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Review not verified by RentalSystems* (Submitted: 16 Oct 2010)
Howard and Sandra from Kent
“ We had a very restful week at Villa Janet in early September, enjoying being in a small village and walking through the vineyards and eating ripe figs straight from the trees. Only 4km drive to get the baguette and same day’s English papers, before 8am (Magalas). Excursions to Sete and Valras Plage to walk along the seashore. Pure bliss “
Review submitted by Gillian from HENLEY ON THAMES (Submitted: 31 Aug 2010)
We enjoyed a lovely, restful holiday at Villa Janet. Its peaceful location and beautiful outlook over the vineyards and countryside below made us feel miles away from our normal busy lives. The children were delighted to have a pool and this was safe and well-maintained. They enjoyed playing on the rocks behind the house and around the old church and got to know the local cats which they named Couscous, Stripe, Timmy and MacAuley Sculkin!
The jazz evening held in the area around the church was superb.
My husband made use of the owners road bike - which is in good condition - and was up every morning for an hours cycle to lift his spirits.
The villa was a good base in terms of getting to various tourist spots. We never felt we were too long in the car to get anywhere.
We will have very fond memories of our holiday at Villa Janet.
Review submitted by Karen from Bedfordshire (Submitted: 30 Aug 2010)
We had a two week holiday to Villa Janet in July 2010, 6 adults and an 8 year old dog. On arrival my parents were met by the caretaker and shown everything they needed to be shown. The house was very charming, with plenty of room for us all, in fact the upstairs lounge wasnt used at all! The weather was fantastic and very hot, and although there was a fan in the downstairs lounge, each bedroom could have benefitted from having a fan in it, as on some nights it was quite uncomfortable in the heat.
Barney our crossbreed dog had a great time keeping guard for the cats that came looking for a treat and he made two friends - a couple of local dogs who came to call for him each morning and took a shine to his new football!
The garden/pool area was great and every night apart from two (because of the wind and one night a burst of rain) we ate out and used the bbq. The pool was attended to most days by the caretaker and well maintained. There were only 3 sun loungers available to be used which meant we had to have a rota system! However purchasing a couple of lilos solved that problem and allowed us to catch a few rays and keep cool in the pool at the same time! The views over the vineyards were stunning and listening to the church bells above ringing out, it was like being on a film set!
The village itself is beautiful, very quiet, friendly locals and lovely walks round the winding roads. We didnt venture very far really, going to the beach a couple of times (Serignan allows dogs) and the river at Roque Brun or Real for a change of scenery. We used the well stocked supermarket at Magalas and purchased some excellent wine from the local "cave"!!
If you want to experience true France we would all recommend Villa Janet. Lounging in the sun listening to the crickets, watching the swallows dive between the houses and lying in bed listening to the "little owls" tooting! Heaven! There is something about the house, village and area that will draw you back and we hope to return again to experience another wonderful holiday.
Review submitted by Herve from Suresnes, France (Submitted: 19 Mar 2010)
The villa Janet and its garden is a very pleasant place. We went to Fouzilhon during a very cold week of March, and the house, with very thick walls, was a bit difficult to heat but, the beauty of the house and of the village clearely appeared. The household equipment rate is good, and the garden very nice.
We should definitely recommend Villa Janet from spring to autumn.
Owner reply:
We have now got some extra oil electric heaters on wheels for winter use in addition to wall mounted fires in the bathrooms. The wood stove / open fire gives out a good heat.
Review not verified by RentalSystems* (Submitted: 2 Oct 2009)
Regards from Jan and Niall Hammond- We arrived at the villa in April having flown in to Carcassonne Airport which was an easy drive away. The scenery became more beautiful the closer we got to the village of Fouzilhon with vineyards as far as the eye could see and lots of unspoilt, natural countryside. The village itself is hilly with the villa being set close to the top of the hill near the quaint little church with its bell which chimes on the hour during the day, but is not obtrusive.
