Large Village House with Heated Saltwater Pool and Tennis Court
Cricket Net, Boules Court, Pool Table, Games - Suit Large Family Groups
Sleeps 13+
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La Maison, Caignac is a former hospice built in 1707 and converted to luxury level in 2003. Set in 2 acres of formal gardens and a small wood it is equipped with a heated saltwater pool, tennis court, boules court, cricket net and outdoor chess. It has a purpose built barbecue, rotisserie and pizza oven alongside outside dining for 14 people. Located 35kms from Toulouse and 55kms from Carcassonne, Caignac is a small village of 120 people and La Maison is opposite a small bar, restaurant and small shop. Access to skiing in the Pyrenees takes 1 hour to the lift at Ax-les-Thermes as is the Mediterranean at Narbonne plage. One can walk, horse ride or cycle the towpath of the Canal du Midi some 7kms away. The house is equipped with Sky/DVD's and is an ideal rest place for multi family groups and reunions all the year round with the temperature being 20/30+ from late April to the end of October. It is in the heart of 'Cathar Country' set among the rolling foothills of the Pyrenees.
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| Rental Period | Per Night | Per Week | Per Month | Min. Stay (Nights) |
| 7 January 2012 - 4 May 2012 | £1500 | 7 | ||
| 5 May 2012 - 6 July 2012 | £2500 | 7 | ||
| 7 July 2012 - 31 August 2012 | £3950 | 7 | ||
| 1 September 2012 - 28 September 2012 | £2500 | 7 | ||
| 29 September 2012 - 21 December 2012 | £1500 | 7 |
Notes on prices
Prices shown are for the property per week in UK Pounds. For guests wishing to pay in Euros, either locally or in the UK, a rate will be agreed at the time of booking.
Denotes the availability of the swimming pool - heated to 26 degrees if required.
Changeover day
Changeover day is a Saturday. Outgoing guests to vacate the property by 10.00, incoming guests may arrive at any time but should deposit bags in the hall and use the pool etc, do the supermarket or go to lunch with access from 14.00
Accommodation
| Bedrooms: | Master Bedroom with King sized double bed, dressing room and en suite bathroom. Bedroom 2 has a double. Bedroom 3 has two singles. Bedroom 4 has a double. Bedroom 5 has three single beds (or a double/single). Bedroom 6 has two singles. |
| Bathrooms: | In addition to the marble en suite bathroom there are four other bathrooms/shower rooms |
| Kitchen: | There are three kitchens all fully equipped with ovens, hobs, dishwashers, microwaves and the usual electrical equipment. |
| Utility Room: | There are three washing machines and dryers. |
| Living Rooms: | La Maison Caignac has three salons, one with SKY TV and a DVD, another with a pool table,pin table, table football, dart board - all with open fires or wood burning stoves. |
| Other: | There is a mezzanine level to the main salon which has a library, fax and computer point and sleeping on divans for a further two people. |
| Cleaning/towels/ linen/maid service: |
All linen and towels, both house and pool are provided. The two house-keepers visit on changeover day when additional visits may be arranged which are payable locally. |
| Amenities/Facilities: | hob/stove oven fridge/freezer fridge microwave dishwasher washing machine tumble dryer iron/ironing board satellite tv tv telephone central heating cot high chair barbecue private pool (for sole use of guests) pool heating |
| Suitability: | pets accepted |
| Location Type: |
Notes on accommodation
La Maison Caignac can be split into three self contained apartments by simply locking two doors. Alternatively one wing can accommodate (say) a young family so that early risers need not disturb the rest of the house.
The west end salon has been equipped as a games room including darts, pool table, pin table and table football. It also has a woodburning stove.
Outside
The heated pool measures 12m x 6m and features a 3m diameter circular pool at one corner for non swimmers. It is alarmed with infra-red beams to comply with the latest French safety legislation. The pool is surrounded by a paved patio with a dozen loungers, tables, parasols,hammocks and the purpose built barbecue, vine clad pergola and outside dining area.
The grounds of two acres house a tennis court, a cricket net, a table tennis table, a boules court, clock golf and outdoor chess and kids games like lawn darts and giant pick-a-stix (just don't ask!)
Coast/Beach
The Mediterranean at Narbonne Plage can be accessed within an hour by car. There is a large (5km) inland lake within fifteen minutes' drive where one can hire wind surfers, Lasers and Hobie Cats together with pedaloes and canoes.
Golf
There are half a dozen golf courses within 50kms, four on the outskirts of Toulouse and an 18 hole course in the grounds of the Domaine d'Auriac hotel on the outskirts of Carcassonne. My preferred option is Golfe d'Ariege which is 50 minutes' drive away on the Foix - St Girons road - a full up and down 18 with a separate six holes of 125-175m for juniors/warm ups.
