Long term lets (over 1 month) Short-breaks (4 days or less)
Changeover day:
Flexible
Access:
Car advised Wheelchair access Nearest amenities: 0.25 km
Notes:
Sorry - no pets allowed Suitable for children No smoking at this property Self-catering
Home description
Vernet Les Bains nestles at the foot of Mount Canigou. This spa and arboretum village is the most perfect place 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, only five minutes walk from either the centre of Vernet or the local swimming pool complex, tennis courts and children's play area. The charming village of Vernet has a colourful market three times weekly, shops, restaurants, thermal spa and parks.
The ski resorts of Font Romeu and Les Angles are less than an hours drive away as are Mediterranean beaches, water-parks and golf-courses.
View from our garden
Front Door view
Our terrace
Vernet Les Bains
To see more photos please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/71097
The Languedoc-Roussillon / Pyrenees-Orientales region
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.
Languedoc is also famous for its Cathar castles which can be found nearby, as is the famous Cite of Carcassone. The beautiful Canal Du Midi bisects this area.
For those with a taste for wine, this region provides some of the best in France, the Medoc being a particular favourite. The ski resorts of Font Romeu and Les Angles are also close by, these have famously been used as training camps for Olympic athletes. Further afield are the coastal resorts of the Cote Vermeille and the Costa Brava, with Barcelona within striking distance by car or train.
Vernet les Bains area
Located on the slopes of Mt Canigou, there is a range of activities which will suit all tastes. Exploring Romanesque abbeys, Cathar castles and limestone caves, enjoying thermal spas, or sightseeing on the Little Yellow Train. The area is rich in mountains and gorges, you can climb Mount Canigou (or take a 4x4 jeep to nearer the summit!), or enjoy gentler walks in the area. On the river you can canoe or go white water rafting. Adventure parks can be found locally, as well as horse-riding, mountain-biking, and water-sports on the nearby lake. The area is also ideal for bird-watching, painting, photography and fishi
Vernet is famous as a spa town, with its own thermal spa and fitness centre, offering aquagym, jacuzzis, sauna, steam room, massage and fitness room.
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.
As a contrast, Vernet also its own Casino, set in delightful parkland.
There are a wide range of shops and amenities to be found around the village square. These include restaurants, cafe-bars, a news-agent, butchers, bakers, chemists, Post Office, gift shops, 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 large hypermarkets 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 bungalow. There are also horse-riding stables at the end of our street. 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 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. 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
You can 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 40 minutes from Perpignan and 1 hours 30 mins 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 or 15 minute bus 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
Activities near Vernet les Bains
Sports: Tennis in town Watersports Waterpark 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
Further details indoors: The double bed is king sized. One of the single beds is a camping (folding) bed suitable for a child.
There is a wide range of kitchen essentials available i.e salt, pepper, tea, coffee etc.
The spacious villa has a comfortable living/dining area. French windows lead onto the south-facing terrace and private gardens, pleasantly shaded by mature trees. It is perfect for relaxed outdoor dining, while looking at the views of Mount Canigou. The villa is superbly furnished and is supplied with games, CD’s and DVDs. TV is also available.
A travel cot can be arranged for those with young children. There will be an additional charge, please enquire.
Further details outdoors: There is a private, mature garden to enjoy with patio furniture including sun loungers.
A barbecue is also supplied for al fresco dining.
The property has its own garage for secure parking. For further security, the property can only be accessed through a private electronic gate.
Further details
Central heating is available at a small extra cost if required in cooler months. Other utilities costs are included in the rental price. Linen and bath towels are provided, but please bring your own towels for swimming.
Conditions
Deposit of 20% required to secure booking Balance and a refundable breakages deposit of £100 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
27 Sep 08
1 Nov 08
350£350
0-
0-
Flexible
1 Nov 08
20 Dec 08
250£250
0-
0-
Flexible
20 Dec 08
10 Jan 09
350£350
0-
0-
Flexible
10 Jan 09
4 Apr 09
250£250
0-
0-
Flexible
4 Apr 09
4 Jul 09
350£350
0-
0-
Flexible
4 Jul 09
29 Aug 09
500£500
0-
0-
Flexible
29 Aug 09
31 Oct 09
350£350
0-
0-
Flexible
31 Oct 09
19 Dec 09
250£250
0-
0-
Flexible
19 Dec 09
9 Jan 10
350£350
0-
0-
Flexible
81
NB: Prices may be subject to change at the owner's discretion.
Refundable £100 breakage deposit required with final balance payment
We can accept payments by cheque or bank transfer in GBP or Euros
Guestbook
"We enjoyed a glorious honeymoon in your holiday home" - Martin - Newcastle.
"Loved the breathtaking scenery" - Mrs P - Hexham
Availability
See below for next 6 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
Contact owner
To contact this owner please visit: http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/71097
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