Long term lets (over 1 month) Short-breaks (4 days or fewer)
Changeover day:
Flexible
Access:
Car advised Nearest amenities: 0.2 km
Notes:
No pets allowed Suitable for children No smoking at this property Self-catering
Home description
Nestled at the foot of Mount Canigou, the spa and arboretum village of Vernet-les-Bains is a wonderful base to relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings, or to explore the varied attractions and activities of the Pyrenees Orientales. This lovely villa is peacefully situated at the end of a lane, only two minutes walk from the local swimming pool complex, tennis courts and playground, and a ten minute stroll from the charming village of Vernet, with its colourful market three times weekly, shops, restaurants, thermal spa and parks. The spacious villa has a comfortable living/dining area with a woodburning stove in the fireplace. French windows lead onto the south-facing front terrace, pleasantly shaded by mature trees, and also into the back garden where the pool is situated. The kitchen also has doors to the terrace, perfect for relaxed outdoor dining, while looking at the views of Vernet and Mount Canigou. The villa is well supplied with satellite T.V. , Broadband Internet and laptop, books, games, and DVDs , as well as table tennis, volleyball, badminton, boules, and children’s swings. There is a 10m x 5m private heated swimming pool in the rear garden, with views across the valley. It is fitted with a domed pool cover, which can be fully or partially retracted, kept in place for swimming under on cooler days, or closed for security.when unattended. There is a host of activities in the local area to suit all ages and tastes. Within a 10 minute drive you will find the Romanesque Fort Liberia, the abbey of St. Martin du Canigou, the fortified village of Villefranche, limestone caves, thermal spas, an animal park, and the Little Yellow Train. Climb Mount Canigou (or take a 4x4 jeep to nearer the summit!), or enjoy gentler walks in the area. There are opportunities for canyoning, white-water rafting, and climbing, as well as horse-riding, mountain-biking, and water-sports on the nearby lake. The area is ideal for bird-watching, painting, photography and fishing. There are also several local markets, a variety of restaurants, a host of festivals and summer entertainments in the village square. With less than an hour’s drive to the ski slopes around Font Romeu, or towards the beaches, water-parks and golf-courses around Perpignan, you will be spoilt for choice.
4 bedroom villa with terrace and shady private garden
views of Vernet-les-Bains at foot of Mt. Canigou
private heated 10x5m pool in back garden
front garden with mature trees, swings and table tennis
To see more photos please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/46690
The Languedoc-Roussillon / Pyrenees-Orientales region
This area of France is famous for its average of 300 days of sunshine a year, an ideal climate for exploring the surrounding villages, valleys and mountains, or taking part in some of the many activities on offer. 5 minutes drive from Vernet-les-Bains is the fortified village of Villefranche de Conflent, with many restaurants serving traditional Catalan cuisine and a variety of craft and gift shops in its narrow streets. Above the town is Fort Liberia, which can be reached by a long, underground staircase going up inside the hill. There are also the limestone caves of Les Grottes de Canalettes, with sound and light shows in the summer months. Villefranche is the starting point for the Little Yellow Train, which takes you on a spectacular journey up the Tet valley to the mountains and ski resorts near the Spanish border.
For art and music lovers, the Pyrenees Orientales has much to offer. Picasso, Dali, Matisse and Chagal all spent time here, and there are modern art museums in Céret, Collioure and Perpignan which have exhibitions throughout the year. The Pablo Casals music festival is held in and around Prades during the summer, which attracts top-class international musicians, and a jazz festival in Perpignan, as well as many smaller music and dance events in local villages.
You can visit the Romanesque abbeys of St. Martin du Canigou and St. Michel de Cuxa, the Perfume Tower in Mosset, or travel a little further to see the Cathar castles of Perypeteuse, Queribus and Carcassonne. Around an hour's drive away are the wide sandy beaches of St-Cyprien, Argeles, and Canet, where you can swim, wind-surf and scuba-dive, or enjoy water-parks, golf, go-carting and other attractions. If you wish to avoid the hustle and bustle of the coast , bathing may be enjoyed at the lake in Vinca, local natural rock pools or the thermal spas of St. Thomas-les-Bains. The area has many nature reserves for bird-watching, painting, photography and hiking.
For the more energetic, there is an adventure park 15 minutes drive away in Marquixanes, which has forest aerial rope courses to suit all ages, and which organises canyoning,canoeing and white-water rafting. There are also opportunities for para-gliding, mountain-biking and climbing.
