VILLA FRANCOIS
Charming and secluded 4 bed villa with large private pool near to both the mountains, coast and only a short walk to town
Charming and secluded 4 bed villa with large private pool near to both the mountains, coast and only a short walk to town
CHARMING FRENCH TOWN
Villa Francois is situated in a quiet residential area within five minutes level walking to the centre of St-Genis-des-Fontaines, and is ideally situated between the mountains and the Mediterranean Sea.
FABULOUS TRADITIONAL VILLA
The villa is very comfortable and traditionally built surrounded by an established secluded garden and patios. It has four good sized bedrooms two bathrooms and a shower in the downstairs bedroom.
LARGE POOL
There is a large pool (8m x 4m), French windows lead from the kitchen and lounge onto the dining patio with built in BBQ, leading onto the paved pool areas. There are dining tables and chairs, sunshades and pool loungers.
OUT AND ABOUT
There are excellent shops, restaurants and bars in this typically small French town with its 10c and 12c church and cloisters, and the local caves du vin. Plus it's just a short drive away to the coast and local seaside towns
Traditional character villa with everything you need for a family holiday
The villa is very comfortable and traditionally built surrounded by an established garden and patio with a large 8m x 4m pool. There are 4 bedrooms: a double and 2 twins upstairs, and a downstairs room with full size bunk beds. With WIFI, a library, assorted games, satellite TV (UK Freeview) and DVD player there's something for all the family.
The dining-living room has french windows to the patio and features a sunken log burning fireplace with armchairs, copious beams, and open plan stairs leading to a mezzanine gallery from where there are; 2 twins and 1 double bedroom, with mountain views, one bathroom with shower and a separate toilet with basin and large shower cubicle.
French windows lead from the kitchen and lounge onto the dining patio with its substantial built in BBQ, and beyond onto the paved pool areas. Outside there are dining tables and chairs, sunshades, an awning, pool side chairs and loungers. Providing various areas for both sun and shade throughout the day and a relaxed dining area for evening.
The kitchen is well equipped with oven, drinks fridge, dishwasher, microwave, hob and a large fridge freezer. A fully automatic washing machine is located in the utility room. Off the hallway is a downstairs twin room with bunk beds, shower and basin, french windows lead onto a rear patio, with a separate toilet and wash hand basin.
CHARMING FRENCH TOWN
ST. GENIS is surrounded by vineyards, peach and apricot orchards overlooked by the mountains yet within 6 miles of the bustling resort of ARGELES with its night life and miles of sands, stretching to ST.CYPRIEN (Blue Flag clean beach award)
Towards the Spanish border lies the delightful town of COLLIOURE, loved by the Fauvist art movement, with its excellent restaurants around the harbour beneath the castle. There is a colourful market on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Another pretty town nearby is BANYULS with its famous sweet local wines and off shore marine reserve.
Up in the hills CERET is a must for modern art enthusiasts and in PRADES music lovers will enjoy the summer festivals, not forgetting the lovely old city of PERPIGNAN. Just a taste of the interesting places to visit close by.
FOR THE ENERGETIC
St. Genis has excellent tennis courts and horse riding locally, boat trips and fishing trips from Argeles Port, diving from several locations south of Argeles Port, canyoning and plenty of walking in the mountains.
RESTAURANTS
Often do not open on Mondays – check! At all restaurants you can buy a “pichet” of wine inexpensively and it tastes just fine! Also get a “carafe d’eau” – ordinary tap water – quite safe as it comes from the same company which supplies us in Weybridge.
L'AUBERGE DE ALBERES
78 Avenue Marechal Joffre 66740 St genis-de-fontaine Tel:00 33 (0)4 68898838
Very good food and wines.
LA TRAMONTANE – local sports bar
62 Avenue Marechal Joffre 66740 St genis-de-fontaines Tel:00 33 (0)4 68553564
Cheerful and can be lots of fun. Walk through the bar to the restaurant behind or further down into the covered garden. Food is good and plentiful and you may get the lady chef coming out to tell you that she is the best cook in France (leave it to you to decide).
RINALDO PIZZERIA
40 Avenue Maréchal Joffre
Tel:00 33 (0)4 68897192
Take away pizza. Excellent thin crust pizza cooked in a wood oven. Worth telephoning your order through.
WINE TASTING VILLAGE
A visit to the offices of the Domaine de Biscointe winery is well worth while.
They open normal shop hours and stock a limited but excellent range of wine which is sold either by the bottle, or if you take along a container then directly from the barrel (very cheap). Found near the village centre on the road out of the town opposite Carrefour heading towards the main road.
