Ground Floor: Entrance hall. Front living room (WiFi). Dining room. Library. Kitchen (oven, microwave, induction hob, two dishwashers, fridge freezer). Cloakroom. First Floor: Landing with doors opening to small balcony over front courtyard garden. Laundry area with washing machine. Double bedroom 1 (super-king) with living area, Sat TV, en suite bathroom and separate shower. Double bedroom 2 (super-king) with Sat TV and en suite shower room. Twin bedroom 3 (can be a king-size on request) with Sat TV and en suite shower room. Second Floor: Double bedroom 4 (super-king) with living area, Sat TV, en suite bathroom and separate shower. Double bedroom 5 (super-king) with living area, Sat TV, en suite bathroom and separate shower. Twin bedroom 6 (can be a king-size on request) with Sat TV and en suite shower room. Outside: Courtyard garden leads to front entrance. Steps down via rear doors from hall lead to outside dining and living terraces. Large Mediterranean style gardens. Barbecue. Private (and on-street) parking. Walled garden with private pool (11m x 4.5m), W/C and fridge.
Dating back to 1882 and situated in the charmingly laid back wine village of Rieux-Minervois, this unique and imposing property enjoys an enviable location just a 400m stroll from the village square and excellent amenities that include a bakery, butcher, grocers, local bar, weekly market and one of several restaurants that are within walking distance.
La Belle Demeure was constructed in 1882 and is the most beautiful three-storey French Victorian townhouse comprising 6 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms. To the rear is a large and private Mediterranean garden with delightful walled private pool. A large central hallway, with beautifully corniced ceilings and Italian porcelain tiled floor, runs from front to back. This leads to the rear double doors which step out to the al fresco dining area, gardens and walled pool area. Many features have been beautifully preserved and provide the history and aesthetic of the house. The rear rooms have single south-facing windows which overlook the gardens whilst the front rooms are north-facing, some with views to the Montagnes Noires.
Décor has been very carefully considered and includes some fabulous furnishings and fixtures throughout from well known brands both European and British, that grace the pages of high-end interior magazine pages. Particular attention has been paid to bedroom comfort with quality bedding and unique beds in each room.
The ground floor consists of a front living room, decorated with striking pinks and greens, and a dining room in subtle lilacs and sage with matching chairs and wood panelling. The exquisite library room overlooks the rear gardens and is adorned with contemporary leather sofas and armchairs. A kitchen, with large island, is opposite and similar in colour tones to the library that gives a sense of uniformity of schemes of these two lovely rooms. Upstairs, three large 'suites' and three en suite bedrooms over two further floors are each uniquely decorated and immaculately dressed to exacting standards.
Nestled in hectares of picturesque vineyards, numerous local wineries surround the town while the impressive UNESCO World Heritage site of Carcassone (famously one of the few remaining medieval cities in Europe with walled fortifications still intact) is just 24km. Roman and Gothic influences abound in Narbonne (40km) while the coastline around Gruissan (55km) is renowned for sweeping salt flats and eye-catching flocks of pink flamingos. Marseillan (92km) and Sète (120km) are just two of the numerous fishing villages along the Etang de Thau (92km) which is the largest string of lagoons in France and source of some of the finest oysters and mussels in the country. It is also worth noting that Carcassonne, Perpignan (98km), Montpellier (138km) and Toulouse (138km) all have direct air links with the UK making this wonderully unspoilt region very accessible.
Note that the pool is open from May onwards only and closed from end of October onwards. Please check at time of booking. *Air conditioning/heating is available at extra cost of £450 (£325 for small party rate) per week payable in advance or locally on arrival in euros 500€ (350€ for up small party rate). La Belle Demeure is a no smoking and no vaping property. Pets are also not permitted. Parties paying the 6 person rate will have access to any three bedrooms only to be selected in advance of travel. Other rooms will be closed and will not be available on arrival.
Please note that all visitors to France aged 18 and over are required to pay local tourist tax of £2.50 per night. We will add this amount to your booking and remit it on your behalf.