The villa was spacious and full of character befitting the area and there was a pool and upper decking as well as a barbecue area. Our party of 4 had many meals in the villa made in the well equipped kitchen and played games at the table each night, listening to music. The showers were fine, the beds comfortable and there was a large sitting area upstairs which had a piano in it. As the weather was unusually wet for a couple of days when we arrived, the caretaker, Jean Pierre and his wife made us a lovely welcoming fire and checked to see we had everything we needed. They maintained the pool every day and the general outside area but were very inconspicuous. The sun came out after a couple of days and we got suntanned on the sun deck, the views from which were magnificent!
I loved the bell museum in nearby Magalas and they even let me play a couple of tunes on the large bells and we enjoyed visiting the nearby vineyard and sampling the local wine. The villa is in an excellent location for going different directions. We went down to the coast to the beaches and the opposite way to the world's tallest Millau Road Bridge and enjoyed going to market towns and visiting local restaurants. All in all, a very good holiday.
Thanks for allowing us to stay at your villa. It was a lovely place in a lovely setting and we would like to return sometime.
Review not verified by RentalSystems* (Submitted: 2 Sep 2009)
"We paid our second visit to Villa Janet and once again had a superb holiday. The villa is in an ideal location for visiting the coast, going river swimming and canoeing as well as visiting historic sites such as the Roman Oppidum d'Enserune, shopping in the market of Pezenas or walking in the Gorge d'Heric and the Cirque de Moureze. Having said that, for much of the time our family was content to just chill by the pool and enjoy the peace and quiet of the village and admire the wonderful views from the patio. The villa is located at the top of the "circulade" of Fouzillhon which means you get fantastic views over the vineyards, the village and the hills. The caretaker Jean-Pierre is very helpful as well as very considerate as he respects your privacy and his visits to maintain the swimming pool are very discreet and inobtrusive. The villa itself is spacious, fully equipped and we did not want for anything."
The Sutherland Family, Berkshire
Review submitted by Kimmo from Rauma, Finland (Submitted: 6 Jul 2009)
Villa Janet was a very good place for our family with two kids (9 and 11) and the dog (Rottweiler-male) to stay. We spent almost all the time in the garden and pool area where we also enjoyed almost all dinners, the garden provided us both sun and shade. The weather was excellent for us, over +30 °C and mild winds helped our dog to survive in the local climate. The view over the village and wine yards was spectacular and the neighbourhood was overall very quiet and relaxing.
Our caretaker visited us almost daily. He kept the pool in proper conditions due to the fact that the wind was carrying leafs etc. debris from the surrounding trees into the pool. Our kids really loved the pool, because of its adequate size and proper conditions.
We had also ‘regular visitors’, brave local cats asking for milk and well behaving village dogs, which kept the company and add some activities to our rottie. We also find many nice walks and paths nearby.
Review submitted by Michael and Anne Marie from Belfast (Submitted: 10 Jun 2009)
We would describe Villa Janet as traditionally french with a modern artistic twist.
The villa was spacious and well equipped. The sun terrace, barbeque and pool areas were very private. The weather was lovely and we enjoyed cooling off in the pool. We found our time in Fouzilhon very peaceful and relaxing.
We took some lovely photographs on the many walks that we did. The cycle rides to the local towns were really enjoyable and took in some stunning scenery and fragrances. We also explored the surrounding area by car (e.g. Roujan, Pezenas, St Pons-de-Thomieres, Olargues, Lamalou, Bedarieux, Clermont-lHerault, Agde, and Sete). These towns were relatively close and did not involve very long journeys and we experienced the history of this part of France in addition to a variety of beautiful scenery from green lush mountains to kilometres of sandy beaches.
All in all we had a thoroughly relaxing and enjoyable experience. It was everything we hoped it would be. Michael & Anne Marie.
