‘Chez Magali’, Floure.

A house sleeping six people in three bedrooms, with a balcony looking towards the river , large living room, garden, patio, private access and parking area. Wi-fi. www.chezmagali.iowners.net

‘Chez Magali’ is situated at one end of a long rectangular building which is in three parts. The middle section we keep for our own use although we do not expect to be there when visitors are staying in Chez Magali. The three parts of the house are self-contained and quite distinct from each other. The other end of the building, whose residents have exclusive use of the swimming pool and the remaining grounds, may be let during your stay, but it faces in the opposite direction and has a wholly separate access. Your privacy therefore is assured.

Chez Magali is approached from the lane which leads down to the river Aude and along the vineyards. Its gate opens on to the private parking area from which there is a path over the garden and patio to the main porch.

On the first floor there are three bedrooms. The double bedroom and one twin room look south over gardens towards Mount Alaric, the most northerly ridge of the Corbières hills. The double bedroom, with its four-poster bed, has a shower unit and basin en suite. The second twin bedroom has a balcony with outdoor seating, which looks towards the river. There is ample wardrobe and storage space. The bathroom contains a basin and bath with hand shower. There is a separate w.c. on this floor and another off the porch downstairs. On request, we provide a travel cot, high chair. There is a removable barrier across one of the bedroom doors for toddlers’ safety if required.

A wooden staircase leads down to the enormous living-room which contains a spacious and very well equipped kitchen with dishwasher, washing-machine, microwave, refrigerator/freezer and four-plate (two red spots) electric cooker with separate grill and oven. The dining table under its chandelier accommodates six people with ease. At the seating area, there are comfortable settees, a satellite television, CD/cassette/radio, DVD player with 100 films, and plenty of books and cassettes. The television receives UK programmes. Windows look to the south over gardens and to the west towards the vineyards. Two of the interior walls are ‘pierre apparente’ and the beamed ceiling retains its original features. Chez Magali has wi-fi.

The porch leads to the patio which has the barbecue and external seating with overhead lighting. Beyond the patio is your secure parking area. The Mediterranean-style garden consists of plants, bushes and shrubs, and is ‘maintenance-free’, not grassed. A security light offers safe access at night. You may also use the adjacent grassed garden for children’s play or for sitting in the sun.

Chez Magali does not have central heating, but the electric heaters are more than adequate. The house is all-electric and furnished, equipped and decorated to a very high standard. The location:

The property is situated about 100 yards from the river Aude. Half a mile away is the little village of Floure, with its quiet streets, its one excellent château restaurant and its good Corbières and Minervois wines. The house is about eight miles to the east of and three miles from Trèbes. The nearest interchange on the autoroute A61 'Des deux mers' is very near Trèbes. From there it is a fast forty-five minute (or so) drive to the nearest coastal resorts, and Plage, almost all by autoroute. Local beaches recently received a European award for cleanliness. We are told that there is a naturist club in Floure (www.languedoc-.info/list_naturist.htm under ‘’). The military museum in the village is said to be of interest.

Carcassonne is one of the two or three most frequently visited places in France outside Paris. The largest fortified medieval city in Europe, it stands magnificent on its hill 150 metres above the river Aude. Restored in the last century, it is a dream of the perfect medieval city with its three kilometres of ramparts, thirty-five defensive towers, its moat, Viscount's castle and basilica. The river Aude rises in the Cerdagne beyond Mont-Louis and flows towards Carcassonne through dramatic gorges either side of and past Alès les Bains and , home of the famous sparkling Blanquette wine. After Carcassonne, its course turns to the east towards the sea.

Floure is situated in the Minervois, an area well known for its excellent wine. To the south lie the Corbières, a scarcely populated range of hills well worthy of exploration. To the north rise the Montagne Noire and the National Park, the last bastion of the Massif Central. It is possible to take pleasure trips on the Canal du Midi. Several historic cathedral cities are within easy reach, including Montpellier, Béziers, Castres, Albi, Narbonne, Perpignan, Toulouse and St. Pons de Thomières. The area between Carcassonne and the Mediterranean is exceptionally sunny and warm.

The letting arrangements:

The house is let as a whole, not on a 'per person' basis. Lets are normally made for complete weeks, from Saturday to Saturday, although special arrangements may be negotiated on request. The costs of cleaning and electricity (except for the winter months when special arrangements apply) are included in the price of the let. All linen is provided, including hand- and bath-towels, but you should bring your own cot sheets and also towels for use in the garden or on the beach. It is a condition of the let that not more than six people (plus baby) stay in Chez Magali at any one time. A separate paper will explain how and where house-keys are supplied and returned. The normal arrangements are that we send you keys in advance which you return to us when you get back home, and that you arrive at the house after 4.00 p.m. on your first day and leave before 10.00 a.m. on your last. No smoking, please, in the house itself. Chris and Alexis Jay, 11 Moray Place, Strathbungo, Glasgow G41 2BA. Tel/Fax; 0141-423 5760. e-mail: [email protected]

Floure. Local information. (see www.chezmagali.iowners.net and www.carcassonneinfo.com a website in English).

