Your house really stands out as one where we felt like guests in a home and very much exceeded our expectations. Our only regret is that 6 days were nowhere near long enough.
Paul and Sylvia  - Melbourne- May '10 - La Maison en Pierre

Your House is Simply Delightful and offers everything we could possibly ask for in terms of comfort and relaxation.
 Johnny and Liz - UK - August '10 - La Maison en Pierre

We have loved every minute of our holiday in Olonzac. The house was perfect and we really appreciated all the little details and provisions.  Highlights - En Bonne Compagne  Homps - food really excellent and reasonable La Auberge Saint Martin - Beaufort - Lovely setting, lamb chops - delicious Wine Domaine du Petit Causse, Felines Minervois (10 mins) Small family run winery with exceptional wine. Salsa night in Bar La France was fantastic Pizza around corner is wonderful Bezier - Lochs and cathedral Wonderful beaches near Narbonne Café de la Poste where the world and his wife gather every day. We will be back
Kotoe family - Amsterdam - July '09 - Castel Grand Rue

We loved the house.  Had a good time here.  I would recommend it to others if they were planning to go to Olonzac.  Hope to see you next year.
Sandy & family - Netherlands - July '09 - Le Petit Castel

Great gite and surrounding area - canal, Minerve, lake etc. Especially enjoyed the swallows and just hanging at the local bar with a "petit café" and a good book. Gite has everything, it works!!
Erin & Mauve - Ireland - July 09 - Le Petit Castel

Many thanks for a great house. This house has everything that's needed for the holiday maker and so much more.  The personal touches, from the welcome food pack to the books and DVDs were much appreciated.  Thank you all for the hospitable and informative welcome. The village is a friendly place and we loved the relaxed atmosphere. The Tuesday market is fantastic. The produce is amazing and the whole thing is great fun.  We loved the 20 minute walk across the vineyards to the lake (by following the sign for Lac de Jourres in the village). La Citadelle Restaurant is an experience in itself.  The food is excellent and the people so friendly but the service truly is haphazard.  It is worth it though and going early seems to be the best bet.  Restaurant "Bel" has a lovely garden setting and is also highly recommended although we developed a soft spot for the quirkiness of Citadelle. We followed many of the recommendations in this book and all were great.
Con & Marcel - Ireland - June '09 - Le Petit Castel

Thank you for the use of your perfect little house. We have enjoyed this part of the world very much.  So many moments rounding corners in the countryside that take your breathe away. Have visited Minerve, Carcassone, Avignon, Beziers, Narbonne,  Pont du Gard, 7 connected lochs etc plus many wineries for tasting and buying.  The people have always been friendly and gone out of their way to help. Enjoyed the food, market and restaurants probably too much! Thanks also for your kindness, patience and warm welcome.  Remember, we think we have 5 of the  world's greatest wine regions  (although small) within reach of our home, so if ever in South Australia please email us and maybe we can extend and return some hospitality. All in all, a wonderful time in our lives.
Rosemary & Brenton - Adelaide South Australia - June '09 - Le Petit Castel

Thank you for this lovely house, with everything we could ever ask for!  The Olonzac park is so beautiful and we loved driving around the countryside.  Everybody was always very nice.  Go looking for the little restaurants scattered on the little roads.  Thank you again!
Jocelyn, Claudia, Matt, Jimmy & Joanna - USA - June '09 - Le Petit Castel

Many thanks for this wonderful little house.  It's been so neat to be in the centre of a working town with its many cats and dogs  and friendly people.  And, the cycling is the best anywhere! (As is the Minervois wine!)
Greg & Mindy - Ontario Canada - June '09 - Le Petit Castel  

