A detached house with large garden in Rennes les Bains, a charming village one hour’s drive south of Carcassonne and one and a half hours west of Perpignan. The small towns of Limoux and Quillan are quite close. Rennes stradles the Sals river and is a thermal village, with hot springs feeding into an open-air public swimming pool (30 degrees) with jacuzzi and health centre. There is a little village square which has music and dancing on summer evenings. It accommodates some market stalls; there are a couple of small shops for essentials, bar with snacks, pizzeria, two restaurants. This is Cathar country, home of the breakaway Christian sect which Rome crushed in the thirteenth century. You will see spectacular Cathar castles high on rocky outcrops, truly beautiful French villages, acres of vineyards, and amazing river gorges. Within a day’s drive is Toulouse, Lourdes, Andorra and Barcelona. You will reach a Mediterranean beach in just over an hour. The house, built 40 years ago, is on two levels. On the main level is the kitchen (modern, fully equipped), the dining room, the lounge leading to the sun lounge, the main bedroom (sleeps two) leading to a little office (could sleep one child), and the bathroom/toilet. The sun lounge and office both open onto the veranda and overlook the huge garden and the wooded hills beyond. There is a spiral staircase to the downstairs apartment which has its own independent access. Its first room has two sofabeds (could sleep four) and a fridge and oven. The second room has a double bed, and leads to a shower and toilet. Also on this level is a large garage, with large freezer, and ‘cave’ for keeping wine. Linen and towels are provided. There is no television or computer. Prices are Call Graham on 020 7515 5021 or email