Welcome
Welcome to our website!
We invite you to experience life in the heart of our rural Corbières village. Montlaur is a special place to stay - it is also our home and this is why we have chosen to renovate two old village houses which we let for holidays during the summer months and longer stays primarily out of season but occasionally in the summer too .
We want our visitors to have the chance to share this unique French village experience.
Montlaur is a small but thriving wine producing village with several little shops, a medieval church, a weekly organic market, a cafe bar, and festivals and village meals throughout the year. Our gîtes are steeped in history; they are surprisingly spacious and rambling and all have some original features, are comfortably furnished have sunny places (courtyards, terraces, gardens...) to eat , to sunbathe and to watch the sun going down with a glass of local wine. They are named after the former enterprises which they housed –
L’Ancienne Pharmacie – the original village pharmacy and now our home
L’Ancienne Sellerie - a spacious three storey village house with first floor soth facing roof terrace named after the adjoining workshop where saddles and leather goods were crafted
L’Ancienne Ecurie – a four bedroomed village house with a delightful courtyard garden named after the converted stables at the rear.
The Experience
As you drive up the winding road into the hills above Carcassonne your spirits will rise as you pass the vineyards on each side and see the spectacular backdrop of the Alaric mountains against the azure blue of the sky. It is still so peaceful here and the area is rich in history and ambience. Most days the sun will be shining, whatever the season, and you will find that our villagers genuinely welcome you to their “little corner of paradise” (extract from our visitors’ book!).
Yet you are just 20 minutes from La Cité, the medieval castle of Carcassonne, less to the Canale du Midi, both Unesco World Heritage sites, 50 minutes to unspoilt Mediterranean beaches – and then there is Lagrasse, categorised as one of the most beautiful villages of France, which is 15 minutes away. Here you can bathe in the Orbieu, visit the famous old abbey and wander through the cobbled streets enjoying the little cafes and restaurants, pottery and craft shops, the summer concerts, markets and festivals.
Photos: Top Right: L'Ancienne Pharmacie, our home
Top Left: The courtyard garden of L'Ancienne Ecurie
Above Right: Montlaur Church and village
Below left: Le Cite, Carcassonne Below right: Lagrasse Saturday market
Bottom row left to right:
Le Cite, Carcassonne; Lagrasse Staurday market ;
the road from Montlaur to Camplong sur Aude; vines in Montlaur; River Orbieu at Lagrasse: Montlaur Mairie and school
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