Stunning Views from Rooftop Terrace of Medieval Town House
| Sleeps | 7 |
| Bedrooms | 3 |
| Bathrooms | 2 |
| Property type | house |
| Minimum Stay | 5 - 7 nights |
Overview
Filled with charm; sleeps 4 - 7; in a great location
Fully restored stone village house with a breathtaking views of miles and miles of vineyards and countryside in the charming medieval village of Caussiniojouls, on the edge of the Languedoc mountains, hiking, wineries, castles, Mediterranean beaches.
The vineyards of the Faugeres AOC (including two in the village), wonderful beaches (20 minutes), near the Canal du Midi, Carcassonne and other castles as well as the charming cities of Bedarieux and Pezenas (15 to 20 minutes) with markets, antiques, medieval architecture.
The House
Our charming, fully restored stone village house is comfortably furnished with all new appliances, American style mattresses and couches, a private walled garden and rooftop terrace, both bursting with local flowers. Fully equipped with wireless internet, digital TV, barbecue, beach gear, and anything else one might want. Traditional tiled floors, stone walls, original beams and blend of traditional and modern furniture make the house warm and welcoming.
The living floor features an open loft style bright and spacious living room/dining room, and a fully equipped kitchen. A staircase from the living room leads to a spacious rooftop terrace where you'll see shooting stars at night and the twinkling lights of the Mediterranean coast in the distance. On the ground floor you'll find a stone-walled garden room (TV, books, convertible sofa) opening on to the wonderful, shady, walled garden along with a utility area with new washer/dryer, full size refrigerator, and a beautiful new limestone bathroom with walk-in shower.
The house has a flexible floor plan and easily sleeps 4 to 9. The second floor features two bedrooms (one with double bed, one with a double bed and a single bed) and a modern bath. There is also a sleeping loft (double bed) just off the terrace in addition the garden level private living/bed room..
The Village
The ancient village of Caussiniojouls is in the heart of Languedoc, France's largest wine growing area. Caussiniojouls, whose cobblestoned streets are lined with flowers, is perched on the side of the Languedoc mountains with amazing views in all directions. The village boasts a tennis court, medieval church and castle, and is surrounded by vineyards.
The Neighborhood
This is a wonderful authentic part of France--with all the charm and amenities of Provence but none of the crowds. Caussiniojouls is an ideal base to enjoy the special variety of ocean, mountains, rivers, castles, and vineyards that is Languedoc.
Within twenty minutes or less, you'll find:
--Faugeres, the next village with a well-known wine cooperative,
--Bedarieux, a bustling traditional market town (outdoor market on Monday and Saturday), with shops, a summer music festival, swimming and sports
--The Orb River with kayaking, canoeing
--Roquebrun, an ancient village on a rocky hillside with clear river swimming and Mediterranian gardens
--Pezenas, charming medieval town with great antiques and cafes.
--Excellent walking and hiking with wonderful vistas in the Languedoc Mountains
The Region
Languedoc is a popular destination because of the diverse array of activities for visitors. You'll enjoy:
--The Mediterranean coast with numerous accessible beaches and beach towns (Serignan and the lively old seaside town of Valras), both a half an hour away
--Meze well known for its beautiful harbor, oysters and charming beach
--The Canal du Midi for cycling.
--Carcassonne, the number one tourist attraction in France, with its medieval castle and restored village (60 minutes)
--Roman ruins, numerous vineyards, and lots more....
--Arles with its Roman ampitheatre and great museum
Access
Caussiniojouls is within easy driving distance of international airports - Montpellier (60 mins), Carcassonne (60 mins) and Barcelona (2.5 hours). There are railway stations at Beziers (30 mins) and Montpellier with TGV connections to Paris.
For much more information please see our site: caussi dot com.
