Entire home

Stylish French renovated house with heated pool in historic Bize by river

Photo gallery for Stylish French renovated house with heated pool in historic Bize by river

A castle-like building with two towers, surrounded by greenery and a body of water.
A hallway leading to a dining area with a blue chair, a table, and a map on the wall.
A man playing a violin in front of a rustic stone building with a wooden staircase.
A modern kitchen with black cabinets, stainless steel appliances, and a tiled floor.
An open doorway leading to a swimming pool area with a bench and potted plants.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
Along the river, this vacation home features 6 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, accommodating 8 guests. It includes 1 outdoor pool and 1 bicycle. Enjoy swimming, mountain biking, and birdwatching nearby. The property offers a patio for relaxation and is located in a rural village near L'Oulibo Olive Cooperative and Domaine Lou Colombier.

Highlights

  • Room to spread out
    Enjoy a spacious layout that gives everyone more room to relax.
  • Beach equipment
    A rare find — beach equipment ready to go for your days by the sea.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
6 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 8

Popular amenities

  • Private pool
  • Onsite parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Barbecue grill
  • Deck or patio

Explore the area

View in a map
Bize-Minervois, Occitanie
  • Place, L'Oulibo Olive Cooperative
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Place, Les Halles de Narbonne
    ‪35 min drive‬
  • Place, Abbey of Fontfroide
    ‪41 min drive‬
  • Airport, Carcassonne (CCF-Pays Cathare)
    ‪74 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

6 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Bed and 1 Crib

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 3

1 Single Bed and 1 Child Bed

Bedroom 4

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 5

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 6

1 Double Bed

Common area 1

1 Double Sofa Bed

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only

Shower room 1

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only

Shower room 2

Soap · Towels provided · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Stylish French renovated house with heated pool in historic Bize by river

A typical French townhouse, with high ceilings and light airy rooms, sensitively modernised (inc free wifi and satellite tv) whilst retaining it's original charming features. With private heated swimming pool, gas BBQ, seating for 10 and plenty of room for sunbathing. 6 double bedrooms, 5 bathrooms (2 ensuite) inc two baths and a walk in double shower on the ground floor.
Fully equipped large kitchen with seating for 10, spacious lounge with TV and free broadband, extensive library in English.
5 mins walk away are 2 boulangeries, supermarket, weekly market, organic food shop and takeaway, 3 restaurants and bar. Plus doctor, pharmacy, dentist, hairdresser, beautician, and the river, with lifeguard in July and August.
There's lots to do in the semi pedestrianised village, from swimming, horse riding, free tennis and boules and relaxing by the river to attending one of the many local Fetes. Or go kayaking, cannoning, quad biking or explore Cathar castles, monasteries, historic Narbonne with its great markets. For a day out Carcassonne Cite, Beziers or sandy Mediterranean beaches are just 45 minutes away.

Add dates for prices

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.

Similar properties

pool
Awesome home in Cazelles, Agel
Cazelles, Agel
  • Pool
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Pet-friendly
10.0 out of 10, Exceptional, (1 review)
Awesome home in Cazelles, Agel

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Check out before 10:00 AM
default

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Supervise children by pool, lock windows. Max 4
default

Events

No events allowed
No parties are allowed in the property.
default

Pets

No pets allowed
default

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Please don't smoke inside or outside the property.

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Start the dishwasher
Strip any used beds and gather used towels
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights, lock the doors and return the keys
Please strip beds used and put with towels in bags provided downstairs in the wet room.
Please leave bathrooms as you would like to find them.
Empty dishwasher and put spare key in bowl at foot of stairs, lock up and replace key in key safe.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
No bombing/diving in the pool please, we are on a water meter.
No additional guests to stay without previous notice/payment @£50 per night per person
Please do not take our English to French adaptors home with you, but leave for the next guests.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 8142344
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: No parties are allowed in the property.
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

