Maison De L’Autan France

In the heart of a charming Minervois village find Maison De L’Autan, a historic Maison de Maître with beautiful interiors and its own private pool.
This handsome 3-storey house dates back to the 19th century and offers four attractive bedrooms for up to 8 guests. Step through its pretty blue door and admire its characterful features from original tiled floors and ornate ceilings to elegant windows allowing dappled sunlight to flood in through the ground floor lounge and kitchen-diner. On the very top floor, beneath the traditional wood beams, an open-plan space has been created for yoga, work or just spending time together relaxing.
Outside, the covered terrace is the place to gather for long lunches and good Languedoc wine whilst a swimming pool is perfect for cooling down in the summer, perhaps after a long hike leading back to the village. Whether staying with family or friends, this inviting maison is for guests looking for authenticity and charm in a small village with wonderful surrounding landscapes.
Enjoy delicious meals at the village café just opposite the house, belonging to the maison’s owners – they can also prepare picnics or takeaways with advance notice. There is also the opportunity to tour their bio-dynamic vineyard and carbon negative winery and no doubt taste some of the excellent organic wines.
Elsewhere, visit bustling market villages and towns such as nearby Olonzac or head to the Canal du Midi for long walks, cycle rides and boat trips. The idyllic village of Minerve is a must, after all it’s one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’ or head south to Lagrasse where there’s summer swimming spots in the River Orbieu.
Spend the day in historic Carcassonne, soak up the vibrant ambience in Béziers or drive down to Narbonne and beyond with the sandy shores, beachside cafes and watersports of the Languedoc coastline only an hour by car. In the Hérault department of France, part of the Minervois region and in the foothills of the Black Mountains, Maison De L’Autan lies in the heart of a small village around half an hour from Carcassonne.
The house is opposite a village café run by the same owner – guests can enjoy home-cooked meals or even arrange take-away and picnics (both with advance notice). It’s open five days a week in the summer (Wednesday to Sunday lunch and Wednesday to Saturday in the evening) and there’s a picturesque outdoor terrace. Out of season it is usually open Thursday to Sunday for lunch and Friday/Saturday for tapas evenings.
The village is also home to a small grocery store, a tennis court which is free for guests to use, a football/basketball court and a children’s play area. There are some wonderful hikes in the surrounding area, many of which depart from the village.
A wine tour and tasting can be arranged at the owner’s bio-dynamic vineyards and you can learn all about their carbon negative wine production in their winery. There are of course many other wineries and vineyards dotted across this part of Languedoc-Roussillon and beyond.
The bustling village of Olonzac (13km) has a great range of amenities including a wonderful weekly market on a Tuesday morning. You are also close to the Canal du Midi which flows a short drive south of your village – head to Homps (14km) for leisurely walks and cycling rides by the canal as well as boat trips.
The pretty village of Minerve, just under half an hour by car, is classified as one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’ and a beautiful place to explore, perhaps combined with the fortified village of Aigne (20km) or the atmospheric market town of Saint-Chinian (42km).
Heading further south instead, Lézignan-Corbières (25km) is a fantastic place for food lovers with its Wednesday morning market whilst Lagrasse (42km) is another one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’ – it’s especially picturesque by the bridge over the River Orbieu where locals swim in the height of the summer.
A little closer to home, enjoy lakeside walks around Lac de Jouarres, a 15-minute drive away, also a popular spot for fishing, summer swimming and wind-surfing. Water lovers can also find canoe and kayak excursions on the Aude river near Puichéric.
For a brilliant day out, there are so many superb towns and cities to choose from – historic Carcassonne is just half an hour away, Béziers is around 60km by car or drive south towards beautiful Narbonne (42km) and onwards to the sandy beaches around Valras Plage and Gruissan, both within an hour by car. At Excellence Luxury Villas we pride ourselves on going that little bit further for our guests. From private chefs to babysitters we can help you arrange those little extras that make it a truly memorable holiday. Simply fill in the
concierge request form or contact Excellence Luxury Villas Concierge Team who will be happy to help. We can typically help you arrange any of the following:
– Maid service/extra cleaning – Private chef/cook/catering- Welcome hamper/pre-stocked fridge- Local day-trips or tours- Airport pick-up/drop-off- Babysitting/childcare services
Extras included at this property:
– Complimentary winery tour- Welcome basket
Extras available at this property (payable locally):
– Rental of movie projector- Pre-arranged takeaway/picnic lunches from owner’s village café- Vineyard visit and wine-tasting- Private chef
Please note that all extras are subject to availability and must be requested in advance of the holiday (prices on request). Due to some rural/remote locations, not all services will be available at all properties. However, we will always do our best to fulfil your requests!