Les Chaluts in Marseillan , Hérault

TV and DVD in the living room. How about arriving at the house to find that the evening meal has already been cooked for you by a French chef? Simple and delicious ... favourite dinner for two or more ready to pop in the oven, and the table already laid. Perhaps a full-flavoured boeuf bourguignon with seasonal vegetables and a nutmeg and parmesan mash, followed by a freshly-baked fruit tart. Just one of the special "Extras" we are happy to organise at Les Chaluts in Winter and Spring.

A compact corner kitchen with a twin-electric-ring hob table top oven/grill, microwave and fridge. Washing machine.

A charming and picturesque Languedoc village, bounded by Mediterranean oysterbeds, the Canal de Midi and the Picpoul de Pinet vineyards. A charming weekly market in the old streets around the 13th century church. Visit the original Noilly Prat vermouth distillery on the port and taste the catch of the day at any one of two dozen restaurants. Sea, Lagoon and Canal: Boating and watersports within a few minutes walk of the house. Miles of long sandy beaches on the Med and the leafy tree-lined Canal de Midi, with its timeless locks and solitary fishermen. Further afield, dip in clear mountain lakes and canoe white waters in the gorges of Haute Languedoc as eagles soar above. Play Pétanque on the shady village square or book a tennis court along the Oystermen's road. Children let off steam in the Park Tabarka playground two minutes walk away - skate ramps, volleyball and table tennis areas. Golfers tee off at nearby St. Thomas and Cap d'Agde golf clubs. Skiers drive up to the Pyrenees for the weekend. Shopping: Legendary Brocante fleamarkets at Marseillan Plage resort, 5 minutes drive from the port, hailed by BBC TV as the ultimate continental boot fairs. Find Gallé crystal and 1950s copies of Paris Match alongside antique bedspreads and wedding dresses. Dozens of Domaines offer wine tastings (local Picpoul de Pinet white wine ideal with oysters). Further afield, great St Chinian, Corbières and Faugères wines a sip away. Closer to home, Marseillan's world famous vermouth Noilly Prat the heart of a true dry martini. Famers markets sell Fougasse breads, Pelardon cheeses and garrigue herbs.

Overlooking the little Port Tabarka itself, this cosy two-bedroom, two-storey house is just yards from the waterfront.

Open the shutters in the living room and step out onto your private ground-floor terrace and take in the view, before settling down to breakfast al fresco.
Pour a glass of chilled orange juice, a bowl of freshly filtered coffee and enjoy warm buttered croissants as you watch little chalut fishing boats bobbing in the secluded harbour.

Just a couple of minutes walk along the waterside takes you to the main pleasure port of Marseillan, its quaysides lined with restaurants and cafes, barges and dinghies moored outside the wine coperative and Noilly Prat vermouth warehouses.

By contrast, the Port Tabarka is a far more peaceful affair. Your grandstand front-row view of the Etang de Thau and the sparkling contours of the Mont St Clair across the lagoon boasts one of the most privileged positions in Marseillan Village.

Ground Floor: The waterfront cottage has a welcoming living room and dining area leading to the terrace. TV and DVD offer alternatives to the excellent views. Next to the kitchenette, a purpose-built utility cupboard has a washing machine, iron and ironing board. Flop and relax on a comfy sofa or prepare a supper of locally caught seafood from the lagoon and cheeses, olives and nibbles from the market and epiceries to serve on the portside terrace as a bright harvest moon rises over the Mediterranean, before climbing the wooden staircase to bed and the promise of even more spectacular skies in the morning.

Outside: The terrace at the front, with its dining table and chairs overlooking the port and lagoon: a reserved parking spaceto the rear .

First Floor: Upstairs a fully-tiled shower-room and wc features a large vanity unit and basin. The master bedroom with sunrise views over the water a really comfortable and supportive double bed and a wardrobe. A second twin bedroom on this floor looks out to the quiet courtyard behind the house.