A Spacious 18th‑Century Townhouse with Roof Terrace & Mountain Views—Sleeps 10

Welcome to your holiday home in the heart of Prades: a generous, light‑filled five‑bedroom, five‑bathroom townhouse set over four elegant levels, just steps from the cafés, market square and boulangeries of this vibrant Catalan town.

This is not a standard holiday rental. It is a 250‑year‑old bel étage maison de maître, restored with care and furnished with character, offering the rare combination of historic charm, modern comfort, and exceptional space — all within a quiet, walkable location.

Why Guests Love This House:
* Five beautifully arranged bedrooms, each with its own bathroom or WC
* A spectacular roof terrace with panoramic views of Mount Canigou
* Air‑conditioning in the four upper bedrooms for cool summer nights
* A newly fitted, fully equipped kitchen designed for real cooking
* Two outdoor spaces — the sunny terrace and a shaded courtyard
* Large, flexible living areas perfect for families and groups
* A peaceful street just two minutes from the main square

Whether you’re gathering for a family celebration, travelling with friends, or bringing multiple generations together, the house offers the space, privacy and comfort that make holidays effortless.

Space to Enjoy, Space to Breathe:
The bel étage sitting room, with its tall windows and original features, is a calm place to unwind. The dining room seats everyone comfortably, and the dayroom opens onto the courtyard — ideal for morning coffee or a quiet read.

Upstairs, the bedrooms are arranged across two floors, each with their own bathroom, giving every guest a sense of privacy. The top floor opens onto the roof terrace, where you can dine under the stars, watch the swifts circle at dusk, or simply enjoy the changing colours of Canigou.

In the Heart of Prades.
Step outside and you’re moments from:
* The famous Tuesday market
* Restaurants, cafés and wine bars
* Bakeries, shops and the riverside
* The train station (including the Petit Train Jaune)

Beaches, lakes, abbeys, hot springs, mountain walks and medieval villages are all within easy reach.

Perfect for Larger Groups:
The house sleeps up to 10 guests in comfort, with enough bathrooms, seating, and outdoor space for everyone. It’s ideal for:

* Two or three families travelling together
* Multi‑generational holidays
* Walking, cycling or cultural groups
* Longer stays and remote working

A Home with Soul:
Guests often tell us the house feels warm, generous and full of character — a place with history, personality and a sense of welcome. We think you’ll feel the same.

We have owned the house for over twenty years. Over that time we have substantially upgraded the property, No two walls are at right angles, so modernising the interior was a challenge. What we haven’t done is change the character of the house. What we have done is provide modern facilities, make it really comfortable and give you a great base for your holiday.

We have had some big parties of friends and family here - the house takes 10 comfortably (12 at a stretch) but we have also been really comfy as a couple too. The bedrooms provide flexible sleeping accommodation with 7 beds (plus 1 pull-out bed and a sofa-bed). There are three modern en-suite shower rooms; a new, downstairs dayroom/bedroom with WC looking onto the private courtyard, and an additional separate bathroom with WC. On the first floor there is a good size dining room and sitting room. The house has a private courtyard and a large, south-facing roof terrace.

The Area:
Prades is a pretty French market town of about 4000 people. The big and colourful market is on Tuesday mornings. The Romanesque church has the largest baroque Reredos in France. There are cafes, brasseries and restaurants as well as a good range of shops all around the town square. There are events and festivals throughout the year.
From Carcassonne to the Vermillion coast the Rousillion is packed with interest. Notable vineyards include Limoux, Rivesaltes and Banyuls.
Catalonia has been part of the Kingdom of Majorca, Aragon, France and Spain. Its history is visible in the fortified towns, coastal watchtowers and castles throughout the area. Prades is a centre of French Catalan heritage and culture. Spanish cellist Pablo Casals fled to Prades during the Spanish civil war, stayed and established the festival that now bears his name. The Catalan summer school takes over the town for two weeks in August, and there is dancing in the square every night. Local food is influenced too.

Things to do:
There is so much to do in the region that all we can do is give you a taste. There are impressive hills, lakes and rivers around Prades with a wide variety sports and activities. In winter the nearest ski resorts are just 45km away.
Canet Plage is 30 minutes drive from the house. It has long, sandy Mediterranean beaches, restaurants and lively nightlife. You can get to Canet by public transport.
There is a variety of other beaches and coastal resorts close by including Sainte-Marie-Plage, Saint-Cyprien-Plage, Port Barcares, Argeles-sur-Mer and the pretty fishing town of Colluire.
The Petit Train Jaune, the most scenic SNCF service, climbs 1200m up the Tet valley from the walled town of Villefranche via some spectacular viaducts.
There are pretty towns and villages, castles, abbeys and lots of museums in the Conflent. Prades has an excellent, English speaking tourist office to help you plan your trips. Many of our guests keep coming back because there is so much to do and see.


Eating Out:
As you would expect, good restaurants are plentiful and you will be hard pressed to eat badly. The set menus are good value and a way to sample local specialties. Try Escalivade-roast vegetable salad, Bourride-delicious fish soup, anything with anchovies, Paella, Boules de Picolat-Catalonian meatballs, and Crepes Forestiere-wild mushroom pancakes. The ice-cream liegeois are excellent and Creme Catalane is the local dessert.
The local wine, best ordered by the pichet, is excellent and cheap. The vin rose goes well with virtually everything. Other drinks popular with the locals are Banyuls and Rivesaltes as aperitifs and dessert wines, Kir, Sangria, and demi-peche lager with peach syrup.