Bize-Minervois

Located in Bize-Minervois, this holiday home is in a rural area and on a river. Haut-Languedoc Regional Nature Park and Narbonnaise en Méditerranée Natural Regional Park reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include L'Oulibo Olive Cooperative and Lutin Park Carousel. Discover the area's water adventures with fishing and swimming nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with horse riding and hiking/biking trails.
View more Holiday homes in Bize-MinervoisOpens in a new window
Map
Bize-Minervois, Occitanie

What's nearby

  • L'Oulibo Olive Cooperative - 3 min drive - 2.5 km
  • Narbonne Cathedral - 34 min drive - 26.5 km
  • Les Halles de Narbonne - 35 min drive - 27.2 km
  • Canal de la Robine - 36 min drive - 27.2 km
  • Abbey of Fontfroide - 41 min drive - 33.8 km

Getting around

  • Colombiers Nissan Station - 26 min drive
  • Béziers (BZR-Cap d'Agde) - 52 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪La Croisade - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Auberge De L'école - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Le Chat Qui Pêche - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Le Thai De Castigno - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪L'O à la Bouche - ‬8 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Stylish French renovated house with heated pool in historic Bize by river have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool. Pool types include heated pools.

Is Stylish French renovated house with heated pool in historic Bize by river pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Stylish French renovated house with heated pool in historic Bize by river ?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Stylish French renovated house with heated pool in historic Bize by river ?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Stylish French renovated house with heated pool in historic Bize by river ?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Stylish French renovated house with heated pool in historic Bize by river located?

Situated on a river, this holiday home is within 3 miles (5 km) of L'Oulibo Olive Cooperative, Haut-Languedoc Regional Nature Park and Château d'Agel. Domaine Lou Colombier is 2.9 mi (4.6 km) away.

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 28 out of 31 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 31 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 31 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 31 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 31 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect large and quietly majestic house set in a medieval town.Kitchen better equipt than mine at home; BBQ as well.Pool was perfect , chlorine usually makes my skin crawl but the new black magic filtration thing makes it akin to Swiming in a mountain stream which ironically you can actually do not five minutes walk away.Rooms are all good sized,WiFi works, showers powerful, beds comfortable, local alarm clock interesting.Half a dozen bars and restaurants within walking distance , local shop has everything but Saturday market is worth a visit.Lots of good walking, on the doorstep.Parking as expected but you can always park 2 min walk up the road by cemetery.Will return some day.Nick,
Stayed 20 nights in Aug 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 16 Sept, 2026
Thanks for such a positive review, we are so happy that you love the house and Bize as much as us! We are so lucky to have a large house with a pool so close to the river and in the medieval centre. The brome pool was a good decision too for those with sensitive skin… We are into cooking so the house is very well equipped and we appreciate our guests often fly with light baggage so try and cover all eventualities! Our new Saturday market is a boon along with the places you can drink and eat in walking distance. Hopefully you managed to fit in a couple of trips to the Med beach too!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a lovely week in Bize Minervios staying in Libby's gorgeous home. The house was clean, spacious and had all the amenities we needed for a lovely stay. Communication with Libby was fantastic and check in and out was straight forward. I would fully recommend.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Sept, 2025
We are delighted that you enjoyed the stay with your colleagues and that you made the most of everything Bize has to offer such as the free tennis courts. We are so lucky to be in a lovely village with everything in walking distance which puts on so many free local events! I’m hope you managed to fit in everything during your stay - beach, sightseeing, canal du midi etc - and we would love to welcome you back in the future.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely stay in Bize

Beautiful, well equipped house, perfect for all ages and a fantastic garden and pool area to relax or have dinner in. The kids loved the toys - thanks for all the info Libby!
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 18 Sept, 2022
We are so pleased that you enjoyed our house, pool and gorgeous Bize, which is such an amazing village with so much on offer in the countryside. We hope that you managed to explore the river swimming and beautiful coast and Narbonne close by and of course made the most of the restaurants on foot! We look forward to welcoming you back in the future. Kind Regards Libby
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely family holiday

