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Stylish French renovated house with heated pool in historic Bize by river

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Welcome to Tom Foolerie, our six double bedroom property in the heart of Bize
Renovated to a high standard, with its own pool we welcome up to 8 guests
It's a two minute walk to fresh water swimming with summer lifeguard 1 - 7pm
Quality cotton linen bedding, bath and pool towels are all included in the price
Our 6m x 3.5m pool is heated, 1.6 m deep, private and perfect for a cool down

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
6 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 8200 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Pool
  • Parking available
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

Map
Bize-Minervois, Occitanie
  • L'Oulibo Olive Cooperative
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Château d'Agel
    ‪8 min drive‬
  • Château de Paraza
    ‪12 min drive‬
  • Béziers (BZR-Cap d'Agde)
    ‪52 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

6 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Bed and 1 Crib

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 3

1 Single Bed and 1 Child Bed

Bedroom 4

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 5

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 6

1 Double Bed

Common area 1

1 Double Sofa Bed

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only

Shower room 1

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only

Shower room 2

Soap · Towels provided · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

Stylish French renovated house with heated pool in historic Bize by river

A typical French townhouse, with high ceilings and light airy rooms, sensitively modernised (inc free wifi and satellite tv) whilst retaining it's original charming features. With private heated swimming pool with alarm, gas BBQ, seating for 10 and plenty of room for sunbathing. 6 double bedrooms, 5 bathrooms (2 ensuite) inc two baths and a walk in double shower on the ground floor.
Fully equipped large kitchen with seating for 10, spacious lounge with TV and free broadband, extensive library in English.
5 mins walk away are 2 boulangeries, supermarket, weekly market, organic food shop and takeaway, 3 restaurants and bar. Plus doctor, pharmacy, dentist, hairdresser, beautician, and the river, with lifeguard in July and August.
There's lots to do in the semi pedestrianised village, from swimming, horse riding, tennis and boules and relaxing by the river to attending one of the many local Fetes. Or go kayaking, cannoning, quad biking or explore Cathar castles, monasteries, historic Narbonne with its great markets. For a day out Carcassonne Cite or sandy Mediterranean beaches are just 45 minutes away.

Property manager

Libby Spratley

Languages

English, French

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Pool
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Supervise children by pool, lock windows. Max 4
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Events

No events allowed
No parties are allowed in the property.
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Please don't smoke inside or outside the property.
No bombing/diving in the pool please, we are on a water meter.
No additional guests to stay without previous notice/payment @£50 per night per person
Please do not take our English to French adaptors home with you, but leave for the next guests.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: No parties are allowed in the property.
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

Cash transactions at this property cannot exceed GBP 1000, due to national regulations; for further details, please contact the property using the information in the booking confirmation
A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Bize-Minervois

Located in Bize-Minervois, this holiday home is in a rural area and on a river. Haut-Languedoc Regional Nature Park and Narbonnaise en Méditerranée Natural Regional Park reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include L'Oulibo Olive Cooperative and Lutin Park Carousel. Discover the area's water adventures with fishing and swimming nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking/biking trails and mountain biking.
Map
Bize-Minervois, Occitanie

What's nearby

  • L'Oulibo Olive Cooperative - 3 min drive - 2.6 km
  • Château d'Agel - 8 min drive - 6.8 km
  • Domaine de l'Herbe Sainte - 9 min drive - 8.0 km
  • Château de Paraza - 12 min drive - 10.6 km
  • Les Halles de Narbonne - 24 min drive - 22.5 km

Getting around

  • Colombiers Nissan Station - 26 min drive
  • Béziers (BZR-Cap d'Agde) - 52 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪L'Oncle Jules - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪La Grillade du Chateau - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪La Maison de l'écurie - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Le Chat Qui Pêche - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Château de Paraza - ‬12 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Stylish French renovated house with heated pool in historic Bize by river have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool. Pool types include heated pools.

Is Stylish French renovated house with heated pool in historic Bize by river pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Stylish French renovated house with heated pool in historic Bize by river ?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Stylish French renovated house with heated pool in historic Bize by river ?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Stylish French renovated house with heated pool in historic Bize by river located?

Situated on a river, this holiday home is within 3 miles (5 km) of L'Oulibo Olive Cooperative, Haut-Languedoc Regional Nature Park and Château d'Agel. Domaine Lou Colombier is 2.9 mi (4.6 km) away.

