MAISON
D'ETRE, PARAZA
CANAL DU MIDI RENTALS
LANGUEDOC SOUTH FRANCE VACATION RENTAL
SLEEPS 8 (plus baby)
SWIMMING POOL
CLOSE TO CANAL DU MIDI
40 MINUTES TO MEDITERRANEAN
BETWEEN CARCASSONNE AND NARBONNE
BIKE HIRE AND RESTAURANT IN THE VILLAGE
This comfortable and attractive 4-bedroomed maison de maitre is at the top of the canal-side village of Paraza, an old wine-port on the Canal du Midi. The house is very much part of the village, but with gardens, front and back.
Come in high season and enjoy the sun, or come in April/May or September/October and enjoy perfect weather for walking, cycling and touring.
Book two weeks in April/May or September/October and receive a £200 discount on the second week.
Larger photo: Maison d'Etre - swimming pool
The walled garden at the front, with its mature trees and shrubs, gives complete privacy. A south facing vine-covered terrace is surrounded by mimosa, jasmine, and passion-flowers. Under a pergola, which provides dappled shade, a table seats eight; the perfect place to eat – or sit – most of the year round. To the rear, there is an outdoor barbecue and dining area shaded by a fig tree and a decked area offering shade and sun throughout the summer. Both areas are close to the pool but can be made secure if young children are present. The swimming pool (8 x 4 m) is set amongst mature bamboo, hibiscus, and oleander with space for a whole party to relax.
The house itself, built in about 1870, and renovated by an artist, is furnished simply but comfortably. It is light and spacious, on three floors, with a large mezzanine sitting room and a classic cantilevered Languedoc staircase. Four bedrooms on two floors provide generous sleeping accommodation for up to eight people – one king size bed, one double bed and four singles. We can also provide a cot and high chair.
Ground Floor: The large kitchen is well equipped for guests who enjoy cooking, and can cater for 8 easily. It contains a dishwasher, washing machine, fridge and freezer. Adjoining the kitchen, an atrium leads to bathroom/WC with bathtub. A ground floor dining room, which also houses an eclectic and sizeable collection of books, looks onto the front garden.
Mezzanine: The living room contains comfortable sofas and chairs grouped around an oak coffee table, with high skylit ceiling, polished wood floor, and French windows which give access to the pool. There is a TV with DVD player (and generous selection of DVDs), a CD player and a cupboard full of games and jigsaws.
First floor: Up on the first floor, there are two bedrooms. The larger contains a king size bed and the smaller a double bed. There is also a bathroom with walk in shower, and WC.
Second floor: The second floor has two spacious twin bedrooms, and views over the roofs of the village.
One of the appealing features of the house is the traditional furnishings - authentic Provençal tiles and an old pine dresser in the kitchen, country-style armoires and beds upstairs. Large wood burning stoves in the kitchen and sitting room, and ample heaters elsewhere, make it cosy in the low season.
The house works particularly well for multi-generational parties or groups of friends. Wherever it matters, there is plenty of space for a party of eight. At the same time, the choice of sitting areas inside and out means that a large party can separate out if it chooses. The house is popular with children and teenagers, but the different levels and three floors make it less suitable for toddlers or people with restricted mobility.
When not let, the owners and friends use the house frequently – so the beds and sofas are comfortable and there are small but important touches like cookery books and guide books on the shelves.
Larger photo - Maison d'Etre
Master bedroom
Twin bedroom
Living room
Courtyard
Bedroom
On the southern edge of the Minervois hills, Paraza makes its living from the surrounding vineyards. The village rises above the Canal du Midi and enjoys stunning views over the valley of the River Aude to the volcanic hills of the Corbières, and beyond to the sharper peaks of the Pyrénées to the south.
Sandy Mediterranean beaches are 40 minutes away to the east, and Carcassonne is 40 minutes to the west.
The countryside around Paraza is a paradise for cyclists, offering the canal towpath, tracks through the vineyards and quiet local roads. Bikes can be hired in the village; suggested routes and a rescue service are included. Canoeing is available on the river Aude a few kilometres away. The foothills of the Pyrénées and Montagne Noire offer more challenging walking, cycling, and canoeing, and the closest Pyrénéan ski slopes are only one or two hours away.
This part of Southern France attracts artists and photographers, with its colourful landscape which changes dramatically through the seasons. Paraza is a great centre for exploring local history and architecture - Narbonne’s fine medieval buildings and Roman beginnings; the great medieval walled Cité of Carcassonne; Cistercian abbeys; Cathar castles from the Albigensian crusades of the early 13th century; fortified cathedrals at Beziers and Capestang; - and the exciting southern cities of Toulouse, Montpellier, Perpignan and Albi - all these are within easy reach.
Shopping in the village is limited, but there is a small supermarket in the next village and an Intermarche supermarket a short drive away. Paraza has a superb café/restaurant beside the canal open spring to autumn. There are several first-class restaurants in the area, and for those who like to cook, the local markets offer an abundance of local produce.
ACCESS
Paraza is close to Autoroute exits at Narbonne (20 minutes) at which there is a motorail terminal. International airports at Carcassonne (40 mins), Perpignan (1 hour), Montpellier (1.5 hours) Toulouse (1.5 hours), Barcelona (2.5 - 3 hours). Eurostar from London connects at Lille or Paris with TGV direct to Narbonne.
MAISON D'ETRE, PARAZA, SLEEPS 8 + Baby, SWIMMING POOL
For more booking information on
Maison d'Etre Canal du Midi Languedoc South France Holiday Rental
Sleeps 8 + Baby. Swimming Pool. Canal du Midi village with Restaurants.
Tel (44) 1403 268 918 Fax (44) 1403 217 048
or use contact form below
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