FOU CHANTANT HOLIDAY RENTAL ST CHINIAN, LANGUEDOC SLEEPS 4 + 2 CHILDREN ROOF TERRACE WITH PANORAMIC VIEWS BEAUTIFULLY RESTORED WALK TO BOULANGERIE, SHOPS, RESTAURANTS CHILDHOOD HOME OF CHARLES TRENET This beautifully restored top floor rental, in what was Charles Trenet's childhood home, has a magnificent roof terrace with views of hills and vineyards around St Chinian, as well as over the village with its open air market held on Thursday and Sunday in the neighboring square. Beziers, Narbonne, and Mediterranean beaches are 30 minutes drive, with swimming and canoeing in the Orb river (10 minutes) at Cessenon or Roquebrun. International airports near are Carcassone, Montpellier, Perpignan, and Toulouse. A TGV railway station is at Beziers.	St Chinian - Market
DETAILS OF ACCOMMODATION The apartment has been newly renovated to a very high standard and is on the second floor of the owners' veterinary surgery and affords superb views over the town's tree-lined market square on one side and the Black Mountains on another. It has its own private entrance and stairs. It is extremely spacious, with living accommodation over 110 square metres, comprising an open plan kitchen with breakfast bar, living room and dining area. The general décor is rustic French with exposed stonework, large timber beams and wood-panelled walls. Roof terrace: With panoramic views across the rooftops of the village to the mountains and cliffs beyond, the 30 square metre terrace provides a unique vantagepoint as well as a private place to soak up the sunshine. Kitchen: With a bar and fireplace for internal (electric) barbecues. Fully equipped with fridge, large cooker, microwave, and all new kitchen utensils. Sitting room: Where you can relax in a large open area surrounded by magnificent woodwork with two sofas (one is a sofa bed - sleeps 2), listening to music on the hi-fi, watching television or a video. The owners' collection of videos is a mix of French and English, many suitable for children. (It is also possible to rent videos in the village.) A little aperitif table and chairs provide the perfect place to sit back and take in the views at any time of the day, be it the bustling markets on Sundays and Thursdays, or the more tranquil but spectacular sight of the sun setting over the mountains. First double bedroom with en-suite bathroom. The bedroom is in the same rustic style; the windows looks out onto the market square and allow the room to bathed in early morning sunshine. The bathroom includes toilet, washbasin and shower. Second double bedroom with en suite bathroom. A double bed, and two bunks.	Kitchen Living room with view over village Larger Photo : The roof terrace has stunning views
Roquebrun - ideal for swimming and canoeing Restored windmill overlooking St Chinian St Chinian vines with windmill in background Mediterranean beaches 30 minutes drive	ABOUT ST CHINIAN AND SURROUNDING AREA At the foothills of the Black Mountains, half an hour from the Mediterranean beaches, is the lively wine-growing town of St Chinian. Attracted by the growing reputation of its red wines, the excellent climate and the stunning scenery, St Chinian has become a favourite destination for tourists and its twice-weekly Provencal-style market is one of the most popular in the region. Throughout the long summer season festivals, concerts and banquets give St Chinian and its surrounding villages a carnival atmosphere. St Chinian is a small town but with most of the facilities of a large one, including banks, four restaurants, three bars, supermarkets, a newspaper shop (selling some in English), hairdressers, doctors, pharmacies and numerous butchers and boulangeries. Nature lovers can cross rivers and canyons, or hike through the vineyards and hills and breathe in the aromas of wild lavender, thyme and rosemary while there's always the chance that they'll encounter a family of wild boar, or see eagles soaring overhead. Further afield the nature reserves by the coast are home to an incredible diversity of wildlife, including flamingoes and maggestic birds of prey . For the gourmet, a huge choice of restaurants in the region offer a variety of French cuisine including foie gras, confit, magret and cassoulet, to the typical Mediterranean salads based on olive oil and herbs of the garrigue. Seafood lovers will enjoy fresh oysters, mussels and crabs, or the famous bouillabaisse. For those with a passion for history, the area is also very rich. From the vestiges of prehistory (the man of Tautavel and numerous caves) and Roman ruins to the awe-inspiring castles and fortified towns which tell the story of the Cathar era, including the dramatic and perfectly restored city of Carcassonne. Take a day to discover, or even cruise along the 'Canal du Midi'. Built over 15 years in the 17th century, and now classified a World Heritage Site, it is an amazing monument to one man's ambition of realising the dream of linking the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. Sport lovers will also find plenty to keep them occupied in and around St Chinian which boasts an excellent modern municipal swimming pool. Then there's horse-riding, river swimming, cycling, canoeing, rafting, climbing, and potholing, in addition to the many watersports available on the Mediterranean. Petanque is one of the most popular pastimes for the locals who might be happy to take on a challenge, although the uninitiated should be aware that the sedate appearance of the sport belies the ruthlessness with which it is played! But, alternatively, you could do very little except enjoy a glass of good local wine under the sun, and get into the Mediterranean frame of mind : Siesta first and the rest for 'mañana'. Clients will find a specially prepared fact file, giving all the information they need on activities, restaurants and excursions. ACCESS International airports are at Carcassone (1 hour), Perpignan (1 hour), Nimes (1 hour) which are all serviced by Ryanair from Stansted. Alternatively, Montpellier (1 hour) and Toulouse (2 hours) also offer regular air services from several UK airports. Or there is the excellent French railway system (SNCF a main station in Beziers (30 minutes). For motorists, France boasts one of Europe's best road networks, which makes the south of France accessible in a day's drive from the northern Channel ports.
FOU CHANTANT   SLEEPS 4 + 2 CHILDREN Payment is based on Euro Value - £ and $ are only approximate. Bed Linen and Towels are provided WEEKLY RENTAL (SATURDAY TO SATURDAY) 2008. £ GBP $ US EURO REST OF YEAR £275 $520 €400 APRIL, MAY, SEPTEMBER £350 $665 €510 JUNE, JULY, AUGUST £450 $850 €650 For reservations and more information contact fouchantant@southfrance.com Mr and Ms ROCHARD BOND rue Fontaine Valentin 34360 St Chinian France Telephone/Fax - Surgery (daytime): (33) 4 67 38 22 78 Mobile: (33) 6 08 35 48 38 HOME    PROPERTIES    BOATS    PLACES   RENTALS