Long term lets (over 1 month) Short-breaks (4 days or fewer)
Changeover day:
Flexible
Access:
Car advised Nearest amenities: 0.1 km
Notes:
No pets allowed Not suitable for children under 5 Not suitable for elderly or infirm No smoking at this property Self-catering
Home description
Newly renovated in Spring 2009, this appealing 1-bedroom 3-storey town house is ideally located in the centre of Olonzac, the 'capital' of the Minervois wine-growing region. From here, you can simply stroll out to do your shopping, visit the market (one of the best in the area), enjoy a cup of coffee or glass of wine, or eat in the local restaurants. Simply take a break, relax and just enjoy the French 'art de vivre'!
The property has been very tastefully renovated and decorated, both the kitchen and the shower room are brand new, and the furnishings are in the French style with a nice mix of old and new.
Stepping inside the house through the front door, it has a light, pleasant ambience. It comprises a kitchen and dining area with wood-burning stove on the ground floor; a double bedroom and a shower room on the 1st floor; and a sitting room with folding glass doors that lead out onto a charming private roof terrace on the second floor.
During the day you can enjoy the small town's bustling centre especially on a Tuesday morning, when the lively, colourful market stretches into the streets nearby. You can also stroll in the pleasant park where there's a pond, a boulodrome and tennis courts.
Olonzac is a 45-minute drive from Carcassonne and about 35 minutes from Narbonne and Beziers and is an ideal centre for exploring this lovely region. Less than 2kms away at Homps you'll find the Canal du Midi offering lots of opportunities for walking, cycling or a boat trip as well as relaxing with a drink in one of the many cafes watching the passing boats.
Dining area with mimosas!
Facade of Gite Charmant
Feature in dining area
Well equipped kitchen
To see more photos please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/85392
The Languedoc-Roussillon / Herault region
This part of the Languedoc has a sunny Mediterranean climate. It can be hot in summer, but the temperature is often tempered by a breeze. Now the 3rd most visited region in France by British people, the Languedoc offers something for everyone.
Miles of long, sandy beaches, coastal lagoons, vibrant cities such as Narbonne and Montpellier, historical sites such as Carcassonne and the Cathar castles, fabulous scenery, great cuisine and vineyards, vineyards, vineyards.
Olonzac area
Olonzac is well serviced with bakers, butchers, a supermarket, a bank and a post office as well as a number of restaurants and cafe-bars. It is a thriving and very typically French town - it's lively, especially in the summer months, and has its own festival in August (please enquire for the dates).
This is a great area for walking and cycling with many interesting villages and the Canal du Midi is just a short bike or car ride away. You can also play tennis and boules in the park (please ask the owner for tennis racquets). At the Lac du Jouarres, a 5-minute drive away, you'll find a man-made beach, swimming, fishing, wind-surfing etc - its also a great place for a stroll.
For swimming, you can also visit the Mediterranean beaches at Gruissan or Narbonne Plage, or the swimming pool at the large leisure centre in Narbonne - Espace Liberte. All types of water sports are available too at the coastal resorts: wind-surfing, sailing and diving etc. For those of you who like to play a round of golf there are courses at Beziers and Carcassonne - both about a 45-minute drive from the house.
Olonzac is a great base for exploring the Minervois region and wine-lovers will find numerous chateaux and 'domaines' offering wine-tastings. Whilst here, you can also visit the ancient city of Minerve - a former Cathar stronghold, the medieval city of Carcassonne with its rings of fortifications and 52 turrets, Narbonne with its cathedral, archbishop's palace and famous indoor market, Beziers and the staircase of 9 locks on the Canal du Midi at Fontseranes, the abbeys of Fontfroide and Lagrasse, the Cathar castles and the beach resorts of Narbonne- and Gruissan- Plages. The Spanish border is only about a 90-minute drive away - so a day trip to Spain is possible too!
It's hard to beat the market in Olonzac every Tuesday for it's authentic French flavour, lots of colourful regional produce, herbs, spices wine and many other things beside. And there's also another good market at Lezignan Corbieres, 15 minutes drive, on a Wednesday. Narbonne has a big outdoor market canal-side on a Thursday and a Sunday, and a fantastic indoor food market everyday in Les Halles. In the summer season there's an evening market fortnightly in the canal-side village of Homps, just 5-minutes drive away.
Restaurants - Olonzac has a number of reasonably-priced restaurants all within walking distance, and just down the road in Homps there is a further good selection of restaurants with different types of food on offer. Further afield our favourites are: Cafe du Port, Paraza (open spring to October), the Auberge de St Martin at Beaufort and Lo Cagarole at Aigne. All worth a try!
Supermarket - the nearest supermarket is just on the edge of town and there's another one at La Redorte - just 10 minutes drive.
How to get there
By Car - The town of Olonzac situated just north of the 'D' road that runs between Beziers and Carcassonne. The nearest motorway junction is No:25 (Lezignan Corbieres) on the A61 Autoroute des Deux Mers, or No:36 Beziers Ouest on the A9 Languedocienne. The drive from Calais is about 10.5-11 hours in normal traffic conditions and with a limited number of stops.
By Air: Carcassonne and Beziers Airports are the nearest - both approximately 45 minutes drive away. Bothe these airports are serviced by Ryanair from many airport locations in the UK, Ireland and Belgium. Perpignan and Montpellier airports both just over 1 hour's drive away. Toulouse is a further option - about 1 hour 50 minutes drive, and Girona (N. Spain - about a 2-hour 15minute drive). All major car hire companies operate from the airports.
