Charming and Romantic Gite, Next to and Overlooking the Canal Du Midi
In Ancient Hamlet, Jazz In Summer, 30-45 Mins Drive To Coast, 30 To The Mountains, 30 To Corbieres
Sleeps 4/6 (2 and 3 bedrooms)
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Charming gites, dating from the 17th C. in the ancient hamlet of Le Somail. Gite 1, 37 Chemin, on two floors, above small artist gallery, 37 Chemin is right next to the Canal du Midi and has a beautiful view of the ancient bridge and the chapel. Beautiful in summer and atmospheric in winter, this romantic gite has full use of the private garden with shared swimming pool, table and chairs in the courtyard for meals and evenings spent watching the boats and enjoying the jazz music every Wednesday in summer. The gite has it's own private terrace with BBQ at the back, overlooking the garden. Gite 2, Halage has it's own outside seating and eating space, from which you can see the canal, and is a lovely calm cottage. Please note that it does not have pool access. The Canals tow paths provide lovely walks and cycle rides, whilst beaches are only 40 minutes away, the mountains 30 mins and rivers just a bike ride.
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| Rental Period | Per Night | Per Week | Per Month | Min. Stay (Nights) |
| 22 December 2011 - 5 January 2012 | €450 | - | ||
| 7 January 2012 - 31 March 2012 | €390 | - | ||
| 31 March 2012 - 5 May 2012 | €430 | - | ||
| 5 May 2012 - 16 June 2012 | €550 | - | ||
| 16 June 2012 - 30 June 2012 | €660 | - | ||
| 30 June 2012 - 1 September 2012 | €860 | - | ||
| 1 September 2012 - 6 October 2012 | €650 | - | ||
| 6 October 2012 - 27 October 2012 | €500 | - |
Halage Prices
| Rental Period | Per Night | Per Week | Per Month | Min. Stay (Nights) |
| 30 July 2011 - 1 October 2011 | €400 | 3 | ||
| 1 October 2011 - 17 December 2011 | €360 | 3 | ||
| 22 December 2011 - 5 January 2012 | €380 | 3 | ||
| 7 January 2012 - 31 March 2012 | €350 | 3 | ||
| 31 March 2012 - 30 June 2012 | €400 | 3 | ||
| 30 June 2012 - 29 September 2012 | €660 | 3 |
Changeover day
Saturday is changeover day, we can be flexible off season.
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Halage
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Bedrooms: Bedroom 1: good sized double room with double bed, armoire, window from which boats can be seen on the canal. Bedroom 2, also a double with double bed, also with views of the canal. Bedroom 3: adjoining bedroom 2, most suitable for children, single bed. Bathrooms: Down stairs bathroom with shower. Kitchen: Ceramic hob cooker, fridge, freezer, dishwasher. Living area: Living room (including kitchen) has Swedish wood burner for winter, good large sofa, table and chairs. TV (no TV signal) and DVD player, selection of films to play on request. Outside: Sitting area with table and chairs and barbecue. |
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Notes on accommodation
Both gites can be kept cool in summer by closing shutters and opening windows - as the French do, room fans available if you do get hot!
Linen and towels provided, the properties are cleaned at changeover, with fresh linens weekly.
37 Chemin: recently refurbished and charming, perfecly placed to see the famous bridge and the Canal, but far enough back to have a private feel.
Halage: this property is clean, fresh and comfortable and offered at a low price this year to reflect the fact that the cottage is gradually being modernised, off season. It therefore represents a great opportunity to stay in good accommadation at a low price in a very popular and beautiful place on the canal du midi - prices will go up! It is also particularly suitable for a longer winter stay, perhaps for those looking for property in the area, and it is also a great place to stay in winter to relax, walk, cook, watch films, and generally have a very relaxed winter holiday.
Accessibility
Properties are accessed by steps and therefore we regret not suitable for wheelchairs.