SHOPS
There are two bakeries in the village one of which will be open every morning: two decent restaurants: a pizzeria: a butchers shop a couple of small supermarkets: a bank with a cash machine and a pharmacy. Plus a number of other shops. The main supermarket is on the edge of the village.
There are other supermarkets at Le Boulou where there is an out of town shopping area with 2 supermarkets; Intermarche and Leclerc. There is also a large Carrefour outside Argeles.
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
Proud of its history, Saint-Genis is a truly French working village, surrounded by vineyards it is famous for its 10th century church and cloisters:
1922-1924: These years are marked by the sale of many of the columns of the cloisters to a Parisian antique dealer.
From 1970 to 1985, Saint-Genis-des-Fontaines undertook the reconstruction of its cultural heritage. Through combined efforts and perseverance, the stones were restored to their original location (in situ).
From 1987, major restoration works have been made and helped rebuild the roof, ceilings and ridges of lower angle déabulatoire.
The year 2002 saw the restoration of the higher walkway, now turned into a "cultural gallery', which now welcomes renowned artists.
POOL USAGE
Please cover the pool at night, this will maintain the temperature and guard against leaves blowing in (it only takes a minute).
When the pool is uncovered please place the roller cover over the pool cover to prevent sun damage.
The pool is taken care of by a pool maintenance expert and the necessary chemicals are added by him. He will normally visit on a Friday. You need to do nothing with the pool chemicals, however should the pump fail or the water becomes contaminated or cloudy call the pool man immediately.
A net is provided to remove any debris which blows into the pool and there is a brush should you wish to clean it further! There is an automatic filling system for the pool so there should be no need to top it up. However, if the water level is dropping, again please call pool maintenance immediately.
POOL HEALTH AND SAFETY
Only plastic tumblers should be used in the pool area to avoid broken glass being dropped either in or around the pool.
Children must not be left unattended in or around the pool. We also strongly recommend that you do not put the cover on the pool if you think there is any danger of a child (or adult) falling onto it. Whilst we have not tried it we think that the results would not be at all pleasant!
As required under European law, there is a pool fence available which can be erected should you require it. However, we will not do so unless you specifically request it and consider this as being under your responsibility.
Please use the downstairs shower before using the pool as suntan oils and lotions affect the chemical balance of the pool and will make the pool go green and cloudy. Should this happen then call the pool man and he will add the necessary chemicals to clear it, but it does take about 2 days.
GARDEN/WILDLIFE
Herbaceous borders surround the property giving it privacy. There is an automatic watering system for the garden, please do not tamper with it.
We get an abundance of wildlife in the gardens including lizards, geckos, song birds, owls, red squirrels and bats, none of which are harmful in any way. These animals are important as some of them (geckos and bats) significantly reduce the insect population (mosquitoes). The bats are also protected under European law so if you do come across one please do not disturb it in any way. Should you have any questions concerning the wildlife then please do not hesitate to contact us. There is a tap with a hose attached on the rear patio, which can be used for hosing down the patio area.
OUTSIDE BLIND/FURNITURE
When going out and at night it is essential to remember to wind in the roller blind and to drop the parasols – wind again. At night the lounger mattresses should be put inside -to to prevent damp and the local cats camping.
The garden lighting is operated by the high level switch by the pump room door.
BBQ
The BBQ is there for your use, charcoal and firelighters can be purchased from the local Brico and supermarkets.
SMOKING
The villa is a no smoking area. Should you need to smoke in the garden please be very careful with matches, cigarette ends etc. as the risk of fire is very high.
HOUSEHOLD
Household electricity is included in your rental. Should the main trip switch disconnect it is located behind the small door set in the front garage doors. The reset instructions are on the reverse of the access door. In the unlikely even that a fuse should blow there are spares in the utility room – or call the guardian – whose phone number is on the notice board in the kitchen.
On arrival the hot water, fridge freezer and the drinks fridge will be on, please leave them on when you leave.
Laundry will be collected either during or at the end of your stay. You will have one clean set of bed linen for each week of your stay. The guardian will deliver the clean sheets for your second week, and collect your sheets from the first week at around 11am on Sunday morning. If this is not convenient please phone her to re-arrange this time to suit you.
LAUNDRY
Please ensure you strip your beds at the end of your stay and leave the bedding downstairs. NB. If you wish to hire towels (one bath and one hand) you may do so from the guardian at a cost of €5 per set.
There is a large wardrobe for you to use in the linen room on the landing.