Well stocked, clean , comfortable, charming house and responsive host made this stay a wonderful holiday. The pool was delicious and the village was delightful. House was close to good restaurants and a boulangerie and the river. Thank you Libby!
Stayed 10 nights in Aug 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 31 Aug, 2023
Dear Avril, so pleased to hear that you had a great holiday. We are so lucky in Bize to have everything you need in walking distance, with varied local events too! The Languedoc has so much to offer, steeped in history and lovely beaches closeby. So happy that you enjoyed spending time in our large house and made the most of the pool and the river. Looking forward to welcoming you back soon! Libby
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Glorious few days in a fabulous location

We spent a few days in this amazing house - wonderfully situated in beautiful village with friendly bars and restaurants. There was a midsummer festival during our stay - such a dramatic spectacle. Local supermarkets had great variety of fresh produce and wine from the local cave was delightful! Worth visiting Narbonne and the lovely al markets in Olonzac - we will be back - thank you for a wonderful stay!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2017
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Mar, 2020
Dear Charlotte So delighted that you enjoyed your stay in Bize and joined in the local events, which are always such fun! We are so lucky to have a choice of restaurants in walking distance, plus the village bar of course - and it's great to see the wine that you are drinking is actually growing around the corner. Bize has lots to offer, the beautiful river (when you fancy a change from our pool), walks/runs as well as lots of historic sites and the Mediterranean Sea a short drive away. Hoping to welcome you again in the future. Kind Regards Libby
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Amazing house in Bize - we'll be back!

Everything about this house is superb. The location - 1 minute from river with rope swing and fresh water swimming. Quaint village with bar, restaurants, shops etc...but what really makes it is the house. It is equipped with everything you would want, the pool is perfect, the rooms spacious and beautifully decorated. Libby leaves you details of where to visit, what to do etc...We loved it so much we want to go back!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Mar, 2020
Dear Matt So happy to hear that your stay was everything that you were looking for, and that you made the most of the fab river swimming. It's always good to get positive feedback on the house too, especially on it's decoration/art. We look forward to welcoming you back soon. Kind Regards Libby PS. Next time bring your bikes for local exploring and you can store them in our neighbour's garage!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Three weeks in Bize

Property was extremely well equipped and didnt need for anything. Beds very comfortable and showers very good. The outside area was a decent size. I thought it might be a bit small frim the photos. Host was very responsive and helpful. The village is great with plenty going on the weeks we were there.
Stayed 21 nights in Jul 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Aug, 2024
Hi Suzanne, thanks for the great review, very pleased that all your group enjoyed themselves and that you had everything that you needed in the house including comfy beds! I try and provide everything that you could want for your holiday and provide information beforehand so that you can plan your holiday. We are so lucky that there's always loads going on in the village too. It's quite a tricky space to photograph, as it's a tall maison de village on a quiet street that isn't terribly wide. Adding the pool was definitely a good decision and so happy that you made the most of it. Hope to welcome you back again. Libby
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family escape

I cannot fault this property or the hosts. From booking to check out they were so great. So much advice on what to do, things to visit, and clear instructions on the property. There were 5 of us with 3 under 12. So much to do locally for all ages. The house was a perfect base for lazy days eating and lounging by the pool broken up with days out. A perfect location for a French escape. Thank you!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Oasis in Occitanie

Our family spent a great week staying at this property. It is in a lovely little town within reasonable distance of all sorts of historical, outdoor and culinary activities. We found ourselves short on time to experience all of the different things the area had to offer! The location is ideal for visiting local olive and wine growers, visiting sites like Cathar castles and the medieval city of Carcassone, and relaxing at the beach or around the pool. The house is great for a large group. The bedrooms and living spaces were very comfortable and accommodating for a family on holiday. All of the bathrooms are recently renovated. The kitchen was spacious, well equipped and opens up to a beautiful outdoor living space around the pool. The owners have done a great job decorating the house with tastefully selected antiques and comfortable textiles. The owner’s guestbook/guide was our go-to resource when planning meals or outings. We were grateful for the restaurant and beach advice, the recommendations were spot on. We would recommend this house for any group traveling to Languedoc!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Mar, 2020
Dear Leni and Michael Thanks for the great review - we are so pleased that you had a successful stay in Bize and made the most of all that's on offer in the area. We love Bize and the coast, and have done our best to provide the ideal setting for a holiday break in our home. We look forward to welcoming you back in the future! Kind Regards Libby
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great house, pool and location but bad nights

