TLDR: Our private holiday home Villa-Josephine is situated in the Languedoc Roussilon above the vineyards on the wooded hillside of the Alberes to the Mediterranean Sea in France. From the apartment you rent you have a fantastic view of the snow-capped mountains, the Roussilon plain and the Mediterranean sea. Swimming pool and tennis court are available for shared use. (2 Bedrooms, Living room, Kitchen, Bath, Toilet + big Terrace. =103 m2)

Situated on a hillside above the sea, above the vineyards

The house is situated in the south of France above the sea and the vineyards in an oak forest on the steep slopes of the Albères with fantastic views over the Roussillon plain over the Mediterranean Sea to the snow-capped peaks around the Canigou, in southern Roussillon or French Catalonia on the border with Spain.

Property / Garden

The property, as well as the surrounding area, is situated on a wooded mountain slope and is covered with cork oaks and holm oaks. There you will find beautiful, semi-shade places with a wonderful view over the plain of Perpignan. The steep slopes of the property are home to some interesting Mediterranean plants including aloe vera and wild herbs such as thyme, rosemary and oregano.

Terrace

However, you have the most beautiful view from the terrace. Over the treetops of the holm and cork oaks you look to the east to the sea about 12 km away, to the north over the plain of Perpignan to the mountain ranges of the Corbieres and to the west to the mostly snow-covered local mountain of the Catalans, the Mont Canigou, about 60 km away. The terrace is large. (approx. 40 sqm) It is tiled with real terracotta and completely covered. There is a comfortable lounge seating area (couch with brothel and coffee table) and a garden table with 6 chairs. In the morning there is sun on the terrace from the east. In the midday heat, when the sun is high, you enjoy shade, in the late afternoon the sun comes back to the terrace from the west.

Apartment

The apartment is about 63 square meters in size and consists of

a large living-dining room with open kitchen, a bedroom with double bed 140x200 cm and view over the plain of Perpignan,
a second bedroom with two separate beds 90x200 cm (here the view goes into the forest),
a bathroom (with washbasin, shower, bidet and washing machine)
a corridor with a small storeroom and wardrobe,
and a separate toilet.
It is normally suitable for 4 adults, but a baby bed can be provided if required and there is also a fold-out sofa bed (140x200cm) in the living room which can be booked in for overnight accommodation. The large and bright living and dining room as well as the spacious well-equipped kitchen can be opened with large glass sliding doors to the terrace and has views over the wide plain of Perpignan.

The kitchen is open to the living room and has a fitted kitchen. In addition to a fridge with separate freezer compartment, stove with oven and double sink, it also has a dishwasher, microwave, coffee machine and an electric grill. You will also find extensive cooking utensils in the apartment. This is not a typical narrowly equipped holiday home kitchen. You can really cook in this kitchen. And you should. Take advantage of the wide selection of fresh, locally grown food and the wonderful Mediterranean spices, some of which grow in the garden.

Swimming pool

You share the swimming pool (about 350m from the house as the crow flies) with the inhabitants of the Domaine-des-Alberes. From the house you can already see it and of course walk there, but beware, there are quite a few meters of altitude in between, and you should consider whether you want to walk up the mountain again, fought off, or rather take the car. There is also a toilet and a room next to the swimming pool where you can change your clothes.

Parking

You can park directly next to the entrance, above the house at the Chemin du Vilar on a gravel area in front of the house.

Accessibility

The house is easy to reach. After leaving the motorway (A9) at Le Boulou you drive 15 minutes on the country road. For the last 5 minutes the road winds its way up the mountain. The access to the apartment is at garden level, but unfortunately not wheelchair accessible, as the road is higher and the property is situated on a steep slope, you have to go over an irregular natural stone staircase (see photos) with about 15 steps.

Smoking

This house is a non-smoking house. Smoking is only allowed on the terrace and even there only carefully. Fill the ashtray with a cm of water so that the wind does not carry embers to the surrounding trees. (danger of forest fire)

Mémé Josephine

The house bears the name of an old Catalan woman, my French "grandmother of choice" Josephine, who lived in Douilhac-sous-Peyrepertuse below the great Carthusian castle of the same name (see excursion descriptions in the apartment) and grew wine (including an excellent Macabeu vielle vigne) and vegetables there. She was the grandmother of my exchange partner Béatrice and I spent many weeks with her as a child in summer, while Béa buffaloed in Avignon for her exams. From her and her daughter, my wonderful host mother Jannine, I was cooked and pampered and learned a lot about rural life. Besides her vineyard and the big vegetable garden she also had various chickens and rabbits and dogs and cats. She and Jannine, who still lives with her dear husband Éli in Douilhac today, taught me many recipes and drew our family's attention to the cultural wealth of the Laroque region, which finally led us to settle here 35 years ago.