A short break right in the heart of the Blanquette de Limoux

Between Carcassonne and Limoux, the high valley of the Aude and the foothills of the Pyrenees offer superb scenery.

Romanesque Abbey of Saint Hilaire

From €110.00 /pers.
Length of stay: 1 day/1 night

Here, you draw your strength by taking inspiration from the past, from historic locations, from the beauty of sites, where the past and traditions come to the full in the present day. Come and recharge your batteries in these enchanted places.

Pause on the peaks in the High Valley of the Aude
Arlette and Jean-Claude welcome you to their Guest-house, an old coaching inn dating back to the 13th century with superb exposed stone walls. The view from the bedrooms and the swimming pool of the high valley of the Aude and the Pyrenees is outstanding! This property is full of character and lies in an idyllic rural location facing south with agricultural terraces covered in either walnut trees or planted with hundred year old oaks. There are numerous rooms in and around the house such as a library, lounges, patios, meadows and woodland trails where you can find peace serenity and escape. The bedrooms are beautifully decorated, each one with its own particular charm and character.

Dine at the castle, in a gastronomic restaurant
When you pass through the high gate leading to the courtyard, you pass through the walls of time. Here you are in the Renaissance period, in a castle, the Château des Ducs de Joyeuse***, built on the orders of Jean de Joyeuses, 1st Governor of Narbonne, Lieutenant of Languedoc. It is in this imposing building, a listed historic monument with superb stone staircases and gardens running down to the Aude, that the chef reigns, matching imagination with presentation and sophisticated flavours, pairing food and wine in the regional tradition.

Go back a little further in time and visit the Romanesque Abbey of Saint Hilaire right in the heart of the Blanquette de Limoux vineyards. This Benedictine abbey was founded in the 7th century and features a superb cloister as well as a white marble tomb created by Maître de Cabestany celebrating the martyrdom of Saint Sernin. Tradition dictates that the abbey is the birthplace of Blanquette de Limoux. In the 16th century, monks created a sparkling wine which, unbeknownst to them at the time, was to become know the world over. Indeed, it is this  Blanquette, or Crémant de Limoux that you will be able to taste at the end of a walk winding between vines, olive groves and the garrigue on arrival at the wine tasting cellar at the Domaine familial de Martinolles (a Sud de France quality-assured member) listed as a  site remarquable du goût and a stopping-off point on the Cathar Country “terroir” (local produce) route. After a visit of the wine cellars and the bottling room, you will taste and swap comments on the famous Blanquette wine.

Contact Gites de France Aude 78 T rue Barbacane - 11000 CARCASSONNE Tel: 00.33.(0) 4.68.11.40.70 / 76