Keywords: Languedoc vacation rental, provence vacation rental, faugeres,
About Susan Caughman
My husband and I live in Manhattan and are long-time francophiles. We were lucky enough to find this magical village during a visit to France almost thirty years ago when visiting our French friends whose family have a house in the village also. When we are there, we love to visit local wineries which remind us of Napa 30 years ago. We shop each day at the local markets, swim and kayak in the Orb, browse the antique markets in Pezenas and enjoy the seafood restaurants in Meze. We often visit Caussi by flying into Montpellier or Barcelona, one of our favorite cities in Europe! Our two daughters love going to the beach and the castles.
Susan Caughman purchased this house in 1990
Why Susan Caughman chose Caussiniojouls
We fell in love with this extraordinary village for natural beauty of its location tucked up against the Languedoc mountains, the vistas across the vineyards. The village is warm and welcoming with a Wednesday night summer festival of 'moules and boules' that welcomes everyone. There's so much to do here as well! From hiking in the mountains to swimming in a variety of wonderful spots on the Mediterranean to visiting castles and Roman ruins, Languedoc is really special. And all the more so because it is so authentic with none of the tourists and tourist buses so prevalent in Provence.
What makes this house unique
Our house is super comfortable with beautiful light. We love our secret garden covered with vines for tea and, most gloriously, hang out for breakfast and dinner on the rooftop terrace. We've furnished the house with an eclectic mix of comfortable furniture and antiques discovered in local shops. It is unique to be so close to swimming, mountains, rivers, castles, and cities as big as Montpellier and Barcelona (2 hours).
Guestbook comments from the owner
Highlights of our trip...
We all loved walking right in Caussiniojouls, whether down to the mayorie and back or along the edges of the vineyards. Our kids were enchanted with the "secret passageways" - neighboring streets that wind around near the Chateau, and delighted in wandering around on their own, trying to get lost.
I loved exploring Pezenas (where we found some great gifts to bring home) and the drive there from Caussi was beautiful. On the way, we stopped at the Chateau de Cassan, which we toured by following a treasure hunt guide made for kids. Also, in Pezenas, we discovered a sandy playground at the center of a beautiful, shady park - a treat for travel weary youngsters.
We swam at Serignan and Roquebrun.
We ate mussels, drank wine and talked with the British contingent in Caussi, at the village fete. I now know it will take more than a week to get my French back in working order, but our kids managed to play with the kids at the fete.
Although we made it to the wonderful market in Bedarieux, we missed a couple others and I was glad to find wine, cheese, bread and croissants at the little store in nearby Faugeres, even as late at 7pm. There was also someone selling fruit across the street, next to the restaurant.
One day, my husband and I explored Faugeres on our own wandering up hill with no particular destination in mind. Near the top of the village we happened upon a little trail and hiked up until we came across a 16th century windmill, surrounded by spectacular countryside. There was a small sign at the bottom of the hike so if our French had been better, it might not have been such a lovely surprise - definitely a highlight of our trip.
We were so happy in the house, the village and the surrounding area, that we didn't even go to Carcasonne, as we had planned. Next time!
Katherine
Amenities
Caussiniojouls House Accommodation and Amenities
- house
- Check-in: 4:00 PM / Check-out: 11:00 AM
- Max. occupancy: 7
- pets considered
- children welcome ...
- non smoking only
- Mountain View ...
- Broadband Access ...
- Clothes Dryer
- Linens Provided ...
- Telephone ...
- Washing Machine ...
- Wireless Internet
- Wood Stove
- Cooking Utensils
- Dishwasher
- Kitchen ...
- Refrigerator
- 2 Bathrooms
-
Bathroom 2 -
toilet
,
shower
Bathroom 1 - toilet , combination tub/shower , tub
- 3 Bedrooms, Sleeps 7
-
Bedroom 4 -
1 double
Bedroom 1 - 1 double
Bedroom 2 - 1 double , 1 twin/ single
Loft - 1 sleep sofa /futon
- Double Beds (3) In both bedrooms and the sleeping loft., Twin or Single Beds (1) The second bedroom has a twin bed in addition to a double bed.
