Quillan, Aude, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

We're selling our detached, 4-bedroom south-facing, architect-designed villa, which we've owned since 2001 and lived there full time since 2003. It's set in a plot of 2975 m²/0.75 acre with exceptional views of the Pyrenees from all windows.

Because it has been our home we've continually updated, improved and maintained it over the course of our ownership including new kitchen and bathrooms, garden landscaping, installation of an in-ground, chlorine-free pool, solar water heating etc.

The property is located at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac, itself situated on the edge of the pretty village of Quillan, just a 10-minute walk from the village's shops, restaurants/bars, public transport and entertainment venues.

The house is well insulated, double glazed etc and has solar water heating, which normally provides all needs from April to November (and also pre-heats the incoming supply in winter). Central heating and top-up water heating is by a mains gas condensing boiler. There are also reversible (heating/cooling) air conditioners/heat pumps on each floor.

Key points

• Detached, 4-bedroom architect-designed villa, set in a plot of 2975 m² including 800 m² of mature garden.
• South facing with unobstructed views to the Pyrenees from all rooms.
• Double glazing and good insulation throughout.
• Town gas central heating by high efficiency condensing boiler. Two reversible (heating and cooling) air conditioners.
• Solar water heater, normally providing domestic hot water between April and November.
• Garage with workshop area and wine cellar. Parking for 4 cars in the 185 m² driveway.
• Carport/campervan shelter 3.9m wide x 6m deep (average) x 6m height under roof.
• Chlorine-free swimming pool 8.5m x 3.8m with counter-current swimming, solar shower and sun terrace of 55m².
• Gardens planted on 3 sides. Rainwater recovery system.
• South facing terraces of 52 m² adjacent to and accessible from the living room and kitchen.
• Gigabit fibre optic internet connection.
• Motorized entrance gates with videophone access.
• Remotely accessible security cameras

Accommodation:
The living area is of 215m²/2,300 ft² over 2 floors. The ground floor comprises the main living areas, as well as a separate "night" area consisting of 2 double bedrooms and a bathroom with WC. This area has a separate external entrance making it ideal for semi-independant friends and family accommodation or, with minor modifications to create a kitchenette, for holiday rental purposes.

The 1st floor has 2 further double bedrooms (one with adjoining dressing room), a second bathroom and a large mezzanine (36 m²/390 ft²), currently used as an office and fitness area.

The accommodation in detail is as follows :

Ground floor:

• Entrance hall.
• Large bright and airy living room of 54m²/580 ft² with dining area. Double height ceiling with exposed beams. Open fireplace with heat recovery system. Double French windows opening onto a south facing terrace. Solid oak staircase to the 1st floor.
• Fully fitted and equipped kitchen/breakfast area.
• Laundry/boiler room with connections for washing machine, tumble dryer.
  WC with hand basin.
• Inner corridor (night) with door to the rear garden. Cloakroom and reversible air conditioning.
• Bathroom 1 with double basin unit, large bath with shower, WC.
• Bedroom 1 (14.6 m²/160ft²). Cupboard.
• Bedroom 2 (12.5 m²/135ft²). Cupboard.

1st floor:

• Mezzanine of 36m²/390ft² above the dining area of the living room and the corridor on the ground floor, currently used as an office/work space but also suitable for a relaxation area and/or a guest bedroom. Reversible air conditioning.
• Bedroom 3 (18.9m²/200ft²). Exposed beams. Door to :
• Dressing room (7m²/75ft²), which could be converted into an en-suite bathroom if desired.
• Bedroom 4 (14.6m²/160ft²) Exposed beams. Cupboard.
• Bathroom 2 with suspended vanity unit, WC, Victorian style bath, separate shower cubicle.

Lower level

• Garage (30m²/325ft²) for one standard-sized or 2 small cars. Water and electricity points.
• Workshop (12.9 m²/140ft²) with storage and access to the under-floor cavity space of the house.
• Wine cellar (4.4m²/48ft²).

Annual property taxes
The property tax ('Taxe Foncière') was ?2,608 for 2024, including the supplement for the swimming pool.

This is a very well appointed and maintained property in a quiet location with outstanding views. If this is the type of property that you are looking please get in touch. We'd love to show you around our home, the village and surrounding area and to talk about the facilities the area has to offer.

The property is being sold with vacant possession but some or all of the furniture and other contents could be left (by separate negotiation) to allow immediate use of the property on completion.

Quillan and its surroundings
Quillan itself is situated in a mountain amphitheatre in the foothills of the Pyrenees around 45 minutes' drive from Carcassonne (Canal de Midi; UNESCO heritage site; international airport), one hour from Perpignan (TGV station for London, Paris, Barcelona and Madrid; international airport) and 1hr:30 from Toulouse (4th city of France; cultural and university centre; international airport). Carcassonne, Perpignan and Toulouse are all easily reachable by public transport from Quillan.

The village has a good selection of local shops, 2 supermarkets, 17 bars and restaurants, a twice weekly market and over 100 clubs and associations covering a wide range of leisure and sporting activities. In addition to the usual free summer festivals and concerts there is a cinema and modern theatre which offer a range of year round entertainments. Further details can be found on the Quillan municipality and the Pyrenees Audoise Tourist Office websites.

The nearest Pyrenean ski station is just 35 km/22 miles away and other sporting facilities (hill walking, white water rafting, canoeing etc) are right on the doorstep. An outdoor leisure and supervised swimming lake complex are at the northern edge of the village, about 20 minutes walk away.

Climate
Quillan benefits from the microclimate of the upper Aude Valley, having the clear blue skies of the Mediterranean but being shielded from the debilitating Tramontane winds by the Corbière mountains.

Summer temperatures are usually very comfortable, being in the low 30's but with low humidity levels.

The winters are generally mild. The village is at 280m above sea level but the snow line is at ~500m so most winters there is normally only the odd snow flurry, with, rarely, a surface dusting lasting one or two days.

In general November and January are clear, sunny and warm. December, February and March vary between clear warm days and some rain and drizzle. February tends to be the coldest month, sometimes, but infrequently, dropping below zero on a clear night.