Location: Carcassonne, Languedoc-Roussillon, France, Europe (Carcassonne is 8km from Villegailhenc)
Accommodations: House, 9 Bedrooms + Convertible bed(s), 6 Baths (Sleeps 20)
Keywords: Large Holiday rental, large family rental, big vacation home, large chateau, casa, villa, large gite, large vacation rental, big house, luxury vacation rental, mansion,
La Maison d’Amiel is a French style mansion that can accommodate groups of up to 20 people, however the house is available for smaller groups as well, please see prices for more details.
Guests have exclusive use of t two swimming pools - the small pool is ideal for small children and a large pool has a depth from 1.2 to a maximum depth of 2.2 meters. There is a shelf around the entire pool so children can just swim to the sides for safety.
There are ample chairs and sun loungers to relax on. The swimming pool is completely secure, and has regulation fencing and gates.
Each of the nine bedrooms have been designed individually and on the top floor each room has air-conditioning. There are 6 bathrooms and all together 7 WC’s throughout the property.
There are two kitchens in the house, ideal for large groups who might not choose to cook together every night. There is also an outdoor area for cooking and eating. It is also possible to book a chef to cook every night or just if you fancy a night off from cooking. Menus start at €18.00 per head, for a three course meal including wine, and for children the prices start from €12.00 per head.
There is WI-FI and Sky television in the dining room and lounge with all the free channels such as BBC, ITV, Channel 4/5, kids channels and so fourth. There is also a large flat screen television in the lounge with DVD, a music centre in the dining room, and an ipod docking station.
In the main kitchen, there is a large fridge/freezer, with ice-cube maker on the inside, large range cooker: with two gas ovens, two electric ovens, pan warmer, griddle, wok ring and 5 other rings. Extractor hood, microwave, kettle, coffee maker, pans, toaster, enough plates, cutlery, glasses and cups for up to 22 people. There is also a dishwasher and pantry with washing machine.
In the smaller kitchen there is a microwave, oven, hob, fridge/freezer, sink and enough cutlery, glasses and cups for 6 people.
The grounds
The property is set in an idyllic garden, with a large variety of mature pine and deciduous trees, ideal for shade. To the front of the house there is a grassed area, with a herb garden and a large olive tree.
There are plenty of benches, tables and chairs in the grounds to relax and eat on. To the back of the property there is an outdoor play area with swings, ping-pong, a large sheltered games area/outdoor kitchen (60m2) with a 6 grill bar-be-que, a fridge/freezer -ideal for keeping drinks chilled, an electrical point for an ipod and a table which seats up to 20 people.
The village
Villgailhenc is only five minutes from the historic city of Carcasonne. It has fantastic local facilities, so there is no pressure to get in your car on a daily basis, there is a bakers with daily baked croissants, baguettes, whole meal breads, cakes and so fourth, a reasonably priced supermarket, butchers, tabac, wine cave, dentist, hairdressers, doctors and a weekly fruit/vegetable market on a Wednesday morning.
There is also a restaurant/bar in the village which offers á la carte and also homemade pizzas.
There are also plenty of walks/mountain bike trails from the house, with over 400 kms of mountain bike trails just 5km away in the village of Aragon.
There is also a new golf course opening in 2011 only 10 minutes from the village.
The History
Maison d'Amiel was commissioned by a Parisien family called the Amiel’s in 1860, one of their sons Deny's Amiel who was born in the house in 1888 later went onto be a famous writer and theatre critic. On display in the main entrance are copies of his books, menu cards and many more things that the owners have found whilst renovating the house.
In 2002 the current owners bought the property, and embarked on a 7 year project to renovate it completely. The have enhanced all its original features, bringing up to modern standards by installing up-to-date bathrooms, kitchens and fittings. However where possible they have kept all of the original tiled floors, cornices, an original water pump with cooling compartment and sink. Most of the rooms have large marble fireplaces and in the dinning room there is a wood burning stove, ideal for Christmas and Easter.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Air Conditioning
- Linens Provided
- Washer
- Off Street Parking
- Wood Fireplace
- Wood Stove
- Beds
- King Bed
- Double Bed
- Twin/Single Bed
- Bunk Bed
- Crib
- Entertainment
- Cable/Satellite TV
- DVD
- VCR
- Video Library
- CD Player
- Music Library
- Pool Table
- Foosball
- Ping Pong/Table Tennis
- Private Pool
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen
- Cooking Utensils Provided
- Refrigerator
- Dishwasher
- Microwave
- Outdoor Features
- Gas/Electric BBQ Grill
- Charcoal BBQ Grill
- Deck/Patio
- Gazebo
- View/Location
- Mountain View
- Communications
- WiFi (Wireless Internet)
- Suitability
- Pet Friendly
- Kid Friendly
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities
- Golf
- Tennis
- Shopping
- Kayaking
- Swimming
- Surfing
- Windsurfing
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Cross Country Skiing
- Downhill/Alpine Skiing
- Snowboarding
- Snowmobiling
- Wildlife Viewing
- Fishing
- Hunting
- Health/Beauty Spa
- Live Theatre
- Miniature golf
- Horseback Riding
- Zoo/Wildlife Park
- Restaurants
- Rafting
- Shelling
- Sledding/Tubing
- Hiking
- Rock Climbing
- Spelunking
- Cinemas/Movie Theaters
- Museums
Rate Details (In Euros)
12+ guests - Low Season-Special offer- €2,000 (3rd September 2011 - December 2011)
12 + guests - Mid Season ... €3500/week (including Christmas and Easter)
1-20 guests - Peak Season .. €4800/week (including 2nd July - 20th August)
12+ €2,200 - 1st October - 5th November 2011
1-12 guests - Low Season....€1,900 (28th May-25th June 2011 - 3rd Sept- 1st Oct)
1-12 guests - Mid Season ... €2,800/week
1-12 guests €2,200 - 1st October - 5th November 2011
Prices include all bedding,towels and utilities.
