L'Hirondelle
L'Hirondelle is French for the swallow. These birds visit the 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.
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 reversible 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 and is mainly open plan, consisting of a front porch, then a large lounge/diner extending into the kitchen giving a large living area. In here there is an HD multi channel flat screen satellite and local television, an audio centre which will allow you play your own music via a memory stick plugged into a USB point. A wood burning stove for the colder months, a comfortable three piece suit and book shelves with a selection of books covering all interests. In the dining area there is a dining table with six chairs and also a sideboard.
There is an integral garage, large enough to accommodate most makes of car. At the rear of the garage there is the laundry area with a washing machine. There is a downstairs toilet with a wash basin with a rear porch area.
The kitchen is fully equipped and includes an electric cooker, dish washer, fridge freezer, micro wave oven and a granite surface work top.
To the rear of our house there is an outdoor terraced area with a barbeque and garden furniture to allow for outdoor eating and beyond this a garden in which there is a spa pool.
After mounting the stairs to the second floor there is firstly a double bedroom furnished with a pair of single beds, built in wardrobes with ample hanging and storage space.
From here the next room is the main bathroom which is quite large and has a tub, shower, wash basin and a W/C.
The next bedroom is also fitted with built in ample sized wardrobes. It has twin beds and an en suite shower room with a shower, wash basin and W/C.
The final bedroom is furnished with a double bed and again ample sized built in wardrobes and drawer space.
The beams have been left exposed throughout the second floor and in the single storey kitchen giving high ceilings and a pleasing ambience.
In the roof there are two electrically controlled Veluxe skylights allowing addition daylight to the stairs and upstairs landing.
In the bathroom there is a heated towel rail which can also be used to provide heat.
The domestic hot water system is heated via solar panels on the roof feeding a 300 litre tank.
We also have a telephone and inter-net access.
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 two 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.