South of France Country Apartment

"Les deux hortensias" an apartment in a charming village house located in the heart of Languedoc Cobieres wine country. Spacious living space, perfect for a couple or small family. Recent renovations, nightly rate includes all the essentials for a peaceful stay in rural France. No hidden costs. This spacious, 70m2 (750 ft) apartment is the entire ground level of a late 19th century French village house, Located just on the edge of the village, the house has a beautiful, private, front garden at its entrance. Newly renovated, the space has a chic, clean, airy feel with rustic and contemporary design features. You will be living like a local here. Tourism is very understated, which adds to the peacefulness, adventure and charm. Enjoy the slow, easygoing pace of the South and sip its pleasures! Village restaurant is closed until next summer. Guests will have access to entire ground floor and front garden. Hosts are American and French. Alain, speaks French, English, Spanish and German and Rebecca speaks some French and American! We live onsite, in the upper level of the house. Due to Covid19, our interaction will be limited, requiring face masks. When necessary, we are easily accessible by text message and are usually on location Embres et Castelmaure is a wine farming village. The only village commerce is the Wine Cooperative tasting room and a charming seasonal, summer restaurant with outdoor seating overlooking the vineyards and Embres mountain. There is a weekly vegetable merchant, butcher, cheese merchant, and daily bread delivery. All food cart or van style! There is a supermarket, gas station, pharmacy, health clinic, bank, ATM, public pool, tennis courts, in nearby Durban, 9 km away. A quick, less than 10 minute drive. There are several good little restaurants in a 7-15 km radius. Secluded beaches or beaches with restaurants and activities are only 18 km away, a 30 minute drive. Local village markets dot the countryside on varied days offering local produce, meats, cheeses, and other products. The small cities of Narbonne and Perpignan are within 40 minutes for a larger town experience and cultural events. Hiking, skiing, thermal baths in the Pyrenees are a mere 90 minute drive! Each season brings a different pleasure. Spring is vitalizing. Everything is coming to life. The hortensias, rosemary, thyme, grape vines, fruit trees..the entire countryside is budding or blooming. The weather is generally mild and sunny, but as Spring can be, temperamental. A wonderful time for long walks, hiking, biking, peace and tranquility, a lack of tourists (and sometimes fees) at local attractions, and empty beaches (which can be sunbathing worthy, at times). A great time of year and good rates, if you can make the off-season. Summer of course is the favorite time for many in the Mediterranean. Long, warm days and nights. The magnificent hortensias are in full bloom, fruits and vegetables at their peak, sipping a chilled Rose, hiking, biking, promenades, exploring. This is beach time of year. Head over to Leucate or La Franqui for hot, sunny beaches and the cool waters of the Mediterranean for a refreshing swim. The villages are bustling again with restaurants and shops in full swing for the summer season of July and August. September, which is still summer, brings all its benefits, but less traffic on motorways, continued warm or hot weather, empty beaches, and the grape harvest in late September. The autumn, October-November is golden. Mild, sunny days, cool nights, occasionally rain, and the colors of the vines turning red, orange, and gold is spectacular. An ideal season for hiking, biking, walking, scenic drives, and exploring sights, less the tourists and fees, much of the time. Winter is a quiet time for a special personality. Embres and neighboring villages are "très tranquille". Out and about you will rarely see a person. Short days and long nights, the perfect time to withdraw into the internal world and not be bothered. An ideal retreat for artists, writers, creators, or anyone who longs for solitude. The weather is a mix of cold, rain, wind, mild, sun, even frost at times. A season for everyone. We home to see you soon! There are international airports in nearby Barcelona, Spain (3 hours) and Toulouse, France (2 hours). Local airports in Perpignan, Carcassonne, Girona, Spain, service other French and European cities. Train stations are in Narbonne (35 minutes) and Perpignan (45 minutes). You will definitely need a rental car, available in any of these locations. Having a rental car opens up the possibility of several activities and sights within and hours drive. We are located in a rural, wine farming village. If the sounds of roosters, church bells on the hour (and one on the half hour), tractors, sounds of nature, village activity or absolute quiet at times, bother you? Or the lack of urban noise? You may want to stay elsewhere. Just hiking through? We have a 2 night minimum stay, but don't hesitate to send an inquiry if you are looking for just one night. Sometime we can accommodate this! There is no commerce in the village with the exception of the local Wine cooperative and tasting room, open year-round and an outdoor summer restaurant. Grocery store and other restaurants are nearby in neighboring villages. Please read "the neighborhood" section under "location" for full descriptions of what to expect during each season. Please keep in mind that in the Winter season, the gardens are dormant and less colorful and lovely!