This pretty, one bedroom character mediaeval house, lies in the back streets of the historic Mediaeval village of Quarante. Having recently been refurbished, the house offers very comfortable accommodation for two but can accommodate up to four using the sofa bed within the living room at second floor level. Rue de la Savonnerie sits adjacent to the village square and Mairie (town hall). Whilst Rue de Savonnerie is not accessible by car (making it a peaceful and quiet street), parking adjacent the Mairie is available, with the house being a 30 second walk away. 

ACCOMMODATION

You enter through the original medieval arched doorway into the kitchen and dining area, which has a fully tiled floor.  There is a four place dining table, a gas cooker, fridge/freezer and a microwave.  The kitchen is also fully equipped with all the necessary cooking utensils, cutlery, glassware and crockery. The kitchen additionally features a CD / MP3 player with I pod docking.From the kitchen, stairs lead to the spacious 1st floor bedroom, with a double bed, chest of drawers and large full length window / Juliet balcony overlooking the street.  Bed linen and duvets are provided. The en-suite shower-room features a wash hand basin, w.c. and shower. There is also a cupboard off the bathroom housing a washing machine, vacuum cleaner, ironing board and clothes airer. A further flight of stairs leads to the second floor sitting room which features a sloping beamed ceiling. The living room contains a sofa bed, occasional chair, bean bag and feature downlighting. A modern digital widescreen television is also provided which is configured to provide all UK terrestrial and “Freesat” Channels.  A large sliding patio door leads out to a cosy secluded terrace at the rear of the house which is not overlooked.  The terrace has a table and chairs, external power and lighting. The house is provided with electric panel heating to all rooms, with the cooker being supplied by bottled gas. 

ACCESS

By Air - Nearest Airports
•             Beziers, France (37.3km) - Vias(BZR)
•             Carcassonne, France (65.6km) - Salvaza(CCF)
•             Castres, France (70km) - Mazamet(DCM)
•             Perpignan, France (80.5km) - Rivesaltes(PGF)
•             Montpellier, France (99.4km) - Mediterranee(MPL) 

By Rail - Nearest Train Stations
•             Beziers Train Station approx distance : 25 Km
•             Narbonne Train Station approx distance : 25 Km
•             Port la Nouvelle Train Station approx distance : 55 Km
•             Carcassonne Train Station approx distance : 65 Km 

By Road – Nearest Motorways
•             Quarante is approximately 20 minutes drive from the nearby A9 / A61 Motorways 

Car Hire
•             Beziers Train Station - approx distance: 25 km
•             Beziers Airport - approx distance: 58 km
•             Cap D'agde Agip Station - approx distance: 58 km
•             Carcassonne - approx distance: 68 km
•             Carcassonne airport - approx distance: 68 km
•             Castres - approx distance: 85 km
•             Lezignan Corbieres - approx distance: 28 km
•             Narbonne - approx distance: 18 km
•             Perpignan - approx distance: 72 km
•             Perpignan - Train Station - approx distance: 72 km
•             Perpignan airport - approx distance: 72 km  
•             Prades - approx distance: 99 km
•             Serignan (Tressol Location) - approx distance: 36 km
•             Sete - approx distance: 81 km  

QUARANTE

The house is situated in the old part of the village, and retains a sense of antiquity with its narrow streets and arched doorways. The church dates back to the 10th century, but there are remnants of a Roman settlement scattered around the square. Quarante boasts two bars (one having a restaurant), a bread shop, an exceptional butcher, a small supermarket, Tabac, pizzeria, chemist and a hairdresser. Additionally there is market on Fridays. Who could ask for more?! 

SURROUNDING AREA

You can enjoy ‘wine walks’ through the garrigue (Saint-Chinian, Faugères, Coteaux du Languedoc, Minervois etc.) also fantastic meals at the excellent restaurants on the Canal du Midi. With over 300 days of sunshine a year, this is the place to be outdoors, the area really lends itself to walking and cycling or horse riding at Creissan. Although the nearest beach is about 30 minutes drive away, there are a few local rivers that offer wonderful freshwater for swimming. You can swim on sandy beaches near Narbonne, at the ‘river beach’ in Bize-Minervois, or at the pool-side restaurant in Argeliers. It is also possible to go canoeing at Cessenon-sur-Orb or you can take a boat trip by the Canal Du Midi. The region has a wealth of Roman remains, abbeys and medieval villages. If you want to visit a city, Narbonne and Beziers are only 20 minutes drive away, The amazing walled city of Carcassonne is an hour’s drive away. Perpignan, Montpellier, Nîmes, the Pyrennes and Northern Spain are all within easy reach using the excellent local and national motorway system. Alternatively, just stay close to home and chill out! With about 300 sunny days a year, this region is one of the mildest climates in southern France 

NEAREST BAR / PUB

At the village.