Vernet les Bains area
Vernet-les-Bains is an ideal centre for holiday-makers as it has so much to offer that you may not feel the need to leave the local area at all! The village enjoys a wonderful climate, as it is set in a sheltered valley, surrounded by mountains which trap warmer air, yet not over-shadowed by them so it is in the sun all day. Its altitude of 650m means the air stays a pleasant temperature, without the high heat and humidity that may be experienced in the coastal regions.
Vernet has its own thermal spa and fitness centre, offering aquagym, jacuzzis, sauna, steam room, massage and fitness room. Next door there is an imposing casino and its tranquil park. Vernet is also a Village-Arboretum, with over 1,500 trees in the village, of which some 200 species have been identified and listed. There is also a geological museum, with a fine collection of over 10,000 specimens, including crystals and fossils The village is dominated by the restored castle and the church of St. Saturnin, reached through the winding streets of the old village. Guided visits are available in the summer months.
Not only are there boulangeries for your morning croissants, but a wide range of shops and amenities to be found around the squares or tucked away in the narrow, climbing streets of the old village. These include 12 restaurants, 3 cafe-bars, a news-agent, butchers, grocers, delicatessen, chemists, Post Office, gift shops, 2 banks with ATM and a hairdressers. Markets are held three times a week, selling local cheeses, wine, olives, sausages, as well as fruit and vegetables, fish and seafood, clothes and jewellery. Anything else may be bought from the supermarket on the edge of the village. In addition, Prades is a 10 minute drive away with 2 further supermarkets and a popular Tuesday market.
Activities in Vernet include the large swimming pool complex with one indoor pool (open in the winter) and three outdoor pools (paddling, children's pool and deep pool with diving board), three tennis courts, boulodrome and children's playground- which are all within a 2 minute walk of the villa. There are horse-riding stables at the bottom of the road, a small football stadium and a discotheque. There is also a mountain zoo 5km up the valley in Casteil , and the popular river pools in the Rotja river near Sahorre. You can walk from the villa to scenic spots such as the waterfalls of the Cascades des Anglais, or the viewpoint at the Tower of Goa, or climb Mount Canigou (4x4 trips can be arranged in the village).
The tourist information office in the village square can provide details of local walks and the busy programme of entertainments in the summer months, including free tuition of the traditional Catalan dance "le Sardane". Local festivals include the "Belle Epoque" festival in May, which recreates the period in the 1840's when Rudyard Kipling and the cream of English society flocked to the spa, casino and hotels of the village, the Festival of the Fires of the Night of St.John (June 23rd), the Canigou mountain race (August 5th), the Festival of Trees (October), and the Festival of St. Saturnin (November).
How to get there
-Fly to Perpignan, Beziers, Girona (Spain), Carcassonne, Montpellier, Toulouse or Barcelona (in order of closeness) via the low-cost airlines - Ryanair, Easyjet, Flybe or with British Airways or Air France. Vernet-les-Bains is about 45 minutes from Perpignan and 2 hours from Girona airport. All major car rental agencies have a desk at all the airports.
-By train- TGV ( 8 1/2 hours) London to Perpignan, then local train to Villefranche de Conflent (5 minutes taxi ride to Vernet-les-Bains). It is even possible to put your car on the train as far as Narbonne, then drive from there.
-By car- approximately 12 hours from Calais by autoroute.
Please ask for advice if needed.
Nearest Travel Links
Airport:
Perpignan: 40 km
Railway:
Villefranche de Conflent: 5 km
Ferry:
Santander: 785 km
Activities near Vernet les Bains
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
Facilities
Luxuries:
Log fire, Internet access, DVD player, Private outdoor pool (heated)
General:
Central heating, TV, Video player, CD player, Table tennis, Satellite TV, Wi-fi available
Bedrooms (4), Bathrooms (1), En suite (1), WCs (2)
Furniture:
Sofabeds (1), Single beds (8), Cots (1), Dining seating for 10, Lounge seating for 10, Sleeps maximum of 10
Other:
Linen and towels provided. Highchair available.
Outdoors:
Balcony / Terrace, Private garden, BBQ, Swing set
Access:
Secure parking
Further details indoors: A high chair, cot and a children's table and chairs are available for use if required. Two of the single beds are daybeds with low rails on three sides, which may be turned around to provide additional safety for younger children. There are 3 double bedrooms on the ground floor and a fourth double bedroom upstairs, all newly furnished. Most of the beds are single English size 2m beds without foot-ends, ideal for taller adults, which can be made up as doubles if required. There is a bathroom downstairs with a separate toilet, and an en suite bathroom with the upstairs bedroom. A wide range of family DVDs and videos for young children is provided. A variety of store cupboard essentials e.g. salt, pepper, sugar are kept in stock. A computer is provided (for Internet access only). Weighing scales are provided to help with packing cases prior to departure!