Outside
37 Chemin: Private garden with 10 metre by 3 - 4 metre pool which has easy steps at one end for sitting or for playing with children. The pool is shared with family (but not busy) and guests have plenty of decked sitting out area around the pool so that peace and privacy are maintained. Halage: sitting out area with BBQ, no pool access.
Hire bikes bring the river close (10 minute ride), where you can swim and sunbathe. Bikes available for hire, and we have an expert on great cycle routes, and special places by the river.
These properties are also great to stay in during winter and autumn. With our experience of the area we can provide maps and advice for the many walks in the surrounding areas - including the Corbieres and Cathar country. The peace and quiet of the off season break provides a great chance to unwind, cook, with ingredients from the local markets, cycle, walk, watch films, all next to a misty canal and a slow burning stove.
Coast/Beach
The Mediterranean coast is 30 minutes drive away. The lovely Chalet beaches of Gruissan (where Betty Blue was filmed) being our favourite, also the flamingo filled Etangs. The mountains are 30 minutes drive, here you can walk, hike and canoe. The rivers Cesse and Aude are close by, lovely for picnicking and swimming. This is also close to Cathare country - follow the sights of the Da Vinci Code. Boat hire, canoeing, riding, bikehire all available close by.
Special interest holidays
Iyengar yoga guidance for beginners available. Tuition by a well known local artist (Denis Carriere) in water colour, oil, and oil and pastels. Locally - great Indian cookery classes are available. Winter - this is a great place for some complete peace and quiet, and contemplation. A place to watch films next to the gently chugging burner, and to go for some stunning winter walks on beaches, mountains, the Corbieres with their Cathar castles, and the canal itself. French markets will provide great food to cook, and there are restaurants outside Somail warmed by fires to eat out in.
Travel
The airports of Perpignan, Bezier Cap D'Agde, Carcasonne are all within an hours drive, Montpelier just over an hour. Toulouse is two hours, Girona (Barcelona) is about two and a half hours. All serviced by Budget Airlines Ryan Air and Easyjet. Calais is 800 miles.
Distances
The lovely city of Narbonne, full of restaurants and famous for it's everyday foodmarket, 'Les Halles' (7.30 - 12 every day) and cathedral is fifteen minutes drive. Bezier is forty minutes, the famous Montpelier one and a bit hours. Carcasonne, whose famous castle was the inspiration for Walt Disney's Snow White castle is 45 minutes. There are many pretty local villages including the beautiful mountain village of Minerve.
Further details
The area has many food markets, and vide greniers. Occuring somewhere in the region almost every weekend in season, these are small local markets (brocantes) selling everything from bric a brac to beds to goats cheese. There are also many summer festivals in the outlying villages, including a large music festival in Narbonne and the huge summer festival in Bezier. In this area you can go to the beach, discover the many wine caves, enjoy great seafood as well as fantastic local produce, go the mountains for stunning beauty, walking and canoe hire to wind down the beautiful rivers. Le Somail has several restaurants, and there are many others in the area. The canal itself provides lovely walks, bike rides and boat hire, and there is horse riding available at local stables where you can ride in the mountains (Bize), or through rivers - up the road. For fishermen there is the canal itself and the nearby rivers. We're in a rural area, but just 15 minutes drive from the lovely city of Narbonne.
Booking notes
Booking is confirmed once we have a booking form returned to us as a hard copy and 20% of weekly rate, which is non refundable. Balance payable 8 weeks prior to arrival. We take a deposit of 150 euros/sterling on arrival as our seurity deposit and this is returned at the end of your stay or within two weeks. We are happy to take sterling at our agreed exchange rate, fixed at time of booking. Arrival expenses - welcome pack, bikes, extra towels, to be paid on arrival in euros.
Guest comments
We have yet to add guest comments, but are happy that we have many guests re booking and are told by all our guests that they absolutely love it!
House swap
House swap considered
For booking and further information
Property Ref FR4350
Sue Kennett
Tel: (France) + 33 (0)468 417 610
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Property Ref FR4350
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