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Friday 25 July 2014

Top 10 Beaches in the Languedoc

Whether you want to enjoy the peacefulness of the remote beaches or top up your tan in the livelier ones, Languedoc has something for everyone’s taste. We offer a wide selection of luxury holiday villas in Languedoc, South of France.This is a guide to some of the best beaches in the Languedoc region and they are only a short drive away from your French holiday villa! 


La Corniche
The North side of the beach has a parking lot that is very big and free of charge. There are few nice restaurants, night clubs and cafes so it is the perfect spot for everyone. The South side of La Corniche is thinner and has a wilder feeling since there are no buildings close by. Have a look at our luxury holiday villas in Sète, in the Languedoc - they are all close to La Corniche and other stunning beaches in the Languedoc.

Luxury Villas in La Corniche
La Corniche
                                                   

Rochelongue
Situated in Cap d’Agde, this lovely beach with fine sand is a great spot for a day at the beach – it is situated approximately 3km from the centre of Cap d’Agde making it easy to get there if you are renting one of our French holiday homes on the beach. It is one of the best and most popular beaches in Cap d’Agde so make sure to get there early in the morning to get a parking spot. Check out our villa rentals with pool in Cap d'Agde in the Languedoc.

Villa rentals with private pool on the beach
Rochelongue
                                      
                                                             

Vias
In between Cap d’Agde and Valras Plage, Vias is a sheltered beach with a line of grassy sand banks. The water is shallow and the beach is calm making it the perfect location for families with little children. There are restaurants, cafes and bars behind the beach where you can sit in the shade with a cold drink during the hottest hours of the day. The beach is easily accessible and is approximately a 25-minute drive away from Béziers.

South of France Family Holidays in Vias
Vias Beach 
                                                          

Portiragnes
Situated right next to Sérignan, the Portiragnes beach is family oriented and relatively quiet. With fine sand and a dog-friendly area, it is the perfect choice if you want to spend the day on a beach that is not massive. There are few bars and restaurants but they are separated from the beach by a car park. Have a look at our holiday beachfront villa for rent in Portiragnes plage.

Languedoc luxury villas on the Portiragnes beach
Portiragnes
                                  
                                                                    
Sérignan
The 3.2km Sérignan beach is the perfect spot for everyone – it offers plenty of space to spread out. The sand dunes at the back protect the beach and give it a wild and remote feeling. There are few restaurants and beach bars behind the sand bank – enjoy a drink or two after a day at the beach! There is a naturist section at the far left of Sérignan.

Languedoc Serignan Beach, family villas in the South of France
Serignan
                                          
                                                      
Valras
Valras is a good option if you’re looking for a beach that is a bit livelier. It has many shops, bars and restaurants where you can enjoy lunch or have some drinks. It is one of the big town beaches and not as calm as Sérignan and Portiragnes but offers a lot to do. Have a look at our beachfront villas in Valras in the South of France.

Valras Plage in Languedoc, great beachfront villas
Valras Plage
                                   
                                             
Port Leucate
Situated in the South of Narbonne, it is a very popular beach amongst the wind and kite surfers.  The sand is gritty and the beach is separated by a promenade where you can roller skate. Perfect for families since there are nice bars, restaurants and cafes as well as plenty of parking space. We have many holiday villas for rent on the beach, near Narbonne, Languedoc.

Holiday villa rentals close to Narbonne
Port Leucate
                                                                                    
Argèles North
A massive beach with gorgeous views of the Pyrenees. This beach is often described as one of the best ones in France and it has plenty of space to spread out. Holiday homes and campsites are situated right next to the beach but they are separated by trees and flowers. There are plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants to enjoy lunch or drinks. If you’re feeling adventurous or have had enough of sun bathing, try one of the sea-related activities! We have a selection of luxury holiday villas in Collioure with private pools and within walking distance of the beach.

Villa rentals on Argeles Beach in Languedoc
Argeles North
                                                     
Lake Salagou
If you want to explore a different type of a beach, try Salagou, Languedoc’s best-known lake. The lake is clean but the water can appear a bit dark because of the nature of the local earth. There are lots of trees around the lake providing shade so you can spend the whole day there. 

Holiday rentals close to the Lake Salagou in the South of France
Lake Salagou
                                                                              
Roquebrun

One of the most beautiful villages in France, the Orb river in Roquebrun offers clean and clear water. Flip flops are necessary since the beach and the river bed are stony. Roquebrun is a popular place for canoeing and you can rent them for a few hours or for a couple of days.  The village is small but stunning and it has a couple of very nice restaurants where you can enjoy the view over the river. Have a look at our private holiday villas with pool in Roquebrun, in the Languedoc. 

