Independent Garden Apartment, Pool

Super!

Good property very peceful, Claire the owner has all well prepared

A friend and I stayed at this picturesque location just north of the village of Vingrau for about a week. The owner, Claire, couldn't have been more helpful, sorting out our ineptitude with the washing machine and the oven with good humour. I arrived very late at night, and she had thoughtfully provided me with some food for breakfast, which was much appreciated. The apartment comfortably sleeps 4, with the second bedroom being a loft above the living room. The location was fabulous, both for the views over the Pyrenees, and for its proximity to Perpignan and nearby beaches. The pool is small, and suitable for cooling off, but not for any serious swimming. Even though the apartment is attached to the house, there is a sense of total privacy, with a rocky garden that was just about to burst into bloom with lavender and other summer flowers. There's a lovely space to eat just outside the front door that catches the morning sun and then is shaded for the rest of the day. If you want a quiet getaway in the French countryside, this is a terrific spot. Vingrau has a bakery that's open in the morning, and a wonderful restaurant owned by a friendly husband and wife team. Tautavel, which is a few kilometres away is a bit bigger with a few more restaurants and a couple of small stores, and Perpignan is only about half an hour away, if you want something more urban. We went to a couple of great markets in Ceret and Argelès-sur-Mer, both of which are within an hour's drive, and well worth a visit anyway. I highly recommend this spot, and would go back in a heartbeat.