NEAREST RESTAURANT

‘Bar 40’ in the village or 'Le Terminus' at 1.5 Kilometres (easily walkable).

NEAREST BEACHES

Saint Pierre la Mer Beach at 28 Kilometres is one of the largest and most beautiful beaches in the Languedoc. More than 5 km of fine sand are available. There are numerous activities such as sailing, surfing, horse riding and cycling.  

Valras Plage 4 km long, This beach is a destination that is great for kids and has all the modern amenities, especially security. This beach offers a multitude of activities for children including numerous beach sports in the summer season. Ask for the detailed program of sports activities at the tourist office. There are also numerous shops and restaurants along the street which fronts the beach. There is also a local marina to walk around. 

Gruissan Plage is a marvelous wide open stretch of flat sand that guarantees you and your family plenty of space, even in the height of summer. Gruissan town just behind the beach is a pleasant place to walk around when you're looking for a break from the sun. All the beaches around this area of the coast are characterized by open, flat expanses of golden sand. 

VILLAGES AND TOWNS TO VISIT

Capestang at 5 minutes drive from Quarante is Capestang, a larger town offering more amenities, including supermarkets and a great Sunday street market. The surrounding countryside is beautiful, and there are many walks and trails that take you through the vineyards and up in to the hills.  

Cruzy 2 Km from Quarante, Cruzy is a historic, living, wine-producing village in the heart of the Languedoc, where the coastal plain meets vineyards and green hills. Walk, cycle or take a boat up the Canal du Midi to the famous 'seven locks' at Beziers, or to Sallèles d'Aude with its antiques, bookshop, restaurants and Roman pottery museum.  

Minerve only at 20 minutes drive from Quarante, Minerve is a stunning, fortified medieval village with many of the fortifications still in place, Minerve rests high above a canyon in the barren Languedoc landscape. The village sits on top of the gorge carved by the River Cesse before it disappears underground in a natural tunnel. Perched like a survivor, Minerve marks the massacre inflicted by Simon de Montfort during the crusades against the Cathars in France in 1210. Things are slightly more tranquil nowadays. Minerve is an attractive town to visit with warm atmosphere and you can enjoy a great pizza, salad, wine, beer, or coffee here, the village also boasts a fine bookstore where you can buy coffee and visit the art gallery upstairs. While here, try and find time for a walk or two in the surrounding region, the paths and tracks around the nearby cliffs are a great introduction to the countryside of the area which offers great views.  

Carcassonne is a world renowned UNESCO World Heritage site and is one of France's top tourist attractions, and is only around 1 hour from Quarante by car. Visiting the medieval fortified town of Carcassonne - the Cité - is like stepping back in time. Built on an outcrop of rock on the east bank of the Aude, the Cité sits in splendour overlooking the modern part of Carcassonne, completely restored in the 19th century to its former glory as the once impregnable stronghold of the Middle Ages. The careful and meticulous restoration has lead to the Cité becoming the jewel in the Audois crown, serving the dual function of preserving and educating us about the rich history of the department. The Cité is now a very popular tourist attraction. Within the ramparts, the Cité still houses a resident population of about 120 people, and alongside the many cafes and gift shops, there are also all the usual facilities that you would expect for a small hamlet - a post office, a school, a hotel, etc. Besides these residential and commercial buildings, the Cité contains the Basilique Saint-Nazaire, an open air theatre and the fortified Chateau Comtal at its centre, all of which is then protected by the double ramparts. The outer ramparts connect 14 towers and are separated by the outer bailey or lists (lices) from the inner ramparts, which have 24 towers. 

