Property Description
This lovely 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. This fully renovated villa 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 so your privacy will be respected. They 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 villa 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.
Property Features
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 has 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.
A new tennis court and table tennis table are now available.
All newly fitted pool lighting, a private parking space, new garden furniture have been added.
Internet: WiFi Internet connection available.
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 in your holiday costs.
Linen and Towels - 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 (tourist tax). This is not included in your holiday price and will be calcuated and charged by JDV with your balance payment.
Damage Deposit: A damge/security deposit is requested of 250 Euros . This is requested by JDV prior to your arrival.
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: Sorry pets are not permitted.
Smoking: Is not permiited here - sorry.
About 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.
Interesting sign-posted walking and hiking routes close to the village.
The villa is also only 100m from the local pétanque ground.
REVIEWS
Our second stay and a great Family Holiday.
Mr Carvey
The house was very comfortable and well equipped. It was very clean and great to have 3 bathrooms.
C Haynes
Very good and very spacious! All as described and no hidden nasties. Well equipped house and kitchen. Lovely pool! All clean outside and in which is very important. Owners very helpful and pleasant but not making you feel they were keeping an eye on you. Basket of food and drinks on arrival was a very nice touch - thank you. Mr JH, West Midlands, UK. July 2016.
Accomodation was excellent. Very comfortable and everything we needed was provided - very satisfied. B.L. Wales, UK. Sept 2015
Absolutely PERFECT. 99.9% satisfaction. The on-site owners were extremely helpful but never intrusive. JCW. Suffolk, England. Sept 2014.
Excellent Villa with more than we could have expected. Owners brilliant and so helpful. Pool size fantastic. Overall first class accomodation - and how can you improve on excellence:) !! Mrs H, Scotland, October 2012.
An outstanding property! The owners were very friendly and extremely helpful throughout our stay. Everything in the villa was of an exceptionally high standard and it was an ideal base for touring the lovely Minervois area. Mrs S, West Yorkshire, May 2011 A beautiful house and garden. We were very satisfied with Villa Celeste. Mrs D, Leics, UK July 2010
July 2017
Tranquil village location and a characterful building. Accommodation was of a high standard.
Mr B - UK
