On the outskirts of a medieval hill top village in the delightful Razes region of Languedoc. Outstanding views over the valley to other hill top `rondavel` villages-think Tuscany in a region with similar latitude and weather to Provence.
The snow capped Pyrenees to the south-west, and the Black mountains to the north, are visible from the village on a clear day.
weather
Hot, sometimes very hot. Carcassonne has an annual average of 2,506 hours of sunshine (second only to Nice/Cote-d`Azur in the table in the 2006 edition of David Hampshire`s `Buying a home in France)`. It also has fewer days of rainfall than any other region, except Nice etc. and the Auvergne.
shopping
Excellent local butcher, baker, chemist and general store within about 6 minutes drive, supermarkets within 15, and a number of good restaurants not far.
activities
Golf at Carcassonne, also tennis courts there and 5 other locations including one 6 minutes away. Cycling everywhere. Karting at Carcassonne. Watersports, canoeing and white water rafting at Alets-les-Bains, water skiing and pedalos near Carcassonne, windsurfing at Chalabre. Skiing. The nearest station is 45 minutes away in the Pyrenees.
sights
The incredible fortified City of Carcassonne about 25/30 minutes away, Montsegur and other Cathar mountain fortresses, Andorra and Albi are within reach, as is the Mediterranean coast. Beyond Foix, 45 minutes, is the longest underground river in Europe where one can take a boat trip through the stalagmites and stalactites for an hour and a half. Otherwise, one can relax by listening to the nightingales, walking through the vineyards and around lovely lakes. 15/20 minutes away is Mirepoix, arguably the prettiest French medieval town west of Beaune and Dijon, which has a huge open market on Mondays full of stalls selling olives and regional produce, including hams, cheeses, bread, honey and wines.
How to get there
BA fly from Heathrow and Easyjet from Gatwick to Toulouse, just over one hour`s drive. Ryanair fly from Stansted, Liverpool, East Midlands and Dublin (check flight dates) to Carcassonne airport, 20 minutes drive. Regional airports to Beziers and Narbonne. There is motorway, or equivalent fast dual carriageway (toll-free), almost the whole distance from Calais, avoiding Paris by going via Rouen.