Agde is a lively town on the Herault river, a few kilometres inland from the Mediterranean, not overly given over to tourism, it is a bustling place in a pretty location on the banks of the river, where tourism, although important, plays an incidental rather than a over-dominating role. Agde has a history dating back at least to Greek times, although the main feature of historical interest that you will see in the town now is the fortified cathedral. Apart from the cathedral the town has little in the way of major sights. You can wander along the riverside which is very attractive and there is a marked 'tourist route' which meanders through the backstreets of the town centre. The nearby Cap d'Agde is a very popular seaside resort, in part known for its extensive naturist beaches. 

Montpellier which is just over an hour’s drive to the North East has everything it takes to please. A lively and surprising city in the heart of the Languedoc-Roussillon region, Montpellier is vibrant, elegant and artistic. People are drawn here by the city's rich past, former and contemporary glory, intense cultural life and youthful feel, the city is also known internationally for its world-class medical schools. In Montpellier you will find interesting architecture from all periods of France's history. The old city is lovely, bursting with history from Roman times on up, and where the action is: for shopping, pubs and people watching. Plus it's largely a pedestrian zone. There's a market every morning on the Place de la Comédie. To the south, there are the beaches of the Mediterranean. In the summer, there are boating jousts in Palavas - an event that dates back to Medieval times, fun but it can feel very crowded. Those who'd rather escape the throngs can make their way along the coast road and find more isolated beaches 

Port-la-Nouvelle is a popular coastal town and resort. Perhaps it is rather over-developed in parts, both industrially and residentially, but this does not detract from the town’s best feature that has successfully attracted visitors for over 100 years: a fifteen kilometre beach facing on to the Mediterranean. The beach is sandy, supervised and is backed by numerous cafes, hotels and restaurants, and has lots of activities to amuse the family. There are also three port areas: the first is one of the largest industrial ports in France, the second is the bustling fishing port, and the third is dedicated to pleasure boats. Away from the beach there are marked trails for a chance to appreciate the natural environment around Port-la-Nouvelle, this region is an extensive area of waterways, woods and a lovely place to relax and enjoy the countryside. 

Gruissan is a popular windsurfing destination. Gruissan also has a pretty old core to the village, a ruined castle on a hill and a campsite right on the sea front which makes up for it with its marina and night life. Windsurfing here requires squeezing between two posts and driving on to the beach itself. You must then pretend you are a 4x4 and drive along a track around a lagoon before reaching the sea. This is a great place to windsurf if you enjoy a prevailing off shore wind, it’s the place to bomb it up and down on flat water and try freestyle, whilst enjoying beautiful wild surroundings. There are also kite schools in the area. The beauty of this coastline lies in the fact that few people have cashed in on it.  It couldn’t be further from the whirlwind of bars, clubs and restaurants of the Cote d’Azur. So, if you want some chill out beach time, with a mix of water sports and culture - here’s your spot! 

Sigean Nature Reserve it spread over a vast terrain of 300 hectares there are literally thousands of wild animals living here on the African Nature Reserve, from flamingo to zebras, from lions to rhinoceros. It is also an important location for research into the lives and habitats of the animals that are held here, and the conservation of these magnificent creatures. There is a section of the park where you can get out of the car and be able to explore and come into contact with the less dangerous animals. 

Leucate it is one of the places to windsurf in France. Think of it as a whole area which includes: The urbanized Port Leucate with its fancy marinas. The Leucate village is a typical historic French town, with outdoor cafes, a ruined castle on a hill, and a micro-climate in which the sun always seems to shine. La Franqui and Leucate-Plage, both are long stretches of sandy beach, popular with windsurfers and kite surfers, but also popular with those looking for a more tranquil spot. Both the pretty fishing villages are bordered by inland lagoons, which give the area a lovely secluded atmosphere. From phare du cap Leucate, on a clear day, you have a view over the mediterranean sea up to the spanish border, and a panoramic view of the snow capped pyrenees during winter.  There are some lovely coastal walks to be had around here.  