3 weeks in the south of France, in the charming town of Olonzac, and the perfect Castel Grand Rue equals a slice of heaven.  We loved staying in this comfortable home and really appreciated all the personal touches.  We enjoyed many meals on the quaint balcony and we all had lots of room to spread out and do homework (the "working " part of our holiday).  Our guests from California and Oregon also loved their stay. Here are a few highlights.
*Olonzac - What a fantastic experience to have the market right outside the door!  Playing boule in the park, relaxing at the lake, fresh bread and croissants all day.
* Minerve - Kids loved the miniature displays at the museum, which told the Cathars tragic history.  They also enjoyed hiking under the 2 tunnels & walking down the river in their sandles.
* Caune Minervois - Red marble quarry right outside of town  is impressive.  Then head to Notre Dame de la Croix just before Caune Minervois village to see a small church filled with red marble.  There's also a nice picnic ground and a hike up the canyon complete with a cable and some large rocks to hop (more fun for the kids).  There's also a "miraculous spring" where we were told you could drink the water.
* Carcassone
* Coullioure (1 hr 40 minutes) - Gorgeous little beach town where Matisse and others painted, is worth a visit (but hard to park).  Be sure to hike 10 minutes up to the windmill for a view)  Then on to the castle at the top of the hill.
* Peyrepetuse - Amazing! And Queribus castle ruins and the Gorge de Galimus and the short walk to the Hermitage and cave church.  Well worth the trek!
* Barcelona (3 hours) - relatively close!  You can also stop in Figueres on the way and see the Dali museum (1 hour from Barcelona) Thanks again for the fantastic accommodation.  Maybe one day we'll be lucky enough to return.
Kristen, Jean, Isobelle, Philippe - May '09 - Castel Grand Rue

Thanks for a lovely place to stay.  Le Petit Castel had everything we needed for a touring base.  We found many castles, chateaux, monasteries etc. etc. (So much history - We thought we had it all in England- arrogant Brits again!!) Everywhere we turned we could look back to the Middle Ages.  The old villages were fascinating and the countryside in between is breathtaking.  So many vineyards!  If we went into every one we'd need a truck to go home with.  Beaches were good at Narbonne.  The canal trip at Carcassone will be remembered with great pleasure.  The cave at Cabrespine was so dramatic but don't miss the light and music show  which happens every hour on the hour automatically.  Thanks for the memories.  I'm sure we shall return.
Bryan & Sandra - London & Killarney - May '09 - Le Petit Castel

We really enjoyed our week stay here in Olonzac. Thanks for all your help and insights!  This is a beautiful area with a lot of fascinating sights to see such as Lagrasse, Lastours, Carcassone & Minerve.  The people in Olonzac are very friendly and helpful. We really liked the barge trip; Homps and La Peniche Restaurant there. It was a fun week.  Merci!
Shirley & Bill - Minnesota USA - May '09 - Le Petit Castel  

We've had a lovely stay. Olonzac is a great little town and the house worked extremely well as our base to explore the area.  The weather was perfect for us.  We will recommend it to all our travelling friends and maybe be able to revisit ourselves some time in the future.  Thank you for your speedy replies to emails and very easy dealings to book our stay. 
Maryanne, Malcolm, Pete, Ria Mayne, Vera - Australia - April '09 - Castel Grand Rue  

Thank you for a nice week in Olonzac.  It was a very good place to stay for the whole family for both visits.
Family Berge - Norway - Feb & April '09 - Castel Grand Rue  

First and foremost a heartfelt thanks to our host whose service is exemplary.  We have now stayed at both properties and they are equally great. Secondly, some "must-do's" Lunch at L'Oustral in Citou, a small village north of Caunes Minervois, tremendous food "en famille" with a great host. Drive to La Salvetat for breathtaking views We like all the local restaurants.  The "Regale" in Oupia is German run.  Beware you will not be able to eat again for a week if you go there as the proportions are enormous. Moules Frites in the fishing villages around the "L'Etang near Sete. We've had a great time and will be living in the area permanently soon.. We hope you enjoy yourself as much as we did.
Richard & Nichola - Kent - February '09 - Castel Grand Rue  

Thanks for providing such a great house in which to stay.  Great ambience and so quirky!  We loved it.  Also great attention to detail - nothing seems to have been forgotten. We were particularly impressed by the great welcome provided initially (& all the assistance booking train tickets to Paris.)  We very much enjoyed sharing a bottle of wine and conversation with our hosts.  We enjoyed exploring Olonzac - the park, a soccer game on Sunday, walk to Lac du Jouarres through the vineyards and back along Canal du Midi to Homps.  Also drives to surrounding villages - Minerve, quite spectacular though a very cold and windy day.  Very pleasant time at Les Trois Blassons cave at Azillanet, great selection of wine and Naomi was very helpful despite our limited French conversation.  Market day (Tuesday) and right outside our front door (salami lady).  Rain and cold kept it smaller than usual (according to locals) but great to walk, taste and buy fresh vegetables & fruit.  Au revoir.
Melinde, Alan & Caitlin - Blue Mountains Australia - Nov '08 - Castel Grand Rue

It has been been six months since we have stayed at Le Petit Castel and want to follow with a huge thank you for providing an excellent place to stay. The house was provided with everything we needed and the kitchen was better than almost anywhere we have stayed. The bed was comfortable and in general we will measure other apartments by the thought you put into providing for your guests.
Charles & Lee - North Carolina - October '08 - Le Petit Castel

