House near Caixas , Pyrénées-Orientales

TV DVD

Oven, hobs, fridge freezer, microwave, dishwasher, washing machine.

The Pyrenees Orientales is a wonderful place to spend a holiday with its warm seas, sandy beaches and fresh mountain air. Carlitte Peak is the highest mountain but Mont Canigou is the most remarkable as it stands out above the plain showing very clearly the differing vegetation zones of juniper and orange groves, oleander, aloe, pomegranate, olive vines growing to over 600 metres, huge chestnut, pine and birch trees and rhododendrons over 300 metres high. The department of Pyrenees Orientales conceals many treasures: varied landscapes of rich beauty, an important architectural heritage, and traditions and a culture that have lasted for centuries. Five of the villages within the Pyrenees Orientales have been granted the classification of "Most beautiful villages of France" (Have, Evol, Mosset, Castelnou and Villefranche-of-Conflent). Many artists, in particular painters, were seduced by the particular luminosity and colors which bathe the Pyrenees. Matisse and Derain, for example elected residence in Collioure in 1905. If you want total rest and relaxation then you have an amazing choice of baths and springs. Amelie-les-Bains offers chalybeate or sulphurous hot springs. Perpignan is the capital of the Pyrenees-Orientales department and only 40km from the Spanish border and 13km from the Mediterranean sea. Perpignan is a wonderful old historic city and a fascinating place to explore. There are some fabulous beaches a short distance from Perpignan. Canet Plage is one of the jewels of the Catalan coast. There is a busy yachting harbour and excellent water sports facilities including sailing, diving, water skiing, jet skiing and windsurfing. Outdoor activities Canet Plage include beach clubs, an Olympic swimming pool, tennis courts, a riding centre and cycle trails. There is Sea World Aquarium. Leucate Plage has 1 km of fine golden sand with calm waters and a shore which shelves gently into the sea making it a safe place to bathe and popular with families. The beautiful St Cyprien Golf Course is just south of Perpignan, half a mile from the beach and with the Pyrenees as its backdrop.

The Pyrenees Orientales is in the Languedoc-Roussillon area in south west France which borders Spain and the Mediterranean. Its position means it has a temperate climate, with very mild winters and hot dry summers with temperatures reaching between 85º and 95º between July and September.

Set in spectacular countryside with the Mediterranean to the east, Catalonia to the south and Andorra to the west, the Pyrenees Orientales borders are formed by mountain peaks.

The property is located in the village of Caixas in the countryside near the Pyrenees and 30 km to the Mediterranean Beaches of Collioure, Argeles, Port Vendres..
Many of the beaches are separated from the sea by belts of sand forming lagoons.

Perpignan Airport is 30 km.

CAIXAS, the perhaps quintessential tranquil Catalan village is within easy traveling distance of Collioure and the sea, the market towns of Ceret and Thuir, of Perpignan, Mont Canigou and with Spain and the Cathar Castles all within a days visit.

The views from the Mas are superb, even if not in the absolutely staggering category and rooms can look east to the sea, catching the morning sun, west out to the valley and Mont Helene or south to the frontier hills of the Alberes.

The accommodation is as follows for the MAIN HOUSE with bedrooms named after the old regions of the Roussillon:-

1. CERDANYA & VALLESPIR - two bedrooms (21 & 14 m2 respectively) forming a suite that share a bathroom ( the main bedroom does have its own hand basin). The double bedded and south facing room has French windows looking to the south and has a 40 year old ‘hoya carnosa’ that covers much of the wall; the season of flowering is spring and early summer. The other room of the suite (Vallespir) has twin beds with far views to the sea.

2. CONFLENT - a 15 m2 twin bedded room in blue and yellow including attached bathroom – this room is cool in the summer having only a small window.

3. CAPCIR - a large double-bedded room of 21 m2 with a single bed included and with separate bathroom. This has French windows leading onto a small balcony that looks south over the valley.

4. ROSSELLO (17 m2) - a double-bedded room with separate bathroom. It has windows facing southeast to the sea and a 40 square metre terrace overlooking the pool, the Garden House and down on to the sea. It is also possible to access the pool from here.

5. FENOLLEDES – a single bedded room of 10 m2 with full bathroom facilities attached; this can be made available on special request.

In addition there is a conservatory seating 12+, a dining room of 20 m2 seating 10, a kitchen (11 m2) with double oven and a fully equipped and very working kitchen and a large outdoor BBQ area plus a large sitting room of some 50 m2 with TV and video etc.

In the BBQ area, near the pool, there are table and chairs to sit 16 ans sun loungers.

The private swimming pool is enclosed with a stone wall -
12,5 m x 4 m

Please note that the summer is the season of ‘fetes’ and so too at Caixas. It has to be said that for the most part we live in tranquillity but during the period of June 20 th to August 21st this can be set aside and there are several events that celebrate life in general. Such things therefore, as village ‘grillades’ and ‘fetes’ will take place on the ‘place’ some metres away.

This will particularly and obviously involve anyone staying in the Maison de la Place as you are direct onto the ‘place’ where the action takes place but, in any case, you with all other people, will be invited. Please also note that these events can go on after midnight with the usual casual bustle and the (for some) dubious French music that is ‘of the south’.

They are very good natured and friendly and give a sense of fiesta that perhaps we have lost in England - so either join in and enjoy or join other crowds at the coast.