Review not verified by RentalSystems* (Submitted: 14 Nov 2008)
Further Comment from Christine Robbins
We were back in October, so were at Villa Janet in spring and autumn this year. The October weather was glorious and gave us the chance to travel round the area and see the wide range of bird life. We were particularly impressed with the cattle egrets on the Canal du Midi at Agde, the flamingos at the Bassin du Thau and the Etang de Gruissan, The bee eaters were a regular sight on our supermarket trips to Magalas. Round the house itself we saw hoopoes and the real star was the black redstart which nested near the barbecue area in May. For a comprehensive list of birds please conact the oenrs and see if you can add to it!
Review submitted by Fiona from Stockport (Submitted: 30 Oct 2008)
When I first arrived at Villa Janet I thought it would be good but it turned out to be fantastic.
We all decided to call the cat smokey because whenever we had a bbq she turned up! And I named one of the kittens Jasper.
The pool was great I went in almost everyday. And the view from sun terrace was brilliant. The church was really pretty.
The bread van had tasty bread and yummy sweets and the lady in the bread van was very friendly.
The beaches were great fun.
I had loads of fun, I want to live at Villa Janet!
(Erin, Age 9).
The adults had a fabulous time in a great part of France in a Villa in a beautiful setting with a well equipped kitchen and great showers !
Review submitted by Rebecca from Crowthorne (Submitted: 19 Oct 2008)
Superb location in beautiful hilltop village with excellent views over the surrounding vineyards, especially from the poolside. Villa is well-equipped and wonderfully peaceful. Village is quiet enough to make you feel youve got away from everything, but youre still very close to attractions, shops and restaurants. We had a fantastic fortnight here with our three children (ages 8, 11 and 13). They loved wandering around the village making a uss of all the local cats and exploring. We also had great fun canoeing and exloring the Gorge dHeric. Had such a great time were re-booking for next year!
Review not verified by RentalSystems* (Submitted: 26 Sep 2008)
Christine Robbins from Lanark, Scotland said" What a lovely setting the village of Fouzilhon is in and the views from the house are spectacular. The house is full of character with modern comforts and is well equipped for family living. We visited in the spring and enjoyed the wide variety of birdlife.The swimming pool and barbeque area are a bonus to be enjoyed in the sunshine. We will be back!"
Review not verified by RentalSystems* (Submitted: 11 Apr 2008)
Dear Michael, here is my comment re Villa Janet, I'm happy for you to use my name and Norwich with it:
We spent a very enjoyable three weeks at Villa Janet in FEBRUARY. We found it simply and comfortably furnished, well equipped, and the woodburning stove made the house warm and cosy.
The countryside looked lovely with almond trees and mimosa in blossom.
Ivy Smith
Review submitted by cedric from Cheshire (Submitted: 5 Nov 2007)
Villa Janet is set in a beautiful location and is ideal to relax and get away from the fast pace of life.Well located for all the amenities with good restaurants in nearby Magalas and easy access to all the main attractions such as Carcassonne Nimes Montpelier.Excellent way to really enjoy and sample French life.
Review submitted by Paul from Hilperton,Trowbridge,Wilts (Submitted: 18 Sep 2007)
We had a wonderful two weeks.We ate, we swam and we explored.The gorges were only 20 minutes to the north and the beaches 25 minutes to the south. Jean Pierre and Genevieve are a delightful couple and keep the house and pool looking lovely.
Review submitted by Jill from Eastbourne (Submitted: 27 Aug 2007)
Villa Janet provided our large family with plenty of room for the time we stayed. The children loved the pool and decking area, and we, the parents enjoyed the peace, the views and the wine! The bread van was a daily test for the children to practise their French. It was reassuring to have regular visits from the caretaker, not that we found any problems!
Review not verified by RentalSystems* (Submitted: 13 Jul 2007)
villa janet was a very nice villa , we had a week there in june this year. it was well maintained by a cartaker who lives near by and was on hand if you needed him. the villa had nice veiws over the vineyards and across the mountains which can be seen from lazing in the pool a really nice holiday . peaceful and relaxing the 4 of us had a really good time
Review not verified by RentalSystems* (Submitted: 13 Jul 2007)
Review by Peter Preece of London. June 2007.
