L'hirondeLLe

L'Hirondelle is French for the swallow. These birds visit Capestang and the surrounding area each summer to rear their families and can often be seen performing their aerobatics against the backdrop of an azure sky.
This not just a house, it is also our French home, where we live when we are in France. To this end we spent over 4 years and a lot of careful thought in respect of the design, renovation and equipping our home to the highest possible standards within our means in the firm belief that what makes us happy will also make you happy.
Our house is mostly stone built and terraced. Having good modern insulation it is comparatively cool in the summer and warm in the winter. This is augmented by an air to air heat pump system which provides heating and cooling to the main living area and the three bedrooms. A wood burning stove gives added heat and comfort in the coldest months.
It is built on two floors with the ground floor mainly open plan, consisting of a front porch, then a spacious lounge/diner extending into the kitchen giving a spacious open plan living area, a rear porch, downstairs loo and wash basin, a garage with a laundry area at the rear of this.
To the rear there is a terrace with a barbecue and furniture for outdoor dining and a wood store for the stove and beyond this there is the garden which consists of a central shingle area surrounded by pleasant herbaceous borders, in addition a couple of vines, an olive tree, lemon and a clementine tree with various herbs useful for cooking.
A corner of the garden is set aside for a spa pool with ‘stepping stones’ leading from the terrace for this.
The lounge area is tastefully equipped with a comfortable leather three suite, a TV with UK channels available by satellite and terrestrial French channels, an audio unit and a selection of books are provided both here and in the rear porch. The wall pictures and lighting add ambience.
We have wi fi to enable you to connect with the internet and a telephone for both incoming and outgoing calls. These may involve additional costs but at normal rates.
In the dining area there is a table with 6 dining chairs and a dresser.
The kitchen is fully equipped and includes an electric cooker, dishwasher, fridge freezer, microwave oven, ‘Nespresso’ and filter type coffee makers, a blender and a granite surface work top. The beams have been left exposed and a velux window gives added daylight.
The first floor is gained via a wooden stair case and here each of the bedrooms are fitted out with a built in wardrobes giving ample storage and drawer space, bedside tables and a small dressing table and mirror, two of the bedrooms being equipped with a pair of single beds whilst the third has a double bed.
There are two bathrooms, the first which is the main bathroom is generously proportioned with a tub, shower, wash basin, shower cubicle and a W/C. The second is an ‘en suite’ off the front twin bedded room and has a shower, wash basin and W/C.
Solar water heating provides ample hot water.
High vaulted ceilings with exposed beams and wall pictures give a pleasing ambience and velux windows give additional daylight to the stairs and landing area.

.

Capestang
Originally called "Cape d Entang" because in former times the village bordered on a lake and was in fact a "cap detang "until it was drained in the middle ages to reveal what is now a "dartboard" configuation of fertile fields viewed best from the Oppidum dEnsurune (see below).

We are fortunate in having a number of good restaurants in the village, all within walking distance. Average price for an evening meal for 2 with wine about 50€.

A 200 to 300 metre walk through old narrow streets will take you to the village centre, where there are two cafés on either side of the square with a large impressive church. On the way you will pass the restaurant "Le Provence", which is often busy. Of the cafés, The "Café de la Grille" does very good "bar food" at a modest rate - it is very popular.

Near the Marie you will find "La Table de Vignoble", where in the fine weather you eat outside in a courtyard, in less clement weather in a large barn. Here, Madame Cros will sell you her own wine, which is very very good.

Over the years, the number of visiters to the village increase, thereby confirming its popularity but at the same time its basic character is not marred and it still retains its charm - that of a typical southern French working village, where viticulture is the main support. The local council appears to be very forward looking and have made many improvements.

Speaking of viticulture there has been a superb improvement in the local wines, which are now very palatable.

It is not necessary to leave the village in the evenings, unless you wish, since there is a good selection of restaurants, bars and walks to keep one quite occupied.

Le Canal du Midi and other local items of interest
Le Canal du Midi provides a waterway, often bordered by trees, from the Mediterannean to the Atlantic. It passes by the northern side of the village, where it widens to form the Port of Capestang, where there are normally a goodly number of craft moored. Take a walk along it, see the boats and you will discover another good restaurant, "La Battalier". The local church being built in the 13th century is well worth a visit and its vast size in proportion to the village makes it unusual. The Chateau near the centre of the village has original medieval paintings.
A short distance away there is Oppidum d Ensurune which was a Roman hill top fort, ruins of their habitations still exist and there is a fine museum on site.
It is worth noting the Pyrenees and the Spanish Frontier is just over an hour away by car and the Costa Brava can be reached in under 2 hours.