'Les Coquelicots', at 2006 rentals. - Charmingly restored cottage at 2006 rentals.
Cottage with 1 Bedroom, Sleeps 2, Garden
Offered at 2006 rental prices. The air-conditioned cottage, my home when not rented out, has many personal touches, making it quite different from many rental properties. In the beautiful 'Regional Parc Naturel du Haute-Languedoc', it is 40 miles W. of Beziers, and far from the main tourist areas. It is an area of wooded hills and mountains, valleys, rivers, streams and lakes, where time has largely stood still, and people have time to be friendly and welcoming. Quiet, quite private, but not remote, except from the pressures and anxieties of the modern world. A place to relax and enjoy tranquility in a nature lover's paradise, but with Med. beaches, big(ish) towns, many sports facilities, and even Spain, not too far away. Good, cheap wines, good restaurants - offering 3/4 course meals, including wine, from 12 euros, and in an area offering some of the purest air in France. Recharge your batteries, walk in the mountains from the cottage gate, golf, fish, canoe, swim, ride. Chill out.
Sunny patio outside front door.
Across patio to front door.
The cottage is located at the edge of, and slightly above, a small hamlet. The view from some windows and the patio is to the summit of 'our' mountain, 'St. Bauziel', whose summit is about 2,400 feet high, and which can be reached by relatively gently ascending and easy forestry roads, for both feet and most vehicles, except, perhaps, for the last 200 metres of the path! Up there several species of Eagles and Buzzards may be seen, searching for snacks. They can also often be watched, whilst relaxing on the the patio outside the front door, glass of red, or whatever you fancy, to hand, as can many other birds, as well as butterflies, interesting insects and lizards. Sanglier (wild boar), mouflons (wild sheep), deer, beech martens, red squirrels and even wild cats live in the 'Parc Naturel'.
Shrubs and trees which clothe the hills and mountains include cherry, walnut, chestnut (both edible and 'conkers'). Wild flowers and orchids are abundent, in their seasons, and too numerous to list here. A very interesting area in it's own right, but also well-placed for visiting the vineyards of St. Chinian, The Minervois, Corbieres, Fitou, Cotes du Languedoc and Faugeres (the latter a must). To the South lie Cathare Country, where the only 'crusade', by Europeans against Euopeans, was ever carried out, the Pyrenees, Spain and duty-free Andorra. West to Mazamet (leather goods), Albi (Toulouse-Lautrec museum and red-brick cathedral) and to the wonderful city of Toulouse. North to mountains upto 3,500 feet, a 'Route des Lacs', and 80 miles or so, to the 'The Cevennes', (The Mountains of the Sun), where Black, Egyptian and Griffon vultures may be seen, circling crags which contain wonderful gorges. East to Beziers and then to the Mediterranean Sea. North-East to the magical Camargue and Provence. South-East to the ancient port, now landlocked, of Narbonne, with it's Market Hall, and a big, interesting Thursday market; it is also en route to good, quiet, Mediterranean beaches.
Facilities for this holiday cottage in St Pons De Thomieres, Languedoc-Roussillon
1 Double Bedroom. British sized anti-allergenic pillows, plus duvets in a choice of densities/TOG values. Bed-linen and towels supplied on request, at extra charge of £20 per supply/change.
Bathrooms:
2 Bathrooms, 1 Shower, 2 Separate WC's. 1 bathroom indoors, with over-bath shower and toilet. 2nd. bathroom in annexe, 10 paces from front door, having a corner-bath with overbath shower and a large shower enclosure plus a seperate toilet .
Kitchen:
Cooker, Hob, Microwave, Fridge, Freezer, Washing Machine, Iron. Kitchen has a small(ish) combination oven (too small for Christmas turkey!), which provides Microwave, Fan-assisted oven and Grill facilities, plus 4-burner bottle-gas hob (gas provided) and a fridge.
General:
Real Fire, Air Conditioning, Telephone. Reversible air-conditioner (heats/cools/filters air) and there is a wood fire and electric radiators, if ever necessary! Telephone for outgoing emergency and local calls, plus incoming ones, only.
Dining:
Seating for 4. Indoors, small dining room with oak, drop-leaf table and 4 comfortable dining chairs. Outdoors, BBQ, patio tables and various styles of chairs, high-backs and
normal, also loungers and parasols.
Entertainment:
Terrestrial TV, Satellite TV, Video, DVD, Radio, CD System, Board Games. Satelite and French terrestrial TV channels, video and C.D./D.V.D. players, with Home-Cinema surround-sound and a radio (French and Spanish progs.). Cookery, nature, travel, photo. + fiction books.
Outside:
Terrace, Garden, BBQ, Parking, Garden Furniture. Sunny patio outside front door, plus a secluded, sunbathing terrace. Most of the garden is WILD, to attract nature, and terraced. Regrettably, not suitable for very young children nor infirm persons.`
Suitability:
Not Suitable For Wheelchairs, Sorry - No Pets Allowed, Sorry - No Smokers.
