Maison Destini
General Description
- Situated in the heart of the ancient village of Causses et Veyran near to the National Park of the Haut Languedoc, this charming old stone house has been lovingly restored to become a stylish, comfortable holiday home. The house has a history as it was once the village bakery - the restored bread oven is a feature in the entrance hall. Later in its history it was home to the local honey maker.
- The house is spread over 4 storeys. It has a fully fitted kitchen and a large, light and airy sitting room leading onto a delightful terrace. It has a private courtyard garden and a garage for 2 cars. There are 3 double bedrooms and a single bedroom, all delightfully decorated and furnished. Two of the bedrooms have an en-suite bath or shower room and there's a large family bathroom.
- The village is located in one of the best known wine regions in South West France and has a bar and a bread shop also selling some day-to-day necessities.. The region surrounding it varies from low plains to gently rolling countryside to high plateaux and mountainous terrain - with lovely sandy beaches on the Mediterranean coast.
- For holiday-makers the combination of the endless sandy beaches, enchanting towns with medieval and Roman histories, great restaurants and vineyards producing quality wines makes this an area to which you'll want to return year after year.
The Local Area
- The house is in the village of Causses et Veyran - just a few steps away is a bread shop, also selling some basic grocery items, and a bar. Five minutes away by car is the larger and charming village of Cessonon sur Orb with a wider varierty of shops and a weekly farmers' market. Seven minutes away by car are Murveil les Beziers and Roquebrun. Roquebrun is one of the most popular beauty spots in the Languedoc with wonderful views, a waterfall and swimming from a pebbled beach in the clean water river.
- Sports Facilities: This is a fantastic area for those who love walking and cycling. Roquebrun has a wonderful river swimming area with waterfalls and paddling areas - the Mediterranean coast is a 35 minute drive where you have miles of long, fine, golden sands. Canoeing is also possible at Roquebrun - and you'll find horse-riding locally. For golfers there's a super golf course at Bessan near Beziers. Watersports lovers will find jet-skiing and sailing facilities on the Mediterranean coast.
- Sightseeing: The St Chinian area is one of France's major AOC wine producers and many chateaux and domaines offer wine-tasting and direct sales of their wines. They are usually well worth a visit. Roquebrun is a local village of note clinging to a hillside beneath the ruins of a medieval tower. The Jardin Mediterranean takes advantage of the local micro-climate with a collection of exotic plants from around the world. Sete on the coast is famous for summer water-jousting contests, and Agde is popular for nightlife. Valras Plage has great seafood restaurants as does the lovely little port of Marseillan. The beaches on the coast have miles of long golden sands. Beziers sits upon the River Orb and it is the birthplace of Pierre Paul Riquet who built the Canal du Midi - the staircase of 9 locks at Fonteranes is an interesting place to visit. Other places of interest are Carcassonne with its two rings of fortifications and fairy tale turrets - and Montpellier, the capital of Herault, with both classical and avant-garde architecture, Opera Berlioz in the central square and a wonderful array of museums, galleries and shops.
- Markets: The local markets are colourful, interesting and full of fresh, local, seasonal produce for you to take home and cook. They are a real social occasion too. The closest market is in Cessonon sur Orb on a Saturday morning - St Chinian has a very good market too on a Sunday morning. Friday is the day for Bezier's fantastic flower and fresh fruit and vegetable market in the town square. There are also markets in Roquebrun and Murviel.
- Restaurants: The nearest bar is just a 2-minute walk away in the village. A 5-minute drive to Cessonon sur Orb will bring you to several restaurants and bars with full service, including take way. St Chinian and Roquebrun are also well serviced with restaurants.
- Supermarkets: The nearest supermarket is in Cessonon sur Orb or in Murviel just a few minutes drive away.
Facilities
- Ground floor: A wonderful ancient front door leads to a spacious entrace hall with the original feature of a 19th century baker's oven. A door then leads through to a staircase which access the other living areas of the house and also to the ground floor double bedroom with original beams and en-suite shower room. The bedroom has glass doors leading out to the courtyard garden which is secluded and has a raised wine 'cuve' with a staircase leading up to the large, decked terrace.
- First Floor: The main living area of the house is here. You'll find an open plan fully fitted kitchen and spacious dining area. The kitchen is newly fitted and has a hob, oven and extractor hood and a fridge/freezer. Two large windows and a side window ensure light throughout the day. The original beams have all been restored. From this area you walk through to a very spacious sitting room, again with original beams. Three sets of double glass doors open out onto a large, decked terrace with a staircase leading down to the garden. There is a 3 seater leather settee with an adjoining leather chaise longue, a coffee table and a single armchair - large floor cushions are also available for lounging on. The TV receives French channels and there's a DVD player, and a CD player. The decked terrace has a garden table and chairs, 2 garden armchairs and a lounger. There is an undercover seating area here - and the terrace gets full sun in the morning!
- Second Floor: Here you'll find an original, charming, triangular double bedroom overlooking the front of the house with a light and sunny outlook. Also here is a smaller single bedroom with original features. On this level is the newly installed family bathroom with WC, washbasin and bath with shower attachment.
- Third Floor: The 'piece de resistance' of the house - a lovely master double bedroom, spacious and light, with original beams and lovely bed linens. This has a large luxury ensuite shower room with a large shower, washbasin and WC.
- Utility Room: This is accessed via the entrance hall and has a washing machine, iron and ironing board and a storage area.
- Outside: As described above a secluded courtyard garden with steps leading up to a large, decked terrace. There is a garage with private parking for 2 cars.
- Swimming Pool: There is no pool here - sorry.
- Internet: There is not currently an internet connection here - sorry.
- Telephone: There is not a landline telephone here.
- Baby Facilities: There are no baby facilities here.
- Suitability Note: Due to the house having 4 storeys with connecting staircases the owners prefer to have children over the age of 5 here only. It may not be suitable for the elderly or infirm.
- Winter Heating: Winter heating is not included in the rental price. A supplementary charge is made for heating of £45 per week - this applies to bookings from mid October to the end of April.
- Electric and Water: are included for you in the rental price.
- End of stay cleaning: Is included in the rental price.
- Bedroom and Bathroom Linen: Quality bedroom and bathroom linen for 4 people is included in the rental price. If there are further guests staying there is a supplementary charge per person of £27 per week for bathroom towels and bed linen.
- 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 cost.
- Damage Deposit: The owner requests a damage deposit of 200 Euros on arrival. This will be refunded to you at the end of your stay less the replacement cost of any breakages.
- Change Over Day: Normally Saturday in July and August - but may be flexible at other times of the year, according to availability.
- Long weekend stays and mini breaks: May be available out of Peak Season - please enquire for price and availability.
- Pets: A small dog may be permitted here by prior arrangement and agreement.
- Smoking: Is not permitted in this house - sorry.
How To Get There
- By Car: Causses et Veyran is a village situated about 30 minutes drive to the North West of Beziers, in Languedoc Roussillon. The nearest autoroute exits are No's 35 and 36 on the A9 Languedocienne.
- By Air: Beziers-Agde airport is the nearest serviced by Ryanair form the UK (www.ryanair.com) - it's approximately a 35 minute drive away. Carcassonne Airport (again Ryanair) and Montpellier are the next nearest - about a 1hr drive. Alternatively you can fly to Nimes or Toulouse airports - both about 75 minutes away.
- By Train: For train tickets to this region from the UK, please consult the website www.raileurope.co.uk. The nearest station is Beziers.
Full directions will be sent after your have made a booking.
