Les Hirondelles

Spring-Summer 2012 selling fast...

... final weeks available

SCROLL DOWN FOR 2012 DATES AND RATES

Port Views

2 bedrooms

Sleeps 4

Just along the new lagoon road from the quaysides of the pleasure port, this neighbouring corner cottage also overlooks the little Port Tabarka , with craft of all shapes and sizes bobbing in the waters, and resting in the boat yard, and the masts of sailing vessels against the stunning backdrop of the mount of Sete.

All to be seen from the outside dining terrace of this cosy two-bedroom, two-storey hideaway.

These are views deserving of  good food and wine, and guests at Les Hirondelles are spoilt for choice, with the nearest award-winning wines made, bottled and sold from the cellars just a couple of hundred yards away, fresh oysters caught daily from the waters outside the window and everything you need to prepare a special meal in yoir own home by the waterfront.

In the delightful fishing port,

we present our chefs' special ...

A fully equipped kitchen has a big fridge and freezer, a full sized stove and everything you need to prepare the freshly landed fish from the lagoon and ripe seasonal produce from Tuesday morning's market.

The ground floor living room has a round table for family meals indoors and the patio has another wide table with superb views of the lagoon and Mont St Clair across the bay.

Plenty of room in the good-sized kitchen area to be inspired to culinary genius by prime local ingredients.

Relax in the rocking chair with a good book and a better wine, occasionally glancing up to keep an eye on fishermen painting the hulls of their boats across the way, the treat of a break at Les Hirondelles is taking it easy whilst the daily work of a waterside village plays slowly in your peripheral vision. A washing machine, TV, with English language channels, comfy chairs and a sofa amongst the home comforts downstairs.

Climb the white wooden staircase to the first floor. here you will find two bedrooms.

At the front of the house is a double room with views over the port, the lagoon and the waterfront hideaway of the village boatbuilder.

At the side is a twin room looking out on to a traditional residential street). Between the two bedrooms is a wc and shower-room.

Downstairs, the living room sofa easilly converts into an extra single bed, should an extra dinner guest decide to stay overnight.

A private parking space is found just behind the house, reserved for our guests... All you need to bring with you is a sturdy shopping basket for market day.

Treat yourself to an autumn mini-break and take advantage of the very lowest Ryanair fares and our own special 3-day car hire deals.

Lunch by the port in Marseillan, and wander round the midweek country markets - even explore the beaches.

The main Lido stretches from Marseillan Plage to Sete, a full twelve miles of unspilt fine sand. And now, the port Tabarka has its own "plagette" (as featured in France's Le Figaro) sandy waterside next to the park, only 3 minutes walk from the front door, just along the waterfront from the Madeleine wine cellars.

WHENEVER YOU COME TO STAY...

On your arrival, enjoy a glass of local wine on the terrace - with our compliments! Plan to settle down for a few days self indulgence, a good book, a magazine, a stock of the village wine and a front row view of the early evening aerial cabaret - the swallows, house martins and swifts, those Hirondelles swooping from the rooftops to the port, who give the house its name.

Make the most of Languedoc's markets - we'll find you one for every day of your stay - and discover the sweet onions of lezignan and the Cevennes, tresses of garlic, wild strawberries from the countryside around Agde, succulent cherries and fine asparagus from Montagnac, juicy peaches and melons grown in the fields of the region, the fresh fish from the lagoon and the oysters collected daily by your neighbours in the port.

Whilst you are loitering by the seductively scented stalls on market day, do remember to sample the delicious olives, black and green, picholine or local Lucques, dressed or au naturel, loose by the kilo or blended with anchovy capers or perhaps sun-dried tomato to make tapenades.

The confit garlic is another addiction in waiting. And we have not even mentioned the olive oil from the co-operative in Clermont l'Herault.

Hirondelles is the cook's favourite, with the excellent kitchen and full sized freezer for stocking up on the pick of the produce.

Don't forget your recipe books, as the chance to cook with the finest local ingredients is a treat indeed. Browse Languedoc Bookshop online to find the best cookbooks to pack in your case.

