Marisa & Robert
We look forward to welcoming you to the Domaine de l'Ardagnole. L'Ardagnole truly is "un petit paradis dans le Midi". It has everything you would want: beautiful scenery, total privacy, a large swimming pool, a great house with a superb main reception room, and two outside terraces with dining areas, for you to really enjoy your coffee and croissants, midday meal, or evening barbecue. And of course there is a tennis court, and even table tennis!
Even if we can't be there to greet you personally, we are always thinking of ways to make your stay more enjoyable!
Best wishes,
Marisa and Robert
Pay for your holiday in pounds using PayPal's secure online system
- By Marisa & Robert
- Published 31 March 2009
- PayPal Sterling
Deposits are 50% of the total rent, and are payable within 7 days from when you receive your booking confirmation from us.
Please select the appropriate option from the "Pay deposit in pounds" list below, then click the Pay Now button and you will go to the PayPal site. (If you have already paid your deposit, and want to pay the balance, please scroll down the page).
Don't worry! There you will have the opportunity to amend or cancel your option!
If you have already paid your deposit, and you want to pay the balance, including the refundable security deposit, please select the appropriate option from the "Pay balance in pounds" list below, then click the "Pay Now" button to go to the PayPal site to complete the payment.
Rental payments using PayPal
- By Marisa & Robert
- Published 30 March 2009
- PayPal Euro
Deposits are 50% of the total rent, and are payable within 7 days from when you receive your booking confirmation from us.
Please now select the appropriate deposit option from the list below, then click the button and you will go to the PayPal site. (If you are making a final payment, please scroll down the page).
Don't worry! There you will have the opportunity to amend or cancel your option!
If you have already paid your deposit, use this section to make your balance payment, including the refundable security deposit which is required to cover breakages and other damage.
Facilities during your stay here
- By Marisa & Robert
- Published 30 March 2009
- Facilities
First, there is the pool, which measures 12 metres by 6 metres, and is 1.5 metres at the deep end, so one you can really swim in, apart from simply cooling off. There is plenty of pool furniture (loungers, table and chairs, and a bar), and just nearby is a sandpit for the kids, and a garden swing.
There is also a tennis court (complete with umpire's raised chair!), and a basketball net, which you can see in the photo right. For those preferring to play on a smaller area, there is also table-tennis (see below).
Inside the house is a well-stocked library, cd and dvd players, satellite television with several English-speaking channels, such as BBC World, CNN, CNBC and Bloomberg. There is also internet by satellite, including wifi, so that you can surf while relaxing at the pool!
On the fitness front, there are two bikes, both multi-geared, and a rowing machine. For two-legged exercise, the walks (and jogs) are fabulous. There are two half-circuits, one taking through some pine woods, the other on more open ground, and each walk taking around 30 minutes (unless you are tempted to dawdle!). Combining the two takes about an hour. You can of course go "off piste", as there are just under 200 acres of land in total. If you prefer to walk on a road, the access drive (which is paved) is 1 mile long, so a there-and-back gives you your daily dose of a two mile walk.
Virtual tours of the house and estate
- By Marisa & Robert
- Published 29 March 2009
- Virtual tours
Please click these links to view them:
In and around the house
A stroll around the estate
What's on in the area?
- By Marisa & Robert
- Published 25 March 2009
- What's on
This year, the Festival de la Cité and the Festival de la Bastide are combined into one big Festival of Carcassonne, which is classed as one of the largest festivals in France. This popular Festival, now the cultural event in the South of France, has over 80 performances (Opera, Dance, Theatre, Classical, French Variety and International music), 60 of which are free. Throughout the month of July, renowned artists from around the world will perform at the 8 venues in the town.
For the first time, the Esplanade Gambetta will be host to one of the biggest bands in the world, creating the musical event of 2009, as Depeche Mode celebrate their big comeback.The full programme for the Festival of Carcassonne will be available from 2 April 2009.
Sightseeing in the region
- By Marisa & Robert
- Published 25 March 2009
- The region
A useful and comprehensive website to visit for information about sightseeing is Carcassonne Info.
If you click the link above, you will access its tourism pages directly. These pages describe Carcassonne itself, Cathar country (le pays Cathar), the Canal du Midi, the circular villages of the Aude, and other towns and villages including Montsegur, Arques, Termes, Villerouge-Termenès, Lastours, Minerve, Puivert, Montolieu, Mirepoix, Fanjeaux, Fontfroide, Camon and Naurouze.
