'La Florette', Floure, near Carcassonne, France.
The house, 'La Florette', is situated mid-way between the river Aude and the Route Nationale N113 from Carcassonne to Narbonne. On the other side of the Route Nationale runs the railway and beyond it lies the little village of Floure, with its quiet streets, its one excellent chateau restaurant and its good local wine. The house is about eight miles to the east of Carcassonne and four miles from Trebes. The nearest interchange on the autoroute A61 'Des deux mers' is very near Trebes. From there it is a fast forty-minute drive to the nearest coastal resorts, Gruissan and Narbonne Plage, almost all by autoroute. Local beaches recently received a European award for cleanliness. Carcassonne is one of the two or three most frequently visited places in France outside Paris. The largest fortified medieval city in Europe, it stands magnificent on its hill 150 metres above the river Aude. Restored in the last century, it is a dream of the perfect medieval city with its three kilometres of ramparts, thirty-five defensive towers, its moat, Viscount's castle and basilica. The river Aude rises in the Cerdagne beyond Mont-Louis and flows towards Carcassonne through dramatic gorges either side of Axat and past Ales les Bains and Limoux, home of the famous sparkling Blanquette wine. After Carcassonne, its course turns to the east towards the sea. Floure is situated in the Minervois, an area well known for its excellent wine. To the south lie the Corbieres, a scarcely populated range of hills well worthy of exploration. To the north rises the Montagne Noire and the National Park, the last bastion of the Massif Central. It is possible to take pleasure trips on the Canal du Midi. Several historic cathedral cities are within easy reach, including Montpellier, Beziers, Castres, Albi, Narbonne, Perpignan, Toulouse and St. Pons de Thomieres. 'La Florette' stands in its own grounds which present as a long rectangle.

The area between Carcassonne and the sea is exceptionally sunny and warm. 'La Florette' offers an ideal centre for a perfect holiday. The property is let as a whole, not on a 'per person' basis. Lets are normally made for complete weeks, from Saturday to Saturday, although special arrangements may be negotiated on request. The costs of cleaning and electricity (except for the winter months) are included in the price of the let. From November to April, the swimming-pool will be closed, and an extra charge will be made for the use of the pool during the months of May and October. At other times, the use of the pool will be included in the cost of the let. All linen is provided, including hand- and bath-towels, but you should bring your own towels for use by the pool, in the gardens or on the beach. It is a condition of the let that not more than ten people should stay in the house at any one time. A separate paper will explain how and where house-keys should be collected and returned. The normal arrangements are that visitors arrive at the house after 4.00 p.m. and leave before 10.00 a.m. on their final day.

Local information:
Trebes, three or four miles away, offers all the facilities necessary for daily living: Bakery Grocer Supermarkets Chemist Newsagent DIY store Petrol Garage Banks Post Office Church Doctor Dentist Cafe/bar etc. etc. There are many restaurants in the area, at Capendu, Trebes, Carcassonne and the Cite. You will find recommendations in the house Travel Journal. Please add your own. The main hospital is on the southern by-pass around Carcassonne. The nearest hypermarket is 'Geant' to the right of the road from Trebes to Carcassonne. Floure offers little except the high-class restaurant, Chateau de Floure. The principal theatres, concert halls, museums, art galleries and festivals are located in the 'new town' of Carcassonne and in the Cite. For information about sports of all kinds, we suggest that you pay an early visit to Office de Tourisme / Syndicat d'Initiative, 15, Boulevard Camille-Pelletan. After you cross the Aude on the road into Carcassonne, you will come to a large square. The Tourist Office is at the far end of the square. There is another at Trebes on the left after the bridge over the Canal du Midi as you leave the town. The following facilities cannot all be guaranteed.