Sous Les Mûriers is a beautiful, recently refurbished villa with stunning views, situated in the Minervois wine region.
The property is set in 1,500 m2 of garden with a private pool. There are several terraces around the house providing different views.
Indoors
The living and dining spaces in the house occupy more than 80m² of the ground floor.
The main room is open plan with kitchen, dining table and entertainment combined yet sufficiently separate.
Comfortable, large, leather sofa and chairs allow guests to relax in front of the smart TV. Overhead speakers provide the perfect opportunity for an evening of relaxation.
A modern kitchen has been created with ample cupboard space, an induction hob, eye-level oven, microwave, kettle, toaster, and large American style fridge freezer with ice cube dispenser and a hatch for easy access to a cool drink.
There are two separate dining areas inside as well as the shaded one outside.
There are three bedrooms - two doubles and one twin.
The master bedroom is on the first floor at the rear of the house. It has a large, full length balcony with the magnificent views of the valley and hills behind the house. The Pyrenees can be seen in the distance.
There are two bathrooms. Each bathroom has a walk-in, Italian style, double-head shower, a tall heated towel rail, toilet and wash basin.
Outdoors
The 8m x 4m pool has stunning views while underwater lights provide for an atmospheric night-time dip. The pool is heated only by the sun. There is also a solar pool shower.
There is a large dining area outside shaded by mulberry trees, a gas barbecue and a boules court.
Location
Sous Les Mûriers is located on a crest on the edge of hamlet. To the rear of the house the view is of the valley below, vineyards and hills. The area is classed as 'garrigue' .
Evergreen holm oak, lavender, wild thyme, sage, white cistus and artermisia are all found in the landscape behind the house. In the valley below is the river Ognon that has been dammed to create a small lake.
To the front of the house the landscape slopes down to the town of Félines-Minervois and far in the distance the mountains of the Pyrenees.
There is a small supermarket in Félines-Minervois (5 mins drive) and a larger one in Peyriac-Minervois (15 mins drive).
Food and wine
There are numerous local markets, restaurants and wine domaines in the area.
In Félines-Minervois, the Grand Café Occitan has delicious food in an outdoor setting. Le Panier de Julie, as well has being a small grocery store, has outside tables where you can enjoy a drink purchased in the shop.
La Livinière - a scenic drive away - has two restaurants both popular with local people: Les Meulieres and La Bistronerie.
The weekly market in Olonzac (20 minutes by car) has numerous food stalls from local producers, as well as clothes, jewellery, pottery and baskets. There are also smaller markets in Félines-Minervois and Ferrals Les Montagnes.
The house is situated in a the area producing la cru of Minervois-La Livinière - the first sub appellation in the Minervois wine region. Local vineyards welcome wine tasters and some even organise informative walks through their vineyards. There are vines growing a few minutes walk from the house that you can stroll through.
Activities, Places to Visit
Sous Les Mûriers is ideally placed to enjoy both active and more sedate pastimes.
The lac de Jouarres near Homps is popular and kayaks can be rented there.
Various water based adventures including kayaking and white water rafting can be safely indulged on the Aude river starting at Puichéric.
Slightly further away are Les Gorges d'Heric where it is possible to hike, go canyoning and even scuba dive!
For children, if you can drag them away from the pool at the house, there are water theme parks in Narbonne or try the recently opened swimming baths in Peryiac-Minervois.
Cycling is a popular local activity. There is plenty of opportunity to explore the quiet, though hilly, roads nearby, or head down to the Canal du Midi for a flatter route. Bicycles can be rented at Homps or Trebes.
A more unusual cycling activity is provided by Velorail where you can cycle on a railway bogie over a stretch of an old railway line.
Alternatively, have lunch in one of the restaurants by the Canal du Midi at Homps before exploring the brocantes of Homps, Olonzac and Rieux-Minervois.
Minerve is a picturesque, medieval town situated at the end of a deep gorge. There is a car park on the outskirts, restaurants, gift shops, caves and a siege machine!
Carcassonne is famous for its UNESCO World Heritage Site fortified city. There are car parks just outside the walls. You can wander through the streets that are packed with shops and restaurants. There is the opportunity – for a fee – to visit the inner section of the city. The amphitheatre is used to host musicians during the annual festival in July.
The main part of Carcassonne is also worth a visit for its market, shops and restaurants.
There are a number of subterranean caves that can be visited. For example, Grotte de Limousis which is about 40 minutes’ drive away.
Visit our own website www.sous-les-muriers.fr for more details.