Port Minervois

Languedoc's best kept secret

Stayed at Homps in Port Minervois holiday village. A well managed, spotlessly clean collection of 2 to 4 bedroomed terraced and detached villas with shared pool beside the fresh-water Lac de Jouarres. We stayed in July and were so impressed we returned in October. The kids swam in the pool and the lake both times - though it was amazingly deserted in October. The weather was possibly better in October than in July - we ate outside most days on the patio.
The old village of Homps is 100 yards from the holiday village gates (secure entry system so very safe feeling for kids to be in). Homps has 4 restaurants and a couple of shops - one very good with butcher's counter and rotisseried chickens. Olonzac is a mile or so along the flat back road - or via the track in the vinyards. It has a fantastic market on Tuesdays - all year round it seems. People come in from the surrounding area for the day to buy goods and meet each other. Nice friendly place where there are announcements on loud-speakers round the town with information like ' School trip safely arrived at destination - or old Mrs X passed away'

Unique Quality: Cleanliness is outstanding - no litter, immaculate villas and pool is superb with kiddy bit and fountain. Prices 1/3 to 1/2 those for private villas in same area.
Carcassonne is 32km west along the Canal du Midi, Narbonne about the same to the east. So coast is near enough at hand without having sand everywhere. Olonzac has gret restaurants once you look for them - don't be put off by the exteriors...look inside and read the menus!
Peaceful setting between the canal and vineyards with the lake a few hundred yars away where there is a life-guard station and canoes for rent and a restaurant/cafe. All the villas face either south or to the lake.
If you want tranquility and a relaxed atmosphere in a genuinely laid back French village with excellent facilities then this is for you - if you want karaoke, bingo and Watney's Red Barrel : head for Estartit.

• Opinion of Price: less expensive than average
• Related to: Water Sports, Family Travel, Historical Travel

Port Minervois

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