Our second visit to the wonderful Maison Des Vignes in the Languedoc and just as enjoyable as the first. This was our first stay in gite Olivier, having stayed previously in Coquelicot and I have to say that both gites are sympathetically designed and superbly kitted out with some useful home comforts. The properties have been cleverly designed to retain the original character of the former barn (wine storage) but with a fresh, modern feel. The presentation & preparation of the gite was immaculate and the owners take great care to provide everything that you need for your stay. The pool area is very comfortable and conducive to RnR - our kids loved the pool! Jonathan and Suzanne are very welcoming hosts and we really loved the evening get together which they arranged for all the guests, which allowed us to sample some of the delicious local food and wine, produced in the village itself. They have a wealth of local knowledge regarding local activities and attractions which they are on hand to provide if so needed. For cycling fans, Jonathan is able to take you on guided road trips in the gorgeous local area, but be prepared to tackle some challenging hills! Luckily the generous pool is waiting for you on return to massage those tired legs! The location of La Maison Des Vignes is ideal; whether you want to pop over to the village boulangerie for croissant and coffee in the morning, visit the one of the vineyards in the village for degustation or access the canal du midi (only a short drive/cycle away), it's all on your doorstep. The only negative, if you're a beach lover is the slightly longer drive to the beach (30-45 mins) but having said that the beaches are lovely, so worth the drive. Things we would recommend seeing if you're travelling with kids; the nearby ancient town of Minerve, the historic town of Carcassonne, the water park at Narbonne plage, accro park tree climbing centre in Alet les Bains (Corbieres mountains), visiting the lac in Homps with excellent beach and water sports, and of course cycling / boating along the lovely canal du midi. There are some wonderful restaurants nearby; we particularly loved 'Le Bistro Gourmand' in Homps, but would avoid 'En Bonne Companie' which despite it's good reputation for food, demonstrates an obvious dislike for guests with with young children.... Overall, I would have no hesitation in recommending La Maison Des Vignes to anyone. We look forward to coming back again soon, Fred & Aby Aug 2013