Farmhouse (click to enlarge)

Canal du Midi

Languedoc - Long Term Lets List

Holiday Cottage Carcassonne

18^th Century Farmhouse with two luxury cottages
on Banks of Canal Du Midi

La Maison d'Olives (sleeps up to 4)
Le Tournesol (sleeps 2)
Shared swimming pool

If you enjoy staying in stylish accommodation, with all those extra little touches that make a holiday really memorable and make you feel truly special as a guest, then maybe, just maybe, Le Gabachou is for you.

Choose that novel you’ve always been meaning to read from our extensive book collection (perhaps Kate Mosse’s ‘Labyrinth’?). Then carefully pour yourself a glass of chilled rosé, find a sunny spot by the pool, pull up a chair and slowly unwind in the beautiful surroundings, disturbed only by the sound of canal boats as they gently glide by.

Tempted yet…………? If not, do read on.

Both gites at Le Gabachou have been renovated to a very high standard – comfortable sofas to curl up on, large cosy beds with soft pillows to collapse into after a hard days sunbathing, and we trust the quality of the furnishings provided will ensure our guests enjoy a real ‘home from home’.

Still not tempted…………?

Le Gabachou is uniquely located on the banks of the Canal du Midi. The landscaped gardens are completely enclosed offering seclusion and privacy to guests, yet the farmhouse is less than a half hour drive to the stunning medieval cite of Carcassonnne. This is rural France at its best, where our noisiest neighbours are frogs that croak loudly on the canal bank! A short walk will take you to the Port de Bram for lunch canal side –and if you are energetic enough after a lazy lunch, hire bikes from there afterwards to work off all those extra calories.

But please, don’t take our word for it …………….some comments from our guest book include;

“We have stayed in many gites in France over the years and Le Gabachou is one of the very best……..’’

‘’ Le Gabachou looked like a dream place on the website and in reality was all we hoped for and more…’’

‘’ The house and grounds are beautiful. Adrian & Sharon have been warm, welcoming hosts and we intend returning to this haven………….’’

La Maison d’Olives

Offering accommodation for up to 4 guests.

Ground Floor:

Spacious Lounge – with traditional beamed ceiling, exposed stone walls and terracotta flooring. Comfortably and stylishly furnished with two large sofas, welsh dresser and bookcase. Satellite TV with free to view channels. DVD with selection of films. Light and airy room with windows on three sides – wonderfully cool on hot sultry days, lovely and cosy in the evenings.

Farmhouse Kitchen/Dining Room – well equipped with cooker, microwave, fridge, separate freezer, washing machine, dishwasher and all modern kitchen essentials. Large dining table seats six. Rear door from the kitchen leads out to small gravelled patio area, hedged with lavender to lawned area at the rear of the farmhouse.

First Floor:

A large wooden spiral staircase leads up from the lounge area onto a large landing with window overlooking fields of sunflowers and wheat in the summer.

Master Bedroom – a very spacious room, views on to front garden and chestnut trees. Furnished with King sized bed, built in wardrobes.

Bedroom 2 – twin beds overlooking gravelled courtyard below. Built in wardrobe.

Large Bathroom – with basin, loo, bath with shower over.

Outside:

Private courtyard to the side of the gite with large table, chairs and barbeque for guests exclusive use.

Le Tournesol

The second (smaller) gite is Le Tournesol, which sleeps 2 guests.

All the accommodation in Le Tournesol is on one floor.

Large Lounge and Dining Room – decorated in a contemporary, sunny and bright style set off by black and white floor tiles throughout. There are two comfy sofas at one end of the lounge area. Satellite TV with free to view channels. At the other end of the room is a circular dining table with chairs and a small bookcase. Double windows at each end of the room look out on to the front gardens and chestnut trees. In late summer grapes hang over the front entrance and wall of this gite.

Separate Kitchen – modern and fully equipped with cooker, fridge/freezer, washing machine. Kitchen window overlooking the back lawns.

Double Bedroom – with queen sized bed, wardrobe, side drawer units. Window looking out on to small shrubbery and back lawns.

Bathroom – with large shower, loo and basin.

Outside:

Rear door to the back of the gite leads on to a small enclosed rear terrace with table, chairs and barbeque. There is also a table and chairs under the shady chestnut trees at the front of the farmhouse for guests of Le Tournesol to use.

About the region

The farmhouse is situated on the banks of the Canal du Midi just 4 kms from the ancient circular village of Bram. Less than 20 kms away is the medieval cite of Carcassonne and the surrounding area is famous for mysterious Cathar castles and Churches, all steeped in legend; such as the church in Rennes – Le –Chateau, which featured in Dan Brown’s ‘Da Vinci Code’. Read Kate Mosse’s ‘Labyrinth’ and walk the old streets of Carcassonne following in the footsteps of the heroines of her book.

This unique part of the Aude inspired two celebrated British chefs to produce their own television series. John Burton Race recorded a year of relocating to France with his family in nearby Montferrand (TV series/book ‘French Leave’). More recently Rick Stein followed the Canal du Midi (sailing directly past the gardens of Le Gabachou en route – we even got a wave!) with his’ French Odyssey’ TV series.

Drive through sleepy hamlets, visit nearby Montolieu, the ‘village of the books’, sample the colourful, busy markets of Revel and Mirepoix, enjoy the numerous village fetes and brocantes held virtually every weekend in the summer ………..or head for the coast – Narbonne and Gruissan’s sandy beaches are less than an hour’s drive. Alternatively visit Toulouse for museums, exhibitions or just people watching in one of the numerous cafes on Place Capitole.

This is also the land of the famous Languedoc wines such as Minervois, Malpere and Cabardes, and the area is developing a real reputation for the quality of its up and coming organic wines. Nearby Castelnaudary (home to the French Foreign Legion – look out for their trademark white caps) is famous for cassoulet and Limoux produces the sparkling wine ‘Blanquette’.

For those guests who enjoy combining activities as well as chilling out – the area offers golf at Carcassonne, tennis courts in Bram, horse riding, cycling and walking along the tow path and boat hire. If you enjoy fishing, you only need to stray as far as the end of the garden, pull up your chair and fish on the canal banks for carp, bream and catfish – we can even lend you the rods!!

Getting there

Easy access by car from the A61-E80 Narbonne/Toulouse auto route.

Regular Ryanair flights to Carcassonne from Stansted, Dublin, Liverpool and east Midlands – Le Gabachou is only about 20 minutes drive from the airport.

Alternatively British Airways, Easy jet, Fly be, Air France and bmibaby fly to Toulouse from London and several regional airports – Toulouse being less than an hours drive. There are also regular train services to Carcassonne, Castelnaudary and Bram which connect into the high speed TGV rail services throughout France.

Prices and booking information

Saturday start/changeover day

Short breaks and alternate start dates considered outside main holiday season

Longer term rental enquiries welcome.

Gites at Le Gabachou are most suitable for adults/couples or children over 16 years.

Why not celebrate a special occasion within the grounds of Le Gabachou? We can cater for lunches, receptions, parties etc in a truly magical setting

All linen (except swimming towels) is included in the rental price.

For further details and photographs please visit the owners' website at:

www.le-gabachou.com

To rent one of these gites in Languedoc please contact the owner:

Adrian & Sharon

Click here to email the owner

Tel: 04 68 78 66 25
International Tel: +33 4 68 78 66 25

When booking this property please mention Relax in France

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