The perfect getaway on the square in Saint-Chinian, home to its famous wine

Perfect for escaping to St. Chinian's Square with its famous wine
This beautifully renovated village apartment has a double bedroom with corner bathroom and separate shower and WC, a fully equipped kitchen and a comfortable living room.
The living room and separate bedroom have the same view of the large tree-lined square, and is well furnished, including sofa bed, TV, DVD, etc.
In the Oliviers' fully equipped modern kitchen, there is additionally a large dining table.
The separate bedroom with en-suite bathroom has a luxurious king-size bed, a bedside table with lamps, a dressing table and chair, as well as a built-in wardrobe with mirrored doors.
The fully tiled bathroom has a corner bathtub with shower, a separate shower cubicle, sink and separate toilet.
All linen and towels are provided, meaning airline weight restrictions don't cause headaches – or extra costs. Optional: There is a small fee for renting and washing beach towels.
No children please.

Saint-Chinian was founded by monks who in 825 AD built a monastery here. They then created vineyards that saw the beginning of the prosperous local economy. It survived unscathed from the Albigensian Crusades and continued to become even richer during the Industrial Revolution. Today, wine continues to be the main industry, and with a population of around 2000, the village remains full of life all year round.

Things to do locally

The Saint-Chinian area, and the nearby Languedoc Haute Natural Park, is a great place for hiking and mountain biking. Walkers and hikers will find free English language guides in the Tourist Office.

If the heat gets the best of you and you need to cool down, there are a number of options. The long free beaches of the Mediterranean are just a 40-minute drive away. You can also join the locals and swim in the clear water of the river Orb at Roquenbrun or the river Cesse at Bize-Minervois (we prefer the Cesse). The area also offers the chance to try lots of wine tasting, rock climbing, fishing, painting, golf, horse riding and canoeing.PGJyPg
You can also rent a day boat and spend a relaxing day cruising on the Canal du Midi. This stretch of water provides 54 kms of beautiful cruising without having to deal with locks.PGJyPgPGJyPg
Food and drink:PGJyPgPGJyPg
Within walking distance of several restaurants, a pizzeria, and two cafes. Renowned red and rosé AOC Saint-Chinian wines are available, with friendly local producers offering free 'tasting' (tasting).

There is a Spar supermarket two minutes away from operation, while a larger supermarket is only a very short drive away.

Places to visit:PGJyPg
The local landscape is beautiful. Safe beaches, historic castles, abbeys, the mountains of the Haut Languedoc Natural Park with its picturesque gorges, natural rock pools, river swimming and canoeing, are all within 40 minutes, or much less, from your front door.

Golf is available in Saint Thomas (35 minutes), Lamalou les Bains (45 minutes) or Carcassonne (one hour).

The Spanish border is about a 90-minute drive, while in winter, inexpensive Pyranees skiing is available in just over 2 hours drive - making it possible for a day trip.

Roquebrun (20 minutes)

RoquebrunThe Roquebrun tour is the only remnant of a Carolingian castle built to protect the inhabitants from barbarian invasions in the year 900. The picturesque village, with its on-site canoeing centre, is perched on the banks of the River Orb and has a Mediterranean garden that is well worth a visit. In summer, the river beach is used for picnics, swimming as well as trout fishing.

Minerva (20 minutes)

Minerva a miraculous village, almost an island, perched above the meeting of two rivers where they tunnel through deep gorges, and where in 1210 Simon de Montfort massacred the Cathars during the Crusades.

Beziers (25 minutes)

Enter Beziers across the River OrbEntering Beziers across the River Orb. The long esplanade "Allée Paul Riquet", with the theatre at one end and the beautiful Plateau des Poètes park at the other, is an attractive centre of the city.In the middle of the esplanade is a statue of Paul Riquet, the founder of the famous Canal du Midi. Béziers is an excellent city for shopping. It has shops and stores of all sizes, from the Galeries Lafayette department store to small trendy boutiques.

Narbonne (25 minutes)PGJyPg
NarbonneNarbonne is the oldest city in southwestern France. Founded by the Romans in the second century BC, it was an important port, although it is now about 20 km from the sea.

Today, the centre of Narbonne, crossed by the flower-lined Canal de la Robine, is an attractive place for shopping and sightseeing. Undoubtedly the best place to head to the 100 year old Halles (covered market) by the canal bank. This award-winning market is considered one of the best in France and the swarming crowds around the more than 80 stalls testify to this claim. Open from 6am to 1. 24:00 Every day, the market is full of local produce: gleaming displays of fresh fish and seafood, heaps of melons, peppers and tomatoes, and the many varieties of charcuterie (cooked meats). It is cosmopolitan as well as... it is one of the few places in the region with a good selection of non-local (and even non-French) cheeses.

On Thursdays there is also an open-air market along the canal bank near Les Halles, with flowers and clothes stalls, among other things. The canal itself is lined with waterfront cafes where you can cool off in the shade of plane trees.

Carcassonne (60 minutes)

The Old City, CarcassonneThe Old City. The medieval fortified lies 'Cité' on the right bank of the river Aude and is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is still home to a population of around 120, is now very touristy but well worth a visit to its shops and craftsmen. The ultimate fortress, built in the 12th century, it was the home of the Trencavel, Viscounts of Carcassonne. Although there is, if the weather is there, try to see the city of Carcassonne, just a short drive from the Cité. There is a large, mainly pedestrian area, pleasant, with the main square lined with restaurants.

At a distance of 800 metres from the City, in the municipality of Pech Mary, you can see the flight of the world's largest birds of prey. (Info@

Montpellier (70 minutes)

A sophisticated city with lots of museums, excellent restaurants and shops - and a large tram public transport system. The Fabre Museum is one of the largest museums in France and holds, Dutch, Spanish and French Italian Flemish collections. For more information, visit the Tourist Office at the Place de la Comédie (

Perpignan (60 minutes)

Half Catalan, half French, Perpignan is Languedoc at its most exotic. The last major town in Languedoc before the Spanish border, there is a real mix of cultures in this corner of the region: Catalan, Romani and North African all co-exist in this sunny town of palm-fringed squares.

Note: Times shown are approximate and refer to driving times.