Villa Magnolia - 4-star luxury house in Puivert

"Chez vous... Chez nous" - your holiday home-from-home! Perfect for families and groups of friends, you can look forward to 4-star* luxury in this beautifully restored 19th-century house. Situated in a little-known part of south-west France, we have renovated Villa Magnolia to the highest standards, while keeping its original charm. *Article D324-4, Code du tourisme Luxury and tradition... Here is what our guests say: "The house was fantastic…" "The house is gorgeous…" "Magnifique maison…" "Fantastic accommodation…" "Très jolie et très confortable maison…" "Fabulous property… every possible requirement covered…" We’ve been on many self-catering holidays over the years and one of the things we’ve noticed, even in more costly properties, is that while they may be comfortable and functional, they often look a bit tired – carpets a little threadbare; furniture a little worn; a bit of decorating and maintenance needing to be done and so on. So, we decided to make Villa Magnolia different - by fitting it out and equipping it to the highest possible standards: decorating, furniture, fixtures, fittings and facilities. Villa Magnolia is not a standard gîte/holiday let: our guests love how the house is presented. You expect it to be clean, tidy and comfortable, but you will also find it looking great, and superbly equipped. And the property boasts a 4-star rating under French tourist legislation. The accommodation is a spacious, 19th century stone-built house, with three large double bedrooms (one en-suite), large bathroom, two large reception rooms (one with wood-burner*); modernised kitchen and utility room, gas hob and separate oven, fridge, dishwasher, washing machine, microwave oven etc. The largest bedroom can sleep four people, in single or double beds or as a double or twin. There is free wifi and a 42-inch screen HD television, with DVD player. The substantial walls keep the interior cool in the summer and warm in the winter**. There is a large, well-kept garden at the rear, with a charcoal barbecue, terrace and a view over fields to the hills above. The house sleeps up to eight and is ideal for families - it will easily take three couples, or a mixture of adults and children. We are, regrettably, unable to accommodate pets, other than guide dogs. Unfortunately, because of the age and design of the property, it is not accessible for wheelchairs. Smoking is prohibited in the property. The owners, Alan and Marianne, live next door and are happy to offer advice and assistance to help you have the perfect holiday! *We will provide you with a free basket of logs for the wood-burning stove, and additional baskets, on request, for 5€ each. **Apart from the wood-burner, heating is electric and there is also a modern, clean, electrically-controlled paraffin heater. Guests have access to the whole of the house and the beautiful garden We live next door and are happy to give advice and assistance when needed; and we have representatives who live locally and can cover for us if we are not available. Come and explore Cathar country! Puivert nestles in the foothills of the Pyrenees, 50 minutes from Carcassonne airport, and less than 90 minutes from both Perpignan and Toulouse. It is an historic village, with its own castle that featured in the Albigensian Crusade; a swimming/fishing lake, a local museum, gliding club and several high-quality restaurants. It even has its own micro-brewery, La Brasserie du Quercorb, brewing craft ales for both Continental and British tastes, which has a friendly pub attached, where locals and holidaymakers gather alongside each other to chat and relax after long days in the sun. The region is steeped in history, and was the subject of author, Kate Mosse’s atmospheric Languedoc trilogy, which featured the tragic story of the Cathar people and the brutal crusade to exterminate them in the early 13th century. The legend of the Great Flood of Puivert in 1279 is another fascinating episode in the tale of the local area known as “Le Quercorb”. The Aude/Ariège region is charmingly rural, and is mainly known for its agriculture and wine production. Heavy industry has been in decline since the 1970s but tourism is helping to fill the gap – although there is still plenty of room for expansion before it becomes anywhere near as popular as, for example, the Dordogne or Provence – hence the cost of living is less than in its better-known competitors, which is reflected in the prices of food and drink. Guests can hire bicycles locally however you will probably find a car essential during your stay because the area is very rural. Owing to the age and location of the property, there is a step at the front-door from the road - see photograph. We do not accept pets except guide dogs. The interior of the property is completely no-smoking.