Languedoc-Roussillon, Hérault, La Livinière, France

The small tree-lined lane leading a little way out from the centre of the village is very quiet and secluded. A turning gives access to an arch in the hedge, and the parking and garage area of the property.

The main house is separated from the guest house or gîte by an arch, leaving a way under the roof to the garden. Entering the house, there is a hallway with a smart new shower room off it. An archway leads into the 30m² living/dining room, with its fireplace and woodburning stove, Burgundy oak floorboards, and a lovely view through large double-glazed doors to the garden with its 7 by 3m pool.

To the right is a large study or fourth bedroom, again with glazed doors leading out to a loggia overlooking the garden, and also a good-sized kitchen, fully fitted with grey units and integrated electrical appliances.

The doors are solid oak and the house is fully heated and air-conditioned by brand new Fujitsu heat pumps.

On the first floor is the principal bedroom suite with WC, basin, twin showers and large cupboards. Glazed double doors open out onto the large balustraded balcony looking over the garden and the Corbières, with the Pyrenees in the background.

This balcony is shared with the second bedroom, which has windows facing south and west. All the principal rooms have at least two windows to ensure that there is plenty of light. Adjacent to this is the bathroom, which also has a WC, basin and shower, and a large cupboard.

The final bedroom faces north and west, towards the garage and the side garden. It has a hatch to the attic which is well-insulated with rockwool; all the walls are lined with insulation, all windoàws are double-glazed, and there is a 'vide sanitaire' or crawl space under the house to ensure that there is no damp.

The guest accommodation or gîte, of 30m², is entered from the rear, where it has its own private garden space, with an above-ground pool of 5m diameter, barbecue and sun terrace, amongst trees and plants. A pair of glazed double doors lead into the studio living area, which has a small kitchen, shower room and separate bedroom, plus a lobby with a washing-machine. Both living and bedroom are heated and airconditioned.

The garage building is divided into two parts of 30m², each with a garage door.

La Livinière is a delightful village with two restaurants, many wine-makers, a small supermarket, a bakery, a pharmacy and a garage (mechanic). It is 9 km from the market town of Olonzac, 30 km from Carcassonne, 35 km from Narbonne, 50 km from Béziers, 55 km from the beach at Narbonne Plage, and 125 km from Spain (an hour and a half).
The nearest rail station is 20 km away at Lézignan-Corbières.