Your contact:	Gill Pound
Telephone:	+33-(0)4 68 78 43 81
Email:	Click here to contact Les Cyprès

Les Cyprès is a peacefully situated south-facing holiday home built in the traditional local style. The building dates back to the mid 19th century, but has recently been totally renovated while retaining the original character. Les Cyprès sleeps four guests in a double bedroom and a twin bedroom.

Furnishings are simple and comfortable and there is a light and airy feel to the house. A balcony looks onto the village and abbey of Caunes-Minervois. The extensive and secluded private garden is ideal for relaxing, sunbathing, and enjoying the swimming pool. (The pool isn't heated and is normally available for use between mid/late May and late September/early October.)

The property is set in a hectare (two and a half acres) of grounds, with open grassy areas, mature trees, and an outdoor dining area. The 11x5 metre pool is set in the garden, and is surrounded by a terraced area, ideal for sunbathing. The owner lives in a separate house on the property and shares the use of the pool.

Inside the house is a well-equipped kitchen and dining room with a table for four, an electric oven, microwave, fridge-freezer, and dishwasher, and an woodburning stove.

In the living room is a comfortable sofa and a selection of books, including books about the local area. There is also a TV/DVD player with UK Freesat receiver. Upstairs are the double and twin bedroom and bathroom.

Les Cypres is on the edge of the traditional village of Caunes Minervois, about five minutes walk from the centre. The home makes an excellent base for a relaxing holiday and is ideally situated for exploring Cathar country and the Languedoc.

Special features:	• Pool on the property • Bilingual assistance available on site
Swimming pool:	11m x 5m outdoor pool

Caunes is a village rich in character, famous for its historic abbey and marble quarry, but with all everyday amenities, including post office, bank, small supermarket, garage, butcher, baker, pharmacy, café and restaurant. There is a small market three times a week.

Caunes is in the north west of the delightful and unspoilt Minervois "pays". Scenery and climate are typically Mediterranean, but the Montagne Noire and the Parc Régional du Haut Languedoc are only a few kilometres to the north with shady pine forests and mountain lakes.

The coast is about an hour away and there is easy access to lakes and river bathing. There is a golf course in Carcassonne. The area is great for natural history, archaeology or just relaxing.

It is a fantastic area for walking and cycling; there are also a number of local climbing sites - including at Notre Dame du Cros, just a couple of kilometres from Caunes. Caving and horse riding are also possible. The mediaeval cité at Carcassonne (a UNESCO World Heritage site) is just twenty minutes away.

Languedoc-Roussillon is famous for having 300 days of sunshine per year which makes it a great place for holidays or longer stays at most times of the year. The whole region is rich in historical sites, particularly those relating to the Cathar crusades, including Lastours, Queribus, Peyrepetuse, and Montsegur.

The abbeys at Lagrasse and Fontfroide, the caves at Limousis and Cabrespine, the Canal du Midi, the towns of Narbonne, Montpellier, Toulouse and Perpignan, and the "book village" of Montolieu are all within easy reach.

There is a fascinating variety of scenery; coastal plains, vineyards, rocky garrigue and mountains. The Languedoc is an important wine growing region that has seen many improvements in recent years and there are many opportunities for wine tasting.

Local fairs and markets are always interesting; they take place thrice weekly in Carcassonne and Rieux-Minervois, weekly in Olonzac, Lezignan-Corbières and St Pons, and don't miss the Friday flower market in Béziers! There are also annual fairs and fetes such as the Marble Fair in Caunes in early June, the Olive Fair in Bize Minervois and many similar events throughout the year.

Access to the area is straightforward; road and rail links are good, with motor-rail stations at Narbonne and Toulouse.

The nearest airport is Carcassonne, with flights to London Stansted, East Midlands, Liverpool, Dublin and Brussels Charleroi. Toulouse, Perpignan and Montpellier all have airports as well. There are ample local car hire firms if needed.

The kitchen and dining area	The double bedroom
The twin bedroom	The bathroom
A sheltered space at garden level.	The house, seen from the bottom of the garden
The garden from the balcony.	The house and garden
The garden in flower	The nearby village of Citou
A café terrace in Caunes

Holidays here keep getting better. The welcome, the gite, the pool, the garden, the food, the wine, the surrounding countryside, the weather, the friendliness of the local people - sounds almost exaggerated and too good to be true but it isn't. Roll on next year's visit.
B. family - Ossett, Wakefield, Yorkshire, UK

Thank you for your hospitality during our stay here. Our time in your gite and the village has been wonderful. The warmth and friendliness of the people is greatly appreciated and we will always remember our holiday here with fondness.
Trevor D. - Brighton, Victoria,, Australia

Our month here has been wonderful. Les Cypres has been a warm and comfortable home and our hosts have been welcoming and informative.
Kathryn H. E. - Sackville, Canada

A little gem in the depths of southern France. We have had a brilliant month. The gite is kitted out with everything that you need.
Roger H. - Stowmarket, Suffolk, Great Britain