Various driving itineries are also provided, together with some information on other nearby places such as Narbonne, Ensérune, Beziers, Salses and Collioure.
One of the nicest villages in the area is Lagrasse, which is about 20 minutes from l'Ardagnole. Situated right in the middle of the Corbières, it is surrounded by vineyards and olive groves.
Its name comes from the Latin "gratia", meaning grace, and is reminiscent of the state of mind apparently reached by certain monks in the abbey. This village, with its fortifications and medieval houses, is proud to be called the "most beautiful village in France".
Take time to wander along its narrow alleys, see the potters' workshops, cross the old bridges, and visit the covered market dating from the fourteenth century (there is normally a small market on Saturday mornings). In addition, visit the 13th century church (the bell tower of which was destroyed in 1537), and the real jewel, the Benedictine Abbey.
Finally, stroll along the river Orbier, and along the botanical path of Rouch, surrounded with pines and oaks, and you will no doubt understand why this village got its name. Oh, and don't forget to try the excellent restaurants in the village before you leave! For further information about Lagrasse, click here, or telephone the Office of Tourism there on 04 68 43 11 56.
Payment
- By Marisa & Robert
- Published 24 March 2009
- Payment
Holiday rental rates are quoted in euros. 50% is payable within 7 days from when you receive our booking confirmation email, and the balance is payable 30 days before your holiday start date. The balance payment also includes the refundable security deposit.
If you wish to make the payment in £ sterling, please let us know in the comments section of the booking enquiry form, and we will send you the equivalent sterling amount in our booking confirmation email.
Bank transfer payment details, in euros and £ sterling, will also be sent in the booking confirmation email.
You may also pay your using our PayPal account. You don't need your own PayPal account to make the payment, as it will be debited to your own credit card by PayPal. Click here for our PayPal payment page.
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Facilities
- By Marisa & Robert
- Published 21 March 2009
- The Estate
There are many things to do on the estate during your stay (apart from just unwinding!).First, there is the swimming pool, which is large (12x6 m) and deep (2.5 m at the deep end). Near to the pool is a sandpit for the children to play in, and also a garden swing on the lawn.
There is also a hard tennis court, and a basketball net. For those interested in smaller bats and balls, there is also table tennis.We have two adult bicycles, both with 18 gears, so that you can attack the somewhat hilly roads, in between nice straight sections.
Inside is all that you would expect: television, dvd and cd players, radio, etc. There are also speakers at the back of the house, so that you can enjoy music at the pool or at the barbecue. We also have internet by satellite, including wifi, so you can relax by the pool and surf at the same time!
Flying here
- By Marisa & Robert
- Published 21 March 2009
- By Air
The next nearest airport is Toulouse, where BA flies from Gatwick and Bristol, and Easyjet from London. If coming from Paris, you can use either the Air France shuttle, from Orly or CDG, or Easyjet from Orly.
Two other airports are within reasonable (1.5 hours) driving distance: Montpellier and Perpignan.
For Montpellier, flights to and from the UK go to Stansted and Gatwick. There are also routes to Amsterdam and Frankfurt, Madrid, and internal flights to Paris and Nantes. Check the Montpellier Airport website for more information.
For Perpignan, you can fly with Ryanair to Stansted and Birmingham, and there are internal flights to Paris Orly. Again, please check the Perpignan Airport website for more information.
Bon vol!
And now, cool off at l'Ardagnole!
- By Marisa & Robert
- Published 21 March 2009
- The Pool
The swimming pool at l'Ardagnole is a real feature. It is large, measuring 12 metres by 6 metres, with a deep-end of 2.5 metres. In other words, one you can really swim in, and dive into! There is also a pool bar, and lots of pool furniture.
Another feature of the l'Ardagnole pool is that it uses salt, rather than neat
chlorine, for water purification. This system involves the use of electrolysis to separate small quantities of chlorine from the salt diluted in the water, thus avoiding the "smell" of a chlorinated pool. By the way, you can see the garden swing in the picture on the right, and just beyond the pool is a sandpit for the children.We're open for business!
- By Marisa & Robert
- Published 2 May 2010
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