Villa Du Midi

About this property

Spend relaxing summer days playing in the swimming pool and enjoying al-fresco feasts by the fig tree in this delightful holiday villa set in a beautiful Languedoc wine village between Béziers and Narbonne.

Villa Du Midi is the type of place where you can create joyful holiday memories for everyone. Whilst the kids play endless basketball and table tennis, older guests can sip a glass of chilled white wine under the olive tree or challenge a loved one to a game of boules. Prepare delicious lunches in the summer kitchen, perhaps using fresh fish and vegetables from the village’s twice-weekly market, and serve outside on the terrace before returning to the swimming pool. In the summer months the trees in the private walled garden are bursting with fruit to pick to your hearts content.

The spacious interiors of Villa Du Midi are just as charming. There are four air-conditioned bedrooms on the top level, including a master double with a smart en suite wet room, whilst the main floor offers ample living space whether you wish to kick back in the TV lounge with Netflix or a DVD or seek a little peace in the tranquil living room with its elegant bookshelves and desk. Another kitchen and dining room means meals can be enjoyed together whatever the time of year.

Stroll into the heart of the village, pick up fresh croissants, pop into the local butchers and relax with a coffee or something stronger in the Tabac et Bar. This small village also has a pretty church, a little museum and look out for the pizza van in the village square on a Friday evening!

Surrounding the village, you will find typical Hérault vineyards with many wonderful walking trails. Organise a wine-tasting in your villa, be whisked away to visit nearby wineries or art-lovers can arrange a day sketching the mesmerising Languedoc landscapes. Learn all about the area's wine heritage - the wine revolt started in the local village leading to the creation of the ‘Appellation Controleé’ label. The flag the wine-makers carried to Paris can be seen in the village museum.

Cycle along the nearby Canal du Midi, hire canoes and kayaks on the River Orb in Roquebrun and go horse-riding, windsurfing or mountain biking along Gruissan Plage and beyond. Visit the bustling indoor market in the small city of Narbonne, listen to classical music under the stars at Abbaye de Fontfroide or join in the vibrant festivities of the Feria in Béziers.

Then there’s the fascinating history of this region, often referred to as ‘Cathar Country’ with famous castles including Château de Lastours, Quéribus and Montségur. Even the incredible city of Carcassonne is only an hour away for an amazing day out in this spectacular part of southern France.

Villa Du Midi is set in a beautiful Languedoc working wine village in the Hérault department of southern France, around 30km west of Béziers.

Stroll down the lane into the heart of the village, within 300m, and there’s a little grocery store, a boulangerie, a good butchers that is open in the morning as well as a Tabac bar and pharmacy. Visit the beautiful village church and there is even a little museum. On a Tuesday and Friday morning head to the little market in the square selling seasonal fruit, vegetables, fish and paella! On a Friday evening look out for the pizza van in the village square and in August there is usually a Fête de Village with amazing firework displays.

The area is rich in fossils - indeed, the village made the news recently when a nearly complete 70-million year old dinosaur skeleton was discovered in the nearby forest (in fact it was the neighbour's son who found it when walking his dog!).

The nearest restaurant is around a 15-minute stroll away along a lane which isn’t usually busy with cars – it’s handy to have a torch for the way back if dark (you’ll find one in the summer kitchen downstairs). Otherwise there’s a good auberge around a 10-minute drive away and further restaurants in and around local villages including Capestang (10km), also home to a large supermarket.

Explore the countryside surrounding the village with its vineyards – wine-tastings can be arranged at Villa Du Midi or you can be picked up and taken for a wine tour of nearby Languedoc vineyards and wineries. This area is steeped in wine history – the wine revolt started nearby leading to the creation of the ‘Appellation Controleé' label. The flag the wine-makers carried all the way to Paris is in the village museum. This really is the perfect location for getting to know the many excellent yet relatively unknown Languedoc wines.