Tear youself away from the hirondelles, the ducks and the flamingos of the lagoon and discover Languedoc. Or go property hunting to find your own idyllic home from home in Languedoc - ask about our special Hirondelles Homebuyer Escapes.

Check out your future home in the sun online, then fly out to look over the homes of your choice, spend time with local property experts then mull over the day's viewings with a glass of wine on the terrace as you watch the moon rise over the Etang de Thau.

2012 RATES
(price per week in £)

EMAIL US FOR EURO PRICES

 Peak summer weeks from Friday - Friday to take advantage of the airline's best fares. Saturday and other changeover days possible out of season  - do check with us

2012 SELLING FAST - BOOK NOW

August-Autumn 2012 sold out

Check out the neighbours: Le Saint Clair, Patio, Tabarka and Chaluts

The waterfront has its many treats, charms and attractions, but the centuries old village of Marseillan itself is only minutes away. When the Tramontagne wind blows from the hills of the back country it brings the chimes of the church bell tower down to the harbour. An hourly reminder of the treasures to be discovered in the old narrow streets of centre ville.

Market day sees the bustle of the squares, but take a stroll down the winding ruelles on a quiet afternoon for the timeless treat of a traditional Mediterranean village, pots of geraniums on doorsteps; hoists and shutters on old stone walls; and the beautifully carved wooden doors and exquisite ironwork on balconies.

With a boulangerie round every corner, and the bars and cafes where locals gather each evening, the village offers a charismatic contrast to the portside lifestyle.

Enjoy our diary of events in and around Marseillan and the region during your stay, with tips on nearby markets and festivals and reviews of the best restaurants in the village and port.

Ask us about walks and drives, wine tasting, dining further afield and other trips, from visiting a goat farm to taste delicious cheeses to a couple of nights ski-ing in the Pyrenees.

We can also advise on cycle hire in the area, and let you know about bus services to the beach, the nearest towns or the railway station at Agde.

Now that the local airport at Vias (officially called Beziers-Cap d'Agde, but in reality a short 15 minute drive from the house) is welcoming regular flights from the UK regions, Garmany and Scandinavia, shortk break out of season are a low cost reality. No wonder that Les Hirondelles is popular throughout the year.

Early springtime escapes from the grey skies of northern Europe and autumn trips around the wine festivals of the Herault make excellent excuses to top up your Marseillan minutes and grab a fix of the magic of the village and port outside conventional holiday seasons. And with the station at Agde providing easy links to the UK rail network, with through tickets from Manchester, Oxford and Birmingham to the Med, Les Hirondelles can be enjoyed at any time of the year.

Check out the best deals on car hire from Montpellier, Nimes, Carcassonne and Perpignan airports, and local stations - with no nasty surcharges and avoiding the long queues at the airline partner car-rental desks in summer. CLICK HERE. And, if you are driving your own car to France, don't forget:

You can now search for the best fares from EVERY ferry company by using the Marseillan Village Ferry Fare Finder search engine. Just click HERE.

RESERVING YOUR STAY AT LES HIRONDELLES All reservations must be accompanied by a 25% deposit. Balance 8 weeks before arrival. We also require a security deposit against breakages of £150, refunded 7 days after departure. Prices quoted do not include linens - available at a modest charge.

Discover the Art of a Good Holiday

Les Hirondelles is in the Port Tabarka, home to summer festivals and the perfect base for exploring the cultural heritage of the region.

Just a quarter of an hour cross-country to the former capital, Pezenas, with dozens of hidden Renaissance courtyards, countless art galleries and studios and a charming summer theatre with a lively programme ranging from the plays of local hero Molière to modern boulevard farces. Share a drink with the actors after the performance and feel the buzz of Southern culture.

Walk through the old streets across town, past numberless antique shops and brocantes to the cellar bars for late night jazz or poetry recitals and forget that you are just moments from a rolling landscape of vineyards and olive groves, the country of farmers and fishermen.

Just along the Etang discover a stunning Roman Villa at Loupian, the dazzling mosaic floors in amazing condition, shimmering as bright as ever.

For more information on your stay at

Les Hirondelles, email us on

stephane@marseillanvillage.co.uk

or call from the UK on 0844 284 4430