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 26 out of 29 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 29 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 29 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 29 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 29 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Kezia S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Family escape
I cannot fault this property or the hosts. From booking to check out they were so great. So much advice on what to do, things to visit, and clear instructions on the property. There were 5 of us with 3 under 12. So much to do locally for all ages. The house was a perfect base for lazy days eating and lounging by the pool broken up with days out. A perfect location for a French escape. Thank you!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Suzanne F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Three weeks in Bize
Property was extremely well equipped and didnt need for anything. Beds very comfortable and showers very good. The outside area was a decent size. I thought it might be a bit small frim the photos. Host was very responsive and helpful. The village is great with plenty going on the weeks we were there.
Stayed 21 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Avril K., Salt Spring Island, Canada

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lovely family holiday
Well stocked, clean , comfortable, charming house and responsive host made this stay a wonderful holiday. The pool was delicious and the village was delightful. House was close to good restaurants and a boulangerie and the river. Thank you Libby!
Stayed 10 nights in Aug 2023

6/10 Okay

Marieke K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great house, pool and location but bad nights
The lovely decorated house is at walking distance from the river, hard tennis courts, jeux de boule, bakery and a nice restaurant. Many nice locations to visit in the neighbourhood. We enjoyed the large kitchen with everything you need and the garden with the great swimmingpool and nice table. The host is very kind and easy to contact. The chairs in the garden left black stains on a few of our shirts. We didn’t sleep well. The beds are too small and they make noise at every move. There are no vans so you want to leave the windows open at night to let the cool air in. But there is a lot of noise around the house, people arriving and leaving with their cars all night long, talking loudly. Dogs barking, church bell every day on at 7 am. Recommandations: Replace the beds for normal size boxsprings Put a van in every bedroom Put a coating on the garden chairs.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Luke M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lovely stay in Bize
Beautiful, well equipped house, perfect for all ages and a fantastic garden and pool area to relax or have dinner in. The kids loved the toys - thanks for all the info Libby!
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

Laurent L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Agréable séjour dans belle maison typique du Minervois
Maison avec de belles prestations, la propriétaire est très disponible. Nous avons passé un très bon séjour malgré un temps très chaud (en dépit de l'ancienneté de la maison la chaleur finit par s'imposer). Deux bémols mineurs : frigo trop petit quand on dépasse 4 personnes (surtout l'été), pas de prises électriques dans les salles de bains. Beaucoup de consignes sont en anglais, dommage car nous sommes en France. Bref vous ne serez pas déçus et nous reviendrons ...dès la climatisation installée! merci à Libby pour son accueil chaleureux!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

delphine d.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Jolie et agréable maison
Endroit idéal pour se retrouver a 2 familles. Comme a la maison, il y a tout sur place, la piscine, la rivière à côté. On a tous adoré! A refaire 👍
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Peter R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Townhouse glamour and comfort in south of France
Beautiful spacious house with a pool and in the center of a small village. Everything you need is in the house - very well stocked kitchen, full bbq, games, and outdoor equipment, toilet roll and basic kitchen supplies like spices etc. Very quiet and a great base for exploring. Host provided an extensive list of local attractions and sites which was super.
Stayed 16 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Rita K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Très bon séjour !
Maison très agréable avec de beaux volumes et décorée avec goût. La région est magnifique. Libby est toujours disponible et rapide pour répondre à d’éventuelles questions.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Cécile G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Maison de caractère très agréable à vivre , au sein d’un charmant village de l’Aude .
Excellent séjour dans une maison de village où nous avons passé une semaine de vacance très reposante . On s’y sent comme chez soi !
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Florent M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Super séjour 😊
Très belle maison dans un très bel endroit. Les deux sont magiques. Une propriétaire qui fait tout pour qu’on se sente à l’aise, tout est fait pour notre confort... comme si on était invités.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Cedric R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Une propriété confortable et reposante
Des propriétaires très accueillants et sympathiques. Une propriété superbe, magnifiquement décorée. Un village charmant traversé par une rivière. Nous avons passé des vacances très relaxantes. Merci à Libby et Andrew
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Joakim B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great house in nice village
We spent three great weeks in Bize. The house was excellent, we enjoyed both the spacious interior with all amenities as well as the nice patio and the pool for swimming. We also got lots of useful information from the owners on things to see and do in the beautiful surroundings. We would definitely consider coming back!

10/10 Excellent

Sara O., United Kingdom

Just fabulous!
We spent the last two weeks of August at this fabulous home and thoroughly enjoyed everything the house and the area had to offer. The house is well loved with a lovely creative flair and lots of small details which added to the enjoyment of our stay. The bathrooms are all exquisitely fitted and the bedrooms equipped with stylish and quality bed linen. If you enjoy cooking, the kitchen is equipped with all your needs for al fresco and indoor eating. The pool was a refreshing retreat from the heat and well maintained. Having the beautiful river nearby as an alternative venue for a refreshing dip was a delight. Our children (19, 17 and 9) all enjoyed invigorating river swims and lazy picnics on the riverbank. The area is also great for cycling fans and our son clocked up many miles exploring the quieter villages nearby. Having a choice of good restaurants within walking distance added to the delights of the village. The owner recommendations of where to go and what to see are well thought through and invaluable. The owners were great at communicating beforehand, during our stay and since we have arrived home. Can’t recommend this home enough, hope to be back here.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2018

10/10 Excellent

cherry H.

