Stay in the South of France

Stay in this villa in Languedoc where the villages are small, rural 'working' villages. Modern life has not yet intruded fully, however basic amenities and facilities can be found locally.

However as you may also enjoy the more glamorous and faster paced side of life, then picturesque Provence and the Coté d'zur is only a matter of hours down the road. You can have it all!

Quarante - South of France

When staying in this villa, Fruiteriers - for daily fresh fruit, vegetables, Bouchiere/ Chateriere: meats, salamis, small goods, wine, French bakery - boulangerie, artisan pastries, Pharmacy, Tabac: store with papers, cigarettes, magazines, limited groceries, lotto, cards, phone cards, Poste shop - mail, stamps phone cards etc, Cafes - meals, snacks, coffee, beer, wine - (think small rural café)
Schools - primary and college
Daily bus to Beziers and back, via small villages. Cost approx 4.40 euros each way

Capestang - South of France

In Capestang (8 mins drive) from where you stay, you will find: all of the above but more of them as Capestang is bigger, plus:
Cash point machine, banks, supermarket, hardware store, bigger wine shops, Tourism office. Camping ground, restaurants and cafes, Canal du Midi - picturesque canal lined with barge boats for hire, Hair dressers

Beziers - South of France

In Beziers (15 mins drive)from where you stay, you will find: all of the above but more of them plus:
Beach - Valras Plage - 15 mins from Quarante
- Train station for TGV and local trains
- Airport (fly Paris to Beziers)
- Bus depot for local village buses
- Rental car agencies
Plus
Tourism office, department stores and specialty stores, pharmacies, banks, cash point machines, French Telecom outlets, numerous cafes, bars, restaurants, daily fresh-fish stall, art supply shop, hair dressers, sports centre / swimming pools, doctors

Narbonne - South of France

Narbonne (25 minutes drive) from where you stay has everything as per Beziers
Narbonne is more modern than Beziers, and the Canal du Midi runs through the city centre so it is very picturesque. There is:
- Train station for TGV and local trains
- Bus depot for trans-country buses
- Rental car agencies
Plus
Tourism office. It offers several upmarket home ware and décor stores, department stores, more upmarket cafes specialty clothing, modern swimming complex, art galleries and the famous Cathedral.

Montpellier - 1 hour’s drive

Montpellier, located on the Mediterranean coast, seduces visitors by the beauty of its magnificently renovated old town, where fashionable boutiques vie with gourmet restaurants. Be sure to stop by the recently renovated Fabre Museum, which houses a renowned collection of paintings by the modern artist Pierre Soulages, as well as great 19th-century French artists. To rest your feet, opt for the Place de la Comédie, an immense pedestrian-only esplanade overflowing with cafés. The city boasts an exceptional cultural diversity, including two operas and a famous modern dance centre.

Aix-en-Provence - South of France

Montpellier's southeastern neighbour, Aix-en-Provence, definitely holds its own. Once known as the "small Versailles" for its profusion of townhouses, the city offers visitors an ideal setting bathed by the warm Provençal sun. Among the old town's narrow, interlacing streets and alleyways, traditional restaurants serve delicious terroir cuisine. As for culture, the Pavillon Noir, home to the ballet company of Angelin Preljocaj, offers dance lovers a top-quality programme.

Carcassonne - South of France

Towards the Spanish border,but only an hour and a half drive away from Quarante,where you stay is the stunning walled city of Carcassonne, the largest medieval town in Europe and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
It will take a few hours to explore the city, the history, the shops and to enjoy the local fare. Magical and memorable.