Maison en pierre avec solarium privé et la montagne

The house is beautiful and very much lives up to expectations. I do not know exactly how old it is, but every beam and wall whispers history. Extremely comfortable with all the things you could possibly want provided. The view from the terrace is breathtaking and the locations is quiet, but accessible to shops, attractions and main roads. Thanks you, Clare. We will definitely be back!

It must be pointed out that the Gite is not suitable for the elderly or those who have trouble with stairs. Only 1 flight is shown in the photograph when there are 2 lots of stairs to negoiate. Some of the floors have different levels. The one in the bedroom is lethal. The wiring is a sight to behold! On the plus side it does have lovely views from the terrace. We were not very impressed with the area either which was a shame.

We had a very relaxing and enjoyable week at this beautiful cottage. The location feels remote ( a lovely little village with a gorgeous backdrop of hills & mountains) but is a short ten minute drive to get everything you might need. We loved the terrace (& the sun!) But could also imagine it is a lovely autumn and winter retreat. Thanks so much for a wonderful stay!

This was the second time we have stayed at Claire's cottage and it was just as lovely second time around. We liked the rustic and simple qualities of the furnishings and were impressed with the upgraded bathroom. The stair arrangement is much better and the kitchen has been improved too without changing the 'feel' of the place. There's everything you need in the place and it is cosy, comfortable and quiet. It's lovely having the sound of the village fountain just outside the window. The patio is a great suntrap and totally private when seated - a great place from which to survey the lovely woods and countryside and watch the swifts and swallows wheeling overhead. A couple of things that would improve being there - the patio decking is starting to warp and could do with some attention; could maybe benefit from some more hooks to hang things in the bathroom and maybe somewhere to place toiletry bags on; the house notes include instructions to put out recyclable items on a particular night, which we and some others did but it was not collected (either things have changed or there was a strike - maybe check this is still being done). Overall we loved staying there, loved exploring the nearby towns and villages (wonderful market in Esperaza and again in Mirepoix, which itself is worth a visit). There are so many lovely walks in this area and we enjoyed several new to us on this visit. The orchids and other wildflowers in the meadows are stunning, as are the birds, butterflies and other wildlife. There's a good supermarket and boulangerie/patisserie 20mins drive away in Coiuza, a couple of cafe/bars to eat out in Rennes les Bains and the hotel in Sougraine serves lovely meals to non residents (need to book). A very good place from which to explore and soak up the character of L'Occitanie.

Loved the property, the location and the area so much that we booked again for next year before we even got back home! The cottage is in a secluded hamlet, with a balcony overlooking the Pyrenean foothills, and a kitchen looking onto the village square and fountain. It is very well equipped with everything you could possibly need in the kitchen, an eclectic array of books and dvds, and well furnished. The surrounding area is perfect if you want a mix of sites (castles, mountain villages, and of course Carcassonne), hiking, rivers to swim in, and some fantastic (if a little hilly) cycling routes. We stayed a week this year, and have re-booked for 2 more next, and already have a long list of things we wish we had done (in between relaxing). The house is a little out-of-the-way - nearest morning bread is 4km away - and the locals filling their watering cans at the fountain the square in the evening is the most hustle-and-bustle you all see, but as a reprieve from London-life, for us that was perfect. And finally, Clare (the owner) was extremely friendly and helpful and provided lots of useful information.

Wholeheartedly recommend this cottage and wonderful location. The cottage is full of character and very well equipped and enabled us to have a relaxing and comfortable stay.

We spent a fabulous short break during October / November in this beautiful stone cottage ideally located to enjoy the scenic walks in the foothills of the Pyrenees, taking in the beautiful scenery. We visited the little village of Rennes-les-Bains and the famous church at Rennes-le-Chateau and also enjoyed a day at the famous walled city of Carcassone. The house has a lovely living area with an open fireplace, perfect for the evenings and the well equipped kitchen meant that we were able to cook well and sample plenty of the local wines whilst enjoying the open fire. In the mornings we were lucky enough with the weather, to be able to sit and enjoy the great views from the large, sunny roof terrace. The peace and tranquility of the village was just what we wanted and is certainly somewhere we would recommend and plan to visit again.