Béziers is known for two things in particular: wine and bullfighting. Undoubtedly the best time to visit this town, which sits atop a rocky spur overlooking the great plain of the Hérault département, is during the four-day long feria when you can combine both! Béziers is also perfectly situated for excursions into the Haut Languedoc, a rugged and untamed mountainous region of picturesque stone villages and cascading mountain streams. Although this is one of the smaller and poorer towns of the region, time here is rarely wasted and an amble through the old town, bordered on three sides by the Orb river and a canal, is extremely agreeable. It’s also worth noting that Béziers is off most tourist agendas, so if you’re looking for a taste of the real Languedoc, you could do worse than spend a night or two here. 

Saint Chinian is a bustling village dating back to 825, situated at the foothills of the Cevennes. The tranquil atmosphere will calm and relax you. If you are interested in nature and walking you will find endless possibilities in the immediate surroundings. Close by is the Romanesque Abbey of Fontcaude, and dolmens and statue menhirs, relics of the megalithic era. On a clear sunny market day (on thursday and sunday mornings), the village comes alive. There are several cafés to choose from. Saint-Chinian has given its name to Saint-Chinian wine, which is classified as AOC. Don’t miss to taste this wine in its home town. 

Lagrasse is in the valley of the River Orbieu. At the foothills of the Pyrenees, the region is renowned for the wine produced in the surrounding hills, this is the Corbieres wine region, the largest wine producing region in France. Lagrasse is an attractive village, and dates from the time the abbey was built. The two 'highlights' of the village are perhaps the Abbey and the bridges, although the narrow medieval streets of the village itself are also very attractive, with beautiful houses especially around the central square, the remains of the town walls can still be seen. The village is home to numerous pottery workers and artists, attracted by the place itself and the renowned natural light of the region. 

FORESTS

•             Bois de Cessenon (15.6km)
•             Bois de Montahuc (17.7km) 

NAVIGATION CANALS

•             Canal de Jonction (9.3 Km)
•             Canal de la Robine (15.3 Km)
•             Canal du midi (6.7 Km) 

NATIONAL MONUMENTS

Canal du Midi built from 1666, it is a love affair of man, nature, and engineering, 240 km (150 mi) long canal in Southern France (French: le Midi). The canal connects the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, running from the city of Toulouse down to the Mediterranean port of Sète, crossing rivers, tunnelling through hills with over 100 locks. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. The Canal du Midi was built to serve as a shortcut between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, avoiding the long sea voyage around hostile Spain, Barbary pirates. Now the Canal has become a tourist attraction and place for water activities, with many people rowing, canoeing, fishing or even boats cruise full of tourists and leisure seekers. The canal is surrounded by beautiful villages and towns that reaped profit from its golden days, grand homes, beautiful houses, lock keeper houses some still keep the keepers, whilst others have been opened up as restaurants, cafes or even art galleries. There many wonders at every turn. Book early to take a boat trip along the canal as this is a very popular attraction. 

Enserune (between Béziers and Narbonne) is an antique citadel, a rich museum presenting rare excavated objects. The site of Ensérune is one of the most important citadels of the Mediterranean Midi. The excavations, which have been underway since 1915, have revealed the traces of a dwelling dating back to the middle of the 6th century BC and lasting until the start of the 1st century AD. All the archeological objects discovered on the site have been put on display in the museum which is home to a number of outstanding collections.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Terms: 30% non-refundable deposit is payable on reservation with the balance paid 6 weeks before arrival. Reservations made less than 6 weeks before arrival are payable in full on booking. Payments are made by bank transfer. Client is responsible for all transfer charges. Reservations are confirmed only after receipt of funds. 

Cancellations

30% Deposit is non-refundable. Cancellations after 6 weeks before arrival but before 4 weeks of arrival: 70% refund of balance paid. Cancellations after 4 before arrival: 50% refund of balance paid.               

Note: If payment in full is not received within 2 weeks of second payment date, we reserve the right to re-let the property with no refund of deposit.

The house is preferably rented by the week with the changeover day being Saturdays (alternative days by agreement). Shorter periods are available by negotiation. Discounts may be available for clients wishing to stay longer than three weeks.

House Key will be delivered to you on arrival following confirmation of date and time. Making any booking also entails taking responsibility for the safe return of the key. Lost key will be charge. 

Arrival and Departure times

The changeover day is by agreement, however by making a booking, we would request that guests undertake to arrive at the house no later than 5:00pm in the afternoon. Variations to this must be agreed with the owners at least one week before arrival.