Please use liquids/gels in the dishwasher. When using the dishwasher we recommend setting 2 for normal plates etc. For hard to clean cooking pots and pans hand washing is recommended. Please do not leave a cleaning task for the next users of the property as you know how annoying this can be.
Please use liquids/gels in the washing machine too. Follow guidance on the machine and to turn on/off use buttons on front, top, right hand side.
CLEANING
Cleaning materials and a vacuum cleaner are provided for day to day routines. We do hope that you will leave the villa as you would expect to find it.
Please note that in the event of a major clean up being necessary that this will be chargeable.
Please note the kitchen must be left clean. Consider the next people who have to use it!
DAMAGES
We understand that odd breakages will occur. Please tell us so that we can replace any items, hopefully, however, all breakages are deductible should we feel it is necessary. Please don’t try to replace items yourself as we are trying to maintain matching sets.
GARBAGE/RUBBISH
The dustmen come very early TUESDAY, THURSDAY & SATURDAY.
Please put the wheelie bin/bins outside the front gate the night before. Only the rubbish within the bin is collected - No extra bags will be taken away!
NB the yellow lidded bin is for recyclable waste only – see notice board in kitchen for collection days and details of waste type.
Please don’t leave an overflowing rubbish bin when you leave, it is unfair to incoming guests so remember the previous Friday night disposal.
Should the bin be full on your arrival be comforted by the fact that there will be a collection early on Tuesday morning so just remember to put the bin out!
NB the dustmen have been known to collect the previous night!
ADDRESS
Villa Francois
19 Rue Joseph Sebastien Pons 66740 St Genis Des fontaines France
DIRECTIONS
St-Genis-des-Fontaines (St Genis) is about half way between Le Boulou (Jt. 43 of A9) and Argeles-sur-Mer (N114). St Genis is off the D618.
Look out for the Camping la Pinede as a landmark once you are on the Avenue des Alberes.
SHOPPING
Before you arrive we suggest that you may want to stock up on groceries either at Le Boulou where there is an out of town shopping area with 2 supermarkets; Intermarche and Leclerc, or at Carrefour supermarket just outside St Genis. There is also a large Carrefour outside Argeles.
ARRIVAL
Having recieved the keys in the UK before you leave for your holiday, you will need to let yourself into the villa any time after 4pm on the first day of your let.
On arrival there is a blue folder containing similar house procedures to those enclosed together with some local information. There is also a selection of brochures, maps and guide books for your use but please remember to return them at the end of your stay.
DEPARTURE
We would ask you to vacate the property by 10am on your day of departure This is so that the cleaners may get in to prepare the property for the next occupants. Your consideration with this is appreciated.
On return to the UK please send the keys back to us and we will, subject to no material breakages, repay your deposit. Please also let us know the bank account details for that payment. Should you have any enquiries please do not hesitate to contact us.
EMERGENCY NUMBERS
• Fire Service: 18
• SAMU (medical emergency): 15
• Gendarmerie (police): 17
• European Emergency No:. 112
• Electricity: 08 10 33 30 66
• Gas: 08 10 43 30 66
• Local council: 04 68 81 63 77
• Perfecture of Pyrenees-Orientales: 04 68 51 66 66
• Dr Jean Martinez, doctor in village (speaks english)
00 33 4 68 89 79 29 or
00 33 4 68 89 83 19
4 Rue Pasteur 66740 Saint-Génis-des-Fontaines
SECURITY
Please remember whenever you leave the house it must be locked up, this includes shutting the windows. It is also important to remember to always secure the windows and shutters when they are open as strong winds come up very quickly and costly damage can easily occur. The windows, when open, should be secured on the right hand side using its mechanism and on the left using the wall hook. Please lock the front gate when you leave the property.
HOUSE RULES
The Villa is situated in a quiet neighbourhood. We hope that you will enjoy the garden and pool, but please be considerate of our neighbours by not playing loud music and keeping noise to a minimum, especially after 10pm.
We hope that you have a most enjoyable stay in our holiday home and find that these suggestions make everybody’s stay more comfortable.
For further information & availability please telephone: Clive Moore on 07806771248
Normal change over is at the weekends but we can take bookings for other days subject to availability. We generally rent out the villa from mid-June to mid-September, but if you’d like to come at other times do get in touch and we will see what we can do. You can email us at clivemoore55@gmail.com, call us on +44 07806 771248
Summer 2020
Shoulder Season: £750 per week (7 nights)
1 June - 14 July, 5 Sep - 20 September
Peak Season: £1,250 per week (7 nights)
15 July - 4 September
Clive and Jane Moore
Flat 7, Chilton Court,
Station Avenue,
Walton-on-Thames,
KT12 1NG