The lovely decorated house is at walking distance from the river, hard tennis courts, jeux de boule, bakery and a nice restaurant. Many nice locations to visit in the neighbourhood. We enjoyed the large kitchen with everything you need and the garden with the great swimmingpool and nice table. The host is very kind and easy to contact. The chairs in the garden left black stains on a few of our shirts. We didn’t sleep well. The beds are too small and they make noise at every move. There are no vans so you want to leave the windows open at night to let the cool air in. But there is a lot of noise around the house, people arriving and leaving with their cars all night long, talking loudly. Dogs barking, church bell every day on at 7 am. Recommandations: Replace the beds for normal size boxsprings Put a van in every bedroom Put a coating on the garden chairs.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 20 Aug, 2023
Dear Marieke I am sorry that your stay wasn't 5/5. Our street is usually quiet at night so the noise was probably because your stay was leading up to 15/8, the main French holiday when lots of celebrations happen. There is a choice of 7 beds (you needed 4) so if your sons were too tall for the antique double beds they could easily have changed bedrooms. I will review the mattresses though. I am also surprised about the paint from the chairs as they weren't repainted this year, and we were there ourselves until the day you arrived. Perhaps it was due to the heat but I will look into this. Finally, Bize is a rural French village so has a church with bells, sorry if they woke you! Kind regards Libby
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Agréable séjour dans belle maison typique du Minervois

Maison avec de belles prestations, la propriétaire est très disponible. Nous avons passé un très bon séjour malgré un temps très chaud (en dépit de l'ancienneté de la maison la chaleur finit par s'imposer). Deux bémols mineurs : frigo trop petit quand on dépasse 4 personnes (surtout l'été), pas de prises électriques dans les salles de bains. Beaucoup de consignes sont en anglais, dommage car nous sommes en France. Bref vous ne serez pas déçus et nous reviendrons ...dès la climatisation installée! merci à Libby pour son accueil chaleureux!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 27 Aug, 2022
Bonsoir Merci pour votre revue, c’est super que vous avez passe des vacances agréables dans notre maison a Bize et avez profite du village et la region. Pour répondre a vos soucis, Il y a 2 frigos dans la cuisine, une pour les boissons, une pour la nourriture, plus congélateur, la maison est fait en pierre alors normalement reste ambiant si on ferme les volets et ouvre les fenêtres et il est interdit en Angleterre d’avoir des prises dans les salles de bains. Comme je suis anglaise j’ai fait mon mieux de traduire tous l’information important en français pour vous, que je vous ai envoye en avance par email, et ceci et les brochures dans notre Welcome Pack étaient tous en français. Bien sur je regarderai d’autre choses a traduire pour les prochaines invitees françaises. Cordialement Libby
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Jolie et agréable maison

Endroit idéal pour se retrouver a 2 familles. Comme a la maison, il y a tout sur place, la piscine, la rivière à côté. On a tous adoré! A refaire 👍
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Sept, 2021
Merci! On a eu de la chance de trouve cette maison dans un coin du village si calme mais a deux pas des restaurants et la riviere. J’espere que vous avez eu le temps d’explorer cette belle region et de vous baigner a la cote aussi. On espère vous acceuil dans l’avenir. Libby
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Townhouse glamour and comfort in south of France

Beautiful spacious house with a pool and in the center of a small village. Everything you need is in the house - very well stocked kitchen, full bbq, games, and outdoor equipment, toilet roll and basic kitchen supplies like spices etc. Very quiet and a great base for exploring. Host provided an extensive list of local attractions and sites which was super.
Stayed 16 nights in Jul 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 15 Aug, 2021
Dear Peter, we are delighted that you had a great time in Bize and took advantage of everything this amazing area has to offer. We are so lucky that you can walk to everything you need in the village, so that you don't always need to get the car out! It was lovely to welcome a guest from the Netherlands to our list from the UK France and Germany. We hope to welcome you all back in the future. Kind Regards Libby
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Très bon séjour !

