Charming House - Historic Village of Quillan - South of France Aude Vacation Rental by Owner Listing 178196

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Location: Aude, Languedoc-Roussillon, France, Europe (Quillan - 1 Hour from Either Perpignan or Carcassonne)

Accommodations:  Village House, 2 Bedrooms, 2 Baths (Sleeps 4)

Located in the heart of Cathar Country, this quaint, recently renovated house is located on a quiet square in the center of Quillan. View of Chateau and just two houses from the Aude River. Walking to all amenities (bakeries, cafes, restaurants, train station, post office, banks, swimming pool, etc.).

Each bedroom is totally private on a separate floor with its own bath featuring towel warmers. All windows face the chateau and offer ample light. Heat is electric. Kitchen is located on the ground floor.

Quillan is a small town and commune in the Aude département, in southwestern France located at the foothills of the Pyrenees, on the road between Carcassonne and Perpignan. Located at the top of the Haute Valley of the Aude, close to the mountains, this is an excellent area for hiking and mountain biking as well. Horseback Riding is available nearby and the views are amazing. Take a short trail ride or sign up for multiple days.

Through the Pierre Lys and St Georges gorges, enjoy 12 km of sporting river! Rafters, white water swimmers, and kayakers from all levels of ability are offered the most exceptional water sports spot in the Pyrenees.

Markets in Quillan are on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Surrounding villages host markets, so you are likely to find a market nearby every day of the week. Why stay in a hotel, when you can rent an entire house and enjoy the many flavors from the markets.

Carcassonne is a must see and just one hour away. The medieval walled town lies on the right bank of the River Aude and is featured on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. It has 52 towers and 2 rings of town walls making a total of 3 km of battlements. There is no restriction on access to this area of Carcassonne. It is still home today to its population of approximately 120 and it boasts a large number of shops and craftsmen.

Saint-Hilaire (40 minutes) - Home of the blanquette. See the old benedictine abbey, the cloister in the church, and a sarcophagus decorated with scenes of the martyrdom of St sernin.

Limoux (30 minutes) - Famous for its 3-month long carnival. - Catha-Rama : a 30-min audio-visual show about the cathar religion and history. Musée-Petiet: a "belle époque" museum. Numerous Blanquette wine cellars, wine tasting and buying.

Alet les Bains (25 minutes) - Health spa- Village built around its abbey, old bishopric. Beautiful half-timbered houses in the village, after the old wash bridge supplied with a continuous flow of thermal water. Bring your empty water bottles and fill up with natural spring water and do laundry if you are into hand-washing!

Espéraza (15 minutes)- This village has been marked since the 19th century by the production of felt hats- In the old station, visit the museum of Millinery - Dinosaurs Museum: the paleontological excavation area that supplies the museum is open to the public in July and August, at a 5 km distance in Campagne/Aude.

Rennes le Chateau (15 minutes) - Loved The Da Vinci Code? Visit Rennes le Chateau, a small medieval castle village and a commune in the Aude département, in the Languedoc area in southern France. It is known internationally, and receives tens of thousands of visitors per year, for being at the center of various conspiracy theories. Starting in the 1950s, a local restaurant owner, in order to increase business, had spread rumors of a hidden treasure found by a 19th century priest. The story achieved national fame in France, and was then enhanced and expanded by various hoaxsters, who claimed that the priest, Father Bérenger Saunière, had found proof of a secret society known as the Priory of Sion. The story and society were later proven to be a hoax, but became the origin for hypotheses in documentaries and bestselling books such as Holy Blood Holy Grail and The Da Vinci Code. The village is still considered by tourists to be packed with clues to an alternate view of religious history which has long existed in the area.

Visit the famous Cathar Castles - Chateau de Peyrepertuse a Duilhac--If you see only one Cathar castle, make it Peyrpertuse (via the Gorges de Galamus-see below). You can drive most of the way up to its limestone outcrop, but the trail, on worn limestone footing, takes you around the back of the castle and undergoes several elevation changes. They won't let you use the path in a storm. It's treacherous when wet. Must be able to walk on uneven ground, as it is a bit of a hike from the parking lot.

Gorges de Galamus - For a magnificent day out - take a drive to the Gorges of Galamus, near St Paul de Fenouillet (from Quillan, take D117 towards Perpignan) and follow signs in from St Paul de Fenouillet.

You can see Peyrepertuse easily in one day along with nearby Chateau de Queribus in Cucugnan and Chateau de Puilaurens in Lapradelle. The drive between them is quite nice.

Head to Perpignan and spend the day at the beach (just an hour away) at your choice of village on the Mediterranean. St Cyprien-Plage is an attractive seaside town on the Mediterranean coast which can boast 342 days sunshine per year. The town has many amenities and attractions to make your stay enjoyable. The old town of St Cyprien lies 6km inland.

Mirepoix (1 hour) - Situated in the Ariége country, Mirepoix offers a wide range of shops and restaurants most of them under, or not far from, 15th century oak arcades framing the market square. Be sure not to miss St Maurice’s cathedral or the medieval corbelled half-timbered houses. Mirepoix holds its weekly market on Monday mornings.

