Neffiès, Languedoc-Roussillon 34320

Reference: PFYR-T211137. This beautiful stone house sits in a peaceful hamlet close to the natural site of the Lac et Barrage de Vailhan, and is ready to move into with no work required. Two vaulted cellars anchor the ground floor, one with plumbing for a washing machine and its own access to the rear alleyway. Upstairs, a bright living room opens onto a well-equipped kitchen, while two bedrooms occupy a mezzanine and an attic. Outside, a sunny courtyard invites al fresco dining, with parking right in front of the house. Vailhan is a hamlet without shops of its own, but its setting offers lovely views over the surrounding countryside and a real sense of calm. It's home to Äponem, a well-regarded restaurant in a former 17th-century presbytery, just ten minutes from Roujan and Neffiès, twenty minutes from Pézenas and forty minutes from the beach. Ground floor: Two vaulted cellars make up this level. One of them is fitted with connections for a washing machine and has its own access to the rear alleyway. First floor: A living room leads through to a kitchen (sink, extractor hood and cooker) and a bathroom (washbasin, shower and WC). Second floor: A mezzanine bedroom sits above the living space, with an attic bedroom. Exterior: A courtyard offers a pleasant spot for al fresco dining or relaxing outdoors, and there is a parking space right in front of the house. Extras: The house is heated via a wood-burning stove and there is a reversible air conditioning. Vailhan is a pleasant hamlet close to the Lac et Barrage de Vailhan, also known as the barrage des Olivettes, an artificial lake created in 1986 to help regulate the Peyne River. Spread across roughly 40 hectares and framed by wild, rugged countryside, it's a lovely spot for walking, mountain biking or a swim (unsupervised), and there's a picnic area for anyone who prefers to stay on dry land. Nearby Pézenas is home to around 10,000 people and is hugely popular with holidaymakers and second-home owners. Known as Molière's Town, it sits at the beginning of picturesque rolling countryside that leads up to the Montagne Noire further north. Pézenas is a local centre for antiques and arts and crafts, with two giant antiques and brocante fairs per year, and plays host to some of the region's finest restaurants. The town's weekly Saturday morning market is also a huge draw.