Villa with Private Pool in a Pretty Village on the Canal du Midi
Peaceful Location Within a Small Village with Wine Chateaux and 2 Restaurants
Sleeps 4/6 (2 Bedrooms)
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La Voila is a very private 2 bedroom villa situated in the small village of Ventenac-en-Minervois and easily accessed from a range of international airports; Toulouse (90 mins), Carcassonne (45 mins.), Montpellier (90 mins.), Perpignan (60 mins.), Gerona (2 hrs.) and Barcelona (3 hrs). With airport car hire, it couldn't be simpler! Ryanair and others offer discount fares to all these airports. By car, Ventenac-en-Minervois is located 20 minutes drive from the A9 auto route at Narbonne. From the west (Toulouse, Carcassonne etc), use the A61 auto route. Full details and directions will accompany your booking confirmation. The villa is ideally situated for days at the coast (about 35 mins. Drive) or exploring the Cathar region (Minerve is 25 mins. by car and Carcassonne 45 mins.). The Aude valley will take you into the mountains including Rennes le Chateau (Da Vinci Code).
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| Rental Period | Per Night | Per Week | Per Month | Min. Stay (Nights) |
| 28 August 2010 - 1 October 2010 | £795 | 7 | ||
| 2 October 2010 - 22 October 2010 | £595 | 7 | ||
| 23 October 2010 - 18 March 2011 | £495 | 7 | ||
| 19 March 2011 - 20 May 2011 | £595 | 7 | ||
| 21 May 2011 - 15 July 2011 | £845 | 7 | ||
| 16 July 2011 - 26 August 2011 | £1095 | 7 | ||
| 27 August 2011 - 30 September 2011 | £795 | 7 | ||
| 1 October 2011 - 21 October 2011 | £595 | 7 | ||
| 22 October 2011 - 16 March 2012 | £495 | 7 | ||
| 28 April 2012 - 18 May 2012 | £645 | 7 | ||
| 19 May 2012 - 6 July 2012 | £945 | 7 | ||
| 7 July 2012 - 14 July 2012 | £1195 | 7 | ||
| 1 September 2012 - 28 September 2012 | £895 | 7 | ||
| 29 September 2012 - 2 November 2012 | £595 | 7 |
Notes on prices
Prices are for the property per week in UK Pounds.
Discount available for 3 week bookings or longer. Pool is available May - October. Heating charges apply October - April by meter reading. A small laundering charge per item is paid locally to our caretakers on departure.
Changeover day
In the main season Saturday is changeover day, other days are possible in the off season.
Arrival is between 4pm and 6pm, departure by 10am latest.
Accommodation
| Bedrooms: | Bedroom 1 double, with King size bed in-built wardrobes. Bedroom 2 double, with twin beds in-built wardrobes. Gallerie Mezzanine with single fouton settee. Living area with bed settee. |
| Bathrooms: | House bathroom - a modern good sized room with heated towel radiator, WC, bath (with shower handset) and a separate shower enclosure with a powerful shower. Shower area - in basement level for use from the garden/BBQ area with WC, shower and basin. |
| Kitchen: | Modern fitted kitchen with ceramic hob, canopy extractor, built-in oven, 2 built-in conbination oven/microwaves integrated dishwasher and an American fridge/freezer. Modern Shaker style kitchen with a breakfast table to seat 4/5. |
| Utility Room: | Located in the basement level. Auto washer and auto dryer with utility sink for use from the garden BBQ area. This a large area with full size table tennis table. |
| Living Rooms: | Sky box with a free-to-air card which receives approx 100 channels including BBC, ITV, FM radio etc. Please bring your own Sky card for sports/movie channels etc. TV with DVD/CD playback. Traditional feel with formal dining table, plus plenty of seating. |
| Other: | The villa, built in the Mediterranean style, with terracotta roof tiles, terracotta tiled floors, oak beams and shuttered windows, has a large and airy living/dining area with a minstrels' gallery and traditional fire. Peaceful setting in a quiet village. |
| Cleaning/towels/ linen/maid service: |
Towels (but not beach/pool towels) and linen are provided. A small laundry charge per item used is paid locally to our caretakers at the end of your stay. |
| Amenities/Facilities: | hob/stove oven fridge/freezer microwave dishwasher washing machine tumble dryer iron/ironing board satellite tv tv room fans barbecue private pool (for sole use of guests) |
| Location Type: |
Notes on accommodation
The large basement level houses an additional wc/shower/basin/utility sink for use from the garden and outside barbecue/dining area. There is also a full size table tennis table (please replace broken/lost balls/bats) and other games. To keep the villa cool, all windows and French doors are fitted with external shutters and the bathroom and kitchen are fitted with an automatic ventilation system. Windows are fitted with retractable fly screens. Bedrooms have portable fan units for very hot weather.
Accessibility
The main house area is on one level. There is a step up at the front entrance. The BBQ area and lower level are accessed via steps down the side of the house or via a sloping driveway with loose chippings. The drive way can accommodate several cars with ease and the whole property is private and safe with electric gates operated by a zapper and locked garden gate. The garden is fully fenced.
Outside
The house is situated in a quiet cul-de-sac a short walk to the canalside shop, post office, 2 restaurants, wine chateau and the Canal du Midi. The garden is completely private and secure with Mediterranean flora of acacias, figs, pines, hibiscus and palm trees. There's a sun room and sheltered patio (with sun awning) adjacent to the small swimming pool (7.8 m x 3.8m) and outside there is plenty of furniture for sunbathing or staying cool in the shade. The landscaped garden leads to a lower level with built-in barbecue and the covered, outside dining area. Which is illuminated for evening use. There is an open area for sunbathers away from the pool and space to set up parasols for shade. The pool is fitted with a safety alarm. The house has a smoke detector. Winter heating (at extra cost) is provided by electric auto convectors in all rooms.