Roquebrun holiday properties in Languedoc
Roquebrun
                                
                                              

Book your French holiday villa in the South of France with us!
We have a wide selection of beautiful luxury villas close to all the stunning beaches in the Languedoc region:

If you want to stay close to La Corniche beach, have a look at Villa Setoise [HE063A], a stunning beach front villa with an infinity pool. It is now on special offer with 20% off the weekly prices in August and September! 
The sister property [HE065A] Villa St Clair has amazing views, a gorgeous glass fronted pool and is on special offer as well! 


If you prefer to stay in Cap d'Agde or nearby, we have a wide selection of villas in the area. Check out the beautiful beachfront villa Rochelongue [HE005A] - it has gorgeous sea views and is ideal for families. 
Another stunning villa that is perfect for families is La Bagatelle [HE061A]. Situated on the Rochelongue beach, this contemporary villa has breathtaking sea views and the most enviable position on the white sandy beach. 
Les Rocailles [HE044A] is a stunning beachfront villa with heated pool and a large garden making it a perfect family villa. All the local amenities are nearby or right on the beach.
If you are looking for a smaller property, have a look at the charming Cap Camarine [HE052A] - it is on the beautiful Rochelongue beach!

If you're looking to stay in Valras, Villa Fabienne [HE004A] is directly on the beautiful sandy beach. The pool is completely fenced and the restaurants, bars and cafes are all within a walking distance. It is ideal for a family holiday in the South of France!
If you have many people coming on a holiday in the Languedoc, you can also book the whole property - click on Villa Fabienne [HE004B] for more information. 
Have a look at Villa St Pierre [HE067A] as well - it is right on the Valras beach and sleeps 8. 

If you're interested in staying close to the Port Leucate check out the stunning Laguna Beach Chalet [AU024A] - it is on the beach and has been renovated recently. It is the perfect location for your holiday in the South of France!

For those wanting to stay in the stunning village of Roquebrun, La Grange [HE083A] is a lovely Provencal style farmhouse only a few steps from the River Orb. It is spacious and has breathtaking views over the river. 
When you're looking for a bigger villa in Roquebrun, Maison Mimosa [HE074A] is the perfect choice - it sleeps 14, has a sauna and a heated indoor pool and the river beach is right next to this Languedoc house!

If you would like to find out more about any of the featured properties above, or any of our other holiday villas in the South of France, Corsica or Morocco, please don't hesitate to get in touch!

UK: +44 (0)20 70 60 64 14
France: +33 (0)4 67 36 05 54








Thursday 10 July 2014

Exploring Sommieres, Uzes and the Foothills of the Cevennes

Nestled between the Camargue and the Cévennes National Parks, this part of France is truly beautiful, with a landscape of vineyards, olive groves, lavender fields and is dotted with ancient stone ruins.You will be enchanted by the rustic perfectness, and will be thrilled you chose to holiday here.

Provence Holiday Villas near the Cévennes
The Cévennes National Park
Sommières
The ancient roman road; the Via Luteva, leads into the charming town of Sommières, crossing the ancient roman bridge over the river Vidourle. It is best to park just outside the town and walk across the bridge. At the town end of the bridge you will see the gothic town gate, known as the “Tour de l’Horloge” due to its large clock face. Once inside the town, relax and take your time exploring the many independent artisan boutiques and restaurants. The narrow cobbled streets lead to a series of squares lined with street cafés. Artists take their place here to paint the Provençal scene. Walking along the tree-lined river will bring you to the town centre.
Rent a Villa in Sommieres
Sommieres from the Bridge and the Tour de l'Horloge

There are many activities to enjoy in or close to Sommières; Canoeing on the river Vidourle, Cycling along one of the many cycle routes in the area such as the circuit from nearby Calvisson to Sommières, Fishing – you can buy a pass from the local tourist office. The colourful Saturday Market is not to be missed!

Uzès

At only 13 kilometres from the UNESCO certified Pont du Gard, the delightful small town of Uzès certainly has the Provençal charm one is looking for whilst on holiday in the region. The skyline is dominated by the cathedrals 42 metre high Lombard-style bell tower, the Tour Fenestrelle. The chateau in the centre of town, named the Duche, has been owned by the Cressol family for the past 1000 years. Uzès is famed for its Week-End de la Truffe, a celebration of the prized elusive truffle, which takes place mid-January every year. The Uzès Museum is perfect for art lovers and also displays archaeological and pre-historic artifacts. The roman architecture coupled with the many “secret gardens” around the town make Uzès a very pretty place to be.

