Chateau Canet is a cluster of independent cottages located on the site of a traditional, 19th century wine and olive oil estate in the south of France. The chateau is today recognised as one of the leading domaines of the Minervois region and is the perfect setting for your big group holiday and for experiencing the many pleasures of French country life.
All the original buildings are still in use, although they have been significantly modernised. The old winery is fitted with state of the art wine making equipment, allowing us to blend traditional ‘savoir-faire’ with modern day techniques. The stables are now used as our “aging cellar” where the wines quietly mature until ready to be bottled and enjoyed. The manor house is still a family home and the original “vignerons” lodgings have been converted into charming guest cottages.
The nine cottages are named after one of the estate's grape or olive varietals and overlook the gardens, pool, tennis court or the "pick your own" fruit orchard, all of which are available for your exclusive enjoyment during your stay. They are extremely family-friendly, and come with a children's play area (swing, slide etc), a play room (fancy dress costumes, games etc), a ping pong table, a tennis court, a fully-secure swimming pool, travel cots, high chairs, baby phones loaned free of charge. There is no traffic so children are safe to play around the domaine, playing hide-and-seek in the olive grove and so on.
While on holiday here you can explore the vineyards, hike through miles of private countryside following herb-scented trails or use one of the estate's bikes and venture further afield, along the peaceful country roads surrounding the estate.
There are nine gites altogether, sleeping between 2 and 10 people. They are new and freshly painted with tiled floors, modern furniture and simply decorated, sunny rooms.
The cottages comprise:
Chardonnary (10pp) – 2D, 4S, 2 sofa beds
Picholine (7pp) – 1D, 3S, 1 sofa bed
Luques (5pp) – 1D, 3S
L'Olivere (4pp) – 1D, 1 sofabed
Merlot (2pp) – 1D
Roussanne (4pp) – 1D, 2S
Grenache (4pp) – 1D, 2S
Syrah (4pp) – 1D, 2S
Cinsault (4pp) – 1D, 2S
In total, therefore, Chateau Canet sleeps 44 in 10D, 18S and 4 sofa beds.
Each cottage is self catering. Breakfast hampers and fresh bread can be delivered daily on request. Local caterers are available. Chardonnay has an open fire.
Chardonnay:
TV & DVD player
Washing machine and tumble dryer
5-element gas stove
Pizza oven
Weber BBQ
All other cottages:
Communal laundry room with 3 washing machines
TV
Children’s facilities
Pick-your-own fruit orchard
Morning bread delivery service
All linens including pool towels are included.
Prices include a complimentary weekly cleaning service for stays longer than one week
Use of the swimming pool (May-Sept), tennis court, children's play area and barbecue
WiFi
Extra beds: €50.
Conferences and weddings
L’Orangerie is the chateau's large meeting room/reception hall, big enough for up to 100 people seated. It can be extended into the courtyard with a marquee. There's also a large park in front of the chateau which can hold a marquee. Alternatively you can arrange a wedding ceremony in the vineyards.
Chardonnay has a living room which can be converted into a meeting room for up to 16.
Just 15 minutes from Carcassonne, the estate has 45 hectares of vineyards, 3 hectares of olive groves and over 65 hectares of farmland and pine forests. The setting is truly beautiful, with all the buildings grouped at the heart of the estate. There are uninterrupted views over the vineyards and olive groves to the distant Alaric mountains.
It's 5 minutes by car or bicycle to the nearest boulangerie and local supermarket. The nearby village of Trebes (5 mins) on the Canal du Midi has a choice of restaurants, a fishmonger and a butcher. There's easy access to the Cathar Castles (closest is Lastours, half an hour by car) and the magnificent Abbeys of the Languedoc.
Nearest airports: Carcassonne (20 mins, direct flights UK with RyanAir); Toulouse (1hr).
Nearest station: Carcassonne (15 mins)
The Languedoc Roussillon boasts more sunny days than any other region of France. It is one of the only places in the country where you can climb up to a hilltop medieval castle, picnic beside the Canal de Midi, visit a pink flamingo bird sanctuary and spend the afternoon at the beach, all in just one day!
The region rivals Provence as a destination for colourful village markets overflowing with local produce. You can pick out your fresh asparagus in the spring or a prized black truffle in the fall. Scoop your “lingot” beans right out of the farmer's sack or try to decide which olive you like best: Lucques or Picholine. And you cannot leave without sampling the traditional, delicately-smoked “magret de canard” or Pelardon, a local goats cheese.
In Languedoc Roussillon you can walk freely across the great Roman Aqueduct or le Pont du Gard, climb over the walls of the Cite of Carcassonne or follow the trails of the knights of the King of France to the impressive hilltop castles of the Cathars.
This is the largest wine growing region in the world with vineyards sweeping inland from the Mediterranean coast to the rugged Pyrenees mountains. The landscape is dotted with wine domains who warmly welcome visitors for a tasting. There are also 150 miles of coastline with large sandy beaches for summer time fun and where pink flamingos come to spend their winters! Artists have always flocked here: Picasso, Matisse and Chagall found inspiration in Collioure, one of the typical sleepy villages along the coast.
Cottages for 2: from €450 to €725 per week
Cottages for 4: from €550 to €975
Cottages for 5: from €650 to €1,075
Cottages for 8-10: from €1,500 to €2,400 per week
Weekends also available, mid and low season.
Hire of the whole estate for a short break costs from €2,950 to €7,550.
Minimum stay: 1 night