Coast/Beach
The nearest Beach is Narbonne Plage which takes around 35 mins by car. There are numerous beach resorts on the Med. coast and the Lac de Jaurass (about 20 mins drive inland) has a beach and good swimming conditions. Down the coast (about 1.5 hrs) is the famous fishing village of Couloire at the point where the Pyrenees meet the Med.
Skiing
Nearest ski slopes are a good 2.5 to 3 hour drive up the Aude valley. Not a bad distance for a weekend trip but not really feasible for a day!
Special interest holidays
La Voila is an ideal location for a cycling break. Whether you like canal towpaths or prefer the road, our local specialist will be able to provide for your needs. Quality bike hire, route planning, baggage drop etc is all available within a 5 minute drive of the villa. Please ask for details.
Travel
La Voila is easily accessed from a range of international airports; Toulouse (90 mins), Carcassonne (45 mins), Montpellier (90 mins), Perpignan (60 mins), Gerona (2 hrs) and Barcelona (3 hrs). With airport car hire, it couldn't be simpler! Ryanair and others offer discount fares to all these airports from regional UK airports. By car, Ventenac-en-Minervois is located 20 minutes drive from the A9 auto route at Narbonne. From the west (Toulouse, Carcassonne use the A61 autoroute.
Distances
Other villages close by are Canet d'Aude (5 mins by car), Ginestas (5 mins) and St Nazaire and Le Somaile (5 mins). Narbonne (25 mins). Carcassone (45 mins or 1 hour via the scenic route). Minerve (20 mins). Beziers (35 mins). Toulouse (90 mins). Perpignan (60 mins). Rennes Le Chateau (90 mins).
Further details
The village has 2 bar/restaurants: Le Grilladou is dining al fresco under the trees (May until October) on the mooring front by the canal and Chateau. Its informal and very reasonably priced frequented by all on a regular basis. Canal cruisers moor overnight in Ventenac and so this restaurant is popular. If you just want to sip the local wine or have a cold beer that's fine also. The cuisine is all French local style: grilled meats, fish and seasonal vegetables. Take away pizzas are also available. Lou Coustellos is another bar/restaurant next door which is open all year. 5 mins drive by car in Ginestas is another all year restaurant L'Annais, a little more formal with a wider menu but still very reasonable. Of course there are countless vineyards in the area and constant wine tastings 'degustation'. A tasting at the Chateau de Ventenac is a must and while there have a look around the wine museum.
Booking notes
25% non-refundable deposit required at the time of booking. Balance of payment due no later than 8 weeks prior to arrival. Booking conditions apply. Damage deposit of £200 is required and is refunded less any damages, breakages or additional cleaning costs. Lower rates available for bookings of 3 weeks or more please enquire. Linen, bath and kitchen towels provided. A small laundering charge per item is paid locally to our English caretakers who will assist you during your stay.
Guest comments
Dear Nigel and Sue. Villa was wonderful, so private and so well equipped. Ventenac is a lovely small village and the winery was well utilised. We will definitely book again. Regards and thanks, Jim and Moira Graham 28 June 2006.
Dear Nigel and Sue. We have thoroughly enjoyed our holiday in your excellent villa and the pool was an added bonus especially when the temperature hit 30+. The area is so peaceful with plenty of places for sightseeing, fine beaches not far away and we can recommend the boat trip down the Canal du Midi from Homps! Tom and Sue Peel.
Owner profile
Cycling 2009
About the owner
My wife and I live and work in Yorkshire but have always loved France and promised ourselves that one day, we would have our own place there. Our dream came true in 2004 when we purchased in Languedoc a region we fell in love with for its long sunny days, picturesque villages and fascinating history. Although we're resticted, like most working people, to a few weeks holiday a year, we love to visit whenever we can for what is a truly relaxing holiday. Fortunately the area is served by numerous low cost airlines from all parts of the UK and we typically travel Ryanair from Leeds/Bradford for about £60 each incl taxes etc. If you like a place that's private and peacful but not remote then I'm sure you'll love it as we do.
Year purchased: 2004
Why the owner chose a home in this location
We chose to buy in Ventenac-en-Minervois because of it's sunny climate, varied landscape, rich medieval history and ease of access to both the Med for the beach and mountains for the scenery. The area is served by several small airports (Carcassonne, Perpignan, Montpelier) all within 1 hrs drive and by two larger ones (Toulouse and Girona) both within 90mins. The choice of cheap flights from the uk is thus excellent from all points. We have flown to Barcelona (a 3 hr drive) and taken the opportunity to spend a few days on the Costa Brava before driving up. We have also driven down via the famous Millau bridge to the north.
Unique benefits of the property
The house is literally a two minute walk from the picturesque village front directly on the Canal-Du-Midi with 2 small bar/restuarants, wine Chateau and shop for your morning croissants and immediate needs. There are numerous other restaurants within a 15 minute drive and hypermarkets within 25mins.
Carcassonne is probably the most complete medievil city in France and the Canal-du-Midi is a World Heritage Site. There are numerous historic sites all easily accessed. The wine choice, as you would guess, is vast and we like to wonder down to our local Chateau where they will happily decant you a litre of lovely Rose for about £1.20!
A 35 min drive will deposit you on a sandy beach by the Med and a 2 hour drive will get you to the Pyrannees. The roads are quiet and ideal for cycling.
For booking and further information
Property Ref FR2298
Nigel & Sue Tapper
Tel: (UK) +44 (0)1943 601075 (eve)
Tel: (UK) +44 (0)1943 602147 (day)
Fax: (UK) +44 (0)1943 816091
Owners Website: Click here
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Property Ref FR2298
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