There are some lovely walks through the pinewoods of Sériège and horse-riding opportunities either a ten-minute drive away or along the coast at Gruissan Plage. Kayaking and canoeing is also extremely popular in this region – Roquebrun is an idyllic spot on the Orb river, as is Cessenon-sur-Orb (also great for fishing and summer swimming), both within half an hour.

The Canal du Midi, a unesco World Heritage site, is just a short drive away – hire bikes and cycle along the tow path as the canal winds its way through the Languedoc countryside, passing close to Hérault and Aude wine villages such as Argeliers and Capestang, then onwards to Oppidum D'Enserune, the Malpas tunnel and Béziers with its famous nine locks.

The vibrant town of Béziers is another great day out - if staying in August then you may be fortunate enough to enjoy the town’s Feria with street festivities and fireworks alongside traditional Spanish bull-fighting.

The Canal du Midi also goes through Narbonne (22km), a small city with a picturesque medieval quarter, magnificent cathedral and bustling indoor market. Beyond the city, admire the beautiful architecture of Abbaye de Fontfroide which often hosts classical concerts on summer evenings – a magical experience.

If you wish to spend a day by the Mediterranean, Gruissan is a charming former fishing village with a modern marina, nearby saltpans and a large beach. The coastline around here is a paradise for windsurf enthusiasts and there are many brilliant mountain biking routes.

Of course, this part of southern France is also named as ‘Cathar Country’ with its historic castles scattered across Languedoc-Roussillon and beyond for an adventurous day out – famous castles include Château de Lastours, Château de Peyrepertuse, Château de Quéribus and Montségur. If visiting Minerve, a former Cathar stronghold, look out for idyllic rock pools and swimming spots in the summer.

Accommodation

Villa Interiors

Entrance Level (First Floor)

-    Front door and entrance hall
-    Lounge (14m2) with two sofas, armchairs and office space with desk
-    Kitchen (14m2), fully-equipped including sink, fridge-freezer, dishwasher, induction hob and fan oven
-    Lounge and dining area (59m2) with TV, DVD player, sofas and door leading to dining area (for 8-12 guests)

Top Level (Second Floor)

-    Master bedroom (23m2) with king size bed, walk-in wardrobe and en-suite wet room with walk-in shower and WC
-    Bedroom (17m2) with twin beds (can be made into super king)
-    Bedroom (17m2) with twin beds (can be made into super king)
-    Bedroom (17m2) with king size bed
-    Bathroom with bath, shower and WC

Garden Level (Ground Floor)

-    Indoor summer kitchen (18m2), fully-equipped with dishwasher, hob, fan oven, sink and table (for 4 guests)
-    Utility room with washing machine, two fridges, freezer, sink and table football
-    WC
-    Entrance to garden
-    Garage

Outside Grounds

-    Swimming pool (10x5m, depth 1.5-2m, partly salt-water) open approximately late May to late October with safety alarm. Also features cover and evening lighting
-    Poolside shower
-    Sun-loungers (x8)
-    Pool inflatables (and pump)
-    Al-fresco dining area (just outside summer kitchen). Please note that the garden furniture has been updated - new photos coming in 2023.
-    Outdoor/poolside Tritan glasses 
-    Gas barbecue (with pizza cooking plate) and seating area
-    Mediterranean garden with seating area by the fruit and olive trees
-    Boules
-    Basketball hoop and ball
-    Table tennis (with bats and balls)
-    6 bikes with helmets and high-vis jackets 
-    Walled grounds
-    Remote controlled gate
-    Outdoor car parking (2-3 cars)
Facilities
-    Reversible air-conditioning (bedrooms only)
-    Free-standing fans
-    Smart TV (Prime/Netflix/Roku – guests use their own log-in)
-    DVD player (x2) and DVD collection for all ages
-    Books (many in English)
-    Boules
-    Table tennis
-    Table football
-    Board games
-    Card table and cards
-    Cool bag
-    Washing machine