up to 7 people (+ a baby), 2 shower rooms, two separate WCs, an attractive modern dining/living room and a well-equipped kitchen.
- Outside you'll find a private terrace with a barbecue for relaxing and dining alfresco. You can also use the garden where you'll find table tennis, croquet, 'boules' and badminton.
- The atttractive swimming pool is shared, and here you'll find plenty of sun-loungers for relaxing and sun-bathing.
- La Liviniere is associated with the production of some of the best wines in this attractive region and is just a 30 minute drive from Carcassonne, 10 minutes from the local town of Olonzac, and 45 minutes from the Mediterranean beaches.
The Local Area
- La Liviniere, the local village is just a short walk away. It has winding streets, arches and alleyways and backs onto the Montagne Noire to the North, to the South it has views across the plain towards the Pyrenees. You'll find a boulangerie, a general store, a post office and a restaurant. many of the local wine producers offer 'degustations' - wine-tastings.
- Just 6kms away is the local small town of Olonzac which has a variety of shops, banks, a supermarket, a pharmacy, further cafe-bars and restaurants and a lively weekly market on a Tuesday morning.
- Activities: This area is great for walking and cycling on the local footpaths, or along the Canal du Midi. There's a horse-riding facility locally. For those of you who enjoy swimming and other watersports, you'll find the local lake, Lac du Jouarres (8kms), of interest or the Mediterranean coastal resorts, which are approximately a 45-minute drive. For golf lovers, there is a golf course in Carcassonne.
- Sightseeing: For days out there's a good choice of places to visit: the Medieval city of Carcassonne, the Canal du Midi, the caves at Cabrespine, the chasm at Limousis (well worth a visit!), the famous Cathar Castle at Lastours, the abbeys of Fontfroide and Lagrasse, the ancient Cathar stronghold of Minerve, and the lovely town of Narbonne. For children: the African Nature Reserve at Sigean, the dinosuar museum at Esperaza, the Space City in Toulouse. A day trip to either Spain or Andorra is also possible.
- Markets: The markets in the region are lively and interesting and quite a social occasion. They are full of fresh, local, seasonal produce and sell everything from basketware, to jewellery, to beds! In Olonzac, there's a market on a Tuesday morning, and why not try Narbonne's large market on a Thursday or a Sunday morning.
- Restaurants: There's 'Les Meuliers' in La Liviniere which receives generally very good feedback, several restaurants in Olonzac and in Homps, and many restaurants in Carcassonne to suit all budgets and tastes.
- Supermarkets: There's a supermarket in La Redorte, another one in Olonzac and a choice of many in Carcassonne.
Facilities
- Open plan living and dining room: Comfortably furnished and spacious. In the living room there are 2 leather sofas, a coffee table, a TV receiving French channels, a DVD player, a stereo unit and books and games. There's also a wood-burning stove making for cosy evenings in the cooler months. The dining room table is large and can seat up to 12 people.
- Kitchen: The kitchen is separate and well-equipped with a cooker, fridge-freezer, dishwasher, washing machine, iron and ironing board.
- Bedrooms: There are 3 double bedrooms, sleeping 7 + a baby. The bedroom on the ground floor has a double bed, bedside tables, a wardrobe and two chairs. The two bedrooms upstairs are air-conditioned - one of them has a double bed, bedside tables and a wardrobe; the other bedroom has 3 single beds, bedside tables and a small wardrobe. There's a small inter-connecting door between the 2 upstairs bedrooms, ideal for a couple with younger children perhaps.
- Shower Rooms: The two shower rooms are on the ground floor, one of these has a hydrotherapy shower. There is a single washbasin and two separate WCs.
- Outside: There's a private terrace with a barbecue outside the gite. There's also a large garden that you have the use of (though shared on occasions with the guests in the other accommodation here). There's table tennis, croquet, boules and badminton for you to enjoy. Your car can be parked safely by the side of the gite.
- Swimming Pool: There's an attractive shared swiming pool 4m x 8m which has a security fence for the safety of young children. You'll find sun-loungers here for sun-bathing. Please note that this is shared facility with the guests in the small bed and breakfast also at this location and the owners.
- Internet: A WiFi connection is available here for use with your own laptop - there is no charge for using it.
- Telephone: There is no landline phone here, sorry, but mobile phone signals in the region are generally good.
- Winter Heating: Between the dates of 15th October and 15th April, there is an additional charge towards energy costs of 7 euros per day. This is not included in the rental price and is payable direct to the owners.
- Baby Facilities: A 'baby kit' is available upon request. This consists of a cot, a high chair and a baby-changing table. A small charge is made of 15 euros per week, payable direct to the owners, or if you prefer to Joie de Vivre in £'s sterling.
- Electric and Water: Are included in the rental price, except for winter heating - see above.
- End of stay cleaning: Is included in the price providing the gite is left neat and tidy and as found.
- Bed linen, bathroom and kitchen towels: Bathroom and kitchen towels are included in the rental price. Bed linen is available to hire for 7 euros per person per week. Please reserve in advance with Joie de Vivre if you require this service.
- Other Accommodation: The owners live on site here in a separate apartment and are to hand if you need them, but otherwise will respect your privacy. They also run a small bed and breakfast business at the larger, separate, detached, house in the grounds of this property.
- Taxe de Sejour: In France it is necessary to pay a taxe de sejour at the end of your stay. It is payable at this gite from 1st June - 30th September at the guide rate of 1 Euro per person over the age of 13 years. The taxe de sejour is payable direct to the owners at the end of your stay.
- Damage Deposit: the owners request a damage deposit of 300 euros on arrival. This will be refunded to you at the end of your stay less the replacement cost of any breakages or damage.
- Change Over Day: Is normally Saturday, except in the Low Season. The arrival time is in the early evening from 6.00pm.
- Long weekend stays and mini breaks: May be possible subject to availability out of the main summer season. Please enquire for price and availability.
- Pets: Sorry pets are not permitted at this gite.
- Smoking: Smoking is not permitted here.
How To Get There
- By Car: La Liviniere is just 10-15 minutes drive from Olonzac and north of the 'D' road running between Beziers and Carcassonne.
- By Air: Carcassonne and Beziers Airports are the nearest - Carcassonne 45 minutes drive and Beziers approx. 1hr 5 mins. Alternative airports are Toulouse (about 1hr 15 mins, Perpignan (about 1hr 20 mins) and Montpellier (about 1hr 30 mins),
- By Train: Carcassonne is the nearest railway station. For details of trains and ticket to this region, please consult the link to the RAIL EUROPE website on our Home Page. A car will be required at this property.
Full directions will be provided once you have made a firm booking.
