🕒 Check-In & Check-Out

✅ Check-In

• Standard check-in time: From 15:00 (3:00 PM)
• We can occasionally offer early check-in — please contact us in advance to check availability.

🧳 Check-Out

• Check-out time: By 11:00 AM
• Before you leave, we kindly ask that you complete the following:

🔄 Check-Out Checklist

✔️ Beds:
Strip used beds and place the linen inside a pillowcase

✔️ Towels:
Place all used towels in the first-floor bathroom

✔️ Dishes:
Ensure all dishes are loaded into the dishwasher

✔️ BBQ:
Clean the BBQ after use and return tools to the utility room

✔️ Bins:
Empty kitchen and bathroom bins and take the rubbish to the green communal bin on Avenue de la Gare

➤ Turn right as you exit the main gates (toward the village)

✔️ Secure the Property:

• Close all windows
• Lock the shed
• Lock the house
• Return the keys to the key safe

👋 Farewell

Thank you for staying with us — we hope you had a wonderful time!
Travel safely, and we look forward to welcoming you again soon.

🏡 Arriving at La Maison Carrée

Property Address:
La Maison Carrée
2 Avenue du 19 Mars 1962
11230 Chalabre, France

📍 GPS Coordinates:

• 42°59’06.5″N 2°00’22.3″E
• Or: 42.985143, 2.006196

Location Tip:
The house is on the D16, heading out of Chalabre towards Mirepoix.
It’s on the same side as Rue du Communal, which borders the garden.

🚗 Driving Directions

From the UK
If you're driving from the UK, we recommend taking the Eurotunnel to Calais, then avoiding the Paris ring road by following this alternative route:

Recommended Route:

Calais → Rouen → Évreux → Dreux → Chartres → Orléans → Limoges → Toulouse → Pamiers → Mirepoix → Chalabre

This route is generally more scenic and less congested than the standard A26/A1 via Paris.

📍 Route on Michelin Maps:
Click here for the suggested route

✈️ Flying

The nearest airports are:

• Carcassonne Airport – approx. 50 km
• Toulouse-Blagnac Airport – approx. 120 km

Both airports have car hire options and offer straightforward drives to Chalabre.

💬 A Few House Guidelines

We don’t like to call them rules, but here are just a few things we kindly ask you to keep in mind during your stay:

• 🤫 Noise:
  Please be considerate of our neighbours. Avoid excessive noise after 22:00 (10 PM) and before 08:00.
• 🚭 No Smoking Indoors:
  Smoking is not allowed inside the house.
  If smoking outdoors, please dispose of cigarette ends responsibly.
• 🍷 Pool Area:
  • No glass or bottles near the pool — plastic alternatives are provided for your safety.
• 🐾 Pets:
  • Sorry, no pets are allowed at the property.
• 🎆 Fireworks:
  • Fireworks are not permitted, for safety and out of respect for the area.
• 🕯️ Candles:
  • Please do not use candles inside the house.
• 🧴 Towels:
  • Indoor towels are for use inside only. Please use pool towels for outdoor use.

😄 Most importantly...

Have fun and enjoy yourselves!
We’re so glad to have you here and want you to relax and make the most of your stay.

Let me know if you’d like this styled as part of a welcome booklet or displayed as a sign in the house.

🚗 Parking Instructions

Primary Parking:
Please park in front of the black gates outside the house.

Additional Parking:

• Alongside the house — follow the side road next to the property.
• In the parking area near the school, towards the church.

🗑️ Rubbish & Recycling

General Waste
Please use the designated communal waste bins in the village for general rubbish. Do not place rubbish directly in the bin inside the house — bin liners are provided under the kitchen sink.

Recycling
Recycling bins are available for:

• Glass bottles and jars
• Plastic bottles
• Cardboard and paper
• Tins and cans

Please separate recyclables from general waste and place them in the appropriate bins.

♻️ Nearest Bin Location

To find the nearest waste and recycling area:

1. Exit through the back gate.
2. Turn left, then take the first right along the path past the school playground.
3. At the end of the path, you'll see:
   • Communal general waste bins
   • A recycling bin
   • A bottle bank for glass

We kindly ask that you take all rubbish and recycling with you when you leave.
Thank you for helping keep the village clean and environmentally friendly!

🏊‍♂️ Pool Information & Safety Guidelines

Glass and Crockery 🚫

For your safety and the safety of others, please do not use glass or ceramic items in the pool area.
Plastic glasses and plates are provided — please use these around the pool.

