Unique Beautifully Restored And Designed Private Art Villa

This is a charming 18th century stone house, restored with great taste, and furnished by the owners for private use, with its own art and book collection, oriental rugs and a Bluthner baby grand piano. There are 5 bedrooms and en-suite bathrooms, 2 living rooms and a formal reception room. A fragrant front garden planted with wisteria, albizia, lilas des Indes, lavender, rosemary and other Mediterranean herbs and flowers allows for al-fresco dining and a small back garden houses a traditional stone BBQ and a number of bycicles. The top floor is arranged as a self-contained apartment with 2 large en-suite bedrooms with their own walk-in closets and a sitting area with additional sleeping facility if required. The kitchen on the ground floor has its own informal dining/breakfast room. The back room, originally a buanderie, opens to both front and back courtyards and is arranged as a more formal dining area/library, with a sunken stone-tiled bathtub as a special feature. Total sleeping capacity is 10-12. One of the rooms on the middle floor is totally self-contained, separated by the rest by a long corridor artfully decorated with period hats. Great care has been taken to outsource period lighting and furniture and to preserve a number of original features such as the black marble fireplace, the wrought iron stairway, the large ornate cast iron Godin wood fireplace, terracotta floors, massive beams and wooden doors. This is a unique property that has the added benefit of its private larger garden some 3 minutes walk from the house where visitors can relax and soon, enjoy a swim, or use the trampoline, and a BBQ on those hot summer days and evenings. The village has a bakery, a small convenience store, a tobacconist, a post office, a cafe and wine bar and a high end restaurant. It is situated a couple of miles from the motorway, on the Orbieu river and some 20 minutes drive from the nearest beach/2 hours from the nearest ski resort. Weekly rental for the entire property starts at 2000 eur to 3000 eur and includes daily cleaning. The top floor can be rented on its own by special arrangement (please inquire via the website). Security deposit is 1000 eur and reflects the quality of the furnishings. The property has free Internet, TV, an authentic but fully functional kitchen, 3 bikes and a selection of board games/DVDs. Activities Horse Riding Fishing Sea food degustation Wine degustation Gastronomic tours Chateaux and Winery visits Spa visits Sailing, Surfing Flying Paragliding Skiydiving Scuba Diving