"We had a really nice time. Lovely villa. The area was beautiful as well."
Review submitted by Rudy and Beverley from Scotland (Submitted: 8 Oct 2006)
Functional but well equipped property with stunning views of surrounding vineyards and distant mountains. Ideal for a relaxing holiday especially for a family, with it's pool, bikes and spacious rooms. Authentic French village experience with friendly locals, and a very friendly and helpful caretaker Jean Pierre.
Review submitted by Adrian from Villa Janet (Submitted: 3 Oct 2006)
We had a wonderful time, throughly enjoyable, superb location, very friendly village within easy reach of both the beach and the mountains.
Our children loved the pool, the local play area and several evenings were rounded off with quiet relaxing walks around the village taking in the glorious landscape.
Review submitted by Grace from London (Submitted: 2 Oct 2006)
We had a lovely time at Villa Janet. It's a really interesting house in a beautiful location, very well equipped (especially the kitchen) and we spent all our time outside on the patio, sun deck or by the pool.
We would definitley go again!
Review submitted by Julie from Reigate (Submitted: 1 Oct 2006)
Villa Janet is in a beautiful location; conveniently placed for the mountains, the coast and visits to some really great places. The pool is a real boon with kids and is really well looked after. The house is a little basic but there is plenty of space and it is well equipped. It was a great base to discover this part of France.
Review submitted by Katie from Malmesbury (Submitted: 11 Aug 2006)
The house is spacious and although by no means luxurious meets all your basic needs.
The real plus point is the pool and sundeck set into the hillside. You can enjoy gorgeous views of the rolling hills and vineyards whilst having a cooling dip or an evening barbecue.
Review submitted by David from Wirral (Submitted: 5 Aug 2006)
Property was clean and full of Charm. Typically a very French Villa. The pool was well maintained and cleaned regularly.
Area is also very pwacefull.
An Excelent Holiday
Review submitted by Annie from Wee Row, Rosedale St. Lanark (Submitted: 6 Jan 2006)
After seeing the film "French Kiss" we always wanted to experience the ambiance of a traditional French villa in the south of France surrounded by vineyards. Villa Janet's location in a small hilltop village gave us the chance to sample this "French" life in a lovely setting. The villa itself added to our enjoyment. It was spacious, well-appointed and had all the amenities necessary to make our stay enjoyable. After exploring the many surrounding locations it was wonderful to relax back at the villa with a glass of one of the excellent local wines.
Review submitted by Jane from Birmingham (Submitted: 21 Nov 2005)
"We had a lovely holiday and settled into the area and pace of life immediately. The caretakers, Jean-Pierre and Genevieve, were extremely kind and helpful. The house is in a beautiful area, the views are superb
and the village is so very peaceful - just what we needed."
Review submitted by Mark from UK (Submitted: 4 Nov 2005)
A group of four of us stayed in early September and had a great time. The house is set in a small, quiet and rustic village. Having been met by the local friendly caretaker we were impressed at how well equipped this lovely house was (especially the kitchen). For a holiday where a quiet location, good views, a pool and a house which is simply, but nicely equipped is going to be important we can't recommend Villa Janet enough.
Review submitted by Paul from Cardiff (Submitted: 25 Oct 2005)
If you want to get a real feel of village live in France then I would reccomend Villa Janet.The setting in a small quiet village was wonderfull.Every few days the esentials of life were delivered by van into the square by the church,however the main village of Magalas was only minutes away by car with every thing else we needed.The house is much bigger inside than it looks and was fully equipped with everything we needed.Sitting in at night with a bottle of wine and the log fire burning away ended each day beautifully.Well worth a visit
Review submitted by Helen from Buckinghamshire (Submitted: 23 Oct 2005)
We had a very relaxing week amongst the vinyards.
Easy distance from airport and good for visiting countryside and sea