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GRAND GUILHEM
Cascastel, Fitou, Southern France.
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| | | The Domaine Grand Guilhem is a wine producing property of 12 hectares with a large 19th century house and outbuildings. It lies just above the minute wine producing village of Cascastel which is situated in the Fitou area of Southern France. This is in the region known popularly as Cathar country. It is 25 kilometres from the Mediterranean and the beaches.
Prices from € 72 to € 150 /room/night, Open All Year, Evening Meal Available, English, French spoken, Swimming Pool, TVs in Rooms, | | | | | Overview | | | The Domaine Grand Guilhem is a wine producing property of 12 hectares with a large 19th century house and outbuildings. It lies just above the minute wine producing village of Cascastel which is situated in the Fitou area of Southern France. This is in the region known popularly as Cathar country. It is 25 kilometres from the Mediterranean and the beaches, 30 kilometres south of Narbonne, 40 kilometres north of Perpignan and 40 kilometres south east of Carcassonne. The nearest town with facilities is Durban des Corbières, 6 kilometres from Cascastel, on the D611. | | | Accommodation | | | The accommodation consists of four guest rooms, chambres d'hôtes | | | | THE CARIGNAN ROOM | Sleeps 2; €72 - €78 / room / night | |  | On the first floor to the right is the Carignan Room, decorated in gold and green. It is equipped with a bed 180 x 200, but this can easily be converted to two single beds 90 x 200. The large bathroom has a small corner with two armchairs which allows a moment of repose looking out to one of the palms in the garden; the toilet is separate. The caramel coloured washbasins blend with the Indian screen which in turn harmonise with the Art deco armchair, and the floor tiles are a souvenir of the 1920's. The room has a view over the garden and swimming pool. | | | |
| THE GRENACHE ROOM | Sleeps 2; €72 - €78 / room / night | |  | On the first floor to the left is the Grenache Room painted in shades of rose and fuschia, lightened by the mimosa coloured curtains printed with turquoise, cobalt and emerald medallions which have been designed by Tricia Guild. There are two single beds 90 x 200 but these can easily be joined to make a double bed 180 x 200. The blue of the bathroom is like the sea around the Cyclades and invites you to immerse yourself in the deep blue water and contemplate the lamp shade which is in the shape of a witch's hat! There is a view of the garden and the village. | | | |
| THE MUSCAT ROOM | Sleeps 2 to 6; €72 - €150 / room / night | |  | The honey coloured muscat wine sets the tone for this room lit by lamps whose bases are decorated with flowers and vines The curtains are bordered with mauve, deep purple and yellow ochre - colours echoed in the bathroom.
This is the largest and most spacious of the four rooms and is arranged as two spaces separated by a screen. It makes an excellent family room and four people can easily be accommodated on the two large double beds which can also become single beds; a settee could easily be turned into a comfortable bed for one or two additional people. The window looks out on the Cascastel château and beyond that the Garrigue - uncultivated ground where plants typical of the region grow, namely holly oak, gorse, lavender, rosemary, thyme and throughout the year a profusion of flowers.
In the bathroom there is a large angled bath which invites long, lazy soaks. | | | |
| | | Facilities | | | | Open All YearEvening Meal AvailableEnglish, French spokenSwimming PoolTVs in RoomsGardenParking | | | The Area | | | | It is 25 kilometres from the Mediterranean and the beaches, 30 kilometres south of Narbonne, 40 kilometres north of Perpignan and 40 kilometres south east of Carcassonne. The nearest town with facilities is Durban des Corbières, 6 kilometres from Cascastel, on the D611. | | | Things To Do | | • Discover the Cathar Castles of Aguilar, Quéribus, Peyrepertuse, Villerouge-termenés... la Cité médiévale de Carcassonne (given World Historical Monument status by UNESCO), the romanesque abbeys of Fontfroide and Lagrasse.
• Visit the vineyards in a 4 x 4 vehicle, learn about growing vines and the art of wine making. See the wine harvest 'Les Vendanges'. Have an adventure in a 4 x 4 following part of the route of the Paris/Dakar car race.
• Visit the African Safari Park (Réserve Africaine) at Sigean where there are 3500 animals.
• Take a tour on a mountain bike following the marked tracks around Cascastel.
• Walk along the 'Sentier Cathare' (Cathar footpath) or along other tracks and footpaths around Cascastel.
• Concerts and evenings of wine and music from November to March at the Domaine.
• Visit a botanical garden and also see the beehives.
