Ground Floor: Entrance hall. Front living room (WiFi). Dining room. Library. Kitchen (oven, microwave, induction hob, two dishwashers, fridge freezer). Cloakroom. First Floor: Landing with doors opening to small balcony over front courtyard garden. Laundry area with washing machine. Double bedroom (super-king) with living area, Sat TV, en suite bathroom and separate shower. Double bedroom (super-king) with Sat TV and en suite shower room. Twin bedroom (can be a king-size on request) Sat TV and en suite shower room. Second Floor: Double bedroom (super-king) with living area, Sat TV, en suite bathroom and separate shower. Double bedroom (super-king) with living area, Sat TV, en suite bathroom and separate shower. Twin bedroom (can be a king-size on request) Sat TV and en suite shower room. Outside: Courtyard garden leads to front entrance. Steps down via rear doors from hall lead to outside dining and living terraces. Large Mediterranean style gardens. Barbecue. Private (and on-street) parking. Walled garden with private pool (11m x 4.5m), W/C and fridge. La Belle Demeure was constructed in 1882 and is the most beautiful three-storey French Victorian townhouse comprising 6 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms. The frontage gives direct access through the wine village of Rieux-Minervois (5 minute walk), and to the rear is a large and private Mediterranean garden with delightful walled private pool. A large central hallway, with beautifully corniced ceilings and Italian porcelain tiled floor, runs from front to back. This leads to the rear double doors which step out to the al fresco dining area, gardens and walled pool area. Many features have been beautifully preserved and provide the history and aesthetic of the house. The rear rooms have single south-facing windows which overlook the gardens whilst the front rooms are north-facing, some with views to the Montagnes Noires. Décor has been very carefully considered and includes some fabulous furnishings and fixtures throughout from well known brands both European and British, that grace the pages of high-end interior magazine pages. Particular attention has been paid to bedroom comfort with quality bedding and unique beds in each room. The ground floor consists of a front living room, decorated with striking pinks and greens, and a dining room in subtle lilacs and sage with matching chairs and wood panelling. The exquisite library room overlooks the rear gardens and is adorned with contemporary leather sofas and armchairs. A kitchen, with large island, is opposite and similar in colour tones to the library that gives a sense of uniformity of schemes of these two lovely rooms. Upstairs, three large 'suites' and three en suite bedrooms over two further floors are each uniquely decorated and immaculately dressed to exacting standards. Situated in the wine village of Rieux-Minervois it's just a short walk to the village square (400m) where the boulangerie, boucherie and grocers can all be found, along with the local bar.  The nearby wineries are, unsurprisingly, surrounded by hectares of vineyards! Several are just a few minutes’ drive away. Unesco world heritage site Carcassonne (24km), famous for being one of the only fortified cities in Europe still with its walls intact, is a short drive. Narbonne (40km) and Perpignan (103km) are also easily reached by car. South towards the Spanish border and with some Catalan influences, the coastline combines cliffs and coves with a network of villages as far south as Collioure (134km). Closer around Gruissan (55km), the coastline is flatter and renowned for its salt flats and pink flamingos. Further round the coastline the fishing villages of Marseillan (92km) and Sète (120km) can be found on the Etang de Thau, where oysters and mussels are farmed in the sea lakes. There are several airport options within a couple of hours' drive including Carcassonne (29km), Perpignan (98km), Montpellier (138km) and Toulouse (138km). *Air conditioning is available in La Belle Demeure only at extra cost of £450 per week payable in advance or locally on arrival in euros 500€. Please note that there is a local tourist tax to pay: £2.50 per night for guests aged 18 and over. Please refrain from smoking inside La Belle Demeure. Please note that all visitors to France aged 18 and over are required to pay a Tourist Tax. We collect this tax prior to your holiday and remit it on your behalf. The notes above specify the amount per person per night which will be added to your booking.