By Train: Please visit www.raileurope.co.uk for details of the overnight Motorail service to Narbonne (summer months only).
Full directions etc will be sent to you once you have made a booking
Nearest Travel Links
Airport:
Carcassonne: 45 km
Railway:
Lezignan Corbieres: 15 km
Activities near Olonzac
Sports: Tennis in town Watersports Waterpark Horse Riding Golf within 30 mins drive
Great for: Walking holidays Rural / countryside retreats Beach or lakeside relaxation Cycling holidays
Sofabeds (1), Double beds (1), Cots (1), Dining seating for 4, Lounge seating for 4, Sleeps maximum of 3
Other:
Linen and towels provided.
Outdoors:
BBQ
Further details indoors: As you enter the house from the square, you'll find the dining area and kitchen. This open-plan area makes for great convivial dining. The new, neat, well-equipped kitchen has a fridge/freezer, cooker, microwave, washing machine and ample storage. There's a lovely oak dining table and 4 chairs and a wood-burning stove to keep you warm and cosy in the cooler months. It's a light and airy room with a stable door.
On the first floor is the double master bedroom and the shower room. The bedroom is delightfully styled and decorated and has a double bed, storage and hanging. The shower room is newly fitted with a modern double shower, stylish washbasin and a WC.
On the second floor you'll find the sitting room and the roof terrace. The sitting room is comfortably furnished with an armchair and a quality convertible sofa which provides additional sleeping accommodation for 1 person if required. There's a coffee table and a TV receiving international channels. This delightful room has glass doors which open and fold back to access the private roof terrace where you can relax with a book or a glass of wine, and enjoy a barbecue on a warm, balmy evening.
Parking: There is free parking close by the gite.
Further details outdoors: The roof terrace is a delightful place to sit and catch the sun, read or dine al fresco. It is not overlooked, but you can see what goes on in the square around the town hall.
Further details
There is no internet connection here, but there is an internet cafe in the town just a very short walk away.
Suitability Note: Please note there are 2 staircases in the house - it may not therefore be suitable for young children or for elderly or infirm people.
Winter Heating: The house has electric wall heaters and is warm and cosy in the cooler months. Should you wish to use the wood-burning stove, there is a small supplementary charge for the logs, payable direct.
Gas, electric and water: Are included in the rental cost.
The End of stay cleaning is included for you in the rental cost.
Bath & bedroom linen are included in the rental cost.
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.
A damage/security deposit of 150 Euros or £150 is requested and is payable on arrival. This will be refunded to you at the end of your stay less the replacement cost of any breakages or damage.
Change over Day: Normally Saturday in June, July, August and September. It is flexible in other months according to availability.
Mini Breaks and long weekend stays: A mini-break of a minimum of 3 nights is possible out of the main summer season. Please enquire for price and availability. Please enquire for long term bookings.
Pets are not permitted here - sorry.
Smoking is not permitted here - sorry
Conditions
Minimum stay - 3 nights.
Rental rates
Rental prices originally quoted in: British £
Convert to:
Period
From
To
Weekly
Nightly rate
Minimum stay
Weekday
Weekend
Mid Season
16 Oct 09
1 Nov 09
320£320
0-
0-
3 Nights
Low Season
1 Nov 09
1 Jan 10
245£245
0-
0-
3 Nights
Low Season
1 Jan 10
1 Apr 10
269£269
0-
0-
3 Nights
Mid Season
1 Apr 10
1 Jun 10
351£351
0-
0-
3 Nights
High Season
1 Jun 10
1 Jul 10
399£399
0-
0-
1 Week
Peak Season
1 Jul 10
1 Sep 10
448£448
0-
0-
1 Week
High Season
1 Sep 10
1 Oct 10
399£399
0-
0-
1 Week
Mid Season
1 Oct 10
1 Nov 10
351£351
0-
0-
3 Nights
Low Season
1 Nov 10
18 Dec 10
269£269
0-
0-
3 Nights
81
NB: Prices may be subject to change at the advertiser's discretion.
Payment can be accepted by GBP £ cheque, or bank/internet bank transfer. We can also accept credit cards, please enquire. Payment in Euros is also possible, please enquire.
Bookings being taken for 2010!
Guestbook for Gite Charmant
Outstanding property; ideally suited to a couple. Good information about local attractions and so forth. Our host was very helpful and has done a magnificent job on this property. The photos do not do it justice. Happy to recommend it to friends and family. Mr. B. Nottinghamshire, UK. September 2009.
Absolutely fabulous! I thought the house was even better than it looked in the photos. Mrs L.S. West Sussex. AUGUST 2009.
The 'welcome bits' were very welcome - wine, tea etc. House is spacious, clean and beautifully decorated. Living room lovely (TV and English speaking channels - a bonus!) A really enjoyable stay, thanks! Mr & Mrs T, UK, June 2009.
Availability
See below for next 9 months' availability - to see the next 24 months click here
Key:
11
12
Booked
11
12
Available
11
12
Unknown
11
12
Arrival/Departure dates
Send Enquiry
To contact this advertiser please visit: http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/85392
Contact details for the advertiser of home 85392
Name:
Sue Caddick
Company:
Joie de Vivre - le Midi
Tel:
+44 (0)1509 600228
Mobile:
+44 (0)781 4656402
Be aware of time-zones Please mention Holiday Lettings when contacting this advertiser
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