In the South of France Near the Sea Surrounded by Vineyards

• Wonderful Luck

  Wonderful Luck

  • Guest Lee
  • Date of stay 03/29/13
  • Review Submitted 05/17/13
  With hundreds of French gites available for perusal on the internet, we were fortunate to stumble onto (well, not literally) Armissan and Chez Paul. We were looking for an authentic French experience in a quiet, charming, but not remote village. We wanted to shop, cook in, explore, and get to know, in depth, an area in the south of France. That is exactly what we did. We were the first guests to enjoy the luxurious, brand-new master bedroom suite. We lunched and sunned on the terrace, and on cool evenings we built fires in the big stone fireplace, and read and knitted (well one of us did) and kept up with family via Face Time on the iPad. We loved the authenticity of an old stone barn now in its incarnation as an inviting, well-maintained vacation home. We hiked, biked, walked along the beaches, visited historical fortifications, beautiful villages, and enjoyed wine tasting and food shopping at Les Halles, Carrefour (the biggest and best supermarket we'd ever seen) and at local shops in the village. Our three week stay was over entirely too quickly. The whole experience was, quite simply, the best.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, age 55+, families with teenagers, pet owners, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.

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• Perfect home in a perfect location

  Perfect home in a perfect location

  • Guest AJ
  • Date of stay 04/28/12
  • Review Submitted 06/10/12
  This was our first time ever in Europe and we couldn't have picked a better place. The home is charming, clean, amazingly quiet and outfitted with every amenity you would need. The quaint village of Armissan has just 600 residents, and is perfectly located for making day trips to some of the most beautiful and historic locations in the Languedoc region of France. Places we visited were La Cite, Roquebrun, Olargues, Sete (Vieux Port), Pezenas, Beziers, Gorges d'Heric, Collioure, Narbonne, Gruissan and St. Guilhem-le-Desert. Every town was more charming than the one before it, each being a different and unique experience. All of these locations were within and hour and 1/2 of Chez Paul and easily found with a GPS and a map (recommend Institut Geographique National #R 17). Many wonderful restaurants in the area for leisurely lunches and romantic dinners. And it was comforting to then come back to a home-Chez Paul- for the end of the evening and a perfect night's rest. We highly recommend it!!!

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, romantic getaway.

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• An Excellent base for Day-trips in Southern France

  An Excellent base for Day-trips in Southern France

  • Guest Dee
  • Date of stay 10/08/11
  • Review Submitted 10/27/11
  I agree with the previous reviews about the accomodations of the villa known as Chez Paul and the beauty and friendliness of the village of Armissan. For the members of our group, this was an excellent base to see, to learn about and to photograph many sites of this area in our week's stay. We went to the Musee de la Prehistoire in Tautavel to see the displays about the skull believed to be 450,000 years old and to the Caune de l'Arago and Gorges des Gouleyrous; Pont du Gard and Les Arenes in Nimes; Narbonne-Plage for sunrise and sunset on the beach; Gruissan; Abbaye de Fontfroide for its tour and for the hiking trail; Carcassonne; Abbaye de Saint Hilaire for its history and nearby samples of Blanquette de Limoux which is a sparking white wine that predates champagne; and Chateau de Peyrepertuse. Before you go, get Lonely Planet's Languedoc-Roussillon (ISBN 9781741792805) and Michelin Map 526 Languedoc-Roussillon (ISBN 9782067135345), and start planning an adventure for whatever your interests are. Our stay was the second week in October and we had some wind, pleasant temperatures, mostly sunny skies, and uncrowded tourist sites.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.

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• The Best Home Away from Home

  The Best Home Away from Home

  • Guest Heather
  • Date of stay 05/28/04
  • Review Submitted 03/25/11
  My husband and I first stayed at this property (which we refer to as 'The Villa') in June of 2004. Our experience was so amazing, that we've been back 2 other times and have another visit scheduled for fall 2011. Armissan is simply a wonderful little village and the Villa itself is an incredible home, with all the necessary amenities to make our stay pleasant and convenient (i.e., cooking our own meals, doing laundry, etc.) It's very quiet, peaceful, and the people in Armissan are very friendly. Some other great features are: * The Mediterranean is just about 10 minutes away (Narbonne Plage) * A larger city (Narbonne) is about 20 minutes away and offers great history, shops, and people watching. * Views of vineyards from the villa * A bakery in Armissan, as well as the winery * The Languedoc-Roussilon region offers many awesome opportunities for several day trips, and the villa is a great "home base". Simply put, the Villa and Armissan is a slice of heaven and I believe that if you go, you'll feel exactly the same way!