- CD Player
- DVD Player
- Music Library ...
- Ping Pong Table
- Satellite / Cable
- Stereo
- Deck / Patio ...
- Outdoor Grill
- botanical garden
- churches
- cinemas
- festivals
- live theater
- marina
- museums
- playground
- restaurants
- ruins
- theme parks
- water parks
- winery tours
- antiquing
- beachcombing
- boating
- horseback riding
- horseshoes
- miniature golf
- scenic drives
- shopping
- sight seeing
- walking
- cycling
- equestrian events
- fishing
- golf
- hiking
- kayaking
- mountain biking
- mountain climbing
- parasailing
- rafting
- rock climbing
- sailing
- snorkeling/diving
- swimming
- tennis
- water skiing
- water tubing
Reviews
Wonderful!
4.9/5 -
(7 traveler reviews)
A week in paradise
We just completed a wonderful six days in the house in Caussiniojouls. Both the town and the area are beautiful and peaceful. We had great weather and were able to watch the sun rise and set from the rooftop terrace. The views from the terrace and every window are amazing. This is a historic town and house but at the same time, it has been tastefully renovated to modern standards. The house is very comfortable and it feels more like visiting a friend than a rental. We explored local villages and drove into mountains that were close by. We developed the habit of eating delicious long lunches and then simple dinner at home with food purchased at local farmers markets. Within easy reach there are recreational opportunities for every taste. I would highly recommend this house.
Felt like home as soon as we arrived
We truly relished the peace of this home and this village amongst the vineyards. Particular care has been taken to make this a welcoming space from the Provençale furnishings and fresh soaps and towels to the supply of games and books. This is a lovely old stone house, well restored; we got used to the tilt of the bedroom floors and loved the authenticity of it. The views from all the rooms are a delight but from the roof-top terrace, not to be surpassed. We spent mornings and evenings up here catching the breezes after hot days; enjoying sunrise and sunset; watching the swifts on the nightly flights. The house is well located between the mountains and the sea. There are good restaurants within a 15 or 30 minute drive and an excellent supermarket about 15 minutes down the road; and a cave selling local wines right on your doorstep.
A true home
Yet again we had a great summer in Caussi. Lili is now 8 years old which means this is our 8th visit. We wanted to say a few warm words about how you make the house feels like we visit a friends house and not any ordinary characterless gite. The house is generous In light, in its scenery, in its effortless style, in its kitchen spices and utensils! In its bed linen! and more. It is such an optimistic welcoming house and each time when we sit on the terrace and see the Pyrenees mountains on the south or the fire works on the beach at night (40km away!) it fills us with joy. Beautiful.
For us the house sits on the right spot between mountain and sea. We love to go to the beach at Portiragne but also to lake Vailhan or for river swimming at Roquebrun. We saw a great exposition of Rosson Crow this year at Serignan and of course we went to the MIAM at Sete. Yael took this year couple more horse riding lessons and has become a real cowgirl :-) even Ada started to take Poney lessons. On the last weekend there was a concert at the Chateau (flute & Harp) and even this year we discovered a new great market at Lamalou-les bains (on tuesday). We already miss it till next summer.
All the best
Yaniv Yael and the girls
Wonderfully renovated stone house in a tiny village
Back home after a wonderful couple of weeks of Languedoc and
a few nights in Barcelona. We really enjoyed the house, most especially the
view from the rooftop terrace where we ate most of our meals. The Manleys
were tremendously helpful, and arranged to have us take part in the moules
et boules fest in the village a few nights before we left.
We liked what we ate and drank almost everywhere we went. One
of my personal favorite local places was the restaurant at the Karting place
in the village. We also had a terrific lunch in Roquebrun. My favorite
surprise sightseeing spot was the convent of Cassan, a beautifully restored,
peaceful place. We spent a night in Nimes, stopping at the Pont du Gard,
which remains absolutely spectacular. At the Roman amphitheater in Nimes,
for a little contrast, we could hear the strains of ZZ Top in concert.
