Country house & cottage, 5 bedrooms, large pool

La Prade is a wonderful farmhouse set in a secluded valley 8km from Mirepoix and 30mins from Carcassonne. It is set in c. three acres of gardens with a 12m x 6m swimming pool. The 4 bed farmhouse sleeps 8 and a one bed cottage sleeps 4 people comfortably. La Prade is ideal for larger groups and families. The beautiful pool has recently been upgraded to a very high standard. The space La Prade is set in three acres of gardens. It is situated in a small valley with wonderful views of the Pyrenees. It feels "Far From The Madding Crowd". There are no near neighbours but it is within a 6 min drive from the buzzing life of Mirepoix with shops and restaurants and about 40 mins drive from Carcassonne. There are simply wonderful walks from the house or just enjoy its peace and tranquillity with views of fields, forests and mountains. La Prade provides an excellent base to explore this beautiful region of France. If you want to rent bikes or bring your own the voie verte cycle route, which is beautifully maintained, is at end of the road. You can then cycle to many towns and villages (Mirepoix, Camon, Treziers, Chalabre) without using the road. Lac Montbel (Regate) is nearby, it is beautiful to swim in and has a lovely beach and cafe/restaurant, boat hire and paddle boards are also available to rent. The farmhouse (four bedrooms sleeping 8) and the one bedroom cottage (with sofa/bed sleeps 4) we rent together in the peak summer months as we recognise families like complete privacy and the space to themselves. La Prade is perfect for friends or two families to share, we often find grandparents stay in the cottage giving families their own space but equally special time to spend together. The pool is both large (12m x 6m) and heated so offers great fun and exercise without the chills of an unheated pool. The pool is fully enclosed and care should be taken to ensure the gate is shut for those with toddlers. We have just finished a major renovation of the pool with beautiful new tiles. Our guests use La Prade as a base for cycling - noting the Tour de France generally passes nearby most years; for exploring and even just for relaxing in. Guest access Guests will have access to the farmhouse, the cottage/studio and all the gardens. We have our main-house which is the converted barn between the two properties but we generally do not stay there when we have guests . If we do, we will ensure that you will have exclusivity of the pool and gardens during your stay. Other things to note A few things to note: in the summer there is a Friday street BBQ in Leran that is worth a visit - just take your cutlery and crockery and locals do all the rest. Monday is market day in Mirepoix. Local Vineyards often have wonderful wine tasting evenings. Please note that if you do use the pool cover at night, the pool will stay even warmer for you.