French Holiday Homes

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Outside

There is a compact garden with flower beds, fruit trees and three large pine trees which (according to the former owner) date back to Napoleonic times. There is a large covered dining patio opposite the pool (next to the summer kitchen) with a teak dining table and 8 chairs. There is a further external patio outside the lounge with a hardwood table, 8 chairs and parasol. There is a small hardwood table and 4 chairs in the corner of the garden which is perfect for early morning coffee while enjoying the panoramic views. There are various sun loungers, pool chairs, poolside tables and sundry inflatable pool toys, lilos etc. Please note that the garden and pool area are at a level approximately 3 feet higher than the neighbouring field, so very young children should be carefully supervised when outside. The pool has an alarm (which can be switched off when in residence) which conforms to French pool safety legislation.

Coast/Beach

"Carcassonne Plage" (as the locals call it - officially named Lac de Cavayere) is a beautiful man-made lake and beach which is only a 15 min drive from the house. It has pedalloes, tree-top walks, and a great "flying fox" across the lake. There is plenty of parking and lots of space all year round. There are also lots of wide, sandy beaches at the coast around Narbonne (45 mins drive).

Golf

Carcassonne Golf Course is less than 10 mins drive from the house. It is a picturesque but challenging 18 hole, par 71 course - the first and the ninth holes are particularly noteworthy (the former requires a drive up a steep hill and the latter, a par 3, the softest of wedges back downhill). There is a good bistro overlooking the first tee, and the hotel next door boasts a world class gastronomic restaurant (with prices to match!). There are other good courses at Mazamet (1 hr drive), Toulouse (2 courses - 50 mins and 1 hr 15 mins respectively) and St Cyprien (near Perpignan) (1 hr 30 mins).

Skiing

There are 2 ski stations in the Pyrenees, the closest about 1 hr drive away. These are very suitable for families or less experienced skiers (say up to higher intermediate standard) but not for experts. There are black runs, but if skiing is your main thing, to be honest you would be better going to the Alps. Andorra is apparently good, but we haven't been there and have no personal knowledge of it.

Travel

Carcassonne Airport is less than 10 mins drive from the house - you can fly direct from Stansted, Liverpool, East Midlands, Dublin and Shannon. Alternative nearby airports accessible from other UK airports include Toulouse (under 1 hr), Perpignan (1.5 hrs), Girona (2 hrs), Marseille (2.5 hrs) and Barcelona (3 hrs).
Other possibilities include Montpellier, Nimes, Bergerac and Pau. Driving from Calais or Zeebrugge will take about 13 hrs, so you should build in an overnight stop.

Distances

Lavalette Centre - 600 m
Carcassonne Centre - 7 km
Narbonne - 70 km
Toulouse - 75 km
Perpignan - 120 km
Montpellier - 160 km
Girona - 200 km
Barcelona - 300 km