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 Sleeps
Max: 4 (in 2 double bedrooms)
Town: Espéraza
Region: Languedoc-Roussillon,
Aude
Département
Facilities: Well equipped kitchen, extractor fan, modern
electric radiators, wireless broadband and free calls to landlines
in France. Bath and shower, washing machine
Current Weekly
Rates
Property Location
A period cottage (gîte) situated on a quiet
side road in the centre of the small historic market town of
Espéraza, deep in the South of France. The gîte
lies just off the main square, overlooking trees and gardens,
near to the River
Aude. Car parking (including disabled car parking) is available,
off the main tree-lined square.
  The
town is typical of the region, with narrow lanes and architecture
in local stone dating back to the Middle Ages. Many houses have
decorative features peculiar to the town. Within two minutes
walk you will find boulangeries, patisseries, tabacs, bars,
restaurants, bank, a post office, and a grade I listed church.
People come from miles around for the Sunday Market. There is
also a smaller market on Thursdays.
Unusually for such a small town, Espéraza also boasts
two museums.
 The
map on the right shows the central square ("Place de la
République"), with the location of the cottage marked
by a red spot. (The road is variously known as the rue Barbès,
avenue Barbès or boulevard Barbès.)
 Espéraza
is in the département of the Aude, in the Languedoc-Roussillon
region. It lies on a meander of the River Aude, just north of
the foothills of the Pyrenees. Although the cottage is in the
town centre with access to all amenities, you can be walking
along river banks or in the hills within five minutes. The main
arterial road, the D118, passes near the town, out of sight
and hearing, but giving rapid access to many local places of
interest. The Gîte is 6 km from Quillan to the South,
and 15 km from Limoux to the north. It is the perfect base for
those looking for the real rural France.
 The
cottage is a comfortably and thoughtfully furnished. It has
books for adults and children, some tapes and other entertainment.
Each double bedroom has its own bathroom and hairdryers are
provided as are fans in the summer months. The kitchen is well
equipped to sample the great local produce. It has recently
been refurbished. While retaining many of its original features
such as exposed beams, window fastenings, large quarry floor
tiles and canal-tile roof, it also offers modern comforts.
- Sitting Room / Kitchen.
- Dining table and 4 chairs, 2 armchairs, buffet and wall
storage, extractor fan, Gas cooker and oven and microwave.
- Ground floor lavatory. WC, hand basin, washing machine.
- Bedroom 1, Tiled floor, Double bed, side table, wardrobe
and chest.
- Bathroom 1, Tiled floor, Bath, Shower, WC, two hand basins.
- Bedroom 2, Tiled floor, Double bed, two side tables, Large
built-in wardrobe, games cupboard and armchair.
- Bathroom 2, Tiled floor, Shower, Hand basin.
- Good quality linen and towels are provided for ten euros
per week per person
- Cot, baby linen and baby bath available on request.
The owners live nearby and are available if needed. They speak
fluent English. Further facilities can be provided on request.
Local Facilities/Places of Interest
All around the area are castles, mountains, historic abbeys,
churches, gorges, grottoes and spas. The town lies in the very
heart of Cathar Country, the location of some of the most important
and portentous events of medieval Europe, vestiges of which
can be seen everywhere. Many of the most famous Cathar sites
are only a short drive or cycle ride away. It is less than a
two hour's walk away to the hilltop village of Rennes-le-Château,
the mystery village of the the Languedoc, a site of continuing
mysteries surrounding the discovery of vast treasures by the
local priest over a century ago. (There are local bookshops
in the area entirely dedicated the Cathars, local Templars and
the Rennes-le-Chateau mystery.)
The area is a delight for those seeking active holidays. Cycling,
the French national sport, is the most popular. You can hire
mountain bikes ("VTTs") from Thomas Loisirs, 54 Avenue
de Perpignan (three minutes' walk from the house, over the river).
Tel: 04 68 74 10 97. Esperaza Church, a grade I listed building
in the Town Square. They're open all year 9am to noon and 2pm
to 7pm Monday to Saturday, and 10am to noon on Sundays.
There's also horse riding, hang-gliding, white-water rafting,
kayaking and canoeing, mountain climbing, fishing and walking…even
hot air ballooning. In the winter, there's skiing in the Pyrenees,
less than an hour's drive away. Hot springs abound in this area
and there are many naturally heated swimming pools and natural
lakes.
Flying for qualified pilots and flight initiation for children
is available within an hour's drive at the Flight
Training Centre in Carcassonne.
