'Les Volets
Bleus' is a 100 year old 'Maison de Maître', situated in the pretty canalside
village of Sallèles d'Aude. The high, elegant rooms would have been used in
past times by the vineyard owner for entertaining local dignitaries and, at
the time of the grape harvest, the workers would take their meals at trestle
tables in the commanding hallways.
The
front of the house overlooks the canal and, from the roof terrace planned for
the rear of the house, the view will be over the rooftops of the village to
the hills of the Corbières and Minervois, and the Pyrenees in the far distance.
Mediterranean.
The village has a choice of bars and a couple of restaurants, a good selection
of small shops, petrol station, Post Office and ATM. 
- AMPHORALIS in Sallèles is an archaeological museum, depicting the Roman potteries
which existed here 2000 years ago. An oven has been reconstructed and every
summer a production of pots & tiles is made, following the same techniques as the
Romans would have used. 
- L'OULIBO in Bize Minervois is the only olive oil mill in production in this
area. The visit is very interesting and the shop has a great selection of olives,
oils and other comestible goodies, as well as lovely soaps & shampoos. 
- VINEYARDS - well you will
trip over one every corner you turn! We have been researching the best in the area
(well somebody had to do it!) and
have now put together a short break including lots of wine tasting - see our short breaks for details.
- THE MED and its resorts
and beaches are just under half an hour's drive from the house. 
- WATERSPORTS are easily available - exciting windsurfing on the lagoons between
us and the coast, as well as kayaking and canoeing on the Orb, about 20 minutes
inland. 
- CARCASSONNE- the wonderful walled city (which inspired the castle in Walt
Disney's 'Sleeping Beauty') is a definite must - amazingly it is now over 700
years old, and well nigh intact. 
- The CATHAR CASTLES are
all situated south and west of us, in the Corbières, which is fabulously rugged
countryside - easy to imagine marauding Moors and defenceless damsels. Let us
put together a route for you to get the most out of a day trip. 
- The ABBAYE DE FONTFROIDE - a renovated Cistercian abbey, with a beautiful
(if unexpected in southern France) rose garden. Has a very good gift shop, also
a café and even a gastronomic restaurant. 
- THE CANAL
DU MIDI has been classified as an historic monument by UNESCO and offers you
a choice of activities, from a barge holiday to a day trip from Narbonne - or
perhaps a short walk, cycle or horseride along its shady towpaths to discover
a quiet bar or restaurant....it's up to you to decide!