Only 15 minutes from the centre of Narbonne yet very much in the heart of the countryside, Raissac d'Aude is a small, friendly and very quiet village. The entrance to the apartment is located in a separate building to the main house; it has its own dedicated entrance through stable doors with the staircase leading up to the apartment which incorporates all modern conveniences including reversible airconditioning. To the front (south) there are views over the vineyards which are still owned by the family who originally built the domain. To the rear there are views over the 10X5 metre swimming pool (shared with owners). Off-road parking is available on driveway directly outside the apartment entrance. Between the village store, the local shops (including tennis courts) in Canet d'Aude (5mins) and the more comprehensive shopping at Lezignan Corbieres (10mins) and Narbonne (15mins), all amenities are within easy distance. Entrance: Through stable doors, there is a staircase leading up to the apartment . Located on the ground floor is a games/table tennis room, and you will find such things as outdoor seat cushions, sun umbrellas, travel cot, pedestal fans, ironing board/iron. First floor - Open plan living/dining room/kitchen:You enter the apartment into the main living area which is approximately 65 sq metres in size. Fully fitted kitchen with a tall fridge freezer, dishwasher, washing machine, microwave, an electric oven with grill and a 4 ring ceramic hob with 'chimney' style extractor fan. There is lighting under the cupboards and plenty of electric sockets. The kitchen is well equipped with cooking utensils and crockery. Taking full advantage of the front aspect over the plane trees and vineyards, is a dining table for 4 people. The insert fire place sits between the dining area and the living area where you will find a settee and armchairs. The afternoon/early evening sun lights up this room and on a clear day, you can see the chain of the Pyrenees mountains to the south which are snow-capped from around November to May. Bedroom 1:At the rear of the rear of the property with views towards the swimming pool, abri and the old cedar tree the room is simply furnished with an iron bed, wardrobe and chest of drawers. The floor is tiled. Bedroom 2:Situated between the living area and the main bedroom, bedroom 2 offers twin beds. Accessed from the corridor, there are also french double doors leading directly into the living area which ensures light floods into the bedroom during the day time. The floor is tiled. Shower room:The shower room has an 80cm shower with good water pressure as well as a toilet and sink. A small window provides a welcome flow of air in the summer. Three walls and the floor are tiled creating a tasteful, clean and modern at the entrance to the village of Raissac The grounds:The property is comprised of one long building which is split into three distinct sections. Initially, you have the main house, then the old stables with guest apartment above followed by the barn. On all sides the property is surrounded by its own private grounds which amounts to just under an acre. Within the grounds you will find a variety of fruit trees as well as palm trees and the magnificent cedar tree adjacent to the swimming pool. The main lawn area to the side of the barn provides a great area for games, lounging or dining (barbecue nearby). There are also a variety of seating areas and hence whether you like shade or sun, you'll be able to find somewhere which suits. The fully enclosed swimming pool is sunny from early morning through to early evening and aside from sun loungers, also has a table and chairs for dining beside the pool. In the pool house is a "cuisine d'été" with a sink and also a fridge where you might like to store cold drinks etc. For the evening there is a light under the pool abri, or alternatively, you may choose to sit out and watch the stars and bats flying around. Changeover is Saturday 16.00 to Saturday 10.00, although we accept mid week lets as well as long weekends out of season (not from June to September inclusive) - pls discuss with owner. 