La Placette Village House - sleeps 4
Authentic village house with roof terrace in winegrowers village of the Corbieres in Languedoc - ideally situated for enjoying French rural life... and for home hunters
In the Region of:LanguedocAudeTown:Bizanet |
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La Placette Village House - (ref: 628)
2 bed / 1 bath - sleeps 4
Price Range:
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Property Description:
La Placette is a traditional stone house with shuttered windows in the heart of the village of Bizanet. It is about 250 years old and is situated in a quiet lane opposite a "placette" with benches and a mulberry tree. It has been recently restored with loving care to the last detail keeping the character of the past centuries.The typical elements of the architecture of rural Languedoc (exposed stones and beams, ancient stone sink, terra-cotta paved floors, ancient fireplaces) give the house its charm.It is completely antique furnished exclusively with furniture of old Languedoc (even the bath tub and the washbasins are ancient) and decorated with taste.
On the ground floor, you immediately feel the authentic South French atmosphere. You first enter the kitchen/dining room and the living room with their exposed stone walls and beams and their two open fire places in pure Languedoc style. The kitchen is modern fitted (4 ring electric hob, oven with grill, hood, coffee-machine, many cooking utensils). The fridge, dishwasher, washing machine, microwave, toaster and iron are in the utility room next to it. In the living room, we keep for you many books, guides and documentation about the Corbieres as well as French, english and german literature.
Up the curving staircase, you come to the first floor with the bedrooms, one of them with a French bed with an en-suite toilet room (with washbasin and storage space), the other one has a cosy "alcove" with single beds. The bathroom on the same floor has lots of character with its antique cast iron bathbub (it also has a toilet, an extra shower and a washbasin).
Another flight of stairs leads to the 2nd floor with the fully equipped summer kitchen (again with a sink, a fridge, a coffee machine and cooking plates) which opens directly onto the wonderful roof terrace.
Most of the time of the year, the roof terrace, overlooking the tiled roofs of Bizanet, is the "place to stay". The roof terrace is complete with original wrought iron tables and chairs, wooden deckchairs, a parasol and a bbq. For your pleasure, all the Mediterranean plants (bougainvillea, pomegranate, lemon plant, pine trees, jasmine, oleander ...) are automatically watered. Even in wintertime, it is very sunny and sheltered and is just inviting you for relaxing, reading, enjoying your Mediterranean food, tasting the Corbieres wines...
Here you can experience the French way of life in the Midi, the true "joie de vivre", in an authentic Mediterranean atmosphere.
Area Description:
Bizanet is a peaceful medieval winegrowers village surrounded by vineyards and pine trees known as the "gateway to the Corbieres". With its 1098 inhabitants, it is an old typical Languedoc village with quaint narrow lanes, a fountain on the church square and several "lavoirs" still in use. Remains of the former Roman church of the XIIth century can still be seen in the cemetery, those of the old priory St Amans on the edge of the village. Gregorian liturgy can be attended to everyday at the monastery of Gaussan where the monks produce wine, honey and goat cheese.A jewel of Cistercian architecture, the abbey of Fontfroide, can be reached by walking amidst the "garrigue". Founded in 1065, it is reknown for its cloister, capitular chamber and its rose garden with over 3000 rosebushes.
The area around Bizanet is rich in vineyards, castles, abbeys, pretty villages and markets. Activities include sighseeing, walking and cycling in unspoilt nature.
In Bizanet, there is a grocery shop, a small supermarket, a baker, a butcher, a newsagent and a post office. On three days a week, there are market stalls selling fresh fish, oysters, poultry, cheese and fruit - everything in walking distance from the house.
Corbieres AOC-wine is sold by the litre in the winegrowers cooperative. Besides, there is about a dozen private wine cellars offering different wines, Carignan, Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvedre, black Grenache and Syrah being the most frequent vines of the Fontfroide area for the red wines and Maccabeu, Bourboulenc and white Grenache for the white ones..
Area Activities
Narbonne (15 minutes away), the previous capital town of the Roman "provincia narbonensis", is worth a visit (archbishop's palace and gothic cathedral of the XIth century, Via Domitia, Horreum). Other Roman sites are within reach (Roman potters museum of Amphoralis, Oppidum in Nissan with silos, cisterns and foundations).The Canal du Midi as well as the endless sandy beaches of the Mediterranean (Narbonne Plage, Gruissan, La Franqui) are only half an hour drive while the World Heritage City of Carcassonne with its ramparts flanked with thirty nine different towers can be reached within one hour.
The visit of the fortified village of Lagrasse with its Benedictine Abbey and cobbled streets can easily be combined with a refreshing bath in the river Orbieu.
Bizanet is ideally situated for exploring the Cathar castles in stunning nature. Every season offerts its botanical richness (wild orchids, iris, genets, thyme, rosemary and lavender). The fortresses of Peyrepertuse and Queribus perched on rocky peaks offer an unforgettable view to the Mediterranean and the Canigou together. In Villerouge-Termenes where the last "parfait" Belibaste died, burnt alive, the Medieval Rotisserie of the Castle (with its crenellated round towers) even offers medieval food prepared according to original recipes ... to be tasted without forks and knives.
The main cultural highlights are: carnivals in Narbonne (february) and Limoux (january to march), brass festival in Narbonne (may), theater festival in Narbonne (beginning of july), theater, music and dance festival in Carcassonne (july and august), philosophy and literature meetings in Lagrasse (august).
Last but not least, the Corbieres is a famous region for food and wine. The covered market of Narbonne (open every day) and the market of Lezignan Corbieres offer a big choice of fresh sea food, fish, herbs, cheese stands. Good country restaurants are within 30 minutes drive (even two with 2 Michelins stars).
Location informationBeach : 12 kmLake : 25 km River : 15 km Golf: 30 km Garage: 2 km Restaurant: 4 km Cafe: 4 km Airport: 50 km - Carcassonne - Perpignan |
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FacilitiesBarbeque, Garden furniture, Patio terrace, Dishwasher, Freezer, Fridge, Iron, Oven, Cooker, Washing machine, Stereo, |
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Other ChargesElectricity: From november to april incl.: to be paid extra.Cleaning: End cleaning compulsory 50 euros to be paid on arrival. Linens: on request: € 20 per person for linens (bed linens, bath towels and dish towels for both kitchens) |
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