Villa Celeste
General Description
- This newly completed villa offers spacious, well-designed and beautifully presented holiday accommodation. It has a variety of areas where you can sit outside and relax enjoying the lovely swimming pool and gardens. Special features include natural stone walls and exposed beams which, together with the modern decor and furnishings chosen with very good taste, make this a holiday property of exceptionally high standard.
- The property, now fully renovated, was once part of a wine merchant's estate. The owners live in the grounds in the main house which has its own separate garden. Your privacy will be respected. The owners will be on hand if you need them to make suggestions and give you information so you can make the best of your stay in this stunning region. (However you might just find it too hard to drag yourselves away from this lovely environment!)
- The vila comprises a large, well-equipped kitchen and separate dining area opening out through glass doors onto the delightful sun terrace and pool area. Upstairs is a spacious and comfortable sitting room with patio doors opening onto a charming covered terrace that has a lovely view towards the Montagnes Noir. There are 3 double bedrooms all with en-suites, the rooms are large enough to take a cot if you have a baby.
- The tranquil village of Trausse welcomes you with a well-stocked shop offering day-to-day essentials including fresh bread and croissants; it also has a restaurant. The village is surrounded by the vineyards of one of France's largest wine-producing areas, the Minervois, with views extending to the foothills of the Haut Languedoc. It's just a short drive to the fascinating medieval city of Carcassonne, and the Mediterranean coast is just an hour away. Close by there are other lovely villages to explore, the Canal du Midi and Olonzac with it's great Tuesday market.
The Local Area
- The village centre is just a few steps away and you'll find the shop described above, a restaurant, a hairdressers, a post office, wine caves, tennis courts and a boulodrome. Close by is the bigger village of Caunes with a beautiful abbey, further shops including a butchers, a cafe-bar and a restaurant. Supermarket shopping can be done a Peyriac - 4 kms away.
- Sport facilities: If you like walking, hiking or cycling you really can't go wrong here (ask us for details of a cycle hire company who can deliver bikes to your door). As well as the tennis courts or boulodrome in the village, you can enjoy a round of golf in Carcassonne. Further swimming can be enjoyed at the nearby Lac du Jouarres or from the long, fine, sandy beaches on the Mediterranean coast. Water sports lovers will also find great facilities there too.
- Sightseeing: Less than 30 minutes drive is the stunning medieval fortress of Carcassonne with its 2 rings of fortifications and 52 fairy tale turrets - it's a must see! A short local drive will bring you to Homps, a port on the Canal du Midi - several cafe-bars and restaurants can be found here and the passing boats add interest when you stop to have a drink. You can go to see Minerve, the old capital of the region and former Cathar stronghold - it's rated one of the most beautiful villages in France. Children will love the caves at Limousis or Cabrespine - and the African Nature Reserve on the coast at Sigean.
- Markets: The markets in the region are colourful, interesting, and a real social occasion. There's lots of fresh, seasonal produce to enjoy eating on your terrace! The best ones locally are at Olonzac on a Tuesday Morning, in Caunes-Minervois and in Cacassonne.
- Restaurants: If you fancy a change from cooking or the barbecue just walk into the village, or take a quick drive to Caunes. Further restaurants are in Homps and in Carcassonne.
Facilities
- Kitchen and Dining Room: The well-proportioned, light and airy, newly-fitted kitchen is fully equipped for cooking with a hob and oven, microwave, dishwasher, fridge/freezer, coffee-makers, washing machine, iron etc etc and there's plenty of storage. The dining area is separate with an exposed stone wall and a quality dining table and chairs for 6. Tinted glazed doors lead out from here to the terrace, garden and swimming pool.
- Sitting Room and Covered Terrace: Upstairs on the first floor you'll find the spacious and sumptuous lounge with comfortable sofas, coffee table, music system, a flat screen TV receiving satellite channels (English), a DVD player and a CD player. The furniture is modern and very tasteful. This lovely living space opens out onto the most charming covered terrace with quality outdoor furniture where you can sit and eat or just enjoy the view of the pool, gardens and surrounding countryside - or on a balmy evening enjoy tasting the local wines.
- Bedrooms and En-suites: The master bedroom is spacious and overlooks the pool terrace - it has a high beamed ceiling, a wooden floor and a double bed. The second double bedroom hs a view towards the village and the third looks out onto the gardens and the mountains beyond. All 3 rooms are charming and well presented with crisp bed linen. Each bedroom has its own private, attractive, en-suite with WC, washbasin and shower.
- Outside: There's a sun terrace and a very lovely garden with sun loungers around the pool area. Near the lawn there's a barbecue and a wooden picnic table/bench.
- Swimming Pool: The swimming pool is 10m x 5m in a lovely garden setting.
- Internet: There is not currently an internet connection here though one is planned.
- Telephone: Sorry - there is no telephone here.
- Baby Facilities: A cot and a high chair can be made available upon request.
- Winter heating: The villa has electric wall heaters and the cost of heating in the cooler months is included in the rental price.
- Electric and Water: is included in the rental price.
- End of stay cleaning: This is included for you in the rental price.
- Bed and bathroon linen: These are included for you in the rental price as well as pool towels to save your bringing them with you.
- Welcome Pack: On arrival you'll find a welcome pack consisting of tea, coffee, milk etc and a bottle of wine.
- 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: A damge/security deposit is requested of 300 Euros or the equivalent in GB £s. This is refunded to you at the end of your stay, less the replacement cost of any breakages or damage.
- Change Over Day: Saturday in the main summer season. Otherwise the change over day is flexible according to availability in Low and Mid Season.
- Long Weekend Stays: May be possible out of high/peak season and according to availability - please enquire.
- Pets: May be permitted here by prior arrangement - please enquire.
- Smoking: Is not permiited here - sorry.
How To Get There
- By Car: The village is situated to the North East of Carcassonne, and the North West of Olonzac. The nearest autoroute exits would be No: 36 Beziers Ouest on the A9 Languedocienne, or No: 23 on the A61.
- By Air: The nearest airports are Carcassonne (35 minutes) and Beziers (50 minutes) both served by the low cost airline Ryanair from many regional airports in the UK, Ireland and Belgium. Other possible airports would be Toulouse (1 hr 30 mins), Montpellier, Nimes, Perpignan or even Girona (N. Spain). There's easy access to the Autoroutes from all airports making for an easy drive.
- By Train: For train tickets to the area, the nearest railway station being Carcassonne, please visit www.raileurope.co.uk.
Full directions etc will be sent once you have made a booking.
