Meet The Newest “Bijou”—”Maison Bize”

How would you like to be spending your holidays in a 200 year-old village house in the Southwest of France? Or even at least five weeks a year in its romantic, medieval riverside village, surrounded by vines and olive groves just a short distance from the Mediterranean Sea?

Meet “Maison Bize.” A 200-year-old beautifully restored village house in Bize-Minervois with four bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. Five-week-a-year shares are on sale now from €55,700 to €63,700.

Bize-Minervois is located in the north-east of the Aude department, in the Occitanie region. Situated at the mouth of the Haut-Minervois via the Cesse valley, Bize lies at the interface between the fertile sedimentary plain of Narbonne and the arid limestone plateaus of the Minervois, the foothills of the Montagne Noire. Since prehistoric times, this contact has ensured Bize was an important position in terms of defense, military and trade. Exposed to a Mediterranean climate, it is drained by the Cesse, the Ruisseau d’Aymes, the Ruisseau de Saint-Jean and various other small streams. The commune boasts of a remarkable natural heritage: two Natura 2000 sites (the “Minervois” and “les causses du Minervois”) and four natural areas of ecological, faunistic and floristic interest.

The commune has a small population of about 1,250 following a sharp rise since 1975. It is part of the Narbonne catchment area. Its inhabitants are known as Bizois or Bizoises.

The River Cesse runs through the village and provides an idyllic, freshwater swimming spot with crystal clear, mountain water and a pebbled beach area, just a two-minute walk from the house. It’s a perfect spot for a refreshing dip or for families with children as there is a lifeguard on hand in the summer months.

Bize-Minervois is well equipped with several great restaurants, a bar with a pizzeria and large outdoor terrace, an excellent takeaway burger bar offering homemade buns and burgers (summer seasonal), a “boulangerie,” a “brocante” (rummage sale), mini-supermarket, pharmacy and much more.

With easy access to several airports, trains and the motorway, the village is also in a prime location to use as a home base for travel throughout France and Europe…although you may never want to leave home!

The house is a 150 square-meter (1,600 square feet) three-story home, professionally designed, and fully furnished, with plentiful parking in the center of the village.

In the front outdoor space, you’ll have your fresh-baked croissant from the local “boulangerie” (bakery) amidst the spectacular glow of the French morning light. Other outdoor areas on the property include a small, shady terrace with a café table and chairs on the first floor, and a large, private, sunny terrace on the top floor with a built-in BBQ and dining table with seating for eight. The top floor terrace is west-facing, ideal for enjoying a French apéritif with the backdrop of one of southern France’s majestic sunsets.

A light and bright foyer leads into the house with a coat hanging area and downstairs powder room. Set to the backdrop of 13th-century ramparts is a large, modern, fully-equipped kitchen including a built-in dishwasher, dual oven and induction hobs, a large American-style fridge/freezer, kettle, coffee/tea maker, Nespresso and toaster. All kitchen and entertaining essentials are there for your pleasure.

 

The dining area comfortably seats eight. Off the dining area is a pantry and a utility room with a washing machine, dryer, microwave and additional storage.

A spacious, open-plan living room adjoins the dining area with two large windows, high ceilings with recess lighting and a Smart TV. In the winter months, a wood-burning stove will warm toes and your heart.

 

An open-plan curved staircase leads from the living room to the first floor. Here you will find three double bedrooms, a bathroom, and an outdoor terrace.

 

A curved staircase leads to a spacious second-floor salon with parquet flooring and a high, wood-beamed ceiling with a skylight and recessed lighting. Here’s where you can lounge during the day, but sleep two more at night on the comfortable, sleeper sectional sofa with chaise. A Smart TV, a Victrola record player with records and a console filled with board games will keep you busy in this wonderful space for family and friends to gather.

Highlights on this floor also include a fourth bedroom with bunk beds and built-in wardrobe, a bathroom with shower and a roof terrace with “Piazza” lights, plus a built-in BBQ and peek-a-boo river views.

Local artisans include a bakery, several restaurants, pizzeria and Burger Bar. Nearby open-air markets are easy to visit in nearby Saint Chinian on Thursdays and Sundays; in Olanzac on Tuesdays; and in Narbonne (30-minute drive) on a daily basis. In the village is a pharmacy and a supermarket a much larger supermarket is in Argeliers, a 7-minute drive away.

 

The two fastest and easiest ways to get to Maison Bize are by train from Paris to Beziers or Narbonne, then by bus or rent a car. Five hours is the shortest route, but you can always take a scenic 8-hour drive from Paris.

USAGE PER SHARE

See the usage calendar 

Each share owned by an individual Member Owner has the right to use Maison Bize for 36 days each year. Occupancy for the 10 Member Owners begins in the first week of each year and is divided into two 18-day intervals, six months apart. Each year, the rotation moves forward by 10 weeks to allow for each owner to experience the magic of every season. This also allows for five days early in the year for a deep cleaning and maintenance and repairs.

Member Owners may freely exchange intervals with other Member Owners throughout the year. And, it’s easy to plan as the calendar is set for the next 10 years.

You choose your share letter when you make your share purchase.

PRICE OF SHARES: 10 Shares are available.

• Shares 1-3, Group A: €55,700
• Shares 4-5, Group B: €59,700
• Shares 6-8, Group C: €63,700
• Shares 9-10, Group D: Sold

Annual Dues: Approximately €975 per share each year + cleaning fee €75-€125 per visit

As one of only 10 Member Owners (shareholders) of the LLC, you will own a share of a California limited liability company, which owns and manages the property. The shares are easy to purchase, transfer or resell as defined in the LLC Operating Agreement. By using a LLC based in the United States, the Member Owners are governed by U.S. tax and inheritance laws. The LLC fractional property is a member-formed company which allows the shareholders to own and manage real estate in accordance with the conditions of the Operating Agreement.
A local property caretaker who is responsible for preparing the house for each Member Owner’s arrival so the house is always ready for Member Owners to drop their bags and enjoy.

The shares will be sold on a first-come/first-served basis. A deposit of $10,000 secures each share purchased.

Maison Bizes is a “bijou” in La France Profonde where one can take in all that France has to offer while reflecting and refreshing from the stress of everyday responsibilities.

To learn more, receive the documentation and purchase your shares, view the property’s page on our site and contact us today.

A la prochaine…