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Joie de Vivre Holidays is a member of ABTOF,
The Association of British Travel Organisers to France
Maison Armour
General Description
- Situated in a calm residential area in the lovely village of Ouveillan just 15-20 minutes drive from Narbonne, Maison Armour is an attractive spacious detached holiday home ideal for a family with older children or for a group of friends holidaying together.
- The house is within walking distance of the village restaurant and shops, and the boulangerie for your breakfast croissants and baguette which you can then enjoy on the terrace overlooking the swimming pool.
- This 2-storey house, with plenty of car-parking space, is attractively and simply furnished and well-equipped for all your day-to-day needs. It's both a practical and very pleasing holiday home.
- On the ground floor there's a light, bright living/dining room with sliding glass doors opening out onto the terrace and pool area, a hallway, a downstairs WC, and a separate fully fitted kitchen.
- Upstairs there are 3 double bedrooms, one has a double bed and the other two have twin beds. There's a family bathroom with a separate WC.
- Outside is a lovely paved terrace with garden furniture and a barbecue, ideal for relaxing and alfresco dining.
- The private 10m x 5m swimming pool is a very attractive feature and is open from May to to the end of September. There's a useful outside WC too.
- This attractive property is a great base from which to explore the stunning Languedoc region and you can come home to enjoy a cooling dip in the sparkling swimming pool.
The Local Area
- Ouveillan: is a pretty village typical of this part of the South of France and its principal activity is wine-producing. It has about 2,000 inhabitants and its main streets date from the Middle Ages to the 19th century and there are the vestiges of the ancient ramparts. About 300 metres from the house is the boulangerie, there's also a mini-supermarket (400 metres) and a restaurant.
- Narbonne: is a really attractive town divided into 2 parts by the Canal de Robine. It has many sites of interest including the Hotel de Ville, the cathedral and cloister of Saint Juste, boat trips on the Canal du Midi, the Roman Horreum, the Archbishop's Palace, and the indoor market Les Halles. The town also has a good selection of individual shops, cafe-bars and restaurants
- Sports Facilities: As well as using the pool here, there's a boulodrome, tennis courts, and horse-riding locally. There's some fine walking to be enjoyed and also cycling - please ask us for details of a good cycle hire company locally. In Narbonne you have 'Espace Liberte' - an Olympic size swimming pool and all types of water sports activities on the Mediterranean beaches. For golfers, there are courses in Carcassonne, Beziers and a smaller golf course in Narbonne.
- Activities: There are a wealth of things to see and do in the Languedoc. The Cathar Castles, the Canal du Midi, the fascinating Abbeys of Fontfroide and Lagrasse and the many and varied wine chateaux and domaines. A visit to this region would not be complete without a trip the medieval city of Carcassonne, plus the lively and attractive town of Beziers. Montpellier is the lovely 'capital' of the Languedoc and is easy to explore with trams running to the centre from the outskirts of the city. A day trip to Spain is easy as the border is just 90 minutes away by car! Ask us for a full list of 'not to miss' places.
- Markets: In Ouveillan itself there's a market on a Tuesday and Friday (and an organic market on a Thursday and Saturday). In Narbonne there's an outdoor market on a Thursday and a Sunday and an indoor market every morning in Les Halles. Other markets locally are Lezignan Corbieres on a Wednesday and Capestang on a Sunday.
- Wine: Ouveillan has its own wine festival in October the 'Fete des Vendanges'. There are a number of wine producers in the village who will offer you a degustation (wine tasting), and from whom you can buy the local wines.
- Restaurants: In Ouveillan there is 'On Nems' which serves good value asiatic food, and locally the lovely Auberge de la Croisade at Cruzy. There are many fine restaurants in the region and Joie de Vivre can provide you with a list of suggestions.
- Supermarket: There's a small supermarket in the village, a larger 'Casin'o at Salleles d'Aude (3kms), and an 'Intermarche' and an 'Aldi' at Saint Marcel sur Aude (8kms).
Facilities
- Living/Dining Room: A spacious and bright room with sliding glass doors opening out onto the terrace and swimming pool area. Electric shutters are fitted at the glass doors. There's a large wooden dining table and 6 chairs, 2 leather sofas and a coffee table. The television receives French channels, there's also a CD player and a radio.
- Kitchen: The kitchen is fully-fitted and well equipped. It also has a dining table with benches, ideal for breakfast. There's a cooker with grill facility, oven, fridge-freezer, microwave, dishwasher, iron and ironing board and all crockery, utensils and cutlery.
- Hallway and Utlility Room: Off the hallway is a utility room with a washing machine. There's also a WC on this floor.
- Bedrooms: All 3 bedrooms are on the first floor. Bedroom 1 overlooks the little garden and has a pine double bed, bedside tables, lamps, storage and hanging etc. Bedrooms 2 and 3 overlook the swimming pool and have twin beds in each, a bedside table, lamps, storage and hanging.
- Bathroom: There's a large family bathroom with bath, shower, bidet and washbasin. The WC is separate and there's a further WC downstairs.
- Outside: There's an extensive terrace area with a dining table, 6 chairs and a parasol and a large built-in barbecue. Sunloungers are available for your use. An exterior WC is a useful feature when sunbathing or using the swimming pool. There is a private, off road, parking area for 2 cars.
- Swimming Pool: The swimming pool is very well-maintained and is 10m x 5m and is a lovely feature of this property. It is secured with an alarm that meets the current French regulations. The pool is open from May to the end of September.
- Suitability Note: The property is not considered to be suitable for young children (toddlers) due to the tiled staircase. The swimming pool has an alarm, but is not fenced.
- Internet: Sorry there is no internet connection here, but a connection is possible in the Tourist office in Narbonne, and in most MacDonalds in France.
- Telephone: Sorry there is no landline here, but mobile phone signals in the area are generally good.
- Baby Facilities: Sorry there are no facilities for babies here.
- Winter Heating: Heating in the cooler months is not included in the rental price and is prices at 30 euros per week payable direct to the owners.
- Electric and Water: are included in the rental price.
- End of stay Cleaning: is included in the rental price.
- Bed and Bathroom Linen: are included in the rental price
- Taxe de Sejour: is included in the rental price.
- Damage Deposit: The owners request a damage/security deposit of 150 euros in cash payable upon arrival. This will be refunded to you on your day of departure less the replacement cost of any breakages.
- Change Over Day: At this property it is always Wednesday except during the Low Season when other days may be possible. However this does allow you to take advantage of the often less expensive mid-week flights.
- Long weekend stays and mini breaks: There's a minimum stay of 7 nights here.
- Pets: Are not premitted here - sorry.
- Smoking: Is not permitted here - sorry.
How To Get There
- By Car: The village of Ouveillan is approximately 13kms to the NNW of Narbonne. The nearest autoroute exit is No 38 on the A9 Languedocienne motorway.
- By Air: The nearest airports are Beziers (40 minutes drive) and Carcassonne (55 minutes drive). Beziers is serviced by Flybe and Ryanair from the UK, Carcassone by Ryanair - Wednesday flights from several UK airports. Other airports are Perpignan (55 minutes), Montpellier, Nimes and Toulouse.
- By Train: The nearest railway station is Narbonne. For details of trains and for tickets to this region, please consult the link to RAIL EUROPE on our Home Page. Many of our clients are now taking the Eurostar train to Avignon and the picking up a hire car.
Full directions will be provided once you have made a booking.
