Washing machine, dishwasher, dryer, bed linen and bathroom towels included (weekly change included), cot (linen provided), high chair, cook and baby-sitting on request, no telephone, satellite TV, DVD, CD, air-conditioning, barbecue, boules court, billiards, swings, table tennis

Located 19km south of the fortified medieval town of Carcassonne in the Aude, this well-appointed property built in local style offers stunning views towards the Pyrenees. It stands in the heights of the Malepère Massif, a protected site famous for its flora and fauna. The property is located 3.5km from the small village of St-Martin-de-Villereglan (no shops). There is a bakery at Cépie (7km), a general store in Malviès (4km), and all shops, services and good restaurants in Limoux (13km), a lovely town noted for its local sparkling white wine, "Blanquette de Limoux". The market at Limoux is on Fridays and there is one  three times weekly in Carcassonne. The local wine region is La Malepère. There are many beautiful sites to discover nearby: the Cathar castles of Montségur, Lastour and Peyrepertus, and the abbeys of St Hilaire and Fontfroide amongst many. The 17th century Canal du Midi is well worth exploring. The Spanish border and the Pyrénées are 90 minutes to the south.

In Limoux there are canoeing, fishing, bike hire and tennis courts. Rafting, kayaking, canoeing and canyoning are possible near Quillan (36km). There is an adventure park near Alet (18km). The closest sandy beaches are at Gruissan, about an hour away. There is an 18 hole golf course at Carcassonne.

Wonderful walks can be taken from the property. There is horse riding organised by the owners' daughter 500m away; further details on request.

The interior is spacious and furnished in a mixture of very attractive styles. Each bedroom has its own personality and much attention has been paid to detail. The ground floor consists of a large living area with a sitting area at one end opening onto a terrace, a very well-equipped professional kitchen, a library/study, a billiard room, a twin bedroom with an en suite shower room with a wc, a shower room with a wc, and a separate wc.

On the first floor are six bedrooms: two doubles each with an additional single bed (one with an en suite bathroom with a wc, the other with an en suite shower room with a wc); two doubles (one with an en suite bathroom with a wc); a twin with an en suite shower room with a wc, a small bedroom with two single beds and a single pull-out bed, a shower room with a wc, and a separate wc.

The bedroom with en suite shower room and the separate wc on the ground floor are suitable for wheelchair access.