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Owner's Profile
Owner Description
Year Purchased: 2002
My husband, Colin and I have been running our vacation rental for nine years.
We were drawn to this area because of the beautiful scenery, good local wine and gourmet food. We also wanted to experience a slower pace of life, and to bring our children up in an outdoor environment.
Over the past few years we have managed to explore most of the local attractions, and have tried to complete some of the hundreds of local walks. The small hill between us and the next village is inspiring, we often sit up there and watch the Pyrenees as the sun sets.
Colin is an artist and many of his paintings are of the local area, as he finds it a constant source of inspiration.
We now live in the UK but still dream of our time in the house, and always look forward to visiting. The light and the smell of rosemary and thyme, the diversity of the landscape, the historical buildings, the friendliness of the locals, our friends and the beaches always draw us back.
Why the Owner Chose Carcassonne
Aude is one of the most diverse regions of France, the warmth in both the landscape and people is delightful. We also fell in love with the medieval city, with its cobbled streets, panoramic views and great restaurants.
If you travel South, North, East or West you will find a different landscape - from the charm of the Black Mountains, to the regal Pyrenees, from the mountain goats, to the local produce, the list is endless and in the past nine years we are still discovering new places to explore.
The house is situated in the heart of the southern wine regions. Our favourite wine is Minervois, the region is only a 10 minutes drive away from the house.
The Unique Benefits of this House
We are in a small village surrounded by beautiful countryside and walks and very conveniently placed for the airport, Carcassonne, the Mediterranean, skiing and the black mountains.
The building has real charm, history and has a fantastic feel of space. The grounds are great to relax in and we have enjoyed the bar-be-que and outdoor kitchen plenty of times. We love going in the pool at night time as it illuminates the underneath of the large pine trees. The sound of the cicadas and frogs, the smell of the herbs in the garden to watching the villagers go by the house with their baguettes and daily routines.
The village has great local amenities such as a small supermarket, butchers and bakers, which means that some days we just stay in the village and have no need for a car.
Property Photos
-
- La Maison d'Amiel - Carcassonne, France Vacation Home with Private Swimming Pools
-
- Swimming pool - Carcassonne, France Vacation Home with Private Swimming Pools
-
- Swimming pool - Carcassonne, France Vacation Home with Private Swimming Pools
-
- Garden
-
- Outside Dinning
-
- Play area
-
- Chambre Rouge
-
- Family bedroom
-
- Chambre bleu
-
- Triple bedroom
-
- Main kitchen
-
- Dining room
-
- Living room
-
- Living room
-
- Bathroom
-
- Stair case
Traveler Reviews (3)
Guest: Simon, Hilary, Thomas and Co. from the UK
(-)
Date of Stay: 07/03/10
Review Submitted: 02/24/11
The perfect renovation. A superb place to get to know the region. Wonderful hospitality, the perfect holiday. Thank you so much we will be back.
Recommended for:
Guest: John and Jane group from Dublin.
(-)
Date of Stay: 06/12/10
Review Submitted: 02/24/11
We hesitate to write anything positive about this wonderful place out of pure selfish motive, that Colin and Melanie will get the recognition they truly deserve and become so over booked that we will no longer be able to stay here again. This is a wonderful discovery, with great local food, beautiful accommodation and hosts who really demonstrate what it means to be a labour of love through their hospitality. Come again soon, but don't tell your friends. Many, many thanks. - Colin and Melanie
Recommended for:
Guest: Lindsey Group
(-)
Date of Stay: 06/12/10
Review Submitted: 10/04/10
Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful home with us. We thought that the swimming pool, outside space, and house were amazing. We especially liked the option of having a chef cook for us when and if we needed a night off cooking. Thanks so much we would love to return again another years.
Recommended for:
First (3) of (3). Write a Review
Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #249496
There have been visitors to this page since the counter was
last reset in .
This listing was first published here in 2009.
Date last modified - Sunday, July 10, 2011
