This sensitively restored holiday home dates back to the medieval period, but still provides a luxurious degree of modern comfort – full central heating, for example, as well as a broadband internet connection.

High ceilings with exposed wooden beams give a feeling of airiness and luminosity. The large roof terrace affords views down narrow winding streets and over rooftops to the church and Orgues in one direction, and to the Canigou, sacred mountain of the Catalans, in the other.

Four large and highly individual bedrooms each have en suite bath or shower-room facilities. One doubles as a self-contained studio and may particularly suit early risers: there is a kitchenette for an early brew of coffee, and a side door to slip out and buy the morning’s croissants from one of the five boulangeries nearby.

Light floods into the lofty kitchen / dining room and reflects off a 4m high ceiling a la française. The kitchen, equipped with granite worktops and all mod cons, is the perfect place to cook up fresh produce from the nearby shops and colourful local market. The market is held three times a week and is two minutes walk away. The winding wooden staircase leads to a spacious sitting room and large roof terrace. Here you can sit and sip your ice-cold local Muscat while your fresh sardines sizzle on the barbecue...