Maison De L'Autan - Four Bedroom Villa, Sleeps 8

In the heart of a charming Minervois village find Maison De L’Autan, a historic Maison de Maître with beautiful interiors and its own private pool.

This handsome 3-storey house dates back to the 19th century and offers four attractive bedrooms for up to 8 guests. Step through its pretty blue door and admire its characterful features from original tiled floors and ornate ceilings to elegant windows allowing dappled sunlight to flood in through the ground floor lounge and kitchen-diner. On the very top floor, beneath the traditional wood beams, an open-plan space has been created for yoga, work or just spending time together relaxing.

Outside, the covered terrace is the place to gather for long lunches and good Languedoc wine whilst a swimming pool is perfect for cooling down in the summer, perhaps after a long hike leading back to the village. Whether staying with family or friends, this inviting maison is for guests looking for authenticity and charm in a small village with wonderful surrounding landscapes.

Enjoy delicious meals at the village café just opposite the house, belonging to the maison’s owners – they can also prepare picnics or takeaways with advance notice. There is also the opportunity to tour their bio-dynamic vineyard and carbon negative winery and no doubt taste some of the excellent organic wines.

Elsewhere, visit bustling market villages and towns such as nearby Olonzac or head to the Canal du Midi for long walks, cycle rides and boat trips. The idyllic village of Minerve is a must, after all it’s one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’ or head south to Lagrasse where there’s summer swimming spots in the River Orbieu.

Spend the day in historic Carcassonne, soak up the vibrant ambience in Béziers or drive down to Narbonne and beyond with the sandy shores, beachside cafes and watersports of the Languedoc coastline only an hour by car.

Features:

Maison Interiors

Ground Floor

-    Living room
-    Kitchen with dining table
-    Bedroom with queen-size double bed
-    Bathroom with shower, sink and WC
-    Laundry room

First Floor

-    Bedroom with queen-size double bed and en suite bathroom with shower, sink and WC
-    Bedroom with queen-size double bed
-    Bedroom with twin beds (can be made into a double on request)
-    Bathroom with shower, sink and WC

Top-Floor (low beams)

-    Studio-style space with sofa, table and chairs

Outside Grounds

-    Swimming pool (8x5m) with safety alarm. Open approximately mid-May to mid-September
-    Sun-loungers and garden furnishings
-    Covered dining area
-    Barbecue

Facilities

-    Wi-Fi
-    Heating
-    Fans
-    Satellite TV
-    Laundry facilities

Guests can also rent a movie projector on request

Location:

In the Hérault department of France, part of the Minervois region and in the foothills of the Black Mountains, Maison De L’Autan lies in the heart of a small village around half an hour from Carcassonne.

The house is opposite a village café run by the same owner – guests can enjoy home-cooked meals or even arrange take-away and picnics (both with advance notice). It’s open five days a week in the summer (Wednesday to Sunday lunch and Wednesday to Saturday in the evening) and there’s a picturesque outdoor terrace. Out of season it is usually open Thursday to Sunday for lunch and Friday/Saturday for tapas evenings.

The village is also home to a small grocery store, a tennis court which is free for guests to use, a football/basketball court and a children’s play area. There are some wonderful hikes in the surrounding area, many of which depart from the village.

A wine tour and tasting can be arranged at the owner’s bio-dynamic vineyards and you can learn all about their carbon negative wine production in their winery. There are of course many other wineries and vineyards dotted across this part of Languedoc-Roussillon and beyond.

The bustling village of Olonzac (13km) has a great range of amenities including a wonderful weekly market on a Tuesday morning. You are also close to the Canal du Midi which flows a short drive south of your village – head to Homps (14km) for leisurely walks and cycling rides by the canal as well as boat trips.

The pretty village of Minerve, just under half an hour by car, is classified as one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’ and a beautiful place to explore, perhaps combined with the fortified village of Aigne (20km) or the atmospheric market town of Saint-Chinian (42km).

Heading further south instead, Lézignan-Corbières (25km) is a fantastic place for food lovers with its Wednesday morning market whilst Lagrasse (42km) is another one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’ – it’s especially picturesque by the bridge over the River Orbieu where locals swim in the height of the summer.

A little closer to home, enjoy lakeside walks around Lac de Jouarres, a 15-minute drive away, also a popular spot for fishing, summer swimming and wind-surfing. Water lovers can also find canoe and kayak excursions on the Aude river near Puichéric.

For a brilliant day out, there are so many superb towns and cities to choose from – historic Carcassonne is just half an hour away, Béziers is around 60km by car or drive south towards beautiful Narbonne (42km) and onwards to the sandy beaches around Valras Plage and Gruissan, both within an hour by car.

Terms & Conditions:

Security deposit?
€500 paid via bank transfer to the owner one month before arrival and refunded two weeks after departure, subject to full inspection.

Arrival time?
4pm - 6pm

Departure time?
10am

Energy costs included?
Yes.

Heating costs included?
Yes.

Linen & towels included?
Yes.

End of stay cleaning included?
Yes and mid-stay cleaning for stays of 7+ nights also included. However, guests are required to leave the accommodation clean, tidy and in the same condition as on their arrival. Any extra cleaning, laundry, maintenance and/or rubbish disposal required will be charged against the security deposit.

Tax?
French Visitors Tax payable locally (typically costs €1-€5 per adult per night- please enquire if exact amount is required).

Changeover day?
Saturday. All other changeover days on request.

Minimum stay?
7 nights (July and August), 5 nights (May, June, September, October and Xmas/NY) or 3 nights at other times of year.

Pets welcome?
Not allowed.

Smoking Allowed?
No.

Pool towels included?
Yes.

Pool opening dates?
The pool is open approximately mid-May to mid-September. Please note that pool opening dates are subject to local weather conditions and pool maintenance requirements and that cooler months may not be suitable for swimming.

Other Ts and Cs?
In the event of severe water restrictions or for health and safety reasons the pool may be exceptionally closed during part of the open season. If this should occur, guests will be informed and the summer rate will be adjusted.
Smoking - not allowed