Vacation Rental Features

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• Owner's Profile
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• Amenities
  • Linens Provided
• Beds
  • Queen Bed
  • Double Bed
• Entertainment
  • Stereo System
• Kitchen
  • Full Kitchen
  • Cooking Utensils Provided
  • Refrigerator
• View/Location
  • Mountain View
  • Monument View
• Communications
  • WiFi (Wireless Internet)
• Suitability
  • No Pets Allowed
  • Kid Friendly
  • Smoking Not Allowed
• Activities (on site and nearby)
  • Golf
  • Sightseeing
  • Restaurants
  • Rafting
  • Kayaking
  • Swimming
  • Biking
  • Mountain Biking
  • Downhill/Alpine Skiing
  • Hiking
  • Fishing
  • Cinemas/Movie Theaters
  • Horseback Riding

Rate Details (In Euros)

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• Rate Details
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Personal Currency Assistant™

Apr-May .. €300/week
Jun ...... €350/week
Jul-Aug .. €400/week
Sep ...... €350/week
Oct-Mar .. €300/week
Security Deposit - €250 (refunded, less damages, after cleaning & inspection)
25% deposit due at booking (non-refundable)
Final payment due 60 days prior (partially refundable only if dates rebooked)

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.

Owner's Profile

• Features
• Rate Details
• Owner's Profile
• All Photos (5)
• Guest Comments (7)
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Property Photos

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• Guest Comments (7)
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Guest Comments (7)

• Features
• Rate Details
• Owner's Profile
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• Guest Comments (7)
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• 09/15/09
  Positive Rating
  Ann & Ben Gardner , Goshen, KY
  • If you want to experience true French village life in a quaint comfortable home you cannot do better than this lovely French home. The home radiates a feeling of comfort and homeiness, just the thing after a full day exploring the Pyrenees countryside. You are in the center of Quillan, just a few doors from the rushing Aude River with restaurants, bakeries and the Tourist Office just steps away. We loved market day, the surrounding French villages and the very friendly people who tolerated my very limited French with a smile. We can't wait to return!
• 08/11/09
  Positive Rating
  Janet Stewart , Perth, Western Australia
  • It was a lovely place to stay. The house is charming and well equipped, the beds and pillows were comfy (a real treat!), the bathrooms new and spotless. The very pretty village has good bakeries and other shops in easy walking distance, plus fresh food markets twice a week, making self-catering a pleasure. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone else - unless they had problems climbing stairs, as the bedrooms are on the second and third floors. We would have liked to stay longer!
• 08/03/09
  Positive Rating
  Roxanne and Jim , El Granada, CA
  • The owner was wonderfully responsive and helpful as we prepared for our trip, and our time in Quillan. A lot of care is evident in the house--comfortable furnishings and very clean. A special treat in this rural village was the town's pre-celebration of July 14th. From our window, we were treated to amazing fireworks over the old ruins. We were astounded that the fireworks were so extensive and beautiful, given the size of the town. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner at the understated Canal Restaurant!
• 06/04/09
  Positive Rating
  Lily Fox , Langley Wa
  • Our stay in Quillan was fabulous! Located in the beautiful Pyrenees mountains, ancient hiking trails that lead into the surrounding foothills are easily accessible from the front door. Also only a few blocks away is the store, post office, laundrymatt, and many restaurants. The house itself is beautiful. Celine and David have done an amazing job remodeling. The house has great amenities and was very comfortable. Additionally, for those of us who could not afford to eat out every night, the kitchen is perfect, everything you need to cook a full meal is there!
• 09/01/08
  Positive Rating
  David Concannon , London
  • Lovely old house in a great location in the village centre (the square was once the site of an old monastery). The house is very comfortable and is ideally situated close to restaurants and bars. It is also very close to the River Aude, which you can hear rushing past as you lie in bed having probably consumed too much foie gras, cassoulet and the excellent local wine. all in all a fantastic place to visit.
• 08/11/08
  Positive Rating
  Ian , Victoria, BC
  • What a wonderful experience, and a great house. We really felt like part of the community. People were nice to us and even put up with our mangling of their language (but we tried to speak it, that goes a long way). The house was beside the river and only two streets away from the best patio/bar in the village "Le Palace" beside the river. We loved Market day, the Jazz festival (free) and just being able to shop, and explore all the way around the valley. We even went to Spain one day for lunch, the coast road is astonishing. We couldn't have asked for a more wonderful experience and after the bustle of Paris it was most welcome. Thanks to Kelly, Celine and David for their kindness and warm welcome.
• 07/22/08
  Positive Rating
  Jeffrey , Scottsdale, AZ
  • I have traveled to Europe before, but have never had an opportunity like this to really experience the culture. Listening to the church bells and meeting the wonderful citizens of Quillan will be a memory we will cherish forever. The home was comfortable and modern. It was like a home away from home. Quillan was a great place to be staying because it has the comforts of a larger village and allows you to explore all the sites of the majestic valley. Thanks David and Celine for a wonderful experience!

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