This charming bed and breakfast in the Montagne Noire will be of particular interest to walkers and those wishing to explore this beautiful region by car. Les Ilhes Cabardes in the Aude is a sleepy medieval hamlet with a river running by. It is about a quarter of an hour from the historic City of Carcassonne and a few minutes from the Chateaux of Lastours.
On the first floor are the two guest bedrooms. One is equipped with four bunk beds, and the other has a double bed and a view of the Lastours chateaux. The two rooms share the toilet and walk-in shower room.
We only rent the accommodation to a single group at a time, so your group will have sole use of the facilities.
The bedroom with the bunk beds costs 25 euros per person per night including breakfast. The double bedroom costs 50 euros.
This includes breakfast, which can be taken on the terrace or in the dining room depending on the weather.
The village has a shared parking area a short walk from La Pause.
Your friendly hosts, Christine and Alain, can advise on walks and places to visit. They know the mountains and the footpaths which criss-cross them like the backs of their hands as for many years Christine has been a mountain guide, and before that she and her old white horse, Banjo, explored the mountains.
You can still see Banjo and Alain’s horse who live in fields close to the house. Their mountain climbing days are over and they live in happy retirement with Christine’s chickens.
Christine and Alain's house is also La Pause Cafe, where you can linger over a beer or coffee in the garden or on one of the sun loungers by the river.
At 1211 metres, Pic du Nore's considerable altitude is not immediately apparent as the range rises so gradually. From this point, on a clear day you can see the Méditerranean, Mont Ventoux in northern Provence, and Pic du Midi in the Pyrénées. It's a breathtaking view - the variable terrains of the vast Aude Plain and, always dominating the Southern horizon, the jagged peaks of the Pyrénées
Colourful waymarkers mark the many different randonees - or footpaths - which criss-cross the Montagne Noire.
On the edge of the Aude Plain, our local wine appellations Cabardes and Minervois can be sampled at many independent vineyards.
Opened in 1681m, this canal links Toulouse with the Mediterranean, as well as the Atlantic to the west.
The great walled medieval cite of Carcassonne, until 1659, guarded the border between France and Roussillon.
Four castles standing on a rocky ridge, dating from the 11th Century and used by Cathars in the 13th Century. Just 3km from La Pause.
High in the valley of the Orbiel, just below the improbably remote village of Cubservies, a spectacular waterfall. Either drive there or take the footpath from Labastide Esparbairenque.
The old mill in Lastours is now the entry point for the Chateaux. It also houses a snack bar and a Michelin-starred 'nouvelle cuisine' restaurant.
Just below Pic du Nore, the highest point of La Montagne Noire range, the lake at Pradelles is a great place to have a picnic, and perhaps a swim too when the water is warm enough.
Carcassonne airport 20km, A61 autoroute 22km, main line railway station 18km
Carcassonne has excellent road and rail links and is easy to reach by road from Channel ferry ports, Holland, Germany, Italy and Spain.
The airport at Carcassonne is served by Ryanair from many UK and European airports.
From ferry ports: Dieppe or St Malo are closest, about 600 miles, 12 hours. For Calais or Eurotunnel add 60 miles, 1 hour.
Our location on online maps: Bing Maps | Google maps.