Luxury Tarn Holiday Homes with Pool Near the Black Mountains, Languedoc, France

Local Attractions

St Ferriol lake - pedalos, water sports, tennis, crazy golf, climbing wall, walks, picnics.
Soreze - medieval village. Famous Abbey School.
Revel - Beautiful town, fantastic market.
Nearest shops/restaurants - 5 minutes.
Medieval Cité of Carcassonne - a must see!
Canal du Midi - boat trips, walks, cycle rides.
Castres - river trips, museums, shopping.
Toulouse - Space centre, shopping, museums, markets, etc.
Albi - Catherdral, Toulouse Lautrec museum, shopping, etc.
SITUATION
The property is situated on a quiet lane which forms part of the famous pilgimage route to Santiago de Compostella. With very little traffic, it is safe, peaceful and ideal for a walk or a morning jog past fields of sunflowers, vines, and grazing cattle with their baby calves.
WILDLIFE
From your window you will see a wealth of wildlife such as red squirrels, hares, and dozens of species of birds including egrets, owls, woodpeckers, kingfishers, kestrels and hoopoes. Children love to feed the fish in the pond and see and hear the big green frogs. During warm evenings you can sit and watch the bats acompanied by the sounds of crickets and nightingales.
SURROUNDINGS
The Lauragais area is farming country and home of the famous blue dye 'woad'. There is a happy atmosphere about the place, in unison with its welcoming architecture - picturesque hilltop villages, lively market towns, ancient stone farm buildings and dovecotes, all set in rolling countryside of gentle hills, fields of sunflowers and waving corn.
MARKETS
Our local market is listed as one of the best in France, but within an hour’s drive you can find a different market for every day of the week. You can’t help but work up an appetite as you stroll round the colourful stalls with their beautiful displays of delicious local produce.
Every Sunday sees a choice of flea markets in the surrounding villages where the locals empty their attics of unwanted items.
RESTAURANTS
Bars, cafes, bistros, brasseries, pizzerias, and restaurants - within a short drive, there is a large choice of places to eat. On the terraces of small restaurants or in grand establishments awarded Michelin stars, you can enjoy delicious characteristic specialities that reflect local produce - foie gras, duck, charcuterie and the famous cassoulet, all accompanied by excellent local wines.
WINE
Wine dominates the Languedoc region and has been produced here for more than 2000 years. Many areas such as Minervois, Corbieres, Fitou and St Chinean use grape varieties of Grenache, Syrah, Merlot, Cinsaut, Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Chenin blanc.
As you drive around the Languedoc, you will see numerous signs reading "dégustation" which means you can stop and taste wines, and if you like what you taste you buy direct from the producer, sometimes at a significant discount.
White wine enthusiasts can gather in Gaillac as this lovely small town in the Tarn boasts a dry, fruity white AOC wine. This very diverse land also produces full-bodied reds, tender early wines and light rosés.
YOUR HOLIDAY WEATHER
With an average of 2000 hours of sunshine a year, this is one of the sunniest regions of France. Temperatures rise to over 25 degrees C for between 60 and 80 days each year.
Spring comes early and has a feel of summer about it. You can still see snow on the peaks of the Pyrenees when the shoots of the sunflowers begin to grow in the surrounding fields.
July and August enjoy the warmth of intense sunshine with average temperatures of 26 to 28 deg C.
Autumn often enjoys the warmth of an Indian summer with wonderful September light and still pleasant temperatures through to late October – perfect for a few days peace and quiet when everyone else is at work!