Home description

Chez Magali is a villa situated about 100 yards from the river Aude and ten minutes walk from the little village of Floure, with its quiet streets, its one excellent chateau restaurant and its good Corbieres and Minervois wines. The gite is about eight miles to the east of Carcassonne and two miles from Trebes.

Ryanair fly to Carcassonne airport. The nearest interchange on the autoroute A61 'Des deux mers' is just beyond Trebes. From there it is a fast forty-five minute (or so) drive to the nearest coastal resorts, Gruissan and Narbonne Plage, almost all by autoroute. Local beaches recently received a European award for cleanliness.

Accommodation detail

Chez Magali is approached from the lane which leads down to the river Aude and along the vineyards. Its gate opens on to the private, lockable parking area from which there is a path across the garden and patio to the main porch.

Ground floor

• Enormous living-room with a spacious and very well equipped kitchen with dishwasher, washing-machine, microwave, refrigerator/freezer and four-plate (two red spots) electric cooker with separate grill and oven. The dining table accommodates six people with ease. In the sitting area, there are comfortable settees, a satellite television, telephone, CD/cassette/radio, and plenty of books and cassettes. There is also  a DVD player with 100 films. Windows look to the south over gardens and to the west towards the vineyards. Two of the interior walls are 'pierre apparente' and the beamed ceiling retains its original features.
• WC off the porch.

The porch leads to the patio with its external seating, barbecue and parking area.

First floor

• Double bedroom, overlooking gardens towards Mount Alaric, the most northerly ridge of the Corbieres, has a four-poster bed, shower unit and basin en suite. Telephone.
• Twin bedroom also looking south with the same view.
• Twin bedroom with a balcony with outdoor seating, which looks towards the river. There is ample wardrobe and storage space.
• Bathroom with a basin and bath with hand shower.
• Separate WC.

A travel cot and pushchair are provided and there is a removable barrier across one of the bedroom doors for toddlers' safety if required.

The Mediterranean-style garden consists of plants, bushes and shrubs, and is 'maintenance-free', not grassed. The neighbouring garden is grassed and may also be used. A security light offers safe access at night.

Chez Magali does not have central heating but the electric heaters are more than adequate. The house is all-electric and furnished, equipped and decorated to a very high standard.

All linen is provided, including hand and bath-towels, but you should bring your own towels for use in the garden or on the beach.

About the location

Floure is situated in the Minervois, an area well known for its excellent wine. To the south lie the Corbieres, a scarcely populated range of hills well worthy of exploration. To the north rise the Montagne Noire and the National Park, the last bastion of the Massif Central.

It is possible to take pleasure trips on the Canal du Midi and it is an easy and quick drive to the Mediterranean beaches including Gruissan and Narbonne Plage. Several historic cathedral cities are within easy reach, including Montpellier, Beziers, Castres, Albi, Narbonne, Perpignan, Toulouse and St. Pons de Thomieres. The area between Carcassonne and the Mediterranean is exceptionally sunny and warm.

Carcassonne is the most frequently visited place in France outside Paris. The largest fortified medieval city in Europe, it stands magnificent on its hill 150 metres above the river Aude. Restored in the 19th century, it is a dream of the perfect medieval city with its three kilometres of ramparts, thirty-five defensive towers, its moat, Viscount's castle and basilica. The river Aude rises in the Cerdagne beyond Mont-Louis and flows towards Carcassonne through dramatic gorges either side of Axat and past Ales les Bains and Limoux, home of the famous sparkling Blanquette wine. After Carcassonne, its course turns to the east towards the sea.

The village of Floure offers a magnificent chateau restaurant in beautiful grounds, for that special celebratory meal. Shops, supermarkets, banks, garages, post offices, doctors and many more restaurants are to be found at Trebes, two miles away. The principal theatres, concert halls, museums, art galleries and festivals are located in the 'new town' of Carcassonne and in the Cité.

Places to visit within about 50 miles of Floure

For Carcassonne, Cité and town, and for Toulouse it is worth buying a guide-book locally.

To the north:

• Minerve: Begun in the 10th. century on a Roman site. Spectacular.
• Lastours: castles on one rocky outcrop. A bracing walk.
• Cabrespine: Limousis. Gigantic caves.
• Caunes-Minervois: Fortified village. Abbey & hermitage. 16th.C. houses.
• Montagne Noire: Fine scenery. Picturesque villages. Good walking.
• Castres: Cathedral and Goya museum. Beautiful river frontage.
• Albi: Wonderful red town. Toulouse-Lautrec museum. Brick cathedral masterpiece.
• St. Pons: (N.E.) Centre of the National Park. 12th. century minster.
• Canal du Midi: Pleasant walks along the tow-path or private boat hire.

To the west:

• Montolieu: A village full of book-shops, antique and modern.
• Saissac: Fine hill-side setting. Large feudal fortress.
• Castelnaudary: Lake with pleasure boats. Old mill.
• Mirepoix: Beautiful central square. Good market. Remarkable church.
• Lakes at Ganguise and three to the east of Revel in the Montagne Noire.

To the south:

• Limoux: Interesting and picturesque town. Home of Blanquette wine.
• St. Hilaire: Benedictine abbey. Son et Lumiere in the summer.
• Alet les Bains: Medieval village with old houses, ramparts. Like a film set.
• Chalabre: (W. of Limoux). Medieval village with castle. Montbel lake.
• Esperaza: Dinosaur and hat museums.
• Rennes le Chateau: Mysterious, eerie. Visigoth capital. Odd shops. Views.
• Cathar castles at Lapradelle, Peyrepertuse, Queribus by the D117.
• Gorges on the road to Axat and to the north of St. Paul de Fenouillet
• Corbieres. Wild country to be explored.

