Chateau Chemin Vert

The villa

As featured in Mansion Magazine!

Stay in a historic château in the heart of a bastide village with distant views of the Pyrenees. Château Chemin Vert offers charm, character and even a swimming pool near some of southern France’s most beautiful towns and countryside in the enchanting region of Languedoc.

The spirit of this grand château is felt throughout with elegant furnishings and so many historic features from the panelled walls and carved fireplace in the splendid living room to ornate ceilings and rich fabrics in the four main bedrooms. Recent renovations also add a touch of contemporary style such as in the bright orangerie with its dining table and two new family suites sleeping up to four guests each. Other modern amenities include Wi - Fi, satellite TV and a gym.

Doors from the library, grand salon and orangerie lead out to a large terrace and barbecue designed for al - fresco dining or just a quiet aperitif as you gaze out to the houses and hills beyond. Wander through the vast gardens, see what vegetables may be growing or which fruits are in season and follow the gently sloping lawns to the 12m long swimming pool with its pool terrace perfect for sunbathing. Play pétanque on the excellent court with village views beyond the walled garden. It’s quite unique to have such a spacious garden, pool and high standard of pétanque pitch within historic village château.

Every morning you can wander into the local bastide village to pick up freshly baked bread and pastries. Explore the lanes leading from the main arcaded square with its plane trees, pretty fountains and delightful Saturday morning market. Enjoy the cafes and restaurants before returning home to your own château in minutes. You may even be fortunate enough to visit when festivities take over the village and the ambience is especially wonderful.

Visit other picturesque market villages and towns, swim or canoe in the nearby lake, cycle or hike on one of the many stunning trails and discover the fascinating Cathar history of this region. Being in the foothills of the Pyrenees, even skiing is possible in winter months or enjoy beautiful walks through the magnificent mountains so near. This is also a great location for visiting the great city of Carcassonne, a UNESCO World Heritage site, just under and hour away.

Whether it’s the enchanting villages and towns, brilliant landscapes or captivating history, you can experience so much of the Languedoc region at Château Chemin Vert, right from your very doorstep.

Château Chemin Vert is located in a bastide village in the Aude department of southern France, near the border with Ariège, around 50km south - west of Carcassonne.

Public car parking is just a minute’s walk away and you will find the entrance of the château just off the narrow pavement on one of the village roads. Stairs will take you up to the main floor which leads to the gardens and terraces.

The village itself is full of charm and has many festivities taking place throughout the spring, summer and autumn from medieval music festivals to the occasional Vide Grenier (flea market). You’ll find a boulangerie , chacuterie , pharmacy and a few cafes and restaurants, as well as a small supermarket just on the village’s edge. There are also tennis courts just outside the village. The Saturday morning market is one of the prettiest in the region.

There are some wonderful walking and cycling routes across the region including Le Chemin Vert, an old railway line which is now a path linking Mirepoix and Lavelanet and can be joined around 500m away.

The Lac de Montbel is just a ten - minute drive away, a great place for watersports including kayaks, canoes and pedalos, or you can go fishing, bird - watching or simply go for a swim from one of the lakeside beaches.  It takes around four hours to walk around the whole lake, passing through forests and admiring the beautiful landscapes around you. You may even be able to see the snow - capped Pyrenees at certain times of year.

This region also offers a wealth of fascinating history such as the Cathar ruins in Montsegur, Lapradelle - Puilaurens and the incredible Château de Queribus. You can also visit Neolithic caves in Niaux and Lombrives, both around an hour away.

If you are travelling during the winter then you will find skiing around Les Monts d'Olmes, one hour by car, or at other times of year it’s a great place for walking and also popular with cyclists.

Not forgetting so many wonderful old villages and towns across the Aude and Ariège regions, many with weekly markets where you can pick up some amazing local produce. Mirepoix has a particularly great Monday morning market, probably the best in the area, and Limoux has a market all day on a Friday. The owners will give you a list of the local markets when you arrive.

Of course, a visit to the magnificent city of Carcassonne, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a must. See the fascinating castle and the beautiful historic town with its idyllic cafes, shops and restaurants or take some time exploring the Canal du Midi by taking a trip on a boat for a lovely day out.