Superb property in beautiful friendly village
Want to relax? Stay here! Had a fabulous family holiday at this well appointed village home with the perfect sized pool to cool off in the heat of the day. Lots of places to explore both in the friendly village and in the local area. House was clean and stylish with modern bathrooms and very well appointed kitchen completed with wine fridge suitable for foodies. Beds were comfortable and house stayed cool (despite the 42c heat) with tiled floors and a light breeze coming through the shutters. House has all the attributes of a family home rather than a stark holiday let, so there is a small library of books, games, DVDs, floats for the pool and beach chairs and mats for visits to Gruissan plage. The village had a great selection of restaurants, a village mini supermarket, bakers and swimming lake. Our teenagers aged 14, 18 and 19 enjoyed; trips to Carcasonne, days at the beach doing all the watersports, Narbonne market and cocktails at Le Grange. The village Olive Oil Festival was 12 hrs of fun and a real highlight and so were the summer festivals at Salleles -d'Aude and St Chinian complete with wine tasting! Came home feeling refreshed and both before and after the owners were helpful and attentive. Highly recommend this spacious property to any family looking to relax and have fun!
Stayed 11 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

Matt H.

Amazing house in Bize - we'll be back!
Everything about this house is superb. The location - 1 minute from river with rope swing and fresh water swimming. Quaint village with bar, restaurants, shops etc...but what really makes it is the house. It is equipped with everything you would want, the pool is perfect, the rooms spacious and beautifully decorated. Libby leaves you details of where to visit, what to do etc...We loved it so much we want to go back!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2018

10/10 Excellent

Michael W.

Oasis in Occitanie
Our family spent a great week staying at this property. It is in a lovely little town within reasonable distance of all sorts of historical, outdoor and culinary activities. We found ourselves short on time to experience all of the different things the area had to offer! The location is ideal for visiting local olive and wine growers, visiting sites like Cathar castles and the medieval city of Carcassone, and relaxing at the beach or around the pool. The house is great for a large group. The bedrooms and living spaces were very comfortable and accommodating for a family on holiday. All of the bathrooms are recently renovated. The kitchen was spacious, well equipped and opens up to a beautiful outdoor living space around the pool. The owners have done a great job decorating the house with tastefully selected antiques and comfortable textiles. The owner’s guestbook/guide was our go-to resource when planning meals or outings. We were grateful for the restaurant and beach advice, the recommendations were spot on. We would recommend this house for any group traveling to Languedoc!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2018
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Charlotte S.

Glorious few days in a fabulous location
We spent a few days in this amazing house - wonderfully situated in beautiful village with friendly bars and restaurants. There was a midsummer festival during our stay - such a dramatic spectacle. Local supermarkets had great variety of fresh produce and wine from the local cave was delightful! Worth visiting Narbonne and the lovely al markets in Olonzac - we will be back - thank you for a wonderful stay!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Spacious and beautiful
I had a wonderful summer holiday in Bize-Minervois. Attending a couple village festivals was fun and a great opportunity to immerse ourselves in french culture. Going boating in the sleepy town of le Somail, a short drive away, on the famous Canal du Midi was another highlight of our fortnight stay. Also we had an excellent meal at La Grange, a 15 minute walk from the house. The property is spacious and light and fully equip, plus the modern art on the walls is great and I recognised a few pieces to be a local artist's work that is exhibited at l'Oulibo the local olive grove and gift shop. Reading in the courtyard in the afternoon sun by the pool is bliss. I couldn't recommend this holiday home more.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Jules H.

Stunning town house
This is a lovely equipped town house with its very own pool. The attention to detail in the property is lovely and the owners have kindly allowed use of sport equipment sun loungers bbq etc if you wanted to use them. It is nestled within the village and swimming in the near by river a real treat. There is enough of a village life that something was going on most days. We used it as a base and visited many of the places the owners recommended and all were as described. Libby the owner wonderfully couldn't help enough from the booking to helping us out just before the visit whilst we were in France. The little extra touch of the hamper was a nice addition to to arrive to. I have no problem in recommending this property.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Mary L.