Maison très agréable avec de beaux volumes et décorée avec goût. La région est magnifique. Libby est toujours disponible et rapide pour répondre à d’éventuelles questions.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 19 Sept, 2020
Merci, j'essaye d'être disponible pendant votre séjour et il y a des Informations dans la maison en plus que le email que je vous ai envoyé avec des choses interessantes a faire avant votre arrivée pour assister dans votre planning! On continue a découvrir la region après plus de 10 ans et on est toujours ravis! Translation : Gorgeous house with large rooms and decorated with great taste. The region is magnificent. Libby is always available and quickly responds to any questions. Thanks - I always try to be available during your stay and there is an extensive Welcome Pack in the house for you to peruse and I send out a list of interesting things that you can do before you arrive to help you plan your holiday. After over 10 years in the region, we still find more amazing things to do!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Maison de caractère très agréable à vivre , au sein d’un charmant village de l’Aude .

Excellent séjour dans une maison de village où nous avons passé une semaine de vacance très reposante . On s’y sent comme chez soi !
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 19 Aug, 2020
Translation: Such an excellent stay in a traditional village house - we spent a very relaxing week here... We really felt at home! Thanks for your review - we really try and make your holiday as relaxing and perfect as possible, and so pride ourselves on attention to detail. The village is so lovely, and the river swimming so close by, and there is always something to do in the village. And the beach is only 45 mins drive away! Merci pour votre avis - on essaye de créer une ambiance relaxante et agréable pour vous - et je pense que ce sont les petits details qui compte. Notre village est si belle, avec le bassin de rivière tous près, et il y a toujours des événements dans le village. Et si vous voulez, la plage se trouve a 45 minutes de voiture!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Super séjour 😊

Très belle maison dans un très bel endroit. Les deux sont magiques. Une propriétaire qui fait tout pour qu’on se sente à l’aise, tout est fait pour notre confort... comme si on était invités.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Aug, 2020
Merci! C’est super que vous avez passes des vacances agréables a Bize! On a vraiment de la chance d’avoir cette belle maison dans un village si sympa a deux pas de la rivière!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Une propriété confortable et reposante

Des propriétaires très accueillants et sympathiques. Une propriété superbe, magnifiquement décorée. Un village charmant traversé par une rivière. Nous avons passé des vacances très relaxantes. Merci à Libby et Andrew
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Mar, 2020
Cher Cedric Merci pour vos gentils mots, je suis tres heureuse que vous aimez Bize autant que nous, avec la rivière et restaurants et tous qu'il y a faire a cote... C’est toujours super quand une famille apprécie le decor dans notre maison aussi et merci de l’avoir respecte. On espère vous accueillir dans le future. Cordialement Libby
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great house in nice village

We spent three great weeks in Bize. The house was excellent, we enjoyed both the spacious interior with all amenities as well as the nice patio and the pool for swimming. We also got lots of useful information from the owners on things to see and do in the beautiful surroundings. We would definitely consider coming back!
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Mar, 2020
Dear Joakim Thanks for the great review, we look forward to welcoming you back soon! So good that you made the most of the facilities in Bize and the area with your children. Kind Regards Libby
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Just fabulous!