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.

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• Heaven on Earth

  Heaven on Earth

  • Guest TNBarbara
  • Date of stay 08/05/09
  • Review Submitted 01/03/11
  The pictures are beautiful, but don't do it justice. The proximity to beautiful hiking and wonderful and picturesque villages is spectacular.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, girls getaway.

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• Why Just VISIT? - LIVE!! Be French for a Week in this Charming Authentic French Country Home!

  Why Just VISIT? - LIVE!! Be French for a Week in this Charming Authentic French Country Home!

  • Guest Bev & Robin
  • Date of stay 09/04/10
  • Review Submitted 12/30/10
  A week here, nestled in quaint, scenic, romantic Armissan will make you forget the 21st century is going on elsewhere! A short stroll brings one to both baker and butcher (I don't eat meat, but stumbled in by accident one morning, sleepy, seeking coffee, and came out with the most delectible chevre and sun dried tomato tart!) Ancient stone homes with tile roofs and terraced upper storeys, each prettier than the last. Vineyards surround the village and invite leisurely strolls. In the traditional style, this home, hundreds of years old, I am told, but you'd never guess, begins above the lofty ground level space which now houses your car. But in days past it served the vineyard and the farm with wagons and barrels and probably an animal or two. Entering from the street, passing through a lovely courtyard garden and up a few steps to the front door, one senses privilege and security, and that delicious quiet repose is just up above, And so it is! The heart of the home, on a single open level, is clearly lived in and loved for centuries with its native limestone hearth, hand hewn beams in warm rich browns smooth with deep patina. Today we would call this a 'great room,' but I prefer to think of it as a French farmhouse in the village. Built on 3 levels to save precious ground for the grapes, village families nestled together sharing their lives. the living areas spill out onto a traditional French terrace, a spacious upstairs patio perfect for private outdoor living, dining, sunbathing (even sleeping, why not?) amid stunning views of the rolling hillsides and vineyards all around. We especially enjoyed exploring the house which turned out quite a bit larger than expected! With a couple of very private bedrooms, far separated and each with a bath nearby, it was difficult to decide just where to settle down! Additional sleeping spaces tucked up above the salon have even lovelier views and unique cozy charms all their own. If you don't choose to sleep there, you must at least go up early in your visit with a good book or a glass of local red. We declared the smaller rooftop terrace even more wonderful than the other - then had to divide our leisure time between the two so as not to miss out on the charms of either one! All nearby: Narbonne, dramatic, sophisticated, with chic boutiques. Day trips to Carcasonne, the Pyrenees, Barcelona. The sea only minutes away by car. All too good to miss! And yes! We managed without a word of French!

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, girls getaway.

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• A perfect Mediterranean getaway

  A perfect Mediterranean getaway

  • Guest Tom
  • Date of stay 03/16/09
  • Review Submitted 12/30/10
  Armissan could not be more charming, and Paul's home is perfectly located near its center. Vineyards surround the property, the morning's fresh baked breads are just a stroll away, the Languedoc's finest wineries and restaurants are within 10 minutes, and the Mediterranean is just a spectacular drive over La Clape. We loved the nearby town of Narbonne and the unique character and culture of the Languedoc. Eight of us comfortably shared the home for a week, and loved it! Can't wait to return!!!

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, romantic getaway, families with young children.

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• Charming

  Charming

  • Guest Frances
  • Date of stay 04/11/08
  • Review Submitted 12/30/10
  My husband and I have now visited this place twice and are completely in love. It is quite rustic and picturesque. Such a great escape from the rush of normal life. We always look forward to our next visit. The patio is so amazing, and the views of the vineyards are to die for. A quick 15 minutes from the beach, but we were quite happy to stay at home and relax. Highly recommended for a real taste of the south of France.

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• Escape to Southern France

  Escape to Southern France

  • Guest Tom P
  • Date of stay 09/08/05
  • Review Submitted 12/30/10
  If you want the ultimate French country experince - this is it. Quaint village, large comfortable accomadations. Great escape from the usual fast paced world. Would do it again in a heartbeat! Description is accurate, Have recommended it to many friends. All want to go back

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, girls getaway.

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$1000-$1800/wk US DollarsUS Dollars; 
Weekly rates vary from $1200 in winter months to $1800 in spring,; 
summer and fall.; 
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;Dates Available: Year round

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