IFP: Alet les Bains: Medieval Cottage with Garden

A 16th century cottage in picturesque & historic Alet-les-Bains. A village swimming pool, is at your disposal and is filled with mineral water! The cottage has its own garden and is situated in the centre of this small village. Alet has its own mineral water, spa, swimming pool, kayak/canoe centre and a few shops. Only 33km south of Carcassonne, 8km south of Limoux famous for 'Blanquette' and a short drive from Rennes les Bains (Da Vinci Code/Labyrinth mysteries). Easily accessible for airports, beaches & skiing.

The owner is on hand for advice; living in the village, working in the region and consequently knows the area well having excellent contacts to ensure you enjoy your stay.

You can also see the gite & surrounding area here: http://www.freewebs.com/alet-les-bains

Alet-les-Bains, (population 480) in the wine producing Languedoc-Rousillion region of southern France is a picturesque, medieval village in the department of Aude. It lies on the river Aude approximately 33 kilometres south of the historic city of Carcassonne with its 18 hole golf course. It is an ideal base for visiting the Cathar castles and the many historic towns. It is a 7km drive to Rennes-le-Chateau site of the mysterious Holy Blood & Holy Grail and Da Vinci Code mysteries.

The historic village has outstanding Middle Ages architecture, with the square where Nostradamus was believed to have lived, remains of a 12th century abbey and narrow streets all enclosed by 12th century village walls.

The thermal baths have a treatment centre and the village open-air swimming pool is filled daily with fresh water at 24 degrees. Alet natural mineral water is in plentiful and free supply for the public to clean your digestive system (and a casino on the edge of the village to clean out your pockets!)

Alet-les-Bains has much to offer, the river provides good fishing and there is a canoe/kayak base on the river added to which there's excellent rock-climbing within walking distance!

For those who love the outdoors, there is plenty to do; the hills surrounding provide wonderful walks with fantastic views of the Pyrenees. Skiing in the Pyrenees is 45 minutes away to the south, tax-free Andorra is one and a half hours.

Drives around the area are full of outstanding scenery and spectacular gorges. Alet contains a post office, baker/general shop and a village shop all a few minutes walk away and a weekly market in the square.

Evenings in the village are quiet with three restaurants and an evening cafe available (not during the winter). However the summer months have plenty of 'fetes', second weekend of June is the 'Fete de l'eau' and the first weekend in August is the 'Fete d'Alet' a four day spectacle. During July there is a week of dancing troupes which pass the village with performances.

There is also a boulodrome where you can join the villagers in the evening for a game and a village tennis court available for rent.

The carnival market town of Limoux is 8 kilometres away with three supermarkets and a variety of other shops. Limoux is also famous for Europe's longest carnival from January until late March and 'Blanquette de Limoux'.

Other towns in the area with fabulous markets include Esperaza (the town also has a hat & dinosaur museum), Quillan, Mirepoix and Carcassonne. For those without cars, Alet is on the Quillan-Carcassonne bus/train route, which requires a short walk to the main road for either service.

This sixteenth century cottage includes an eleventh century pillar. The interior is of stone and ?crepie? with wooden beams. The village street that it is situated on is extremely narrow and cars very rarely pass making it very safe for children.

Ground floor: Sitting room; Tiled floor with comfortable seating, including a double sofa bed. A gas fire and French windows out to the garden. ? Kitchen; Tiled floor, table large enough to seat eight; washing machine, oven, fridge and food processor.

Garden is approximately the size of a tennis court with patio furniture, hammock, B-B-Q, badminton set and small herb garden.

Upstairs: Bedroom One; Three single beds, chest of drawers and large storage space. ? Bedroom Two; Double bed, chest of drawers Shower Room; WC, shower and basin. ? Landing; Wardrobe and there is an old stone sink, which is believed to be from the early part of the seventeenth century. There is a baby's COT & HIGH CHAIR available for guests.

Comments from the Visitors Book ...

"We all enjoyed living in this fairytale cottage in this unique village, fab weather, views, snapshots of French life. Thanks a million"
"You have a gem of a house in a lovely village and a fascinating area"
"Lovely, lovely, lovely - words can't describe how pretty"
"Saw so much and yet so little, will have to come again, loved it" (& they stayed a month!)
"Wonderful country, beautiful scenery, lovely people"
"Lovely scenery, so tranquil"
"Beautiful village, friendly people, skiing was great. Merci!"
"Enjoyed our stay immensley, wonderful scenery"
"We had a fantastic time and loved your house very much"

Flights from the UK (Flying time is approximately 1hr 20 from London airports) to:
Carcassonne (25mins-drive)Ryanair
Toulouse (1hr 15mins-drive) EasyJet, BA, Air France & British European.
Perpignan; (1hr 15mins-drive)Ryanair, FlyBe
Nimes (2hr 15mins-drive) Ryanair
'Barcelona'-Girona Ryanair (2hr20min drive)
Barcelona (3hrs) Various airlines

TRAIN The train from London Waterloo can be caught in the late afternoon with a change in Paris arriving in Carcassonne early the next morning; there is usually a service to Alet-les-Bains shortly after the night train arrives.

FERRY & DRIVING Driving is usually a nine to twelve hour drive from the French channel ports. Alternatively the ferry from Portsmouth to Santander is closer with a five hour crossing of the Pyrenees in France to reach Alet.

BUS There are two Eurolines services from London Victoria, one to Toulouse and another to Carcassonne.

PLEASE CONTACT THE OWNER IF YOU WISH TO MAKE A XMAS/NEW YEAR or EASTER BOOKING!

WINTER WEEKENDS CAN BE ACCOMODATED AT THE SAME PRICE BUT WITH A STOCKED LARDER, INCLUDING WINE AND A COMPLIMENTARY BOTTLE OF BLANQUETTE

LONG TERM WINTER LETS AVAILABLE BY REQUEST AT CONSIDERABLY REDUCED RATES

Website: http://www.freewebs.com/alet-les-bains

Alet les Bains: Medieval Cottage with Garden

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