An Artist’s House in the Corbieres for Sale ..... 240,000 Euros

In the foothills of the Pyrenees, sits Paziols, a small village surrounded by vineyards, castles and magnificent scenery. Near Perpignan, Collioure and Spain.

This ‘maison de maitre’ family house comprises 3 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 kitchen/living rooms over 3 floors, with two separate entrances. This gives the potential for a double bedroom self contained, already equipped, apartment to let for a few weeks a year, to cover costs, if required.

A beautiful terrace, with outstanding views towards the Mediterranean 50 mins away. The top and bottom floors were redesigned and rebuilt. All lovingly renovated over the years with lime plaster, limewash and stripped beams, giving air and sunlight, throughout the day.

Surrounded by vineyards, rugged scenery and gorges, you will find many varieties of orchid, the crushed smell of wild thyme and rosemary. The birdsong of nightingales in the olive groves, as well as hoopoes across the vineyards, in the spring. Eagles and migratory birds. Historically it is in the Cathar region with life going back to 1st European man.

There is swimming in our river, the Verdouble, which includes gorges, lakes and waterfalls. Walking and climbing. Villages fêtes and dancing. The Bar Tabac, shop and good restaurants with the ‘degustation’ of Fitou and Corbieres wines. Flights to Perpignan, Montpellier, Toulouse and Barcelona. Daily train St Pancras to Perpignan. So much to explore.

For ‘Plein Air’ Painters it is a gift, beginning at dawn with the colours in the sky before the sun rises, across the terrace towards the Mediterranean.

To arrange a visit to this ‘coup de coeur’ house from April, please contact jane@janephillipspaintings.com

Further information and photos see below:

Experience the warmth and beauty of the Aude district of France.

A ‘coup de coeur’ three-bedroom village house with far-reaching views from its roof terrace, in a vibrant village.

Paziols is an interesting French village of about 500 people, which includes a mix of nationalities. Situated in the foothills of the Eastern Pyrenees, in sight of snow-tipped Mt Canigou which straddles the border of France and Catalonia, it is south of Carcassonne and not far from Perpignan, Collioure and Spain, including Andorra. On the map, it is close to the village of Tuchan.

The property has been extensively renovated over the last 33 years. It is well maintained and comfortable.

There is good public parking available nearby. Paziols is a lively village, with a social life that include fêtes, music and dancing under the stars. There is a very helpful Mairie for local maps and information with a French/English Mayor, who is also Patron of his Vineyards. There is a Bar Tabac, a shop with daily fresh bread, meat, dairy and local produce, Caves for the degustation of Fitou and Corbieres wines and a small Restaurant. There are local cuisine restaurants in every village and varied stalls of markets on different days. Nearest Airports are Perpignan (40 mins), Montpellier (2 hrs), Toulouse (2 1/4 hrs) and excellent flights to Barcelona. Brittany Ferries good service from Portsmouth and Plymouth to Bilbao and Santander, a day’s journey across the Pyrenees. Or for a more leisurely trip travelling through magnificent scenery: Channel crossings St Malo and Caen, and Eurostar to Calais with excellent autoroutes. Daily train St Pancras to Perpignan.

Swimming is in our local river, the Verdouble, just a walk away across the vineyards, with exciting gorges and waterfalls nearby. There are many secluded picnic places for lazy days, for relaxation, and fun. The Mediterranean is 50 min away by car, and is good for wind surfing. Excellent fish restaurants.

This ancient land gives opportunity for every kind of outdoor pursuit; walking, trekking, riding, paragliding or plein air painting in the beautiful rugged, wild scenery. The historic Cathar trails and châteaux, Queribus, Peyrepertuse, Montsegur and many others. The wildlife and beautiful flowers including many species of orchid, minute tulips, lilies, cistus and lavender, almond trees, olives and cypress. An enormous variety of birds from hoopoes, golden aurioles, nightingales, and 3 different eagles.

The region abounds with historic interest from the Ice Age, carving out the hillsides, Prehistory with evidence of First European Man in the Tautavel Gorge, Caune d’Arago, (photo above right), and its renowned Museé de Prehistoire in Tautavel, early history from the Visigoths, Romans and Cathar Albigensian Crusade, Charlemagne, the Moors, Franco and Spain’s Civil War, to the last War with the Resistance escape routes, across the Pyrenees. The Romanesque churches, the cultures, art, and music, all have left their identity on this beautiful land, which pervades its air.