Sorry - no pets allowed Suitable for children Smokers welcome Self-catering
Home description
The house is over 200 years old and has been converted from farmhouse to family home. It has fine views, a garden, orchard and pool.
It is a quiet village with about 20 houses. There are no shops or cafes, but Mirepoix, only about 10 minutes away, offers all the essentials for living. It is a stunning 13C town built around a central square with ancient arcades, a cathedral and market.
The area is in Cathar country with many accessible hilltop castles ( Montsegur ), the famous cite of Carcassonne, fine provincial towns ( Foix, Limoux ), abbeys, and many pastimes and sports.
The pool
Front of house and courtyard
The terrace
The living room
To see more photos please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/25189
The Midi-Pyrenees / Ariege region
This is Cathar country and the region is the centre of those beliefs which threatened the authority of Rome and were declared a heresy by the Pope. This led to a crusade in the 13thC to stamp them out. Much destruction and suffering ensued but we are left with the mountain top castles that were the last refuges of the Cathars and remain accessible today.
There are abbeys, fine towns, churches, cathedrals, caves, underground rivers, glorious forests, the Pyrenees and, of course, Carcassonne with its extraordinary mediaeval city - and tourists!
June to September are the warmest months, of course, and temperatures can rise to 40C. But May and October can be marvellous and you can often eat out on the terrace in February!
Mirepoix area
Mirepoix is a gem. It has unique, ancient arcades around its central square where a fine market takes place on Mondays. It was built in 1280 as a bastide, a fortified town to fend off the English. Here you can shop for all essentials and much more besides.
Within easy reach are the two great rivers, the Aude and the Ariege They are ideal for canoeing. There is tennis, go-carting, golf, and sailing within 30 minutes. The great forests to the south are crisscrossed by footpaths and the walking is magnificent from the front door onwards.
How to get there
Ryanair fly twice daily from Stanstead to Carcassonne and Perpignan.
There are cheap flights to Toulouse.
We are about 700 miles from Calais and 500 miles from St Malo.
Nearest Travel Links
Airport:
Carcassonne: 50 km
Railway:
Carcassonne: 50 km
Ferry:
St Malo: 800 km
Activities near Mirepoix
Sports: Tennis in town Watersports Horse Riding Golf within 30 mins drive Fishing
Great for: Walking holidays Rural / countryside retreats Beach or lakeside relaxation A winter sun break Cycling holidays
Single beds (6), Double beds (2), Cots (1), Dining seating for 10, Lounge seating for 8, Sleeps maximum of 10
Other:
Please check with with the owner regarding linen and towels.
Outdoors:
Balcony / Terrace, Private outdoor pool (unheated), Private garden, BBQ
Access:
Secure parking
Further details indoors: From the front door you enter a large living room which has dining and sitting areas and a large open fireplace. Off this room is the fully equipped kitchen which also has a breakfast area with table and seating. To the rear are two bedrooms ( one double and one with a single bed and two bunk beds ) a bathroom and a separate loo.
On the first floor are two twin and one double bedrooms, plus two bathrooms.
Further details outdoors: The house is at a corner of a central village square. You enter the property through double gates into a courtyard which can hold 3 cars. On one side is an open barn ("hangar") with a table tennis table, spare chairs, BBQ, logs etc.
The house and garden are in the country. The land descends to the main lawn, surrounded by trees and shrubs.The 11m X 5m pool has gentle steps at one corner, and is protected by infra-red beams which sound an alarm when broken. This can be turned off when the pool is in use but must be turned on when bathing is over. A cover is drawn over the pool in the evening to preserve the temperature. There are loungers and a swing seat by the pool.
There is a terrace, with a door from the living room, which has tables and chairs for 10 plus. From the terrace there are pretty views to the Pyrenees in the distance. Behind the terrace wall is an orchard with fruit trees.
Further details
Changeovers are on Saturdays. Guests leave by 10.00 am and arrive after 4.00 pm to allow for cleaning, mowing, pool maintenance etc.
The house is in the care of Alain and Aline Chaubet who see to the cleaning and maintenance. They live in the village and are very helpful.
Conditions
Following a firm booking request:
* We send you a booking form * You return it with a deposit of 25% of the total cost of the holiday. * We send you a receipt and advice on the balance due 6 weeks before your holiday starts * You send us the balance by the due date * We send you the keyholders' details and instructions on how to find the house
Rental rates
Rental prices originally quoted in: British £
Convert to:
Period
From
To
Weekly
Nightly rate
Minimum stay
Weekday
Weekend
29 September to 31 Decemb
29 Sep 07
1 Jan 08
450£ 450
0-
0-
1 Week
Low Season
1 Jan 08
1 Jun 08
450£ 450
0-
0-
1 Week
Mid Season
1 Jun 08
29 Jun 08
650£ 650
0-
0-
1 Week
High Season
29 Jun 08
31 Aug 08
800£ 800
0-
0-
1 Week
Mid Season
31 Aug 08
28 Sep 08
650£ 650
0-
0-
1 Week
Low Season
28 Sep 08
4 Jan 09
450£ 450
0-
0-
1 Week
51
NB: Prices may be subject to change at the owner's discretion. Reductions for longer lets.
We ask guests to provide their own linen and towels. We can provide them but make a charge of £5 per head for washing and ironing.
Guestbook
Nearly all comments have been full of praise for the house and for guests' stays.
We have had criticisms which we have always tried to resolve at once. For example in 2007 we have installed a 3rd bathroom, bought a new fridge, and installed a new water heating cylinder.
Availability notes
To see availability please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/25189
Click to view availability for this property.
Contact owner
To contact this owner please visit: http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/25189
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