Holiday - Caunes Minervois

As previously mentioned Caunes was our base for this holiday this year.  We decided to go "in town" for a change. What we didn't anticipate about  living in a medieval town was that the houses would be so dark.  Those streets may look quaint but they don't let in much light.  You also don't get much in the way of garden, if any.

and when it rains the alleyways become rivers

This is the house across the alley, you have to get on with your neighbours, they are close at hand

This area is famous for its red/pink marble and there are lots of examples around the town

There are a number of good restaurants and we enjoyed an amazing meal at the La Marbrerie  we went for the menu Cathare - 7 courses, could hardly move when we were done.  We also ate at the La Mangeorie on the two Sundays we were there, they do a set meal with music, well worth a visit.  People just turn up and play, turns into a real jam session.

There is also a Tapas bar by the abbey, they also have live music but the night we planned to go it was full and also because it is open air, is only open if the weather is good.  We did manage a beer or two there one afternoon.

Another thing about old stone houses is they attract visitors, meet the Languedoc scorpion, apparently not poisonous but gives you a nasty nip! The one in the jar fell out of Peter's book onto his lap.  Think it was the fastest he moved all holiday. The other one got crushed underfoot, which is how I came to notice him in the first place.

So that was our holiday.  I hope you have enjoyed reading about it.  If you missed any installments then check out the links below.

Another visit to France, Walking, Canal due Midi, Markets, Carcassonne, Lastours & Minerve

Until next time

Holiday - Lastours & Minerve

We decided we would take a look at Lastours.  The site is composed of four castles which are set in the Montagne Noire.  When looking through all the blurb about it I never actually took in the fact that they sit on a high promontory and how you would get there.

When we reached the car park I looked up, said to Peter maybe we should put on our walking boots!  We paid our admission fee and followed the ramp to the stairs and then we started to climb.  We went up and up, then reached a rocky footpath, which went up and up, round and up, round and up.  Heart racing, sweat trickling, I stopped to admire the view (read try and get my breathe here).  We walked on and up until we got to the first castle.  Check the link above for the historical info.  Once at the first castle it didn't seem too bad getting to the others.  The only problem is meeting with others coming down, some of the pathways aren't too wide and its a long way down if you slip.

our car is down there

Over the valley at Belvedere you are able to view the castles and can also see all the paths leading from one to the other.

no words needed here

Our next visit was slightly more sedate.  The old cite of Minerve.

Again check link above for historical facts.  We had a wonderful scenic drive on the way back (read white knuckle here as Peter couldn't see round the bends due to driving a UK car, so he was in the gutter, me out there with my fingers crossed)

a flat bit

We did spot a wild boar on the side of the road (one of several over the course of the 2 weeks).  Took a few wrong turns, the French insist of having their road signs right on the turn rather than slightly before to give you chance to react.  They also still insist on pulling straight out of right turns onto main roads, I think they have a death wish!!!!  We lived to tell the tale, but maybe have a few more grey hairs.

So the next stop on the holiday will be Carcassone old cite and then finally Caunes Minervois