We spent the last two weeks of August at this fabulous home and thoroughly enjoyed everything the house and the area had to offer. The house is well loved with a lovely creative flair and lots of small details which added to the enjoyment of our stay. The bathrooms are all exquisitely fitted and the bedrooms equipped with stylish and quality bed linen. If you enjoy cooking, the kitchen is equipped with all your needs for al fresco and indoor eating. The pool was a refreshing retreat from the heat and well maintained. Having the beautiful river nearby as an alternative venue for a refreshing dip was a delight. Our children (19, 17 and 9) all enjoyed invigorating river swims and lazy picnics on the riverbank. The area is also great for cycling fans and our son clocked up many miles exploring the quieter villages nearby. Having a choice of good restaurants within walking distance added to the delights of the village. The owner recommendations of where to go and what to see are well thought through and invaluable. The owners were great at communicating beforehand, during our stay and since we have arrived home. Can’t recommend this home enough, hope to be back here.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Mar, 2020
Dear Sara Thanks for your warm review - great to hear that you love the house and area as much as we do. We are so lucky to have found a beautiful house which is also in a village where there's lots to do. Glad that the cycling was a success for your son - he may have inadvertantly done some of the Tour de France route, as it passes close by! Hope to welcome you back in the future. Kind Regards Libby
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Superb property in beautiful friendly village

Want to relax? Stay here! Had a fabulous family holiday at this well appointed village home with the perfect sized pool to cool off in the heat of the day. Lots of places to explore both in the friendly village and in the local area. House was clean and stylish with modern bathrooms and very well appointed kitchen completed with wine fridge suitable for foodies. Beds were comfortable and house stayed cool (despite the 42c heat) with tiled floors and a light breeze coming through the shutters. House has all the attributes of a family home rather than a stark holiday let, so there is a small library of books, games, DVDs, floats for the pool and beach chairs and mats for visits to Gruissan plage. The village had a great selection of restaurants, a village mini supermarket, bakers and swimming lake. Our teenagers aged 14, 18 and 19 enjoyed; trips to Carcasonne, days at the beach doing all the watersports, Narbonne market and cocktails at Le Grange. The village Olive Oil Festival was 12 hrs of fun and a real highlight and so were the summer festivals at Salleles -d'Aude and St Chinian complete with wine tasting! Came home feeling refreshed and both before and after the owners were helpful and attentive. Highly recommend this spacious property to any family looking to relax and have fun!
Stayed 11 nights in Jul 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Mar, 2020
Dear Cherry Thanks for the fantastic review! It's lovely to hear that you had a great time and it sounds like you love the house and village as much as we do! It's such a bonus to have lots of things to do both in walking distance and a short drive away. And although the river swim is just minutes away, it's nice to have the privacy of your own pool and a house large enough to have your own relaxation time in, with a good book and glass of local wine! Glad to hear that you enjoyed the Fete de l'Olivier in the village and explored some cultural sites as well as taking advantage of the proximity of the long sandy beaches! Hope to have you back to stay in the future. Kind Regards Libby
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Spacious and beautiful

I had a wonderful summer holiday in Bize-Minervois. Attending a couple village festivals was fun and a great opportunity to immerse ourselves in french culture. Going boating in the sleepy town of le Somail, a short drive away, on the famous Canal du Midi was another highlight of our fortnight stay. Also we had an excellent meal at La Grange, a 15 minute walk from the house. The property is spacious and light and fully equip, plus the modern art on the walls is great and I recognised a few pieces to be a local artist's work that is exhibited at l'Oulibo the local olive grove and gift shop. Reading in the courtyard in the afternoon sun by the pool is bliss. I couldn't recommend this holiday home more.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2017
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Stunning town house

This is a lovely equipped town house with its very own pool. The attention to detail in the property is lovely and the owners have kindly allowed use of sport equipment sun loungers bbq etc if you wanted to use them. It is nestled within the village and swimming in the near by river a real treat. There is enough of a village life that something was going on most days. We used it as a base and visited many of the places the owners recommended and all were as described. Libby the owner wonderfully couldn't help enough from the booking to helping us out just before the visit whilst we were in France. The little extra touch of the hamper was a nice addition to to arrive to. I have no problem in recommending this property.
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Mar, 2020
Dear Jules So happy that you had a great time in Bize with your family, and happy to help out. As many people fly here and therefore have limited packing space, I do try and provide as many extras as possible. Glad that the 'Hamper' was a success - this was a new idea for 2016 - I will pass on your thanks to Victorine who does our Meet and Greet . Kind Regards Libby
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Delightful house in a wonderful location

This is a beautiful, well equipped house with thoughtful attention to detail. It has everything a family needs for a great vacation - from the practical (pool towels and beach chairs) to the little extras (scented candles by the bed!). The owner plays an active part in ensuring the visitors have a great stay by providing detailed and up-to-date information on what to do in the area. Our holiday was greatly enhanced by this and we enjoyed many and varied activities as a result (horse riding, canoeing, swimming...). We would happily recommend this house to our friends.
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Mar, 2020
Dear Mary, I really appreciate your great review and it's so good to hear that the little details in the property haven't been missed! Glad that you had a full and varied time in Bize. Kind Regards Libby
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Our favourite holiday!

