Gite Coquet
General Description
- Newly renovated, and decorated and furnished with style is this appealing 1-bedroom town house on 3 storeys ideally located in the centre of Olonzac, the 'capital' of the Minervois wine-growing region. If you want to experience the French 'art de vivre' and would just like to be able to walk out to do your shopping, have a coffee or a glass of wine, and eat in the local restaurants, then this could be just the place to stay.
- Stepping inside the house it is light and pleasant. It retains a number of period features not least of which is a spectacular centre piece - a period staircase. The house comprises a generous kitchen/dining area, a light and airy sitting room, a double bedroom, a shower room and last, but not least, a small, charming private roof terrace.
- During the day you can enjoy the small town's bustling centre especially on a Tuesday morning (market day!), when the market stretches into the street where the house is located. You can also stroll in the pleasant park where there's a pond, a boulodrome and tennis courts. Olonzac is a 45-minute drive from Carcassonne and about 35-40 minutes from Narbonne and Beziers so is ideally placed for exploring this lovely region. Less than 2kms away at Homps you'll find the Canal du Midi offering lots of opportunities for walking, cycling or a boat trip as well as relaxing with a drink in one of the many cafes watching the passing boats.
The Local Area
- Olonzac is well serviced with bakers, butchers, supermarkets, a bank and a post office as well as several restaurants and cafe-bars. It is a thriving and very typically French town - it's lively, especially in the summer months, and has its own festival in August (please enquire for the dates).
- This is a great area for walking and cycling with many interesting villages and the Canal du Midi is just a short bike ride away. You can also play tennis and boules in the park (please ask the owner for tennis racquets). At the Lac du Jouarres, a 5-minute drive away, you'll find a man-made beach, swimming, fishing, wind-surfing etc - its also a great place for a stroll.
- For swimming, you can visit the Mediterranean beaches at Gruissan or Narbonne Plage, or the swimming pool at the large leisure centre in Narbonne - Espace Liberte. All types of water sports are available too at the coastal resorts: wind-surfing, sailing and diving etc. For those of you who like to play a round of golf there are courses at Beziers and Carcassonne - both about a 45-minute drive from the house.
- Olonzac is a great base for exploring the Minervois 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 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!
- 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, 15 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 an evening market fortnightly in the canal-side village of Homps, just 5-minutes drive away.
- Restaurants - Olonzac has a number of reasonably-priced restaurants all within walking distance, and just down the road in Homps there is a further good selection of restaurants with different types of food on offer. Further afield our favourites are: Cafe du Port, Paraza (open spring to October), the Auberge de St Martin at Beaufort and Lo Cagarole at Aigne. All worth a try!
- Supermarket - the nearest supermarket is just on the edge of town and there's another one at La Redorte - just 10 minutes drive.
Facilities
- Dining Area and Kitchen: As you enter the house from the street, you'll find this generously sized area on the ground floor. The neat, new and well-equipped kitchen has a large fridge/freezer, cooker, microwave, washing machine and plenty of storage. There's a large dining table and chairs for 4. A handy WC is also available on this floor.
- Sitting Room: Upstairs from the dining/kitchen you'll find a delightful sitting room which has a traditional open fireplace for log fires. There are 2 sofas, one of which can be made into a comfortable bed. The TV has some UK satellite channels e.g. BBC 1 and 2 and News 24. There's also a DVD and a CD player and a selection of DVDs and CDs for you to enjoy.
- Bathroom: The bathroom is on the 2nd floor and has a mosaic-tiled double shower, a washbasin and a WC.
- Main bedroom: This delightful room is also on the 2nd floor and has high ceilings, exposed beams and an elegant metal-framed double bed with quality bed linen. It is a very attractive space.
- Roof Terrace: You'll find this up a further small staircase from the 2nd floor. It is small, but private and delightful - a little hideaway where you can barbecue or relax with a glass of wine on a warm,balmy evening and watch the swallows and swifts in the spring and summer. There's a table and chairs for 2 and a barbecue.
- Parking: There is free parking close by - spaces are not however allocated.
- Internet and telephone: Sorry, there are no connections here. There is, however, an internet cafe in the town.
- Baby Facilities: A travel cot is available upon request.
- Suitability Note: Please note there are 2 staircases in the house - it may not therefore be suitable for the infirm or elderly, or young toddlers.
- Winter Heating: The house has electric wall heaters and is warm and cosy in the cooler months. Should you wish to use the log fire, there is a small supplementary charge for the logs, payable direct.
- Gas, electric and water: Are included in the rental cost.
- End of stay cleaning: Is included in the rental cost.
- Bath & bedroom linen: Is included in the rental cost.
- Taxe de Sejour: In France, it is necessary to pay a Taxe de Sejour at the end of your stay, it has been included here in the rental price.
- Damage Deposit: The owner requests a damage/security deposit of 100 Euros or £100 on arrival. This wil be refunded to you at the end of your stay less the replacement cost of any breakages or damage.
- Change over Day: Normally Saturday in June, July, August and September. It is flexible in other months according to availability.
- Mini Breaks and long weekend stays: A mini-break of at least 3 nights may be possible out of the main summer season; so please enquire for price and availability. Please also enquire for long term bookings.
- Pets: are not permitted here - sorry.
- Smoking: is not permitted here - sorry.
How To Get There
- By Car - The town of Olonzac situated just north of the 'D' road that runs between Beziers and Carcassonne. The nearest motorway junction is No:25 (Lezignan Corbieres) on the A61 Autoroute des Deux Mers, or No:36 Beziers Ouest on the A9 Languedocienne.
- By Air: Carcassonne and Beziers Airports are the nearest - both approximately 45 minutes drive away (serviced by Ryanair www.ryanair,com from many airports in the UK, and Ireland). Perpignan and Montpellier airports both just over 1 hour's drive away (Easy Jet and BMI). Toulouse is a further option - about 1 hour 50 minutes drive, and Girona (N. Spain - about a 2-hour 15minute drive).
- 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 to you once you have made a booking.