To the east:

• Lagrasse in the Corbieres: Beautiful medieval village. Abbey, palace.
• Douzens: Museum of birds, reptiles, insects, shells, butterflies, minerals etc.
• Homps: Lake with walks around its banks.
• Lezignan: Attractive town. Good Wednesday morning market.
• Fontfroide: Medieval monastery. 13th. century cloisters. Rose gardens.
• Narbonne: Astonishing cathedral. Other old buildings. Good shops.
• La Clape: Hill east of Narbonne. Beautiful, easy walks. Chapel on top.
• Gruissan: Old village, castle. Marina. Houses on stilts at Gruissan Plage.
• Sigean: African animal reserve.
• Peyriac de Mer & Bages: Attractive villages by the inland lake.
• Beziers: Cathedral and basilica. Lovely park.
• Pezenas: 'Versailles of Languedoc'. Discreetly fine old buildings.
• Agde & Sete: Interesting old fishing towns. Canals & waterfronts at Sete.

Security at Chez Magali has not been a problem. Nevertheless, extra security is afforded by the fact that within 100 yards of the house our French neighbours (pepinieristes) are very vigilant, and there is another house which we let to visitors. This latter is quite separate from Chez Magali and faces the opposite direction so that your privacy is assured.

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

How to get here

Easy access by autoroute to the exit at Trebes, three miles away.

Ryanair fly from Stansted, East Midland, Dublin, Shannon, Bournemouth, Edinburgh, Cork and Liverpool to Carcassonne airport, about twelve miles away mainly by autoroute.

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

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Facilities

Facility	Details
Type	Country house (Self-catering)
Bedrooms	1 double, 2 twin
Baby cots	1
Bathrooms	2 bathroom(s)
Separate toilets	2
Capacity	6
Living Area	90 m²
Linen	All linen is provided, including hand and bath-towels
Changeover day	Saturday

Facility	Details
Internal facilities	CD player, DVD player, Electric heaters, English satellite TV, Exclusive rental, Fans in rooms, Hairdryer, Hi-fi system, Owner not on site, Radio, Roof Terrace, Telephone, TV
Kitchen facilities	Cooker, Dishwasher, Electric hob, Electric oven, Fridge-Freezer, Ironing facilities, Microwave, Washing machine
Other	When renovated some years ago, the house revealed many original features, its beams and old-fashioned ceiling work, as well as its stone internal walls.  With windows on three sides, the living-room is huge, offering very high standards of furnishing, decor and overall comfort.  The kitchen is exceptionally well equipped and easy to work in.  The double bedroom has a four-poster bed and en suite shower-room.  It looks over towards Mt. Alaric and the Corbieres hills.
External features on site	Barbecue, Garden
Other	There are boat trips available along the Canal Du Midi starting at Trebes , Homps and elsewhere.  There are excellent markets of all kinds in the area.  A quick drive by autoroute takes you to Narbonne Plage and Gruissan with its fishermen's houses on stilts and its marina.  Carcassonne is Europe's largest fortified medieval city and, we're told, the second most frequently visited place in France outside Paris.  A must.  Carcassonne festival is in July, and a local piano festival in August. Bike hire in Trebes 3 miles away.

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Additional price information

There is a £20 surcharge for single-week bookings to cover partially the extra cleaning costs. Each week is charged the rate for the month in which its first Saturday falls. Rates are not 'per person', but rather for the use of the house. Electricity costs are included in the rent during the summer months. At other times, other arrangements may be negotiated which may entail meter-reading etc. We do not require a damage deposit, trusting our visitors to respect the effort which went into making this property so comfortable and welcoming. A provisional booking may be made but it must be confirmed or cancelled within a week of being made. The deposit is payable on confirmation of booking. The balance is payable 6 weeks before your holiday. A sterling or euro cheque is acceptable, payable to Mr. & Mrs. Jay and addressed to 11 Moray Place, Glasgow G41 2BA. Please let us know if you wish to pay by bank transfer. In the event of a cancellation, the deposit will be returned only if the period is re-let, minus any advertising costs incurred. A cancellation after the payment of the balance will incur the loss of the deposit and balance. The telephone accepts calls from anywhere, but outgoing calls are restricted to the local area. We cover telephone costs. Visitors must inform us beforehand if they intend to use the telephone line for internet access, so that we can agree coverage of the dial-up costs. Six (+cot) is the maximum number of people allowed to stay in the house at any one time. Changeovers are normally on Saturdays, but off-season we can be more flexible in this regard. All linen is provided, including hand- and bath-towels, but you should bring your own cot sheets and towels for use on the beach or the terrace. We expect visitors to clean and do washing in the course of their holiday and not leave piles of dirty washing when they leave - the cleaner has enough to do in her six hours. We expect all our visitors to leave the house clean and tidy. Visitors are asked also to let Roger, our handyman, or ourselves know if they find anything broken or not working, so that we can put it right. No smoking is permitted within the house. We do not permit pets into the house. The travel cot is in one of the twin bedrooms. We shall send you two copies of the front-door key before the beginning of your holiday. Please send them back to us in the stamped, addressed envelope on your return. The normal arrangements are that visitors arrive at the house after 4.00 p.m. on their first Saturday and leave before 10.00 a.m. on their final morning.

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