This was our second stay in this stunning villa. We were here in 2014 and when we came to booking our France holiday this year we had no doubt where we were going to go. Tom Foolerie is fantastically well located in the beautiful village of Bize. Literally few minutes walk to a river, restaurants and a convenience mini supermarket. Plus the fabulous bolangerie just 3 minutes walk which was great we sent the children in the morning to get our baguette and croissants! There was a band in the Cafe de la Promenade on two nights we were there and what a fabulous atmosphere that was. Moreover there is so much to see and do further a field The best part of this holiday was actually the owners organizational skills and the welcome pack which contained absolutely everything we needed to know about both the practical bits of the villa and everything else around. It was so helpful to be able to go by recommendations mentioned in the pack in terms of booking things like restaurants, wine tasting (very nearby), villages that are worth visiting and activities like canoeing. We actually took the welcome pack booklet out with us in case we needed to refer to it. Not to forget that Tom Foolerie is fully equipped as if your own home and so very tastefully decorated with an amazing pool and pool lights (+BBQ) that we hardly felt like going out but had to push ourselves! Having said that we had a full programme during the week between canoeing at Roqebrun, sight seeing in Carcassone, olive tasting at Oulibo, two days at the beech & water sports and of course wine tasting (and drinking / buying!) We drove all the way down but equally Carcassone and Bezier airports are under an hour away Thank you once again to the Spratleys and well done on putting together such an amazing thing.
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Mar, 2020
Dear Sara Thanks for giving us such a great review - it's such a pleasure to hear that your second experience of Tom Foolerie, Bize was as good as the first! Really happy that you managed to work your way through some of our recommendations too and that the Welcome Pack was useful. We look forward to welcoming you back in the future. The Spratleys
Archival

8/10 Good

A lovely place in a lovely village

Great well equipped family house, very approachable owners. A quiet but really friendly village. We ate good quality and very reasonably priced french food locally. Beautiful surrounding area with plenty to do. The garden is small but petty however the sun does disappear quite early, so if you want an early evening beer in the sun you have to wander off to the river.
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Mar, 2020
Thanks for your review. We are pleased that you enjoyed Tom Foolerie, Bize and all that the surrounding area has to offer. Our garden is sunny until around 5.30pm, which is the perfect excuse to go and socialise by the river - or have a glass of wine in the local bar, just minutes away on foot. Looking forward to welcoming you again in the future. The Spratleys

About the host

Hosted by Libby Spratley

Host profile image
We are a professional couple who work in marketing, who both love this region of France as it is unspoilt and easily accessible from the UK. We bought Tom Foolerie as a wreck and have completely renovated the property, adding a private heated swimming pool and peaceful courtyard garden.

Why they chose this property

We used to holiday in the area before we got married, as my parents had an apartment in Gruissan, so when we decided to buy our own property it was natural to look close by. We fell in love with Bize because of the swimming in the river - and its proximity to the Mediterranean coast and the mountains for skiing. We have made lots of friends in the village, so that it really is our second home.

What makes this property unique

It's perfect having the river so close and all the amenities that Bize and the surrounding area has to offer. And having the pool is great. It's a really spacious house too, with plenty of room to relax after a day sightseeing or going to the beach. If we have nothing planned, there's nothing better than lounging around in the morning by the pool, going out for lunch or having a bbq at home, then meeting up with friends by the river later on in the day.. or playing tennis on the free courts nearby.

Languages:

English, French
Tell us how we can improve our siteShare feedback