Skiing
The local skiing area is Ax Bonascre (access to 2300m) and parking exists at the base of the lift at Ax-les-Thermes, a spa town at 700m some 60 minutes' drive from Caignac. There is access to three domaines offering 3xblack runs, 5xred, 5xblue and 3xgreen one of which is 7kms long. More extensive pistes are available in Andorra (90 minutes) or La Mongie (90 minutes). All resorts are ideal for 'day skiing' (as opposed to a skiing holiday).
Special interest holidays
La Maison Caignac is used as a centre for many 'special interest groups'. The cuisine of South West France, French Language, Bridge, Yoga/Pilates/Contemplative relaxation, Painting, Psychic instruction, The History and Trail of the Cathares.
Travel
Toulouse airport (Blagnac) is 40 minutes' drive, Carcassonne (Salvaza) is 45 minutes away. Ryanair to Carcassonne, easyjet/BA/Flybe to Toulouse. The use of a car is essential and Europcar is recommended. If one is driving from a channel port St Malo is seven hours and Calais is ten hours (dependent on Paris).
Distances
The nearest town is Villefranche de Lauragais (7kms, Toulouse is 35kms and Carcassone 55kms. The Pyrenees are visible from just outside the village and are accessed within 40 minutes. Barcelona is a three hour drive away and the duty free country of Andorra is 90 minutes' drive.
Further details
Within an hour's travel, sometimes much less, one can ski (water and snow), boat (sail or power) ride horses, go white water rafting, hot air ballooning, parachuting, walking the ski fields in summer, cycling the towpath of the canal or boating on it. There is a village/town market on every day of the week and the local cuisine (largely based on the duck) is represented with an abundance of restaurants including a one starred Michelin.
Booking notes
A deposit of 25% is payable upon confirmation and the balance is due a month before departure. A security deposit of £750 in the form of a cheque is required and this would be torn up/returned in the case of an accident free let. All the appropriate owner insurance is in place.
Guest comments
"A marvellous holiday for two families with six children aged from 6 to 15. We loved all the garden games facilities". AG, Bath, July 2009
"Sheer luxury, the best villa holiday we've had so far in France. Fun for the kids, relaxing for the adults". EHLC, Exeter. August 2010
"The house is just wonderful,the gardens a delight and we just loved the area. We'll be back for our next family celebration". JKC, Oxon May 2009
Owner profile
About the owner
Sue and I (Bob Lewis) bought La Maison, Caignac in May 2002 and the extensive refurbisments and modernisation started in September of that year and finished in June 2003. Although Sue works as a private obstetric physiotherapist, I'm retired and together we're frequently ferrying between London and Caignac.
Should you ever be near Wimbledon and wish to check out the photo albums and have an apèro do call in.
Why the owner chose a home in this location
Sue and I spent eight trips and had viewed 24 properties before we encountered Caignac. We bought in May 2002 and the builders moved in in September and finished in June 2003 having refurbished everything to luxury level. We love it. We'd previously holidayed in most areas of France and knew where we didn't want to be. The family chose by consensus - shopping in Toulouse for the Lewis Ladies, local rugby for the men, Lautrec at Albi, the nearby Canal du Midi, the day skiing in the Pyrenees, the Med, the Cathare trail, a relatively tourist free area. When we first introduced ourselves to the village bar we half apologised for being Brit invaders - to be told by Nathalie 'Well! At least you're not Belgian.' Caignac is at 300m - rolling countryside like (say) Wiltshire. Bien.
Unique benefits of the property
We like best about Caignac: The roaring log fires in winter. The mini-Olympics in the games room. The craic of a great crowd together. Summer days joshing around the pool. Summer evenings dining around the BBQ. The so friendly Languedocienne locals. The bar across the road. Access to skiing in winter. A trip on the canal du midi in summer. The huge kitchen and four hour meals. The tennis court and a big five setter. Fields of sunflowers from June onwards. Trips around the Cathare castles. The mystery of Rennes le Chateau.
A 'let's go the the Med' day. A session with the boys in the cricket net. A trip out to a duck restaurant. Having a big reunion party. Rugby in Toulouse. Hey! let's go to Andorre. Who's for a game of boules? Fireworks on New Year's eve.
For booking and further information
Property Ref FR435
Contact Name:
Rob Lewis
(UNITED KINGDOM) +44 2089468561
Alternate Contact Details:
(UNITED KINGDOM) +44 7767396358
cellphone
Owners Website: Click here
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Property Ref FR435
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