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GITE
Mas d'en Grau is a traditional Catalan farmhouse set in the Aspres hills above the valley of the river Tet. The Cottage (Gite) sleeps 2 - 4 and consists of a double bedroom, bathroom, a living room with sofa bed and american kitchen and a sunny terrace for outdoor eating. It has a wood burning stove for winter. It backs onto, but is independent from, the owner's house.
The heated 14 x 7 metre swimming pool and adjoining barbeque area are available to guests during their stay. The extensive grounds have wonderful views over the Tet valley and far beyond. Even Chateau de Queribus is just visible on a clear day as is the nose of Mount Canigou.
POOLHOUSE
The Poolhouse, which can be rented as an annexe to the gite but never alone, consists of a light and airy studio bedroom, small kitchenette and a bathroom. It is ideal for a couple of friends or a couple of older children. The views are superb and, of course, the pool could not be closer.
It is a wonderfully peaceful base from which to explore a fascinating corner of France. Walking in the foothills of the Pyrenees, discovering Cathar Castles on the ancient border of Aragon, swimming in the Mediterranean at Collioure, popping down to Spain for the day; all are within an easy hour's drive. The countryside is scattered with small fortified villages, Romanesque chapels and hermitages top the hills, the valleys are full of peach orchards and the mountain slopes covered with vineyards.
The coast is lined with long sandy beaches and small rocky coves, backed by herb scented cliff-top walks through wild lavender and rosemary. It is a land of olive and almond, of robust red wine and rural Catalan cooking. A paradise for ramblers, cyclists and climbers, for divers, swimmers, yachtsmen, for lovers of art and history. Border country, littered with castles, monasteries and towers, fought over for centuries, French since 1659.
Perpignan is about half an hour away with good rail and air connections to Paris, London and Barcelona.
LOCAL AREA
Ille sur Tet is just 10 minutes away with a market each Wednesday and Friday. Prades is about 30 minute's drive and has a marvellous market every Tuesday. The famous Pablo Casals Music Festival takes place each July. Marquixanes has a terrific adventure park and opportunities for canoeing and river rafting. It is a beautiful area all the year round. The spring flowers start with almond blossom and mimosa in February, the valleys fill with peach blossom by March and the autumn colours are spectacular through to the end of November.
Please quote 'A Week or 2 in Languedoc' when contacting the owners:
