La Maison Barral

Winegrower's mansion ...

... and poet's inspiration

Appartment:
2 bedrooms

Sleeps up to 6

Option to take two extra bedrooms and sleep 10 guests

Anyone driving into Marseillan on the vineyard lined lagoon route from Montpellier or Meze, may glance up at the old family house on the right as they enter the village, but who could imagine the bright airy rooms and the delightful first floor terrace tucked away behind the sturdy front door.

The Maison Barral is a little more than a typical maison vigneronne - the house which was,  once upon a time, home not only to the family of winegrowers, but to the machinery, the vats and the barrels; hallmarks of their craft.

For alongside those who tended the vines and created the wines that are the lifeblood of this special corner of Languedoc, were the writers to touched the soul of the land and its people.

A hundred years ago Marcel Barral, under the nom de plume Marcel Viala, was writing his reflections on Marseillan, recalled in later life from darkest Africa. His echoes of the autumn winds and summer  blooms were the hallmark of his poems.

Generations later, Marcel's grandson Antoine, wrote of the cause and effects of the notorious political evenements of 1968.

The works of the Barral family as well known in the village as the wines of their descendents and extended family still are today.

Hidden away at the Maison Barral, but not cut off from the outside world - the house has wifi connection (not guaranteed - but usually available) for keeping in touch and checking on your emails and updating travel plans.

Climb the imposing staircase from the entrance hall to the grand self-contained living space. Through glass doors - original period features, along the chequered tiled hallway to room after room...

Two living rooms, some lovely old fireplaces, deep windows with old fashioned wooden shutters. Even two separate kitchens.

Between the kitchens find a dishwasher and washing machine, brand new cookers etc so that the hard work of previous generations need never cross your mind - food is a pleasure in Marseillan, whether preparing it or eating it.



If you prefer, there is always the third way ...  a stone barbecue on the terrace itself.

Back inside, two bedrooms await on this spacious first floor.

The master bedroom is the traditional French marital bed, light playing through the curtains gently billowing in the tramontagne breezes from the unseen hills on the horizons beyond the vineyards.  This room also boasts an ensuite modern shower unit  and wc.

"Et j'etais seul cette fois dans une ile

A poursuivre mes souvenirs"      Marcel Viala

Elsewhere, a second bedroom has a pair of single beds and an annexe study/dressing room.

Dual aspects to this extra living area,  with windows to the front and side of the house, and a fitted pantry area - which is ideal for preparing those late night snacks, basic breakfasts and bedtime or coffee-time drinks, without having to go downstairs to the main kitchens.

This extra floor of the house is perfect for larger families or perhaps a couple of families sharing a holiday together - Why not leave the top storey of the house to the teenagers, giving them independence, yet keeping them safely within the main home.

Stroll down to the port for a night cap or an afternoon's lazing by the pleasure craft and fishing boats.

If your taste is for oysters, just turn right out of the front door and amble a few feet to the house on the corner, where the oyster farmer sells his wares from the front room.

For your other shopping, fish, gateaux, bread and fruit, the centre of the village is just 200 yards or so down narrow winding streets.

Walk past the vineyards and the tennis courts across the way to the waterfront to explore - or just stroll into town and take potluck in any of the local restaurants - almost too many to choose from.

If you decide to go further afield, take the car. You can park up safely enough when you return in the house's huge integral garage.

You wont forget the name of your house. the Barral family is remembered in street names, on war memorials, even on the shelves of the local library.

From books of verse to bottles on the wineshop shelves, other cousins and and other Barrals lend their names to the dreams and tastes that define Languedoc itself.

The Maison de Barral is only available for rental for a selected number of weeks each year.

The house now has the possibility of wifi access for guests. Ask us for more information.

Since the house is being lovingly restored room by room, the Maison de Barral apartment is available for rental this year at a special low price of just £750 in peak summer and from as little at £499 in the low season.

With the extra 2 bedrooms, the peak summer price is just £920

" ... je pensais ... aux villes englouties de mes reves aux tempetes d'equinoxe sur les vignobles du Languedoc ... "  Marcel Viala


To reserve your special stay at the appartment email us on

stephane@marseillanvillage.co.uk

or use the form

 here

La Maison Barral is waiting ...

From the entrance hall and up the stairs to the main apartment....

to the spacious high ceilinged salons and the sunny terrace ...

Why not make this YOUR family's special escape in 2010?

email us now at Stephane@MarseillanVillage.co.uk and lets talk about your own special time in the sun at Maison Barral.