We got to the Mediterranean at Valras Plage and Sete, where
we waded but didn't swim. Though we had brought our suits and towels, a
sudden cool-down with rain at Sete had us walking the empty beach instead.
But we got in a couple of excellent swimming sessions at Lamalou-les-Bains,
where there is a nice big public pool.
Our two younger women went farther afield on foot into the
hills, but my sister and I enjoyed plenty of walking, too. We were sorry not
to be there when the grapes ripened, or for that matter, the figs on all of
those grand trees. The weather was just about perfect. One big, dramatic
storm in the evening, and some heavy rain when we were at the market in
Bedarieux, which didn't stop us from getting beautiful produce and cheeses
and other local items.
The house itself is cozy and comfortable, with plenty of places to perch, good beds, good kitchen equipment and plenty of hot water. Anyone over a certain age (not sure what that is) should know that the stairs are steep and spiraling, but we built up our thighs after a few days.
Utterly Transformative Experience
It may well be that the constellation of experiences one can have from a visit to this village and a stay at this home has wrecked me for other vacations, but I'm the better for it. In what follows, I will gush to the point that you may suspect me of being a plant. I'm not: This is my second time renting here. From the utter congeniality of its owners to the wonderful possibilities of staying in this location, I cannot recommend this place more highly. Within a short distance--that is, a drive of 20-40 minutes at most and sometimes less--you can be swimming on a Mediterranean beach of extraordinary beauty, diving into a pool of fresh water and leaning against a waterfall, eating at a Michelin-star restaurant, hiking in the mountains, marketing in one of many villages or towns in the area, or visiting any of a number of very good winemakers. Then there's taking off from the village for a 2-hour trip, which would be enough time to visit the art and Roman ruins of Arles as well as the extraordinary birds of the wildlife refuge of the Camargue; Girona in Spain (or Barcelona only an hour more). All of this is to say that the location and possibilities are extraordinary and fit many ages. The house itself is a winning combination of amenities and a rustic charm, and suitable for families or couples or individuals of many ages. You can cook sumptuously in it and relax in it with ease. Whether it is the view of the Mediterranean towns from the roof deck at night or from the front bedroom, there is a peacefulness to the place, an utter quiet that is restorative. The owners are honorable and reliable, too. I feel deep affection for this place, which occurred almost instantly but has built over two visits taking place in two different summers, each for multiple weeks. To my mind, that speaks to one of those rare times when my impulses have not proven themselves wrong. I've only deepened in satisfaction for this village and this home.
Vineyard Hideaway
Charming peaceful village home in Languedoc, surrounded by vineyards.
Quiet and restful, half an hour drive to beaches, good hiking and historic sites. Biking along Canal du Midi in Beziers 30 mins away...Two and a half hours to Barcelona.
We enjoyed staying here for 3 weeks and were quite comfortable. It is probably perfect for two couples or a family of 4
with older children.
The house is well furnished in a shabby chic style. Kitchen is small but reasonably equipped for basic meals. New washer/dryer and fridge in the basement.
Very helpful and friendly English caretakers live in the village. Ten minutes drive to supermarkets, cafes and restaurants in the area. Quite steep stairs between floors and up to roof deck.
A great place to relax.
Map
Tastings at local wineries, kayak on the Orb, wonderful biking, walking trails and stunning vistas, Roman sites, weekly village festival with grilled 'moules' and boules (children welcome), excellent restaurants (see our web site for recommendations).
Photos
Rates & Availability
- Available
- Unavailable
Additional information about rental rates
| Cleaning Fee | $75 |
| Damage Deposit | $150 |
Low season renters charged for actual electricity/heating costs in addition to the rental cost cited above.
Rates may change without notice.
Owner's Cancellation Policy
- 50% refund if canceled at least 7 days before arrival date.
- 100% refund if canceled at least 14 days before arrival date.
- Service Fee fully refunded on cancellations that qualify for 100% refund.
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