Trèbes, three or four miles away, offers all the facilities necessary for daily living: Bakers Grocers Supermarkets Chemist Newsagent DIY store Petrol Garage Banks Post Office Church Doctor Dentist Café/bar Internet café.

There are many restaurants in the area, at , Trèbes, Carcassonne and the Cité. You will find recommendations in the house Travel Journal. Please add your own.

The nearest hypermarket is 'Géant' to the right of the road from Trèbes to Carcassonne. The main hospital is on the southern by-pass around Carcassonne. Floure offers little except the high-class restaurant, Château de Floure. For musical and dance events, see www.addmd11.fr , select rubrique ‘manifestations en Aude’.

The principal theatres, concert halls, museums, art galleries and festivals are located in the 'new town' of Carcassonne and in the Cité.

For information about sports of all kinds, we suggest that you pay an early visit to Office de Tourisme / Syndicat d'Initiative, 28 Rue de Verdun, Carcassonne. After you cross the Aude on the road into Carcassonne, you will come to a large square. Rue de Verdun is at the far end of the square. There is another Tourist Office by the side of the canal in Trèbes. The following facilities cannot all be guaranteed. For their telephone numbers look at the glossy pages in the telephone directory, roughly pages 17-25:

Rafting. kyaking: Rouffiac; Alet-les-Bains; ; Saint Martin Lys; Axat - the higher reaches of the Aude to the south of Carcassonne. Sailing, pedalos, lake bathing, pony-rides (not all available in all the following locations): Bassin du Lampy and Bassin de Saint-Ferreol beyond ; Lac de La Cavayère south of the A61 near Carcassonne; Laprade and Pradelles Cabardès in La Montagne Noire; La Ganguise to the west of . Golf: Golf Club de Carcassonne just past the hospital on the southern Carcassonne by-pass. Tennis: Trèbes (turn right at the roundabout by Super U and look to the right); L'Acacia, 14 Ave. du Général-Sarrail, Carcassonne; also on the banks of the Aude in Carcassonne, and at Montlegun and Montredon to the east of Carcassonne. To hire the court at Floure, enquire at La Mairie in the village. Horse-riding: La Cavayère (see above); La Cavale de Saint-Felix near St. Martin le Vieil north of ; Arques in the Corbières; Limoux. Bowling alley: Plateau de Grazailles on the north side of Carcassonne. Martial arts, gymnastics, saunas: 10 Ave. du General-Sarrail, Carcassonne. Skate-boarding: By the Aude, Rue Laperrine, Carcassonne. Fishing: We suggest that you ask at Trèbes Sports in the centre of Trèbes. Walking: Plenty of walks in Les Corbières to the south and La Montagne Noire to the north. Leisurely walks along the Canal du Midi tow-path. Nearest beaches: Gruissan and Narbonne Plage. Canal du Midi: Private hire of boats for day-trips - tel: 04.68.46.28.52. Bike hire: tel: 04 68 78 68 81 or 06 88 06 54 26. 3 Rue d’Orbiel,11800 Trèbes. Places to visit within about 50 miles of Floure: See www.chezmagali.iowners.net (‘local info’).

For Carcassonne, Cité & town, and for Toulouse it is worth buying a guide-book locally.

To the north. Minerve. (N.E). Begun in the 10th. century on a Roman site. Spectacular. . 4 castles on one rocky outcrop. A bracing walk. . . Gigantic caves. Caunes-Minervois. Fortified village. Abbey & hermitage. 16th.C. houses. Montagne Noire. Fine scenery. Picturesque villages. Good walking. Castres. Cathedral and Goya museum. Beautiful river frontage. Albi. Wonderful red town. T-Lautrec museum. Brick cathedral masterpiece. St. Pons. (N.E.) Centre of the National Park. 12th. century minster. Canal du Midi. Pleasant walks along the tow-path or private boat hire.

To the west. . A village full of book-shops, antique and modern. Saissac. Fine hill-side setting. Large feudal fortress. Castelnaudary. Lake with pleasure boats. Old mill. Mirepoix. Beautiful central square. Good market. Remarkable church. Lakes at Ganguise, and three to the east of Revel in the Montagne Noire.

To the south. Limoux. Interesting and picturesque town. Home of Blanquette wine. St. Hilaire. Benedictine abbey. Son et Lumière in the summer. Alet les Bains. Medieval village with old houses, ramparts. Like a film set. . (W. of Limoux). Medieval village with castle. Montbel lake. Espéraza. Dinosaur and hat museums. Rennes le Château. Mysterious, eerie. Visigoth capital. Odd shops. Views. Cathar castles at Lapradelle, Peyrepertuse, Quéribus by the D117. Gorges on the road to Axat and to the north of St. Paul de Fenouillèdes. Corbières. Wild country to be explored.

