For 10 years, my youngest daughter and grandson had been trying to get my husband and I to come to France with them and stay in the medieval town of Agde, specifically at Maison d'Estella, the house with the arched door to the courtyard. From online photos and descriptions, I had a reasonably good idea of what to expect. However, nothing prepared me for the feeling of stepping into the past, when we actually crossed the threshhold of that old wooden doorway. From the private stone courtyard, which literally shuts out the world, up four flights to the secluded roof terrace, the house was utterly charming and unique for us modern city dwellers. Four bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, full kitchen, sitting lounge, onsite laundry plus an exterior and interior courtyard were more than enough space for the four of us to hang out. The promenade is a half block away which hosts shops, restaurants, cafe/bars and a library, plus a couple of weekly open-air markets. The Canal-du Midi river walk is a short 2-3 minutes away and even the train station is only about a 5 min walk from the house. It`s a short drive (4 km) to the beautiful sandy beach if you rent a car or by bus if you don`t. The airport at Beziers is about 10 km away. The house itself was very clean, furniture is a bit dated but serviceable and the owners are very gracious and friendly. We were there in the latter half of June and the weather was grand, although very hot. When we weren`t walking or touring, the courtyard was where the mornings and evenings were spent and in the afternoons, we languished behind 18 inch walls that kept the main floor cool. Our only negative comment is the lack of internet onsite. It was a bit inconvenient, as our plans and link to home were all done online, however the library supplied wifi and we made almost a daily run to the McDonald`s for our coffee and utilized their free wifi to keep in touch and updated. Being both over 65 and overweight, the four flights of stairs were a bit daunting, especially since the laundry was on the ground floor and the clothesline was outside of the 3rd floor, but after a few days, I was toning up and actually lost weight for the first time on holiday. I would heartily recommend Maison D`Estella to all with an adventurous and romantic spirit. Karen Bartley.

We stayed at Maison d'Estella in summer 2011 and had a fantastic time. It is a truly unique property, full of wonder and charm. A beautiful and well-equipped house and we definitely intend to come back at some point in the near future. We received excellent service from the owners, and Agde is a very atmospheric city. Overall I cannot fault a thing.

Our family of 6 (children aged 12, 10, 8 and just-turned-3) spent 2 very happy weeks here. The house exudes history and charm; walking through the heavy old wooden door into the courtyard for the first time truly felt like stepping back in time. The house was clean, spacious, well maintained and easily accommodated our family, and managed to combine being decorated in keeping with the history of the house without feeling intimidating. The staircases are steep (especially the one which leads up to the roof terrace), which slightly concerned me when I first saw them, but our 3 year old navigated them without problem (seeing them as a positive adventure). I liked the touch of having lots of books on the shelves; novels (including one set in the house!), and also books on the history of Agde (and often with pictures of the house, showing its place in the local history). Parking is challenging, but we always managed to find a spot. The closest places are time limited (and chargeable - but not very expensive), but if you park up in the evening and are off not too late in the morning it's not a problem. We drove down to the local beach most days (Cap d'Agde), which is very fine. We had taken a sea kayak down, and there was plenty of water sports to be done, and good snorkelling. It felt a relaxed place - not as self-consciously fashionable as some places on the Med can be. Other highlights were walking along the Canal du Midi (surprisingly pleasant and cool) and just meandering around the old town. Being in the centre of the town, there are lots of restaurants, bars, supermarkets and many bakers in walking distance, so even our fussy, vegetarian children were well catered for (pizzas / crepes!). For internet junkies the local library (2 minute walk away) has fast, free wireless internet. In the square just around the corner there's a market twice a week which was enjoyable to wander around. The owners Alan and Nira are charming and helpful (Alan cycling over to give us a spare key when one of ours was lost on a beach).

This is an exceptional property. The moment you step through the door into the inner courtyard you are transported back in time through the layers of a house originally built for the Count of Agde.The courtyard which catches the sun for most of the day is a perfect place to sit and read, also to have lunch or dine al fresco. There are many original features and the house is sympathetically furnished and will meet all your needs. It is ideally located for the shops so should you forget that all important bottle of wine you can be in the corner shop in two minutes, likewise the Cafe Plaza where you can sit and watch the world go by or join the bustle of market day. The property was immaculately clean and the owners are nearby and very responsive to any requests. They will go out of their way to make sure you enjoy your stay. Agde is a wonderful medieval town on the banks of the beautiful green Herault river and there are many interesting things to see in the town itself and walks along the river out into the countryside or along the canal du midi. The sea is 15 mins by bike away - great cycle path - there are some lovely nearby towns especially Pezenas. Thoroughly recommended. I keep coming back!