Villa Barbacane

It is such a privilege to be able to stay a short stroll from La Cité de Carcassonne, a UNESCO World Heritage site, yet still be surrounded by the rural beauty of southern France. Imagine being able to gaze at the ancient ramparts from your heated swimming pool and garden terrace, let alone the view of the fireworks on Bastille Day!It’s not only Villa Barbacane’s wonderful setting that will impress you, but its tasteful interiors as well. The state-of-the-art kitchen allows for sociable cooking and dining with its large central island whilst the lounge looks out towards the south-facing terrace and distant Pyrenees. On the lower floor, kick back in the stylish TV lounge as children enjoy the games room with table football and board games. Five comfortable bedrooms also await sleeping up to 14 guests with flexible sleeping arrangements, each bedroom featuring wonderful cité or mountain views alongside en suite shower rooms and air-conditioning.Outside, enjoy the privacy of your garden beneath the young plane trees or dine al-fresco on the sunny east terrace. There’s a boules court with a stunning view as well as children’s play area whilst the garden terrace facing La Cité Médiévale is a beautiful place to enjoy a glass of Carcassonne wine with such magical vistas. You can also catch a glimpse of the ramparts from the heated salt-water swimming pool and poolside hot tub. Stroll along the country lane passing vineyards and within 5 minutes you will be standing by the largest fortified city in Europe. Wander through the imposing Porte Narbonnaise to be greeted with a warren of medieval lanes with inviting shops, cafes, restaurants and museums amongst the stone houses and historic buildings. A tour of the ramparts is a must and look out for historic re-enactments and other festivities across the citadel, especially in the height of the summer.The charm of Carcassonne continues after crossing the Aude River and wandering towards Bastide de Saint Louis, home to atmospheric Place Carnot with its café terraces, grand fountain and thrice-weekly market. There are yet more fantastic restaurants here as well – try local specialities such as le cassoulet, chestnuts, truffles, regional cheeses and charcuterie as well as a wealth of sweet delights. A little further is the Port de Carcassonne and the Canal du Midi, a perfect place for boat rides and cycling along the tow paths. A train station also awaits, whisking you away to Castelnaudary, Toulouse, Narbonne and beyond or drive to some of the Aude and Tarn’s most idyllic villages, vineyards, Cathar castles and even the Languedoc beaches on the Mediterranean coast. Features: Villa Interiors (210m2)Main Floor-    Lounge with sofa and satellite TV-    Kitchen, fully-equipped including central island and stools (x14), American fridge, induction hob, oven, microwave, dishwasher, toaster, kettle, espresso machine and coffee maker-    Bedroom with king-size double bed (can be split into twin) and bathroom with shower and sink-    Separate WCFirst Floor-    Bedroom with king-size double bed (can be split into twin), single bed, desk and bathroom with shower and sink-    Bedroom with king-size double bed (can be split into twin), single bed, desk and bathroom with shower and sink-    Bedroom with king-size double bed (can be split into twin), single bed and bathroom with shower, sink and private WC-    Bedroom with king-size double bed (can be split into twin), single bed and bathroom with shower, sink and private WC-    Separate WC Basement -    Games area with table football -    TV room with satellite TV, DVD player, board games and brochures/guides on region-    Laundry room with washing machine, dryer and second fridge Outside Grounds (11,000m2)-    Heated salt-water swimming pool (9x4m, depth: max 1.4m) with electric safety shutter. Open approximately early April to end-October-    Poolside terrace with 5-person hot tub -    Al-fresco dining terrace-    Al-fresco lounge area  -    Barbecue-grill -    Boules-    Table tennis -    Garden (partially artificial grass) leading to surrounding fields -    Outdoor play area Facilities -    Wi-Fi-    Heating/Air-conditioning (except games/TV room)-    Satellite TV-    DVD player -    JBL speaker -    Table football-    Table tennis -    Boules -    Board games-    Washing machine and dryer Location: Villa Barbacane enjoys an incredible location, in a private setting surrounded by rural fields yet just a 5-minute walk from La Cité de Carcassonne. At the end of your driveway, stroll down the country road (no pavement) passing a vineyard and within five minutes you will be by the ramparts of La Cité Médiévale, the largest medieval citadel in Europe, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of France’s most visited tourist destinations. Via the grand Porte Narbonnaise (500m), wander into the citadel and discover a maze of medieval lanes, little squares, cafés, inviting shops, restaurants and museums. Tour the ramparts, visit the castle and look out for historic re-enactments taking place, especially in the French school holidays and summertime. It really is a special place to explore and it’s wonderful to be able to experience the citadel in the early morning and at night time, either side of the many day-trippers. Crossing the Aude River via the Pont Vieux bridge (1.3km), continue to be charmed by Carcassonne as you potter around the Bastide de Saint Louis with its large square, Place Carnot, home to terrace cafes, a grand fountain and a market that takes place on Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings. You will soon reach Port de Carcassonne (2.5km) and the Canal du Midi, perfect for cycling or walking along the tow paths and boat trips along France’s famous canal. The train station (2.5km) can also be found by the Canal du Midi – if travelling without a car then consider hopping on a train to visit Castelnaudary for lunch to try its cassoulet by the town’s Grand Bassin, or continue on towards rose-hued Toulouse, a handsome historic city and a fine day out. In the other direction by train is beautiful Narbonne and its famous gothic cathedral, as well as Port La Nouvelle on the Mediterranean coast. If driving, then there is so much more of this glorious region to discover. Spend the day visiting Languedoc vineyards, gorgeous villages such as Limoux (27km), Lagrasse (35km) and Minerve (50km) or the imposing Cathar castles of Lastours (20km) and even Montségur (77km). The Mediterranean also awaits - Gruissan Plage is under an hour by car, as is the charming resort of Leucate, loved for its kite-surfing, sand-yachting, paddle-boarding and long sandy beaches. Terms & Conditions: ? €2000 charged to client’s credit card by the owner as a pre-authorisation one month before/upon arrival and refunded two weeks after departure, subject to full inspection. 4.00 p.m. - 8.00 p.m. 8.00 a.m. - 10.00 a.m. Yes. Yes. Changed once for stays of over 14 nights. On request only and with prior agreement with the owner. Weddings, stag/hen parties and any special events are not allowed. Air-conditioning is not featured in the games/TV room. Flexible. Please note that it is not possible to arrive/depart on the 14th July, December 24th/25th/31st & 1st January. Standard changeover clean included in the price. Guests are required to leave the accommodation clean, tidy and in the same condition as on their arrival. Any extra cleaning, laundry, maintenance and/or rubbish disposal required will be charged against the security deposit. Outside only. 7 nights during July & August. Shorter breaks are possible on request and during other months. Yes. Included. Please note that like all heated pools, pool heating and water temperature are reliant on weather and outside temperatures. French Visitors Tax payable locally (typically costs €1-€5 per adult per night- please enquire if exact amount is required). Yes. The pool is open approximately early April to end-October. Please note that pool opening dates are subject to local weather conditions and pool maintenance requirements and that cooler months may not be suitable for swimming. Mid-stay clean for bookings of 14+ nights