Beautiful home in a gated community overlooking Vernet les Bains

“Maison Chêne Vert” (The House of the Evergreen Oak) is a beautiful getaway in the south of France - self-catering unit with two floors: an open space kitchen, living, dining area, WC, bathroom and terrace - three French doors overlooking the community and the town. The downstairs floor has two bedrooms - each with XL twin beds which can be fitted into one King, and a bathroom with heated towel radiator and bathtub. Total living area 69.80 sq. m (751.3 sq ft), and terrace 5.5 sq.m (59.2 sq. ft). **Please note: the house sleeps four, however a fifth guest could use the comfortable couch, if necessary. French doors of one bedroom give out onto a small courtyard to sunbathe or dry clothes. Located in a gated community of 10 independent houses ("Village Catalan"), privately-owned. They are linked by stone paths, trees, and flowers. A communal area offers a large covered table for afternoon get-togethers, and barbeque. Despite the proximity of the houses, they are very private; the Village was built by the architect Hassan Fathy, whose criteria was “local materials, security, privacy, and a sense of community”. No cars in the community, but parking on the cul-de-sac street or on a private driveway above the Village Catalan. Especially nice is the fact that although Maison Chêne Vert is only a five-minute walk from the village, it is set up on the side of a mountain and therefore has a panoramic view without being in the bustle of the center of town.

**Please Note: The entire area is in the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains, and therefore walking anywhere is quite steep. The Village Catalan and the house itself have large stone steps. All of the houses in the Village Catalan have terraces, and the terrace at Maison Chêne Vert is on the upper floor; it has a railing of about 1m. There are also steps that lead down to the bottom floor where the bedrooms and bathroom are - you can see all of this in the photos of the listing. I listed the property as ‘child unsuitable', but depending on the ages of your children, you should decide yourself if this is suitable for them. (range of choice was 'children 2-12; big difference!)

Vernet les Bains is a small hamlet famous for its hot springs thermal spa which treats problems of the respiratory system and rheumatism. Day passes for massage, jacuzzi, sulphuric pool, etc. Nestled in the foothills of the Pyrenees, it has a micro-climate supporting many species of trees, flowers and birds, 300 days of sunshine a year, waterfalls, one of the best climates in all of France, no pollution and air that smells wonderful! Rudyard Kipling came for several years, bringing with him dignitaries, heads of state, and celebrities - his wife used the spa to help with her rheumatism. Because of the frequent English attendance at the turn of the century, the small town boasts several tennis courts, a public swimming pool, and a beautiful hotel and working casino dating from the Belle Epoch. Unlike other small towns in the area – equally charming – Vernet has everything one could want without needing a car. There is a local market two to three times a week, a grocery store right in town, a small supermarket on the outskirts of town with washing machine and dryer, gas station and car wash, an arboretum park, several bistros and bakeries, and several restaurants. The river Cady runs directly through the village.

Every view is dominated by the Mount Canigou at 2,784 metres (9,133 feet) - the sacred mountain of the Catalan people, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Situated between two valleys, the Canigou mountain range provides a network of 750 km of paths and hiking trails, for amateurs and advanced hikers alike. Because of its geographic location, the area offers an incredible biodiversity of flora, fauna and birds, and is a protected site of France’s heritage (Une Zone Verte) . In the heart of the Canigou mountain range is the ancient Benedictine abbey of Saint-Martin-du-Canigou.

At Villefranche de Conflent (10 min bus ride) is the Fort Liberia, built by Vauban, Louis XIV’s military engineer, in 1681. You can choose to visit the old village, filled with houses and boutiques and restaurants, or tour the ramparts to this protected city. A 4x4 will take you up to the actual garrison, built into the side of the mountain, but you can also walk the 1000 steps! Next to the town are the Canalettes Caverns, an amazing space of rock formations. From the Villefranche train station, you can get The Little Yellow Train, whose mission was to link the high Catalan plateau to the rest of the department. Ride the open car and have a magnificent view of the Pyrenees over aquaducts and through mountain sides, - 19 tunnels and 2 remarkable bridges, one at 65 metres (213 feet) above the ground. And if you go at a certain time of year, the area is surrounded by 10 ski resorts, two of them within a 45 min. ride from Vernet.

You can also take the bus in to Perpignan and make a stop at Prades, with its large outdoor market Tuesday mornings. The Prades Pablo Casals Festival, created in 1950, is one of the most prestigious chamber music festivals in France and in the world. This year it takes place from the end of May to August 13 (2021). Almost 10,000 music lovers come together to listen to many concerts given in the Romanesque churches of the area, including the magnificent Abbey Saint-Michel de Cuxa. The origins of this magnificent abbey date back to the Benedictines in 840, and the pink marble construction gives a wonderful warm glow to the large interior. The Cloisters was the heart of the monastery – a covered walkway with large columns surrounding a large open courtyard. After much destruction from the French Revolution, one of the original two towers was purchased and brought to the United States where it makes up part of the Cloisters in New York City.

The surrounding area and every small village is so full of history, culture, and architecture, that you will want to research beforehand. I also provide a lot of information. Towns like Eus, Fillols, and Corneilla de Conflent are small but charming and each has its own beautiful church built with the pink marble of the area. Subsidized transportation takes you everywhere on the bus for €1. and the train runs from Perpignan to Villefrance/Vernet les Bains, also for €1. Vernet is about 53 min. by car to Perpignan, next to the Mediterranean Sea and on to the beautiful city of Collioure, and from Perpignan, you are 1h20m by train (TGV) to Barcelona.

An ideal location for lovers of the outdoors, nature, peace, tranquility, history, culture and beauty - and a great 'base' to visit so many other marvels of the area: Nimes, Carcassone, Toulouse, and places like Figueres in Spain, with its marvelous museum dedicated to Salvadore Dali, who was born there. I will send literature, maps, and sightseeing ideas as soon as a booking is made. There are also many videos on YouTube, including some interesting historic ones. I am so enamored of the place that I have put a lot of energy into inviting others to enjoy it as well. Vernet les Bains - aptly named by Rudyard Kipling, the “Paradise of the Pyrenees.”