Pool Cover 🔒

The pool is fitted with a safety cover that should be closed whenever the pool is not in use.

To open the cover:

1. Remove the gable end panel first.
2. Make sure all the fixings for the first three sliding panels have been removed.
3. You can then slide the panels under the two fixed panels.

⚠️ Important:
Only two of the movable panels will fit under the fixed end panels. Stop sliding once the panels meet the gable end to avoid damage.

Pool Gate Lock 🔐

The pool gate uses a childproof MagnaLatch lock.

To open the gate:

• Pull up on the knob located at the top of the lock.
• Then, use the gate handle to open.

👉 Please ensure the gate is closed at all times to maintain safety, especially for children.

📺 TV Instructions

Turning On the TV:
Use the Samsung TV remote to select the HDMI 1 input.

🔀 HDMI Switch (Located in the cupboard to the right of the TV)

You can choose between two devices using the HDMI switch:

1️⃣ Port 1: French TV (SFR Internet TV Box)

• Select Port 1 to watch French TV via the SFR TV Box.
• Use the SFR remote to turn on the box and select channels.
• Important: Please do NOT subscribe to any Pay Per View or premium channels.

2️⃣ Port 2: Amazon Fire Stick

• Select Port 2 to use the Amazon Fire Stick.
• This lets you watch Netflix, Amazon Prime, and other streaming services.
• The Fire Stick also has IPTV — open the Smarters IPTV app to access live TV channels, movies, and series.

Note: The IPTV service may sometimes freeze. If this happens, try restarting the app or rebooting the Fire Stick.

🍳 Kitchen Instructions

❄️ Fridge Freezer

• A large fridge freezer is located in the kitchen.
• It will be switched on and ready to use before your arrival.

🔥 Hob (Gas Stove)

• The hob is gas-powered.
• The gas switch is located on the right-hand side of the unit under the hob.
• To turn the gas on, rotate the knob so the red line is horizontal.
• The gas should already be switched on before you arrive.

🛍️ Shop Opening Times

In France, the typical shopping week runs Monday to Saturday.

Traditional Hours in Towns and Villages:

• Shops usually open from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM (midday)
• Then close for lunch
• Reopen from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM

In Larger Towns and Urban Areas:

• Many bigger shops, like department stores, follow “la journée continue”, meaning they stay open all day without closing for lunch.
• Out-of-town supermarkets and large suburban shopping centres also tend to remain open during lunchtime hours.

🚨 Emergencies & Medical Contacts

🚑 Medical Emergencies (SAMU)

• Pan-European Emergency Number:
  112 (voice) or 114 (SMS/text for hearing impaired)
  • Free to call from any mobile
  • English-speaking operators available
  • Use only in real emergencies to avoid delaying critical medical response

👮‍♂️ Gendarmerie (Police)

• Address: 35 Route de Limoux, 11230 Chalabre
• Opening Hours:
  Monday, Wednesday, Saturday: 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
• Phone: 04 68 69 20 17
• Emergency (Police Only): Dial 17

🦷 Dentist

Dr. Jacques Martinez

• 26 Cours Colbert, 11230 Chalabre
• Tel: 04 68 69 25 29

👩‍⚕️ Doctors in Chalabre

Dr. Marie Hélène Richon

• 34 Cours Colbert
• Tel: 04 68 69 20 22

Dr. Yves Berenguer

• 10 Cours Dr. Joseph Raynaud
• Tel: +33 (0)4 68 69 25 71

Dr. Catherine Cornic

• 6 rue du Presbytère
• Tel: 04 68 20 01 04

🚿 Bathrooms & Hot Water

🔥 Hot Water Supply

• Hot water is provided by a gas boiler located in the basement.
• The boiler will be on and working when you arrive, and is set on a timer to maintain a sufficient supply throughout the day.
• Caution: Water can get very hot — please take care when using taps and showers.
• In some areas (especially the top floor bathroom), it may take 30–60 seconds for hot water to reach the outlet. Please let the water run briefly before use.

🛁 Middle Bathroom – Shower Tip

When using the middle bathroom:

• Please ensure the shower head is inside the bath before turning on the taps.
• This allows you to check that the diverter is set correctly and helps avoid accidental sprays.

🧴 Towels

• Each guest is provided with:
  • 1 bath towel
  • 1 hand towel
• Pool towels are provided.