​

FULL GUIDE OF LOCAL AREA - Places of Interest -  available in the Villa, including maps and brochures.

​​

Couiza – has all the local amenities required – two supermarkets, two boulangeries, pharmacy, post office, bar & restaurants.

Esperaza – (5km) Great Sunday morning market, plus Dinosaur museum and ‘Musée de la Chapellerie’ museum of Hat making.

Rennes le Chateau –(5 km) Panoramic views. The village is world famous for its astonishing story of Bérenger Saunière, in 2003 the American author Dan Brown is inspired by the legend in his bestseller "The Da Vinci Code".

Limoux – (16km) local town – good café culture –  Wine historians believe that the world's first sparkling wine ‘Blanquette de Limoux/Sieur d’Arques was produced in this region in 1531, by Benedictine monks at the abbey in Saint-Hilaire, just outside Limoux.

The Carnival of Limoux (Carnaval de Limoux) an annual festival that takes place for three months on the weekends between January and Mardi Gras and is conducted in Occitan, the area's traditional language

Carcassonne – (43km) Carcassonne is renowned across the globe thanks to its two UNESCO World Heritage sites, the Medieval City and the Canal du Midi. The historic fortified city, with its 52 towers and 3km of ramparts is also host to a wide range of cafes, bars and restaurants. In addition to summer festivals and concerts, medieval jousting competitions, and ‘sound and light’ firework shows.

Mirepoix ((50 km) A super Monday morning market and gem of a town in the next department of Ariege.(Between Foix, Toulouse and Carcassonne)

The Cathar Trail -  In spectacular natural settings, discover the castles, abbeys, medieval cities and museums of the Cathar Country. Les sites Pays Cathare

Wines and terroir of Aude, southwest France – For centuries the Languedoc Roussillon region has been famed for its ideal vine growing conditions, and today it is one of the most important wine making areas of France. Well over a third of its land devoted to vine growing, and where the wine industry provides a large portion of the department’s economy, there are a myriad of different types of wine to discover.                      

The Appellation d’Origine Controlées (AOC) is the highest classification for French wines. The Aude is home to eight AOC areas: La Clape, Quatourze, Corbières, Fitou, Minervois, Limoux, Côtes de Malepère and Cabardès.

Walking / Hiking – For the serious hikers – ‘The Cathar Trail – GR367 Or, for the slightly less enthusiastic hikers – just drive to the breath-taking castles of Cathar Country:-Aguilar, Quéribus, Peyrepertuse, Puivert (and the Quercorb museum), Puilaurens, Montségur, Roquefixade and Foix.

Our local Château d'Arques (9km)  a ruined 14th-century castle.

Cycling – a great central location for all types of cycling – road bikes – a regular part of ‘Tour de France’ route. Aude has hosted the Tour de France no less than 25 times, including 2022.

VTT – Mountain biking – lots of trails all around our property and region. Local bike hire shop in Couiza (near Intermarche).

Vélorail du Train Rouge – Light Railway journey propelled by passenger pedal power! Choice of two circuits, dependant on your fitness of 2-4km, option of electric assistance if required – from Axat to Lapradelle – discover the woodland, gorges, bridges and tunnels of the original railway line.

Horse Riding – local riding school in nearby Arques (Le Cheval N’arquois)

Golf – Carcassonne