On the banks of Lac de Jouarres, a fresh-water lake 30 minutes from the Mediterranean and 32km from Carcassonne, our 4 BR Holiday Rental villa (built 2008) has beautiful open views to the south and east. The snow capped Pyrenees some 50 miles away can be seen on a clear day. In a rural setting amidst the Minervois vineyards, it’s the perfect place to relax.

Inside the house (only completed in July 2008) there are 2 double BR (one with a balcony) , 2 twin bedded rooms, 2 toilets, 2 bathrooms, an open plan living/dining /kitchen with 2 sets of French windows leading onto a partially covered terrace, complete with garden dining furniture. The 2 large sofas in the lounge can also be made into beds. The house has 10 place settings and the dining table expands if you have a full house, a TV is also provided.

The kitchen area includes a 4 ring hob, fan oven with grill and rotisserie, micro-wave, fridge freezer, coffee maker, electric kettle plus plenty of pots, pans and cooking accessories. From the master bedroom, patio doors lead out onto a balcony overlooking the lake – a perfect spot for watching the sun set over the Montaigne Noire with a glass of the local rosé wine.

The area is set across the Canal du Midi ( a World heritage site) from the village of Homps – one of the staging posts on the canal for renting barges. A 5 minute walk brings you over the bridge into the village which has a petrol station/ supermarket with a renowned butcher. It sells fresh bread, cooked chickens, local fresh fruit and veg. and wine - what more do you need!

A 20 minute drive west takes you to Carcassonne – another World Heritage site.

Carcassonne is a must for any visitor to the region – quite breath-taking. Concerts and exhibitions are regularly staged in this fantastic setting. The ‘modern’ town (i.e. not entirely mediaeval) has pedestrianised shopping areas, a Saturday market and is served by the airport which sits a couple of miles from the city centre by the motorway which runs from Toulouse to Narbonne and the beaches of the Mediterranean.french mediteranean beach.

If summer is too hot and busy (it can reach the mid 30s). Come in the autumn and enjoy the peace and quiet, fields of glorious golden vines, ripe grapes, pomegranates, almonds, walnuts, sweet chestnuts, apples, lemons – all growing by the roadsides and temperatures in the mid 20s. Or come in spring, when the trees and flowers blossom and the Pyrenees are still snow covered and enjoy the warmth of the sun in this oasis of tranquillity.