Property Description
One of the best features of Villa Emeraude is the fantastic view it has from the edge of Oupia towards the village of Beaufort, with its majestic 'chateau-fort', and beyond to the Black Mountains (Montagne Noire). It really is a dream view!
Located on a quiet village road, this lovely villa is quite secluded with private parking. However it has the advantage of being just 5-10 minutes walk away from the village epicerie which sells bread and day to day groceries, the restaurant 'L'Asphodele', 'Chateau d'Oupia' - for world-renowned wines, and the post office.
Villa Emeraude is a large, comfortable house on 3 levels comprising 3 double bedrooms (one of which is at the lower garden level), 1 bedroom with twin beds, 2 bathrooms, a downstairs cloakroom, a large well-equipped kitchen, a spacious sitting room with double-height ceiling, a dining room, a 'home cinema' room and a games room.
Outside to the rear of the villa is a large dining terrace and barbecue with stunning views, gardens laid to lawn with shrubs and a private swimming pool. To the front, another dining terrace equipped with a large table and dining chairs. All ideal for those long, lazy evenings.
The property is just just 3kms from the small town of Olonzac, the 'capital' of the Minervois, which has a supermarket, further shops, banks, pharmacy, doctors, cafe-bars and restaurants and a weekly market.
It is equi-distant between Carcassonne and Beziers airports which are approximately 50 minutes drive away.
For those of you who like bird-watching, there are some very interesting birds to observe in the vicinity e.g. golden orioles and eagles.
Property Features
Entering the villa through the front door brings you into a spacious hallway with the kitchen to the right and the living and dining rooms to the left.
Living Room: With double-height ceiling and lots of natural light this is furnished with large comfortable sofas, a coffee table, and has a digital TV with English speaking channels, and a fireplace with a wood-burning stove for the cooler evenings. A grand staircase leads off this room to the mezzanine level and 3 of the bedrooms.
Dining Room: This is adjacent to the sitting room and has a piano, a large wooden dining table with 10 chairs and a dresser.
Kitchen: The kitchen is large and well-equipped with a range cooker (gas rings/electric oven), microwave, large double sink, American fridge with filtered water and ice maker, a dresser, storage island unit, dishwasher and wine rack. There is a breakfast bar area seating 4 people and a table and chairs also seating 4. French windows lead out onto a spacious dining terrace with fantastic views towards Beaufort and the Black Mountains.
Utlility Room: Equipped with a washing machine, iron and ironing board.
Home Cinema: Comfortably furnished and equipped with TV receiving UK channels, with DVD player.
Games Room: Recently added - a superbly fitted out games room featuring a pool table, other games are available.
Bedrooms: There are 4 bedrooms, three on the top floor, and one master double bedroom on the lowest level with direct access to the garden. Two of the upstairs double bedrooms have double beds the third has 2 single beds. All the bedrooms have side tables and lamps, chests of drawers and wardrobes. Fans are provided for the warm weather.
Bathrooms: There are two bathrooms: one on the top floor with a bath with shower over, a washbasin and a separate WC. The other bathroom on the garden level has a shower, washbasin and a WC. There's a further cloakroom on the ground floor with washbasin and WC.
Outside: Overall the property has approx 4000 sq.metres of garden. The lower garden has a lovely lawn, flowers and shrubs and has excellent views - here you will find the private swimming pool. To the front of the house is a further garden planted mainly with trees and shrubs - here you will also find a gravelled terrace. There is a large gas barbecue for cooking outside.
Swimming Pool: The swimming pool is 10m x 4m and has a security cover which conforms with French law, this must be in place if you leave the property. Children must be supervised by an adult when using the pool. The pool is unheated and therefore usually only open between May and September.
Pool House: The pool house next to the pool has a small kitchen, with a fridge and sink unit. As glass isn't allowed by the pool area, there's a good supply of plastic glasses and jugs.
Suitability Note: Due to the differing levels in the house and garden, and one of the staircases which accesses the garden level being spiral, this property is not considered to be suitable for toddlers and young children. The owners prefer to accept children of 6 years and above.
Internet: There is a WiFi internet connection for use with your own laptop.
Telephone: Sorry - there is no landline telephone here.
Baby Facilities: There are no facilities for babies here.
Winter Heating: Winter heating is included in the rental price.
Gas, Electric and Water: Are included in the rental price.
End of stay Cleaning: Is included in the rental price providing the property is left neat and tidy as found.
Bed and Bathroom Linen: Are included in the rental price.
