Ceret	Location and immediate area   The house is situated in the foothills of the Pyrenees, 45 minutes from Perpignan airport and 1 hour from Girona airport in Spain. It is a major fruit and wine-growing region, distinguished for its cherries which ripen earlier here than anywhere else in France. The 40 acre, gated property is exceptionally private; no other houses can be seen, the nearest neighbour being at least 3-4 km away.  Yet, in spite of the peaceful location, it is a drive of just over 10 minutes down the mountain to the nearest bakery in Pont de Reynes, and just over 15 minutes' drive to the charming village of Ceret. It is here that numerous artists - including Picasso, Braque, Chagall - once lived and donated their works, which are now exhibited in the famous Museum of Modern Arts. The cobbled streets are lined with magnificent plane trees and parts of the old ramparts remain around the medieval centre with its atmospheric narrow alleys, attractive fountains and beautiful old squares.    Most of the villages in the vicinity have a market day but Ceret has a renowned Saturday morning market where you can buy almost anything:not only fruit , vegetables, meat and fish but also clothing, leather goods, plants, kitchen equipment, linens, beds, books, CDs, soaps, herbs, spices, toys, jewellery, paella or even, a live chicken.
Cherries in Ceret market	Autumn in the Canigou
Colourful Collioure	Beach and mountains   Mediterranean beaches to the east are a 30 minute drive away. Several stunningly beautiful fishing villages dot this scenic coast - the Cote Vermeille. Collioure, which dates from Phoenician times, and was later the home of many famous artists (Matisse, Dufy, Derain), is especially fascinating with its Chateau des Templiers, numerous art galleries, colourfully painted houses and restaurants, palm-lined beaches and maze of narrow streets.  Inland, medieval churches, monasteries and abbeys, several featuring impressive cloisters decorated with early stone carvings, abound in the area. St. Martin-du-Canigou is one of the most remarkable of these. Once a Benedictine Monastery, founded in 1001, it is hidden mysteriously among forbidding, jagged peaks, 3400 feet up, reached only on foot via a challenging climb.
Amazing villages   Several superb fortified towns and historic villages are within easy driving distance: Castelnou, Prats-de-Mollo, Villefranche-de-Conflent, Mont-Louis. Many small villages in the area are most remarkable for their setting. Reached by tortuous mountain roads, the views can be breathtaking. Once there, one can enjoy a stroll, relax over a locally sourced restaurant meal or picnic lunch, or visit the thermal baths, around which several towns are centred.      Over the border in Spain, via a spectacular mountain drive, is the pretty fishing village of Cadaques. Close to this village in the next bay, is Salvador Dali's extraordinary house. The house, in a rugged beach setting, is well worth visiting for the guided tour. Inside, each room holds a number of curiosities, while outdoors, there is a garden with a Michelin man theme and a large swimming pool surrounded, bizarrely, by enormous serpents.  Closer to the border, also in Spain, there is bargain shopping as well as the famous Salvador Dali museum situated in the town of Figueras.	Salvador Dali's house
Cadaques beach	Activities   Activities that are possible either on the property or in the immediate area include: swimming, sun-bathing, hiking, mushroom hunting, reading, lavender picking, or bird-watching. Wind-surfing is possible in the lagoons near the coast (a wind-surfer is stored on the property for guests' use). Other possible activities nearby include horse riding, golfing, browsing at village markets, rock climbing, mountain climbing, camping on Mt Canigou, white water rafting, and skiing. A 1.5 hour drive from the house, skiing is possible in Spain, where prices are very reasonable for families. French ski resorts are from 2 to 2.5 hours' drive away. Activities children can enjoy include: a day at the beach, a tour of an ancient castle or fort, a visit to the safari park in the region, a boat tour along the coast, boating activities on nearby lakes and rivers, a spectacular ride up into the high Pyrenees on the famous Petit Train Jaune, or skiing and other winter sports.    On the property, activities that will appeal to children include swimming (but please note, stairs into the pool are not suitable for very young children), fishing for various creatures in the river and spring-fed pond, climbing the castle-like hunting tower, picking cherries, playing badminton, boules or board games.
Food, wine and climate   Food and wine are one of the major attractions of the region. Fresh, organically grown produce is abundantly available in nearby supermarkets and weekly village markets. Oysters and anchovies, specialties of the region, along with shellfish and other fish are a constant feature in local supermarkets. There are many excellent restaurants within easy driving distance ranging from fine dining Michelin starred restaurants to local farmhouse establishments where delicious meals made with locally produced ingredients are served. Both French and Catalan cuisine is on offer, as well as relaxing tapas bars. The climate is Mediterranean. Spring is the ideal season for hiking, touring the region and cherry harvesting. Summer is dry and hot. Perpignan boasts the highest average summer temperature in France (22.3C). In autumn, warm southwest winds blowing over the whole region bring alternating periods of dry and wet weather. Late winter and early spring offer plenty of snow at nearby French and Spanish ski resorts. We were told by the locals that it does not snow during the winter around Mas Bordes. However, both the winters of 2005 and 2006 brought unprecedented snowfalls.	Villefranche-de-Conflent