Manoir Chenanson

This 16-bedroom village house ticks so many boxes if you are looking for a characterful French home ideal for a large family holiday or special event. Just outside Carcassonne and within walking distance to the local bakery, wine-shop and grocery store, fantastic features include a cinema lounge and bar, a wonderful al-fresco dining area and hot tub as well as a heated swimming pool set within the landscaped garden.

Historic Manoir Chenanson has undergone an impressive renovation yet has retained so much charm with original flooring, fireplaces and other traditional features alongside a wealth of modern comforts. There are 16 bedrooms scattered across the manoir and its annexe allowing up to 30 people to stay here (there is also the option to rent just the main house for 15 guests). The pretty bedrooms are all so individual with simple furnishings, many with modern en suite bathrooms.

Gather outside in the sociable al-fresco dining area with its summer kitchen, barbecues and long tables. Enjoy good food and local wine as kids play darts, pool and table tennis. Furthermore, the cellar has been transformed into an amazing entertainment space with a home-cinema lounge and full bar with dance-floor and disco lights! Whether an informal gathering or a special celebration, this is such a brilliant area to spend fun time with family and friends.

The heated swimming pool is another great attraction, like a hidden gem set within a beautiful landscaped garden. The outdoor hot tub adds an extra touch of luxury – it will be hard to tear yourself away from this magnificent place, especially as the boulangerie, butchers, wine-shop and grocery store are all just a short stroll away for all your daily necessities. A private chef can also be arranged.

That said, for guests keen to explore this part of southern France, the location can’t be beaten. You are just a short drive from Carcassonne and its famous citadel, one of France’s most visited destinations and a UNESCO World Heritage site - there’s also a half-hourly bus service meaning guests without a car won’t feel too isolated. As well as visiting the world-famous medieval citadel, soak up the ambience of Carcassonne’s Bastide Saint-Louis with its wine-bars, restaurants, café terraces and vibrant market three mornings a week.

Hire bikes to cycle along the Canal du Midi coming across pretty places such as Trèbes, Homps and Castelnaudary. Discover summer swimming spots and canoeing by the Aude River or visit nearby vineyards, pretty villages and historic market towns such as Limoux and Mirepoix. You could even drive around an hour to the coast for sweeping Languedoc beaches, windsurfing and oysters overlooking the glistening Mediterranean.