Maison Cristal
General Description
· One of several charming, 2 bedroom, terraced stone houses in the grounds of a lovely family-owned chateau on the edge of the village of Marcorignan, near Narbonne. Inside, the house is modern, understated and simply, but comfortably, furnished. Outside, each house has it's own private terrace.
· The chateau grounds are extensive and great for walking or cycling through 6 acres of parkland, olive groves, pine trees, vineyards, 'garrigue' and cornfields. The big, lawned garden is planted with a variety of trees and oleanders. The large, shared swimming pool gets the sun all day. For children, the garden is a great place to play with swings, volleyball, basket-ball, table tennis, table football and petanque.
· With the village only a short walk away, and offering the essentials (baker, grocer, pharmacy, bar, pizzeria etc) you can enjoy the quiet beauty of the area without going too far if you just want to relax.
· If you want to explore this lovely region, this is a fantastic base for visiting the fine sandy beaches, the Canal du Midi, the medieval city of Carcassonne, the giant caves of Cabrespine and the bustling vibrant cities of Narbonne and Beziers.
The Local Area
· Marcorignan, the local village, is less than a 5-minute walk away. There you'll find a grocer, a baker, a pharmacy, a pizzeria, a take-away restaurant and a bar. The city of Narbonne with all facilities, great shopping, restaurants etc is a 15-minute drive.
· As well as volleyball, basketball, table tennis, table football and petanque in the grounds of the chateau, you can play tennis in Marcorignan, and horse riding is also available locally. Walking and cycling can really be enjoyed around here. Bike hire is available locally - please enquire with Joie de Vivre.
· This is a great place for exploring this lovely region. The fine sandy beaches and salt-water lakes of the Languedoc coast are only a short drive away. Explore the Canal du Midi which runs through the region and its interesting staircase of locks at Beziers. The medieval city of Carcassonne can be reached by car in about 30 minutes. And don't forget to visit the Abbey of Fontfroide and the lively town of Narbonne with its famous indoor food market. Both adults and children can spend a fantastic day out at the African Nature Reserve at Sigean where you can see over 3,000 species of animals.
· Markets - There is a large, twice weekly outdoor market in Narbonne (Thursday and Sunday), one in Lezignan Corbieres on a Wednesday and one in Olonzac on a Tuesday. Narbonne also has a covered food market 'Les Halles' which is open every day.
· Restaurants - There are some very good restaurants in Narbonne e.g. L'Estagnol and Au Plaisir de la Table, and also in the villages close to Marcorignan for example at Le Somail, Mirepeisset and Bize Minervois.
· Supermarket - The nearest supermarket is just a few kilometres away at St. Marcel sur Aude. There are a number of supermarkets in Narbonne.
Facilities
· Living/Dining room: Decorated tastefully, and simply furnished with a sofa, dining table and chairs. The TV has French, some English (CNN, BBC and Eurosport) and German channels.
· Corner Kitchen: Open plan to the living/dining room and equipped with a fridge/freezer, hob, oven, dishwasher and utensils. A microwave oven can be made available by prior request.
· Utility room: There is a washing machine for your use in a shared laundry room.
· Bedrooms: One bedroom has a king size double bed; or the other one has twin beds. Simply furnished, with bedside tables, lamps, chairs, storage and hanging.
· Bathrooms: 1 bathroom - the WC is separate.
· Accommodation Note: There a five 2-bedroom, and five 3-bedroom houses here at the chateau. The houses are all similar, but not identical. They all have their own private terrace/garden. Please note that the internal and external photographs shown are typical of the accommodation offered, but every house is slightly different.
· Additional accommodation: This 2 bedroom house is also available for 4 people - please see Maison Corail for details and prices. A larger 3 bedroom house is available for up to 6 people - please see Maison Cuivre.
· Outside: The house has a private, gravelled terrace/garden with a barbeque, garden table and chairs for al fresco dining. Your privacy is provided by a tall laurel hedge.
· Shared Swimming pool: An attractive 6m x 12m pool in a sunny spot in the garden with sun loungers available for your use.
· Internet: You can connect to the internet here FREE using a WiFi connection and your laptop.
· Telephone: Sorry - the house does not have a telephone.
· Baby facilities: Both a high chair and a cot are available on request at a supplementary cost of 25 Euros per week.
· Winter heating: Between 1st October and mid May the owners make a small charge for electricity/heating, based on your metered consumption.
· Gas, electric, & water: are all included in the rental cost.
· End-of-stay cleaning: is included in the rental cost.
· Bed & bathroom linen: Bed-linen and towels are included in the rental cost. Extra sets of towels may be hired for 5 Euros per person, per set.
· 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/Security deposit: The owner requests a damage deposit of 250 Euros on arrival and this will be refunded to you at the end of your stay, less the replacement cost of any breakages.
· Change over day: Normally Saturday, but may be flexible in low season subject to availability. There may be a small supplement for alternative arrival/departure days - please enquire.
· Long weekend stays / Mini Breaks: May be available in low season - please enquire. Long term lets are available between October and the end of April - please enquire for the price.
· Pets: are permitted here at an additional charge of 40 Euros per pet per week, but not in Peak Season - and with prior permission.
· Smoking: Is permitted here should you wish.
How To Get There
· By Car - Marcorignan is just 10 minutes away from Narbonne by car. The nearest motorway is the A9 Languedocienne - Exit 38.
· By Air - Perpignan, Montpellier, Beziers and Carcassonne Airports are the nearest - approximately 45-50 minutes by car. You can also use Toulouse Airport - about 90 minutes 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 once you make a booking