Taxe de Sejour: In France it is necessary to pay a Taxe de Sejour at the end of your stay, it is included here in the rental price.
Damage Deposit: The owners request a damage deposit of £500 or 600 Euros payable to Joie de Vivre by credit card authorisation or by bank transfer 2-3 weeks before the start of your holiday. This will be refunded to you a few days after your departure less the replacement cost of any damage, breakages or any excessive cleaning necessary.
Change Over Day: Normally Saturday in July and August. In other months alternative arrival days will be considered, subject to availability.
Long Weekend Stays: Sorry - not available. The minimum stay here is 7 nights.
Pets: Not permitted - sorry.
Smoking: Not permitted - sorry.
About the local area
The ancient, pretty, hillside village of Oupia (pronounced Oop-Yah) has just a couple of hundred inhabitants. You can walk down the narrow, windy streets to the grocery store which sells bread and groceries, the post office, 'L'Asphodele' restaurant, and the 12th century chateau producing a great wines.
Just 5 minutes away by car, or 10 minutes or so by bike, is the town of Olonzac, which has a wider range of shops, a supermarket, a bank, a pharmacy, restaurants and cafe-bars.
Sports Facilities: Watersports, sailing, water ski-ing, kite-boarding etc at the Mediterranean coastal resorts about 45 minutes drive away, or more locally at Lac du Jouarres near Homps, just 15 minutes drive. Cycling and walking are fantastic things to do around here - just to enjoy the beautiful views. Cycles can be hired locally and delivered to your door (please ask Joie de Vivre for details). Oupia has a village boulodrome where you can play boules in the evening sunshine; and tennis courts are available in the park in Olonzac.
Sight-seeing Days Out: There is much to see and do in this lovely region - but a visit wouldn't be complete without a trip to the medieval city of Carcassonne, a boat trip on the Canal du Midi, a walk around and perhaps lunch in the historic village of Minerve, a day out in the lively city of Narbonne with its fantastic indoor food market and even a day trip to Spain (the border is only about 90-minutes drive away). The Mediterranean beaches are just a 45 minute drive away should you like to enjoy a day at the beach. Joie de Vivre will send you more information when you book.
Markets: In this region they are colourful and interesting and full of fresh, seasonal produce as well as basketware, leather goods, jewellery etc. Olonzac has weekly market on a Tuesday morning - and Narbonne on a Thursday and a Sunday. Narbonne also has a fabulous daily indoor food market in Les Halles - open until about 1.00pm every day.
Restaurants: As well as the excellent restaurant in the village, there's a good restaurant in the next village of Beaufort within walking distance for the more active, and if you don't want to take the car. Olonzac has further restaurants, as does Homps, Minerve, Azillanet, and Aigne. Further afield there's a wide selection to suit all budgets and tastes in other nearby villages and in Carcassonne and Narbonne. Joie de Vivre will be pleased to recommend some of them to you.
Supermarkets: The nearest supermarket Casino is in Olonzac 2 kms away.
REVIEWS
Thanks for all your help with getting the booking sorted etc – we had a lovely time and the customer service was excellent.
We’ll be coming back to you next year looking for another villa I think!
Mr M - UK
We will definitely contemplate another week in Oupia in this beautiful villa next year!
M Djvadi, Italy
Great house, lovely holiday.
John, Austrailia
Our 2nd year here. We love it.
The house is beautiful.
Great cycling in the area.
McCabe, Canada
2nd year to visit. Love it. Great for place to relax
M K (Dr)
Villa Emeraude is excellent. Mrs HS, Scotland, July 2016.
Villa Emeraude is a stunning property and matched our needs entirely. The space was excellent and the garden and pool are just perfect. I would like to commend both Sue and Helen at Joie de Vivre who were a tremendous help in matching our requirements to exactly the right property for a very special family occasion. My questions were answered immediately via e-mail an very good advice and help was given. Merci beaucoup! Mr & Mrs S, Crewe, UK. June 2015
Very lovely indeed! Family R, Bucks, UK, August 2014.
Great standard of accomodation - we were very satisfied. Mrs SS, London, August 2013
We cannot explain how perfect the accomodation and holiday was for us. Fantastic holiday and we will definitely be looking to come back in the future. It was brilliant and we didn't want to come home!! AK, Leicestershire, England, July 2013 Excellent. Spacious and comfortable and spotlessly clean. This is the 3rd time we have rented a property from Joie de Vivre - very satisfied! Mr & Mrs H, Norfolk, UK, June 2013.