A sloping path descends from the garden gate to the front door, this will not present problems to anyone with normal mobility, but unfenced terraces are not suitable for young children.
Local activities in and around St Pons De Thomieres, Languedoc-Roussillon
Cottage Hire at 2006 rentals! Truly, a small helping hand to you, and perhaps also to me, in these difficult times. Golf courses, swimming pools, lakes, pools and rivers for swimming; potholing (the H.Q. of the French pot-holing society is 1km. away). Canoeing/kayaaking - or, perhaps, carrying (!!) - in July and August! Tennis. Horse-riding. Miles of mildly uphill, then downdale, earthen forestry tracks for walking or cycling on; or, again for walking/cycling along, more than a few flat(ish) miles of a long disused railway track, running through Courniou, N/E towards Bedarieux, or West towards Mazamet, have recently been converted to a walking/cycling path. Nature watching.
Relaxing and chilling out. Food and wine indulging. Whizzing here, there and everywhere, or perhaps, the best in my book, enjoying the good life at a very leisurely pace. 2 very good restaurants 1.5kms. away - walkable. A 3rd. (excellent, Asiatique or French style food) 6 mins. drive away. Other good value eateries in St. Pons (do not shy away from the bars/restos in the Grande Rue (tables just sfter the 'Cathedral'), where traffic along this 'High Street' is normally fairly light between 12 noon and 13:30 . and fuel fumes are rarely encountered. Many guests delight in just passing their time away on the patio/terrasse, relaxing, resting, dreaming, eating, supping, regarding butterflies, birds, insects - and the grass growing! C'est magnifique.
Purchase the makings of a perfect picnic in the shops of Courniou and St.Pons, not forgetting local wine, as well as other delicacies, then drive awhile into the hills/mountains, 'Route des Lacs', or wherever your fancy takes you, find a quiet, tranquil place to enjoy, whilst savouring your food, and perhaps wine. Relax, you are on holiday! Also, do not forget that you can twiddle your toes, swim in, or just 'bronze by', the 'Med', after about an hour and a halve's drive there, should you be feeling really energetic!! Come, enjoy your memories.
Corniou, 1.5kms. away, is 5kms. from St.Pons De Thomiere, on the D116 (formerly RN112) road, which runs west from Beziers to Castres. 'Les Coquelicots' is south of Courniou, on the D. 920 road.
Rental rates for this cottage
Price Per Week
Quoted In
Approximately equivalent to
UK Pound
Euro
US Dollar
9 May - 27 Jun 2009
£250.00
€275.00
$375.00
27 Jun - 1 Aug 2009
£280.00
€308.00
$420.00
1 Aug - 29 Aug 2009
£300.00
€330.00
$450.00
29 Aug - 12 Sep 2009
£250.00
€275.00
$375.00
Rental Notes: Normal bookings are from 6pm. Saturday, to 10am. Saturday. Other start/finish dates may be negotiable. For bookings of 2 consecutive weeks or more - the 2nd. week is less 10% of it's quoted price and a 3rd. week will be less 15% of it's quoted price. Repeat bookings attract even lower prices, depending on dates/duration of rental. Electricity, fuel and local telephone calls are included in rental charges. A £50 per week 'breakage/damage' deposit is required, which will be returned, less any costs, within 14 days of the end of your holiday. If you have any special requirements, please do not hesitate to ask. Because the path from the garden gate slopes down to the patio and front door and the edges of terraces are not fenced, regrettably, the property is not suitable for young children or infirm persons. I am not present at the property when it is rented out, but may be within a 30 mile drive from it, if not, a charming young French lady looks after it, who speaks good English.
Guestbook
""A bottle of fizz in the fridge for you ... great hols. Thanks again for a relaxing time at 'Les Coquelicots'.
" - M.D. and T.G., Ross-Shire.
"... a most enjoyable holiday in a beautiful part of France. ... a quiet life, plenty of sunbathing, (nothing) to worry about!! Bliss! Thank you for the use of your home." - J. and N.H., Leics.
"Thank you for your kind and thoughtful hospitality. Your advice and comments have made a world of difference ... living in your home has allowed us a greater insight into French life than any of our previous innumerable visits to France." - G. and J.S., Lancs.
"We've had a delightful stay and were sad to leave. Last time, the house was used as a touring base - we went everywhere. This time we've focussed locally - magnificent!" - G. and A.S., Herts.
"Many thanks for your help and advice ... We have had a very peaceful and relaxing holiday. We go back with happy memories of our time here." - A.L. and L.N., Yorks.
"... thanks for allowing us the pleasure to share your home and wildlife! We enjoyed meals on the terrace, with the lizards, butterflies and humming-bird-Hawk moths and looking at the magnificent views whilst soaking up the sunshine, of which there was plenty. We will fondly remember the lovely local walks." - D. and S.C., Berks.
Availability of 'Les Coquelicots', at 2006 rentals.
This property is normally available
for rent between May
and September each year.
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Owner joined site on:
22 February 2005
Property listed since:
04 March 2005
Holiday Cottage in france - Languedoc-Roussillon - Herault - St Pons De Thomieres
