This townhouse in Languedoc has been restored to the height of elegance. Originally built in 1882, its new design is all refinement, paying tribute to the past with chandeliers and statuary - très français! Just outside the back door is a cool blue saltwater swimming pool, and mature gardens beyond. You can cook outside in the summer kitchen (with its own plancha) for a casual meal, or gather in the dining room for a black-and-white affair.

A large group won’t feel cramped in this home, which extends across three levels (the second level has its own lounge). Four of the seven bedrooms have the added privacy of ultramodern en suite bathrooms. Juliet balconies on the second floor lend even more elegance to an already impeccable interior.

You can walk to the town of Lamalou, a leisurely amble away. Thermal baths have operated here since the 13th century, so it’s a beautifully relaxing holiday no matter the time of year. As well as a twice-weekly market and the summer Operetta Festival, you'll find charming cafes, shops and restaurants across this small but lively tourist town. 

Situated midway between Carcassonne and Montpellier, this holiday home has access to the best of the Languedoc-Roussillon wine region - head slightly towards the coast, and you’ll have dozens of winemakers’ wares to sample or stay closer to home for some amazing hiking and cycling through stunning Languedoc landscapes.

Between Carcassonne and Montpellier, Maison Le Bitoulet is located in the Hérault department of Languedoc, around 40km north of Béziers and under an hour from the Mediterranean coast.

The townhouse is in a neighbourhood just outside Lamalou-les-Bains and it’s a leisurely stroll to the heart of this small but lively town. Lamalou-les-Bains is a tourist resort set at an altitude of 200m in a valley at the foot of the Upper Languedoc Regional Nature Park and it’s renowned throughout France for its thermal waters and sporting activities.

There’s a variety of shops, cafes and restaurants as well as its famous casino and there are plenty of events such as the Tuesday and Saturday morning market, a monthly craft market, the summer Operetta Festival and other festivities and concerts throughout June, July and August.

In the surrounding area a wealth of outdoor adventures await including canoeing, kayaking, hiking, climbing and mountain biking. The 9-hole Golf de Lamalou-Les-Bains is especially picturesque whilst keen cyclists can follow the ‘Passapais’ Voie Verte, an amazing route of paths, tunnels and bridges, following the former Mazamet to Bédarieux railway line (with some hilly diversions).  

It goes without saying that the Languedoc is one of the largest wine producing regions in France and wine-tasting can be arranged at local vineyards and wineries.

Other gorgeous Hérault villages and towns include charming Roquebrun (22km) on the River Orb, pretty Faugères (15km) with its windmills and the historic market town of Pézenas (40km), known for its associations with Molière. The idyllic village of Olargues, only a 20-minute drive away, is officially classified as one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’.

Enjoy long walks and summer watersports by Lac du Salagou, around a 45-minute drive away, or drive south towards Béziers (40km) to discover this vibrant city and admire the Canal du Midi. Continue onwards towards the Mediterranean coast and the gorgeous sandy shores of Valras-Plage can be reached within an hour.

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