Local Area

The house is on the medieval “Route de Pays de Cathare”  with many chateau’s and ruins along it of which Chateau de Puilaurens  can be seen from the garden and is reached on foot (if you are fit as it is a good climb) or by car (5mins). There is a scenic railway that runs through the village and can be caught (actually runs at the bottom of the garden) which has open observation cars and stops with commentary (only in French I think). The train only runs a few times a day all the way from Rivesaltes on the coast to St Martin Lys a small mountain village near the gorge but is well worth the trip for the scenery alone.

Further afield there is the impressive city of Carcassone (45 mins by car) www.carcassonneinfo.com a vibrant town centre for shopping and dining or a stroll along the Canal Du Midi but not to be missed is the ancient walled city which is supposedly the most complete in the whole of Europe and not only has the Castle standing on a hill by te river but plenty of quaint little shops, restaurants and a museum inside. Well worth a day trip.

In the opposite direction you can head for Perpignan (50 mins drive) which is a busy town and the many mediteranean seaside resorts nearby like the modern Canet Plage.

Fancy the mountains ? There is so much to do, skiing in the winter or walking and climbing in the summerat Les Angles (40 mins drive). Or in 90 mins you can be in the principalty of Andorra for skiing or tax free shopping.

Fancy a trip to Barcelona in Spain or the beautiful national Park of the Carmargue to see the flamhngo and bulls which are only a few hours drive from the house.

There is so much to see and do in the region you’ll need more than one holiday to take it all in.