30% deposit is required to secure your booking; the balance is payable 6 weeks prior to arrival. Payment can be made by bank transfer (with all charges to sender) or Paypal. Damage Deposit of €150 cash to be paid on arrival, completely refundable if there is no damage and the property is left as found. Bed linen and towels are included, but please bring your own swimming & sunbathing towels. Water and electricity is included (except for Winter lets, electricity is an extra charge) Cleaning: Guests are not required to undertake a full clean of the apartment before they leave. However, we do ask that bins are emptied, bottles taken to the bottle bank and any washing up is done and put away before you leave. Should you feel the inclination mind you, there is a full range of cleaning products available! All towels and bed linen will be washed after your departure. The area: Raissac d'Aude is one of those sleepy little French villages - there are just 260 people living here and the road to the village goes no where else. Not surprisingly therefore it's a peaceful place. Surrounded on all sides by vineyards little has changed over the last century. It's location is superb - it is off the beaten track yet within easy distance of the medieval Carcassonne, the Mediterranean coast, Corbieres hills, unlimited vineyards and a15 minute drive into central Narbonne & 5 minutes to the Canal du Midi. The market town of Lezignan Corbieres is 10 minutes away and the area is well known for its Cathar castles and local wine is cheap and plentiful!If you fancy something completely different, then Spain is only 75 minutes away. Raissac itself has a corner shop selling fresh bread , croissants and groceries, a post office and its own winery where you can sample on Tuesday and Friday mornings. Visiting vans sell meat and fish in the church square. In the grounds of the village hall there is a small park with slide and play area for young children. The nearest bar is 5 minutes away in Canet d'Aude where there is also a good pizzeria, small supermarket, boulangerie, pharmacy, newagents, butchers and tennis courts. More restaurants can be found in nearby Ventenac and Paraza by the Canal du Midi about 5km away. Beyond that, there are numerous other villages with restaurants within 15 minutes drive of Raissac. Narbonne is an easy (i.e. not small windy roads) 15 minutes drive away where there is a limitless choice of shops, boutiques, bars and restaurants, hypermarkets and a really good indoor market every day (open until 1 o'clock), plus a bi-weekly market Sundays and Thursdays. Lezignan Corbieres is just under 15 mins away and has a good market on a Wednesday with a full range of shops for provisions. Things to do:Abbaye de Fontfroide - Restored Benedictine abbey founded int he 11th Century located just outside Narbonne Sigean African Wildlife Reserve - 15km south of Narbonne on c. 300 hectares of land and housing more than 3,800 animals Basilique St-Nazaire - The first church would have been built in the 6th century under the Visigoths and King Theordoric. Documentation dates back to 925. Located in Carcassonne. La Cité in Carcassonne is a must see. An impressive fortress style construction which has played a central role in local history of the centuries. Carcassonne Festival - usually held in July.Lake Cavayere near Carcassonne offers picnic areas, pedalo hire, miniature golf, sandy beaches, fishing, and a Forestry Acrobatic Park. An ideal place for walking around its pine shaded paths.The Cathar Trail - The area is littered with Cathar history. An interesting topic to read up on, or alternatively take some time to visit some of the many castles which the region houses. Canal du Midi - Now very much leisure focused, the canal originally brought commerce and wealth to the region when it linked the Atlantic to the Mediterranean in the 17th Century. Conveniently, the canal is just 5km from the house - an easy cycle ride or a short drive. Toulouse - The 'pink city' as it's often referred to. Cassoulet Trail - If food is your thing, then a trip to Castelnaudary to try their famous cassoulet is a must do. La Clape massif - Once an island, now an area of c. 15,000 hectares and located between Narbonne and the coast. Just a short drive from the property and offering some fabulous walks and wildlife, not to mention stunning sea views. The lagoons - The Aude coastline is littered with salt water lagoons. Salt marshes, rich fauna and flora and some significant oyster farming make these interesting areas to stroll around. Traditional fishing methods are still practiced in the lagoons. Visit the beach! The Mediterranean beaches are long and sandy around here. And the choice....! Narbonne Plage is the nearest although there are a variety of others to choose from. By road: Easily driveable in one day from the South of England, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark and Germany via the excellent motorway network in France, the apartment is less than 15 mins from both the A61 and A9 motorways. By air:The apartment is well served by the following 6 international airports (Ryanair flights) Carcassonne and Perpignan: 40 minutes Toulouse, Montpellier: 75 mins Nimes and Girona (Spain): 90 minutes By rail:Narbonne and Lezignan-Corbieres are on the main high speed rail network (TGV) and offers a direct line to Paris and Barcelona in Spain. Bus:There is a bus service from the village to Narbonne and surrounding villages