Home description

The house is in the Pyrénées Orientales part of Languedoc, France's most southerly region and gateway to Catalan Spain. Barcelona itself is little more than an hour from Perpignan, the Department capital, via the very fast autoroutes.

Perpignan is France's sunniest city enjoying an average of 300 sunny days annually, and has a vibrant culture with a heavy Catalan influence. The house is about a 15 minute drive west of Perpignan in a bustling market town, Ille-sur-Tet, or Ille to its 5,000 locals.

 

Accommodation detail

The modern house is furnished as a holiday home for its British owners to a good standard. It can comfortably accommodate up to 8 adults plus one baby. There are four double rooms, two with 5 feet double beds, and two with UK sized twin singles each with ample hanging and drawer space. There is a family bathroom, shower room and two separate toilets with hand basins.

Ground Floor

Porch leading to front door. Leads into hallway (12' x 9') with electric heater. Stairs to upper floor have closed tread with banisters. Stairs down to cellar (door to cellar with high lock to prevent child access if desired).

• Kitchen (10' x 9' plus 5' x 5') - Fridge/freezer, electric cooker with hood, double sink unit, dishwasher, microwave, toaster and kettle.
• Utility room (7' x 5') - Washing machine and tumble drier. Door to outside and through to garage – room for one car. Further room for one car inside perimeter gates, and one on drive outside the gates.
• Sitting / dining room (31' x 13') - Patio doors with shutters on three sides. Hatchway through to kitchen. Three piece suite, coffee table, integrated TV/video (UK videos), log burner, two electric heaters, dining table to seat 8, portable CD/tape/radio, toy box.
• Separate Toilet - with washbasin
• Cellar - is usable with decent head clearance and electric light but is otherwise not converted into a room. Good for wine (or children) storage!

First Floor

Central landing with doors to all rooms off. Portable stairgate available for child safety.

• Bedroom 1 (12' x 11') - 5' bed, bedside cabinets, chest of drawers. Shuttered window to front. Electric heater. En-suite shower room with hand basin.
• Bedroom 2 (12' x 12') - Two single beds – bedside cabinets, chest of drawers and built-in wardrobe. Shuttered window to side. Electric heater.
• Bedroom 3 (12' x 9') - Two single beds – bedside cabinets, chest of drawers and built-in wardrobe. Shuttered window to rear. Electric heater.
• Bedroom 4 (10' x 12') - 5' bed, bedside cabinet, chest of drawers and free-standing wardrobe. Shuttered window to front. Electric heater.
• Bathroom (13' x 7') - Double basins, bidet, bath with shower over. Window to rear. Electric heater.
• Separate Toilet - and basin

Outside

Fully enclosed garden on three sides and on one level with front gate to driveway.

The side and front is mainly grass and partially patio. There are two palm trees in front garden. The side and front gardens are bordered by mature laurels for privacy.

The pool is to the rear of the house- 16' x 10'. Depth 3' down to 5' with Roman Steps for access. It is surrounded on two sides by patio and two sides by hardwood decking.

There is a pool room which houses the pool equipment. Semi-open "summer cuisine" area. 2 tables (can be put together) and eight chairs. 4 sun loungers and 2 captain's chairs. Rear access gate (lockable).

Child Friendly Facilities

As the owners have two small children, there are a number of child-friendly features included:

UK standard travel cot (with bedding), high chair, booster seat, baby listener, vaporiser, toys and videos, portable stairgate, bed guard, potties, child toilet seats and child stands (for reaching hand basins etc).

There are no additional safety features related to the pool or surrounding area. Children must be supervised at all times.

About the location

Ille is a bustling town. The house is literally two minutes walk from the boulangerie and medium-sized supermarket. It is a ten-minute stroll from a busy Town Square and quaint Market Square with the obligatory roadside cafes. There is a hypermarket at the other side of town, about 2 km by car. For those who want to explore by train, the main Perpignan-Andorra line runs through the town and can connect you to the famous Train Jaune (Yellow Train) for a spectacular trip into the mountains, year round.

Ille has a rich history, so explore the backstreets on foot or take a walk out to the Orgues, a stunning rock formation. The opportunities for touring the Pyrenees are endless.

BUT DON'T TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT...

Fiona Beazley is an independent property consultant with Canigou Country (www.canigoucountry.com). She covers the Pyrénées-Orientales within Languedoc-Roussillon.

"Another Sunday looms large in medieval Ille-sur-Têt, one of the best-kept secrets of the Pyrénées-Orientales. This town was once a place of rest for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostella, as the Centre D'Art Sacré still bears witness today. Apart from the rather jolly Fire Engine Museum, Ille is also known for its impressive geological rock formations that are not to be missed.

"A short walk brings me to the boulangerie for that must-have éclair au café and a browse round the tiny Sunday morning marché. A local ends up going away with two capons, each stuffed under an arm like a sack of potatoes - I smile - I could only be in France. I check the LCD board (a feature found in most French towns): it's Sunday 26 January 2003, 11:00 hours, the ambient temperature is an amazing 15 degrees with a blue sky, warm sun and gentle breeze.

"I consider my options: perhaps a short drive to the coast (the road network is superb in this area) to see the rolling surf of the inviting Mediterranean and the strange straw fishermen's cottages dotted along the sand dunes of the Côte Radieuse. Then again, I could head down to the wide promenades of Argeles-sur-Mer or the ancient ramparts of Collioure and discover the dramatic coastline that makes up the Côte Vermeille. At which point, if I wished, I could easily slip into Spain for some tapas. Otherwise, I might simply go west and come face to face with the rugged Pyrenean mountains that dominate département 66 - the southernmost in the whole of France. If I were to head further, I could be skiing in just over an hour, or bargain hunting in Andorra. Whatever I choose, the famous Mont Canigou, elegant and currently snow-capped, stands out like a beacon, presiding over this land known as French Catalonia - the land of plenty."

See Local guide and map for information on nearby towns and facilities.

How to get here

Please contact the owner for full directions.

See Local guide and map for information on nearby towns and airports.

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Facilities

Facility	Details
Type	Town house (Self-catering)
Bedrooms	2 double, 2 twin
Bathrooms	2 bathroom(s)
Separate toilets	2
Capacity	8
Suitability	Suitable for children
Linen	Linen included, but not beach towels.
Changeover day	Sunday

Facility	Details
Internal facilities	CD player, Electric heaters, Fans in rooms, Hairdryer, Hi-fi system, Owner not on site, TV, VCR, Wood burning fire or stove
Kitchen facilities	Cooker, Dishwasher, Freezer, Fridge, Ironing facilities, Microwave, Tumble dryer, Washing machine
External features on site	Garden, Scenic views, Swimming pool (exclusive use)

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Additional price information

• Prices Per Week. All bookings start and end on a Saturday.
• Prices include bed linen, water, electricity (May to September), visitor taxes and between booking cleaning. Towels can be booked by pre-arrangement at £10 per set (bath and hand).
• Changes in bookings: Any changes in bookings after confirmation may be subject to an administrative charge.
• Different start end days: Bookings commence and end on a Saturday. However, we may be able to accommodate an alternative day in low season if bookings permit.
• Adding extra days: Subject to available bookings, it is possible to add extra days. These are charged at the equivalent daily rate for the dates requested.
• Booking Deposit: 30% of the total accommodation cost, payable at booking.
• Balance Due: 8 weeks prior to departure.
• Payment Method: Personal cheque or bank transfer only.

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