There is a small water hole that is a short walk from the house, for swimming and picnicking. Note: It is uphill to come back. There are other swimming spots nearby that we can share with guests.

Fantastic place! Luckily it is also the restaurant in our villlage. Superb food, lovely service from Ana and her team and only 5 mins away. It is very popular in summer so we recomend booking

A well-established restaurant but still delivering excellent food and service. A short drive from us but well worth the trip. They have a lovely terrace for summer dining. Reservation recomended.

Not so much a restaurant as dinner in someone’s home. Anne Sophie offers small plates accompanied by a superb choice of local and national wines. You dine, en famille style, with other diners, a great social evening. Capacity is small. Only Fridays and weekends.

This little bar in Siran is great for drinks or a brasserie style meal on the sunny terrace. Open most days. In summer they often have a band playing. A good spot to see and be seen.

In the very interesting village of Caunes Minervois. A great friendly bar for summer, when it often has live music. A tapas menu, good beers and wine. Check website for latest.

Right on the Canal du Midi at Homps by the bridge. Simple bar food but good quality and a lovely place to watch the boats and people go by

The four castles at Lastours offer a great oportunity to discover Cathar history in one place! A 20 minute drive from the house takes you back more than 300 years. Note: There are numerous steps and level changes, best for the sure footed.

A beautiful abbey to discover in a secret valley, this is a wine-producing former Cistercian monastery with vaulted cloisters. The gardens and walks around it add to the charm. The restaurant is highly recommended. There are music nights and other events in summer.

This incredible piece of engineering and history combined is a major feature of the region. It can be enjoyed in villages such as Le Somail or the Fonseranes locks near Béziers, or by a towpath ride or walk along any part.

Caunes has a spectacular abbey for such a small town. Do allow time to enjoy the town itself, which has many lovely streets, houses and art galleries, and an art tour each summer. It was a salt store for the Romans so many centuries of history lie in its streets.

Tucked deep in the valley between the Cesse and the Brian rivers, Minerve clings to the rocky outcrop above. Steeped in history, from medieval times, suffering the attacks of Simon de Montfort. Today it is a peaceful (phew!), charming village to visit, dine in or just enjoy.

This small castle with a fascinating history is just into the Corbiers, formerly the Archbishops of Narbonne. Dating from the 11th centrury it was remodeled in the 14thC and . It sits in a beautiful valley and is well worth a visit.

Narbonne, a Roman town with the Robine Canal (branch of the Canal du Midi) running through the centre, is a delightful town about an hour’s drive away. It has one of the best ‘Les Halles‘ in France, with great bars inside and around to enjoy local produce. Check out the truncated cathedral and Narbo Via museum full of Roman antiquities.

A beautiful historic town with dominant Cathederal viewable from a distance. Allées Paul Riquet (named after the engineer of the Canal du Midi) is the main street with shops and bars. The older town is a treat of criss crossing streets. The ‘Les Halles‘ market has been smartly restored. The view and a drink from The Prison bar and restaurant is worth a stop.

The Cité, medieval castle and the lower old town is smaller than both Narbonne and Béziers but deserving of a stop for the history and busy Thursday/Saturday markets. Place Carnot has great for bars and places to eat. The Carcassonne festival is excellent, with free activites and music often on in Place Carnot during summer.

Recently awarded the best covered market in France, it does not disapoint – the market is busy and full of top quality produce. A visit can be extended by taking lunch in one of the excellent bars and cafes inside or in the immediate streets outside. Saturday am is the best time to visit. Note: all French makets begin closing around 12:30/13:00.

Vide Greniers (literally, empty attics!) are a great way to enjoy bargain hunting – both treasures and tat can be found. They are on in many villages over the year and summer reaches a high point. Visit the Vide Grenier website to see where and when they are on or just keep a look out for posters and signs in villages .

Cave system with suspended walkways, underground river boat tours and a zip-line course. A great day out and possible relief from the day’s heat in a cave system over 200m deep. 

A Go Ape style adventure park for children and adults, with zip-wires and other activities, located on Lac de la Cavayére just south of Carcassonne. Nearby is the Aqua Park with water slides, inflatables and other water-based fun!

A small but nice swimming lake, about 40 mins drive from the house. There is a bar on the lake side. The route is via the road to Pic de Nore, which is the high point of the Montagne Noire range and offers a fabulous viewpoint of the region.

A large sandy beach with gentle drop away on entry to the sea. We particulary like the bar Mosquito Coast (don’t worry, it’s not infested!) and you can drive onto the beach with a car and park behind the bar. This is an exposed beach so do take shade, water and sun cream. 

Narbonne plage is the closest beach to us, just under an hour drive. The beach is long but can be busy in high summer. There are bars and restaurants all along the beach front. The beach bar Le Monoi is a nice spot for a refuel and drink after a swim.

Bize has a dam that restricts the flow of the Cesse river, creating a super river swiming place. There are grassy banks to picnic on, and the village has a shop, bar and restaurants. Note: the river is cold even in high summer – get in carefully!