Holidays in the South of France
The Colourful Market on the Place des Herbes, Uzes
The Chateau is open for visitors on Saturdays. The market in Place des Herbes is on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The Pont du Gard displays an amazing light and sound show in mid-June. The Musée du Bonbon (also known at the Haribo Museum) is also nearby and is a popular choice for kids.

Vacations in Provence
The Cévennes Steam Train
Alès and the Cévennes
Moving north, the garrigue becomes greener and hillier, you come to the Cévennes National Park, and the town of Alès, also known as the second city of the Gard department and the Capital of the Cévennes. This town, perhaps described as more modern than Sommières and Uzès has an annual festival - the Estiv’Alès; a free event which takes place every July and August – with music concerts throughout the town. There is also “Cévennes Week” an event which sees costumed pageants around the town demonstrating the history of the Cévennes – it takes place in March.
Great days out in the area include - La Bambouseraie a bamboo forest, rare in Europe, which was created in 1856. With many exotic trees and plants. The Cévennes Steam Train is a lovely relaxing way to explore the countryside.

If all of this hasn’t whetted your appetite for a holiday in eastern Languedoc or Provence, here are a few more examples of things to do in the Gard department:
Family Holiday Rentals
The Beaches at La Grande Motte
The Beaches at La Grande Motte and Le Grau de Roi are not far away.
The cosmopolitan cities of Montpellier and Nîmes are ideal if you are looking for a retail fix! With plenty of restaurants, nightlife, cinemas, ice skating, museums and events throughout the year – there is always something going on, even if you visit during the winter months!
Wine Tasting – You will not have to venture far from your holiday villa to find a local wine producer who will provide you with a tour of the estate and a wine tasting!
If you enjoy the great outdoors, activities such as climbing, hiking, mountain biking and paragliding can all be done whilst visiting Pic Saint Loup, 30kms to the north of Montpellier.

Vacation Rentals near Montpellier and Nimes
The Impressive Pic Saint Loup
Getting There
It is now easier than ever to reach your self-catering holiday villa in the Languedoc or Provence. Eurostar have now extended their direct 6 hour summer service from Ashford to Avignon by two weeks and will be permanent from 2015. There are flights available from the UK to Nimes, Avignon, Marseille, Beziers and Montpellier. Or, if you are driving, the port of Calais is approximately 600 miles away.

Book Your Holiday Villa With Us!
Here are a selection of our luxury family properties in the eastern Languedoc and Provence near the towns of Sommieres, Uzes and Ales:

Vacation Rental in the South of France
Restored Stone-Built Luxury Property near Uzes - Bastide de la Soie  Sleeps up to 12 People, has 2 Pools, Wi-Fi, Air-Conditioning and Incredible Views
A Stunning 140 Acre Estate - Domaine de Montmel , near Sommieres, has Breathtaking Views and an Infinity Pool. The Property Sleeps up to 28 People and is Perfect for Large Events and Weddings


Large Vacation Rental in the South of France
Between Nimes and Montpellier, Sleeping up to 12 People, Artists Hous is Equipped with Sauna, Snooker Table and Gym. The Villa has 6 Bedrooms, a Large Garden and Air-Conditioning, Ideal for 2 Families Holidaying Together!
Vacation Villa with a Pool for 12 People
Villa Nadege is a Large Country House with a Stunning Summer Kitchen, Pool, Gym and 6 Bedrooms. Situated just South of Ales.
Vacation Property Sleeps 10
A Hilltop Farmhouse in the Cevennes, Mas Sevenne  is a Stone-Built Bastide with a Private Pool near St Hippolyte du Fort. All Rooms have Stunning Views. Sleeps 8-10 in 4 Bedrooms.
Vacation Villa Sleeps 12-14 near Sommieres
Bastide Langlade is a Charming Renovated 18th Century Winemakers House near Sommieres. On the Edge of a Pretty Village with Open Views to the Countryside. Sleeps 12 - 14 People in 5 Bedrooms.
Holiday for Large Groups in Provence
Domaine Fontaine du Mas, is a Large Farmhouse Property near Uzes which can Sleep up to 30 People. It is Perfect for Events and Wedding Celebrations.
Vacation Property Provence Sleeps 9
Le Vieux Moulin, (is a Large 17th Century Water Mill near Sommieres Offering 3 Separate Gites Sleeping up to 27 People - Ideal for 3 Families. The Gites can also be Rented Separately for Smaller Groups (Property References:   and 
If you would like to find out more about any of the featured properties above, or any of our other holiday villas in the South of France, Corsica or Morocco, please don't hesitate to get in touch!

UK : +44 (0)20 70 60 54 14
France: +33 (0)4 67 36 05 54
email: info@southfrancevillas.com