• Good restaurants: 'Le Clos de Cascastel'; 'L'Auberge du Vieux Puits'; 'La table du Pêcheur'; 'La Rotisserie Médiéval'; L'Amandier', 'La Fargo', 'Château de Lastours', 'Le Merle Bleu'; 'Le Corbierou', 'L'Auberge du Vigneron'...
• Play boule in the village square.
• Horseriding 7 kms away; hang gliding on Mont Tauch; tennis 2 kms away.
• Within 1hr.30 there are the ski slopes of Font-Romeu, Pyrénées 2000, Les Angles...
Water sports
• The swimming pool and the jacuzzi at the Domaine.
• A pool fed by a warm water spring where the temperature is always 21°, 7 kms away.
• 25kms distant are the beaches displaying each year the "Pavillon bleu" sign of the quality of the water for swimming. The nearest beach is Leucate with its cliffs.
• Wind surfing/speed sailing at the sailing centre of Pascal Maka (World speed champion).
• Cruise in a catamaran with or without a skipper.
• Skin diving/snorkelling.
• A guided tour round the L'Ile Ste Lucie with a naturalist.
• Take a trip on a canal barge along the Canal Robine from Narbonne to Port la Nouvelle.
• The Canal du Midi - classed as a world historic monument by UNESCO).
• Fishing.
• Swimming in gorges, rafting, hydrospeed, canoeing. | | | Directions | | 1. Direction from Montpellier :
The A9 motorway (Autoroute), and after Narbonne continue towards Perpignan/Barcelone but leave the motorway at exit 39 - SIGEAN. Take the direction Portel-des Corbières and then Durban after leaving Portel. Go through Durban and continue on the road for 4 kms. At Villeneuve-des-Corbières, turn right. Cascastel is 2 kms further. (the village is 27kms from the motorway exit at Sigean).
2. Direction from Toulouse :
The A61 motorway (Autoroute), after Carcassonne leave the motorway at Exit 25 LEZIGNAN. Take the direction towards Ferrals, Thézan, and Durban. Go through Durban and 4 kms further at Villeneuve-des-Corbières turn right for Cascastel which is 2kms further. (35kms from the motorway exit at Lezignan).
3. Direction from Barcelone :
The A9 motorway (Autoroute), after Perpignan, leave the motorway at exit 40 LEUCATE. take the direction for Caves, Treilles, St. Jean de Barrou. At St. Jean de barrou take the direction Durban, go through Durban and ' kms further at Villeneuve-des-Corbières turn right for Cascastel which 2 kms further. (26kms from the motorway exit at Leucate).
By aeroplane :
• Aéroport at Perpignan-Rivesaltes :
(45kms from Cascastel). 04 68 52 60 70 Paris Orly - Air Liberté ; 0 825 805 805 Brest, Caen, Ibiza, Malaga - Westair ; London Stanstead - Ryanair; Saint Etienne - Proteus Airlines.
Car rental : Ada, Avis, Citer, Europcar, Hertz.
Exit the Airport and take the direction Foix. pass through Cases de Pene, Estagel, after Estagel take the D611 direction Paziols, Tuchan, at Villeneuve-des-Corbières turn left for Cascastel which is 2kms further.
• Airport at Carcassonne :
(65kms from Cascastel) 04 68 71 96 46 London Stanstead and Bruxelles with Ryanair. Carcassonne Airport Car Hire available from France Car Hire, pick up your hire car directly from Carcassonne Airport.
Follow route 2 - the motorway entrance is 5 minutes from the airport.
• Aéroport de Béziers
Airport at Béziers. (60kms from Cascastel) 04 67 80 99 09 Paris Orly West Air Linair 0 820 820 820
Car rental (book in advance) Avis, Citer, Europcar, Hertz.
Follow route 1.
By train :
• Narbonne Station :
(30kms from Cascastel) 04 68 65 41 31- SNCF - 0 892 35 35 35 or 36 35 from France
Car rental: Avis, Budget, Europcar, Spanghero.
Take the N9, direction Perpignan. 10kms further take the right turn for Portel-des-Corbières, the follow the signs for Durban (the route for the 'Châteaux Cathares), Go through Durban, 4kms further at Villeneuve-des-Corbières turn right for Cascastel, 2kms further.
On arrival in Cascastel, go through the village, at the forked exit of the village take the left fork, direction Quintillan. The Domaine Grand Guilhem is the large stone building with green shutters immediately on your left after taking the left fork. Do not leave the village. | | | | | | | Contact Details | |
| Severine |
Telephone | 33 (0)4 68 45 86 67 |
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