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DESCRIPTION
'Les Coquelicots' is a charmingly restored, detached cottage, located at the side of and slightly above, a small hamlet, which is set in our 'Parc Naturel', a beautiful, protected area of hills, mountains, lakes, streams and rivers. Most mountains are covered in woods and forests, where many species of shrubs and trees grow, including cherry, walnut, juniper, chestnut - both 'conkers' and edible varieties. There is also a vast range of wild flowers and orchids to be found. Throughout the 'Parc', wild boar and deer find food and shelter, as do other smaller mammals, including badgers, beech-martens and red-squirrels. Chamois, mouflons and wild-cats exist, in small numbers in some areas. There are also many bird species, from wrens and warblers to three species of eagles, plus butterflies, moths, various reptiles and many interesting insects.
There are towns and villages to explore, cafes and restaurants to discover and very varied and lovely countryside to enjoy. Not far away are almost 'wall-to-wall' vineyards, with their 'caves' offering free tastings of their very quaffable, and affordable, wines. Our area is said to have some of the purest air in France, so is an ideal setting for relaxing and recharging one's batteries or for pursuing a more active holiday, as it offers possibilities for tennis, golf, fishing, canoeing, swimming (in swimming pools, rivers or lakes), cycling, riding and walking. Pleasant walks into the mountains start from the cottage.
It is a very interesting area in it's own right and is also well positioned for exploring further afield. Within easy reach are the vineyards of Minervois, Corbieres, Fitou, St. Chinian, Faugeres and Cotes du Languedoc. To the south lies historic Cathar country, with many ruined fortresses, often perched on impossible hilltops,
reinforcing the story of it's turbulent times. Also south are the Pyrenees, Spain (100 mls.) and duty-free Andorra (160 mls.) West are towns such as Mazamet (leather goods and good shopping centre), Albi (red brick Cathedral and the Toulouse-Lautrec museum) and vibrant Toulouse (1.75 hrs.). To the immediate north are mountains upto 3,400 feet high and lakes ('Route des Lacs'). The CEVENNES proper ('The Mountains of the Sun'), lie @ 100 miles north and are well worth a special journey, to see their diverse and often spectacular countryside and their Griffin, Egyptian and Black Vultures, the first two re-introduced, the latter newly introduced, as part of a big effort to save that spectacular, bone-breaking bird from extinction.
East to Beziers, Montpellier, Mediterranean beaches (1.25 hrs.). - and the Camargue?
Our parent village of Courniou (1 km.) has a 'well worth a visit' grotte (cave) and houses the headquarters of the French Speliologie (Caving) Club. It also has a telephone box, a Post Office, 2 restaurants and a good and well stocked village store, - try madame's meats, cheeses, hams, fruit, vegetables and wines - very good and reasonably priced.
The cottage, my home when not let out (see note at end), has many exposed beams and stands in it's own grounds beside a normally quiet minor road through the mountains. It has one double-bedded bedroom, with a choice of British sized, non-allergenic, pillows and duvets of various densities/TOG ratings. Bed linen and towels are not included in the rental, but can be provided, at a supplement, if requested at the time of booking. It has a small dining room, seating 4, a lounge area and a compact fitted kitchen, with a 4-burner gas hob (bottle gas), refrigerator and a combination oven, offering fan-assisted oven/microwave/grill and combined fan-assisted and micro wave. For indoor relaxation, there is a 3-seater settee and armchair, colour T.V. with SKY progs. and 3 French terrestrial channels, DVD/CD player, with Surround Sound system, video recorder, cassette player and radio. Downstairs, a utility room contains a handbasin, washing machine, iron and ironing board, indoor drying line and freezer space. Alongside it is the indoor bathroom with bath and over-bath shower, handbasin and toilet.
A three roomed annexe, 10 paces across the patio from the front door, has a storage room (patio furniture and cushions), a seperate toilet room and a bathroom offering a corner bath, with plenty of space for G. and T.s, etc. It also has a LARGE shower cubicle, much more space than any one person could ever need, so no elbow-banging!
If ever necessary, the cottage is heated by electric radiators and also has a wood burning stove, behind a glass door. Fuel and electricity are included in the rental. I think that you will find that you will have all the home-from-home comfort needed.
Outside the front door you will have a large, sun-trap patio, with natural as well as parasol shading, giving a view up to our mountain, the 788 metres (app. 2585 feet)high 'Roc de St.-Bauzille', where Buzzards and Short-Toed Eagles often soar and hunt over it's flanks and summit. A B.B.Q., patio table and 4 chairs, plus High-Backed chairs, loungers, cushions and parasol are provided for outdoor eating and enjoyment. There is also a secluded terrace, ideal for sunbathing, but be aware that the sun can be very hot, so do take precautions. Relax and enjoy, with care. The path from the cottage gate slopes down to the patio and front door, and the grounds of the cottage are mostly natural, i.e. wild, and terraced, so, regrettably, are not suitable for young children or infirm persons, but will not present any problems to an older child or the average adult.
The cottage and grounds/patio/terrace enjoy a southerly aspect and attract many birds, butterflies, insects, etc., to feed on the wild flowers, spring bulbs, roses, passion flowers and fruits, Figs, Bay and Eucalyptus bushes or large Palm tree. Lizards, Humming-Bird moths, Swallowtail and Scarce-Swallowtail butterflies, Preying Mantis and Dragon-Flies, can all be regularly observed whilst relaxing on the patio, perhaps with a glass of a nice local wine, whilst if one raises one's eyes slightly skywards, Buzzards may be circling overhead and many other birds, including Nightingales, may be seen or heard. The cottage contains a good selection of books and magazines, mainly on France, Nature, Photography, Travel, Wines and Cuisine.
A telephone is left on-line for all incoming and local outgoing calls.
N.B. When 'Les Coquelicots' is let out, I am not at the property and most of my personal items are packed away, although some family photographs and many other odds and ends are left in place. I often stay in the area, usually within an hour or so drive, should I be needed. Otherwise a French lady who has a reasonable knowledge of English, takes care of the cottage for me.
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Suntrap patio ouside front door.
Cottage on left, ext. bathroom on right.
On patio, house left, mountain in front.
View to where Eagles and Buzzards dare.
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