Languedoc Hideaways

Rooms

Two of the cottages flank Tilly and Will's home, the whole forms a stone terrace bookended by large barns. The largest, Le Jasmin, where we stayed, has 3 bedrooms – a high-ceilinged double on the first floor and a small double room beside plus a twin attic room for kids above. Below is the kitchen-diner-living space and bathroom with excellent walk-in shower and clawfoot bath.

L'Etoile is also on 3 floors but narrower so there's one room per level. In descending order: the master bedroom with shower bathroom, a twin room ideal for kids with a Juliet balcony for those awesome vineyard views, and the funky kitchen-diner leading onto a patio.

Smallest, for couples, in the garden and mini-orchard near the pool, is stand-alone Le Figuier with galley kitchen and shower bathroom (with underfloor heating) beside an airy bedroom.

Since our visit, Le Marin has been added. The owners promise that this ground-floor apartment is a spacious home-from-home, with one bedroom (kingsized bed), a small kitchen, shower bathroom and a private terrace.

All have whitewashed walls, natural materials like rattan or flagstones on the floors, kingsize beds, a private terrace or patch of garden with table and chairs (and your own barbecue) and full kitchens.

Features include:

• Fan
• Hairdryer
• WiFi

Eating

The 4 kitchens have all you need for self-catering. Each has a coffee machine as well as an oven, stove and fridge-freezer, in which you'll find your bottle of Blanquette de Limoux (the inspiration for Champagne) for booking through i-escape. Tea, coffee and milk are supplied on arrival. The 2 larger cottages have dishwashers and dining tables, Le Figuier's bistro table and chairs are on its private terrace overlooking the orchard and vines.

Your convivial hosts arrange weekly wood fired pizza evenings in the Barn Bar, and can offer local cassoulet served with salad from the garden any night of the week (on request). Tilly also provides simple suppers brought to your cottage on arrival night, or any night of the week if you're booking the whole house for exclusive use.

Alternatively, head out for dinner to Limoux, Mirepoix, or Belveze-du-Raze - we enjoyed a meal at winery Domaine Gayda - or plunder the local food shops and markets (Mirepoix Mondays and Thursdays, Limoux Fridays - about 10-15 minutes drive away).

Features include:

• Bar
• Barbecue
• Coffee maker
• Communal dining
• Dinner by arrangement
• Fridge
• Full kitchen
• Hob or stove
• Kids' meals
• Oven

Activities

• This is Cathar Country: hike along the Cathar Trail or climb up to soak up the views from these magnificent castles (we visited Montsegur and Puilaurens) and discover a fascinating period of history
  
• With a vineyard in the valley below, and wineries all around, sampling local fruits of the vine is a popular pastime
  
• Check out the local markets and brocante shops
  
• Grotte de Niaux has 14,000 year old cave paintings
  
• For active types canyoning, canoeing, white-water rafting, wild swimming and paragliding are all possible nearby; Tilly and Will can make bookings for you
  
• It's easy to explore the area and cycle and walk from the property; Tilly and Will can advise

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Canyoning
• Cycling
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Horse riding
• Kayaking
• Paragliding
• Rafting
• Shopping / markets
• Swimming
• Table tennis
• Tennis
• Wine tasting

Kids

We enjoyed bringing our family to these boutique gites which are very well set up for children (Tilly and Will have two sons so know about providing for families). There's even a lovely big rocking horse to ride at the entrance. Our children romped around the grounds, eagerly bouncing on the trampoline, playing football, swinging in hammocks, feeding the chickens, and playing with the toys and games in situ. The pool is gated and the cottages are well-equipped for easy self-catering. And there are lots of child-friendly activities in the area. Fun for all the family!

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Toddlers (1-4 years), Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

Le Jasmin, where we stayed, and L'Etoile are perfect for families: both are over three storeys, with useful kitchens and comfy living rooms. Le Jasmin sleeps up to 6 in three bedrooms and has a tub in the bathroom, while L'Etoile has a master bedroom and shower bathroom on the top floor and a twin room below. Both have their own small terrace/patio area outside their kitchen doors for valley views, Le Jasmin also has a hammock at the front. Le Marin has room for an extra bed or baby cot, and can work as an annexe to Jasmin or Etoile, or for a family of 3

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: 35 minutes (Carcassonne); 1hr 15 minutes (Toulouse)
• Hospital: 15 minutes (Limoux); 35 minutes (Carcassonne)
• Shops: 10-15 minutes (Belveze-du-Razes, Limoux and Mirepoix)

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Languedoc Hideaways is to the south-west of Carcassonne in the south of France, in an area known as the Razes, between Limoux and Mirepoix.

By Air:
Fly to Carcassonne (30-35 minutes) or Toulouse (1hr15m). Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving these airports.

From the Airport
You can take a taxi for around EUR40-50, or request a transfer to be booked.

By Car:
Most will hire a car, see our car rental recommendations.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

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