This Catalan Mas is a fabulous, rural retreat, set in the foothills of the Pyrenees with unrivalled views down to the coast, surrounding mountains and the beautiful Canigou mountain which is snow capped from November to May. In the heart of the Garrigue, you will be at one with nature in absolute peace and seclusion while only ten minutes by car from the charming village of Castelnou, one of the ‘Plus Beaux Villages de France’. This beautiful house evolved from an old Bergerie dating back centuries to become the 11 bedroom Catalan Mas it is today, set amongst 12 hectares of undulating terrain. The 16 x 8 m swimming pool has breathtaking views of the valley and the mountains that surround this beautiful site. There is a shaded seating area overlooking the pool and a covered external dining area. The main terrace off the sitting room overlooks the pool which is in addition to a number of private terraces accessed from different rooms around the house. There is a large lawn fit for sporting activities and weddings with enough space for a large marquee. The swimming pool is open from the beginning of May until the end of September. The Studio Apartment “Roc de Majorque” comes with a beautiful terrace. There is a superking size bed (180cm) and also a small sofa bed that can sleep 2 small children or 1 larger person. The studio has a kitchen with all the necessary amenities and dining table for up to 6 people. There is also the option to rent 2 other kingsize rooms which adjoin the terrace. This additional area has a separate bathroom (shared WC for both rooms). Access to room no. 2 is via room no. 1. The second room also has its own shower room. Please contact me for prices for these additional rooms. All rooms have air conditioning or heating. All linen, towels and pool towels are included in the price. The nearest city is Perpignan and the property is 45 minutes from the Mediterranean Sea with a variety of beaches; large sandy family beaches at Canet en Roussillon, St Cyprien and Argeles-sur-mer and a number of other little coves along the coastline. Collioure is a beautiful coastal town 45 minutes away. The house is also 40 minutes from the Spanish border and 1h45 minutes from the nearest Pyrenean ski resorts There are plenty of activities throughout the year, with hiking, cycling, canyoning, white water rafting, horseriding and plenty of castles and other sites to visit. Artists, authors and yoga and pilates fans will be in heaven at this site and I may be able to arrange for a Yoga teacher to come and teach during your stay. Please let me know if you would be interested. You will need cars amongst the group as this house is well away from the hustle and bustle. It is 15 minutes by car from the nearest shops at Thuir, 10 minutes drive to Castelnou and an hour on foot. Please note that the last part of the journey to the house is along a fairly rough gravel road of some 3km so it is worth noting that low cars are not suitable for access to the house. Getting there: From April to October one can easily fly into Perpignan (30 mins away), Béziers, Carcassonne, Girona (all 1hr 20), Montpellier (1hr50) or Toulouse or Barcelona El Prat (2hrs30). International flights are generally limited to Carcassonne, Montpellier, Toulouse and Barcelona in the winter months. Trains come into Perpignan from Paris, Montpellier, Béziers, Toulouse, Girona and Barcelona. Buses go directly from Girona Airport to Perpignan. Please contact me for a taxi company if required.