A Village House Near the Canal du Midi
This co-ownership home in Quarante, France is named after one of my favorite French tunes from the 1970’s, “C’est Une Maison Bleue” I was delighted to find a hidden jewel of a village house to name after one of my favorite melodies. It didn’t hurt that the wooden shutters were painted that gorgeous shade of blue we call “Bleu Ciel” or Sky Blue.
- Beautifully remodeled village home featuring 3 bedrooms, 3 baths
- Open living room/dining area with an abundance of natural light.
- Outdoor terrace adjoining the living room
- Well-equipped kitchen with full-sized fridge
- Satellite TV, telephone, washer/dryer, all dishware and linens
Quarante is about one mile from the Canal du Midi, five miles from Capestang, 17 miles from Beziers, and 25 miles from the Mediterranean Sea. A lovely authentic French village, it has its “petite marche traditionel” every Wednesday and Friday morning. With around 1500 residents, you’ll find everything you need; an epicerie, boulangerie, 2 boucheries, 2 hairdressers and a bar/restaurant.
The 11th Century Eglise Sainte-Marie is well known as a stopping point on the pilgrim’s route, Santiago de Compostela. As a wine makers village, it’s a treat to visit during the “vendange” (grape harvest) when tractor after tractor of local grapes make their way to the Cave Cooperative. Their wine is part of the St. Chinian appelation.
The lively local festival of the running of the bulls (la fête taurine) takes place in June. For the fête, the village erects steel barriers. The village square outside the church offers non-stop refreshments, long tables for enjoying the company of fellow villagers, and a brass band. This type of running of the bulls is called the abrivado. The tradition is particular to this part of France, in and near the Camargue region.
A 1/9th resale share entitles you to 5-6 weeks of usage each year. The running costs are equally split among the owners with the exception of the house manager who obtains from dues in exchange for their management role. These dues average between 700-800 euros/year. Maison Bleue uses a rotational calendar with a high and low season booking system.