 The
surrounding countryside is stunning and varied throughout the
year. To the South are the foothills of the Pyrenees, then the
real Pyrenees, and the Spanish border, about an hour's drive
away. One of the old pilgrimage routes to Santiago (St-Jacques)
de Compostella passes through Limoux, Espéraza, the Gorge
de Pierre-Lys, through the mountains and on into Spain. To the
East are the Corbières, one of the few remaining wildernesses
in Europe, where boar still roam wild, and beyond it the Mediterranean
coast, including Perpignan, Collioure and a number of holiday
beaches In the winter there there are a number of Skiing
and snow boarding resorts between one and two hours' drive
away.
 To
the West lies the Plateau de Sault, a high plateau of forests
and rolling countryside, and beyond it Andorra. To the north
are vineyards and historic cities like Carcassonne. Local wines
worth investigating include Blanquette de Limoux, a white sparkling
wine; Fitou a rich red from the nearby Corbières; Muscat,
a sweet white wine and Maury a port style of drink both served
as aperitifs. To the north the famous red wines of the Minervois.
A very good selection of wines of the Languedoc region is stocked
by the local supermarkets and is also available directly from
the producers. Click on the following link for Languedoc
wines
 Like
many towns in area Esperaza is proud of its Occitan heritage:
The description at the bottom of the sign is written in the
Occitan language and translates into English as Occitan Village
.Though now French, the area was independent for many centuries.
Occitan is still spoken locally and the Catalan language is
spoken just a few miles away. At the Sunday market, you can
sample Catalonian delicacies as well as local ones, many of
them organic, including bread, wine, dairy products, honey,
vegetables and mushrooms.
  Five
minutes' walk away near the railway station is a museum dedicated
to hat making, the traditional industry of the area. Another,
next to it, is dedicated to dinosaurs. The area is rich in prehistoric
fossils and important discoveries have been made near here.
Some of the digs are open to visitors.
Local wildlife is also an attraction for many visitors. Because
of its varied terrain, the Aude possesses more than twice the
number of plant species than the whole of the UK, including
some 80 types of orchid. It is similarly rich in animal species,
particularly birds.
The house is available all year round. In winter winter many
of Esperaza's inhabitants and visitors take off for days of
skiing and snow boarding on the nearby slopes, Esperaza is a
great stepping stone for a skiing holiday when some members
of the family or group are not that keen on skiing. It is also
used as a base while searching for a property in the Languedoc.
Its well equipped and homey atmosphere and broadband and telephone
facilities make it a perfect choice for those wishing to take
a short sabbatical.
Getting There
This property is located near the following major towns:
- Carcassone 50 km
- Perpignan 60 Km
- Toulouse 90 Km
- Foix 70 Km
 Carcassonne.
Espéraza is 50 kilometers south of the medieval walled
city of Carcassonne. Ryanair flies daily from Stansted (Near
London in the UK) to Carcassonne, and regularly each week from
Sheffield (UK), Liverpool (UK) East Midlands (UK) Dublin (Ireland),
Shannon (Ireland), offering cheap flights mid week during the
low season. Cars can be hired at the airport. By Road from Carcassonne,
head due south down the Aude valley on the N118, through Limoux
and Couiza. Turn off right to Espéraza. There is also
a rail link and a coach service to Espéraza from the
airport.
Perpignan. Espéraza is 70 kilometres North West
of Perpignan, on the coast near the Spanish border. Ryanair
flies daily from Stansted (Near London in the UK) to Perpignan,
offering cheap flights mid week during the low season. Cars
can be hired at the airport. By Road from Perpignan, take the
D117 west to Quillan, then take the D118 northwards and turn
left to Espéraza. There is also a coach service from
Perpignan.
Toulouse. Espéraza is about an hour and a half's
drive from Toulouse, which has an international airport served
by British Airways from London Heathrow, Air France from London
Gatwick, and Buzz (cheap mid-week flights) from London Stansted
and Bristol. From Toulouse head towards Carcassonne (by car,
rail or coach) and then continue as above.
Click on the following link for flights
from the UK and Ireland
Contact
Contact Sophie about renting this gîte in the south of
France. You can reach her by email
or ring +33 (0)468.20.11.42:
04 68 20 11 42 from France
011 33 468 20 11 42 from the USA
00 33 468 20 11 42 from the UK and most other countries
Once you have established availability, you will need to check
our terms and conditions above and then print off and fill out
a booking
form.
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