Further details outdoors: There is a private and mature garden of over 1/2 an acre with a variety of trees, shrubs and roses. Patio furniture for ten people, and sun loungers are provided. The swing set includes a single swing, a 2 person swing-boat and a trapeze/ring set. A double garage is available for use on request. 10m x 5m HEATED PRIVATE SWIMMING POOL IN REAR GARDEN
Further details
Welcome pack provided upon arrival. Linen and bath towels are provided, but please bring extra towels for swimming. Rental rates ALL INCLUSIVE of bed linen, towels, end of stay cleaning, pool heating and central heating (in cooler months). Reduced rates may be available for smaller groups out of peak season. Check with owner. Refundable £200 breakage deposit required with final balance payment. Mid-stay cleaning service E30-50, linen change E30-50. We can accept payments by cheque or bank transfer in GBP or Euros.
Conditions
Deposit of 20% required to secure booking Balance and a refundable breakages deposit of £200 due 8 weeks before holiday starts. Breakages deposit to be refunded within two weeks of your departure (subject to satisfactory property inspection). Strictly no smoking. No pets, sorry.
Rental rates
Rental prices originally quoted in: British £
Convert to:
Period
From
To
Weekly
Nightly rate
Minimum stay
Weekday
Weekend
1 Nov 09
19 Dec 09
450£450
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0-
Flexible
19 Dec 09
9 Jan 10
550£550
0-
0-
Flexible
9 Jan 10
4 Apr 10
500£500
0-
0-
Flexible
4 Apr 10
23 May 10
700£700
0-
0-
Flexible
23 May 10
3 Jul 10
950£950
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0-
Flexible
3 Jul 10
28 Aug 10
1200£1,200
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1 Week
28 Aug 10
26 Sep 10
750£750
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0-
Flexible
26 Sep 10
31 Oct 10
650£650
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Flexible
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NB: Prices may be subject to change at the advertiser's discretion.
Rental rates ALL INCLUSIVE of bed linen, towels, end of stay cleaning, pool heating and central heating (in cooler months).
Reduced rates may be available for smaller groups out of peak season. Check with owner.
Refundable £200 breakage deposit required with final balance payment.
Mid-stay cleaning service E30-50, linen change E30-50.
We can accept payments by cheque or bank transfer in GBP or Euros.
Guestbook for Villa Amelie
The area has everything you need for a fantastic family holiday. The villa was lovely and had wonderful views to Mount Canigou. Thank you and we will certainly be back.- The Lewis family (August 07)
We loved the villa, which easily accommodated our two families, and there was so much to do in the area. Villefranche and Fort Liberia were fascinating, and the whitewater rafting was very exciting!- The Rigbys (May 08)
We had 9 of us staying very comfortably for 2 weeks. Loved our times sitting on the terrace and relaxing in the garden. The pool will be a good addition although we enjoyed the local pool very much too. The kitchen was very well furnished, your game cupboard and videos were exceptional, and overall it was just what we wanted. We felt very at home here. We had a great time exploring the villages, the mountains and the beaches It was great. Vernet was a lovely base & the market a real pleasure. -the Adlam-Hill family (July 08)
Thank you so much for a wonderfully relaxing stay in your very comfortable and well equipped home in Vernet! We had a fantastic week's skiing in Les Angles - the children at ski school morning and afternoon, and us trying out raquettes and enjoying the free time! -the Boultons (December 08)
We had a wonderful holiday. The weather was dry and sunny and hot during the day, and only rained on our last night.We really appreciated the pool and made good use of it - our 2 year old grandson went swimming for the first time! The house and situation was stunning and facilities excellent. - The Doakes (September 09)
Availability
See below for next 9 months' availability - to see the next 24 months click here
Key:
11
12
Booked
11
12
Available
11
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Unknown
11
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Arrival/Departure dates
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To contact this advertiser please visit: http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/46690
Contact details for the advertiser of home 46690
Name:
Heather Hutber
Tel:
+44 (0)1684 569146
Be aware of time-zones Please mention Holiday Lettings when contacting this advertiser
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