To the east. in the Corbières. Beautiful medieval village. Abbey, palace. . Museum of birds, reptiles, insects, shells, butterflies, minerals etc. Homps. Lake with walks around its banks. Lézignan. Attractive town. Good Wednesday morning market. Fontfroide. Medieval monastery. 13th. century cloisters. Rose gardens. Narbonne. Astonishing cathedral. Other old buildings. Good shops. La Clape. Hill east of Narbonne. Beautiful, easy walks. Chapel on top. Gruissan. Old village, castle. Marina. Houses on stilts at Gruissan Plage. . African animal reserve. Peyriac de Mer & Bages. Attractive villages by the inland lake. Béziers. Cathedral and basilica. Lovely park. Pézenas. 'Versailles of Languedoc'. Discreetly fine old buildings. Agde & Sète. Interesting old fishing towns. Canals & waterfronts at Sète.

Markets in the Aude. This list may be out of date, but since many markets are centuries-old, I doubt it. Please tell us if any details are incorrect. Because they featured in recent newspapers, we are more certain of those listed in heavy print than the rest. That does not mean that the others listed do not occur on the days mentioned.

Bages: Tuesday, Friday. : 3rd. Wednesday in the month. Bize-Minervois: Wednesday. Bram: 2nd. and 4th. Wednesday in the month. Carcassonne: Tuesday, Thursday, and (big) Saturday. Castelnaudary: Monday to 4.00 p.m. Caunes Minervois: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday. Chalabre: Saturday. : Daily. Espéraza: Thursday, Sunday. : Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Ferrals les Corbières: Tuesday, Friday. Fleury: Daily. Gruissan village: Monday,Wednesday, Saturday. Homps: Tuesday. Lagrasse: Saturday. : Tuesday, Friday, Saturday. Lézignan: Wednesday. Limoux: Friday. Tuesday night in July & August. Mirepoix: Monday (good). Narbonne: Thursday, Sunday. Daily in Les Halles covered market. Olonzac: Tuesday. Porte Nouvelle: Wednesday, Friday, Saturday. Quillan: Wednesday, Saturday. Rennes-les-Bains: Daily. Revel : Saturday. Rieux Minervois: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday. Saint Hilaire: Friday. Salles sur l’Hers: Tuesday. Sigean: Tuesday, Friday. Trèbes: Wednesday. ‘Chez Magali’, Floure, France.

Letting arrangements 2017.

Each property is let as a whole, not on a 'per person' basis. Lets are normally made for complete weeks, from Saturday to Saturday. Special arrangements may be negotiated on request. The prices set out below relate to the week beginning on each Saturday listed:

Month(s) 2016-2018. Saturdays. Full price p.w. Deposit p.w. November 2016 to May 2017 inc. £300* £75 June 3,10,17,24, £300* £75 July or 1,8,15,22,29, £400* £100 August 5,12,19, August 26th. and September 26,2,9,16,23, £300* £75 October 2017 to May 2018 inc. £300* £75

*There is a £25 surcharge for single-week bookings to cover partially the extra cleaning costs. Each week is charged the rate for the month in which its first Saturday falls. Rates are not 'per person', but rather for the use of the house. Electricity costs are included in the rent during the summer months. At other times, other arrangements may be negotiated which may entail meter-reading etc. We do not require a damage deposit, trusting our visitors to respect the effort which went into making this property so comfortable and welcoming.

A provisional booking may be made but it must be confirmed or cancelled within a week of being made. The deposit is payable on confirmation of booking. The balance is payable 6 weeks before your holiday. A sterling or euro cheque is acceptable, payable to Mr. & Mrs. Jay and addressed to 11 Moray Place, Glasgow G41 2BA. Please let us know if you wish to pay by bank transfer. In the event of a cancellation, the deposit will be returned only if the period is re-let, minus any advertising costs incurred. A cancellation after the payment of the balance will incur the loss of the deposit and balance.

We have withdrawn the landline telephone from the house. Please bring your mobile or equivalent. Analysis showed that over an extended period the cost of calls made was 0.3% of the rental cost, suggesting that visitors were scarcely using the telephone at all. Orange refused to install internet access because the signal was too weak. However, SFR agreed to do so. The arrangement is probably adequate for internet access and e-mails, but not for anything more demanding. Since it has only recently been installed, we would be grateful if you would tell us your experience so that we can give more detailed advice to future visitors.

Six (+cot) is the maximum number of people allowed to stay in the house at any one time.

Changeovers are normally on Saturdays, but off-season we can be more flexible in this regard. All linen is provided, including hand- and bath-towels, but you should bring your own cot sheets and towels for use on the beach or the terrace. We expect visitors to clean and do washing in the course of their holiday and not leave piles of dirty washing when they leave - the cleaner has enough to do in her six hours. We expect all our visitors to leave the house clean and tidy. Visitors are asked also to let our handyman or ourselves know if they find anything broken or not working, so that it can be put right. No smoking is permitted within the house. We do not permit pets into the house. The travel cot is in one of the twin bedrooms.

We shall send you two copies of the front-door key before the beginning of your holiday. Please send them back to us in the stamped, addressed envelope on your return. The normal arrangements are that visitors arrive at the house after 4.00 p.m. on their first day and leave before 10.00 a.m. on their final morning. Chris & Alexis Jay, 11 Moray Place, Strathbungo, Glasgow G41 2BA. Tel: 0141-423 5760. e-mail: [email protected] www.chezmagali.iowners.net