Delightful house in a wonderful location
This is a beautiful, well equipped house with thoughtful attention to detail. It has everything a family needs for a great vacation - from the practical (pool towels and beach chairs) to the little extras (scented candles by the bed!). The owner plays an active part in ensuring the visitors have a great stay by providing detailed and up-to-date information on what to do in the area. Our holiday was greatly enhanced by this and we enjoyed many and varied activities as a result (horse riding, canoeing, swimming...). We would happily recommend this house to our friends.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Our favourite holiday!
This was our second stay in this stunning villa. We were here in 2014 and when we came to booking our France holiday this year we had no doubt where we were going to go. Tom Foolerie is fantastically well located in the beautiful village of Bize. Literally few minutes walk to a river, restaurants and a convenience mini supermarket. Plus the fabulous bolangerie just 3 minutes walk which was great we sent the children in the morning to get our baguette and croissants! There was a band in the Cafe de la Promenade on two nights we were there and what a fabulous atmosphere that was. Moreover there is so much to see and do further a field The best part of this holiday was actually the owners organizational skills and the welcome pack which contained absolutely everything we needed to know about both the practical bits of the villa and everything else around. It was so helpful to be able to go by recommendations mentioned in the pack in terms of booking things like restaurants, wine tasting (very nearby), villages that are worth visiting and activities like canoeing. We actually took the welcome pack booklet out with us in case we needed to refer to it. Not to forget that Tom Foolerie is fully equipped as if your own home and so very tastefully decorated with an amazing pool and pool lights (+BBQ) that we hardly felt like going out but had to push ourselves! Having said that we had a full programme during the week between canoeing at Roqebrun, sight seeing in Carcassone, olive tasting at Oulibo, two days at the beech & water sports and of course wine tasting (and drinking / buying!) We drove all the way down but equally Carcassone and Bezier airports are under an hour away Thank you once again to the Spratleys and well done on putting together such an amazing thing.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Cathy J.

A lovely place in a lovely village
Great well equipped family house, very approachable owners. A quiet but really friendly village. We ate good quality and very reasonably priced french food locally. Beautiful surrounding area with plenty to do. The garden is small but petty however the sun does disappear quite early, so if you want an early evening beer in the sun you have to wander off to the river.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Christine I.

Superb holiday home in a fabulous part of france
We were delighted to find the house, spacious, comfortable and so tastefully restored with all the mod cons needed for a home and holiday. The description on the website was accurate and the property was cleaned and maintained to a high standard. We were pleasantly surprised at the abundance and variety of places to visit within the local area. Our favourite trips were to the Olive factory, Minerve, Le Somail and then a little further afield, Narbonne, Gruissan and Carcassone. We would love to have another holiday at this beautiful property in Bize and would highly recommend it to family and friends
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Murphy

Home away from Home
Three generations of our family spent 9 wonderfully days in this beautiful traditional French home. The house was perfect for all generations ranging from 14-75. We had set out to have a very relaxing holiday and this hit the spot perfectly. There was plenty of room for everybody with lovely rooms and bathrooms on each floor. The kitchen was very spacious and well equipped which was great as it allowed the whole family to enjoy evenings together and barbecue when we wanted. The pool was a great addition to the house and was enjoyed by all. We were also within walking distance of everything in the village. Fresh bread every morning from the local baker to start our day. While there we visited the local Cabezac Winery for the wine tasting and had a tour of the Olive factory. Lovely local cuisine in Jean Marc's across the river and if you want some night time entertainment head to Le Grange for the party night. The owners of this home were a pleasure to deal with and sent a lovely welcome pack prior to our departure to their home and great directions to get us there from Carcassonne Airport. We would recommend a car for this region as many things are outside of the village. We can highly recommend this property for anyone looking for a nice relaxing break in very comfortable surroundings.

About the host

Hosted by Libby Spratley

Host profile image
We are a professional couple who work in marketing, who both love this region of France as it is unspoilt and easily accessible from the UK. We bought Tom Foolerie as a wreck and have completely renovated the property, adding a private heated swimming pool and peaceful courtyard garden.

Why they chose this property

We used to holiday in the area before we got married, as my parents had an apartment in Gruissan, so when we decided to buy our own property it was natural to look close by. We fell in love with Bize because of the swimming in the river - and its proximity to the Mediterranean coast and the mountains for skiing. We have made lots of friends in the village, so that it really is our second home.

What makes this property unique

It's perfect having the river so close and all the amenities that Bize and the surrounding area has to offer. And having the pool is great. It's a really spacious house too, with plenty of room to relax after a day sightseeing or going to the beach. If we have nothing planned, there's nothing better than lounging around in the morning by the pool, going out for lunch or having a bbq at home, then meeting up with friends by the river later on in the day.. or playing tennis on the free courts nearby.

Languages:

English, French
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