We had a lovely time here in Olonzac, enjoyed beautiful meals at La Citadelle and Le Bel as well as three course breakfasts from the boulangerie across the market square.  Needless to say we have not been actually hungry since we arrived.  Le Petit Castel is great, has everything you need and we were very appreciative of the provisions left for us on our arrival. 
Highlights were... Le Bel Restaurant, tennis in the park, Roquebrun & the cheese guy on market day, what a charmer !
The house is gorgeous, thanks for a wonderful break!
Niamh & Ronan - London, Ireland - November '08 - Le Petit Castel

Had a great week in this home away from home  which we used as a base for house hunting.  We ate locally most evenings and like everyone else enjoyed the Citadelle.  If you haven't eaten for a week and are feeling a little peckish try La Regalade in Oupia which is German with German portions.  Collioure is a great day out, about an hour and a half's drive away - a picture postcard destination.  Le Petit train around the town and vineyards is a spectacular ride. This region was glorious in autumnal colours and we are looking forward to returning in the next couple of months to continue our house hunting.  Hope you have as good a time as we have had here in this house and this area.
Richard & Nichola - Kent England - November '08 -  Le Petit Castel

Thank you for providing such a comfortable & convenient base for our 3 week stay in the Minervois.  We've had a lot of unexpected pleasures in discovering this corner of France, in particular, Minerve, with its ancient and tragic history.  Another delight was Narbonne with its Roman heritage, the via Domitia and the Horreum, its magnificent church and castle, the canal and its wonderful covered market where you can get just about every (French) food you dream about.  We recommend a journey to the Cathar castles of Queribus and Peyrepertuse which are spectacular.  The people of Olonzac were friendly and helpful.
Robyn, Larry, Hazel, Isabel -NSW Australia - October '08 - Castel Grand Rue

After 10 days as the "owners" of Le Petit Castel we are feeling as though we have settled in and we'd like to be staying longer. What have we done during our 10 days?
* Eaten a lot of good food - we've tried the 3 patisseries, had dinner at La Citadelle and lunch at L'Oustal at Citou (what a great experience!) and tried many little bars and restaurants along the canal.
* Hired bikes and ridden along the canal
* Walked through the vineyards - thank you to our very helpful host who was our guide
* Relaxed at Lac Jouarres
* Enjoyed watching the locals at the bar
And after all our exploring of the area it was great to come home to Petit Castel.
Thank you to our hosts for being so willing to answer our questions about places to go etc.  The pasta and sauce on the day of arrival is a great touch for dinner on the first night.
We've had a time to remember, Au revoir
Maryanne & Phillip - Sydney Australia - October '08 - Le Petit Castel

Carcassone was an impressive tourist destination as were Minerve and Homps.  The Cathedral at Narbonne is a magnificent building and the ceiling just about reaches the "pearly gates".  It is also a unique cathedral in the world as the nave was never built because it would have required some demolition of the city walls.  The choir still accommodates 250 people.  Check out the excavation of the old Roman road in front of the Hotel de Ville. 
While visiting many interesting sites and sights we were still able to have a relaxing time.
Peter, Margey, Sylvia,  Mervyn - Sydney Australia - October '08 - Le Petit Castel

Your villas have lived up to our expectations, beautifully appointed and comfortable.  The areas we have explored near the village have been so interesting.  The places we have enjoyed most have been Carcassonne with its fabulous castle and Minerve.  The lake nearby is great too.  Lovely food and goodies to buy at the Tuesday markets.  Thanks for your hospitality and all your help.
Heather, Lynne, Dianne - NSW Australia- September '08 - Castel Grand Rue & Le Petit Castel

We had a wonderful one week holiday (not enough!)
Went to Carcassonne and Andorra.  The trip through the Pyrenees  was spectacular but you really need to take 2 days and stay overnight. We loved Minerve, Homps and the Canal Midi.
Loved socialising with other Australians from Grand Castel, chatting to the local children through our dining room window and were so happy with our "house".
Would love to come again and enjoy the hospitality of our hosts. Thank you for being so prompt to reply at all times.
Kathy, Gary & Kate - Australia - September '08 - Le Petit Castel

Wonderful villa, thoroughly enjoyed the home atmosphere although it took me a few days to get used to the quiet country lifestyle.  Markets on Tuesday were amazing.  Just loved the variety of food and so .. so.  tasty, so much flavour in the fruit and vegetables.
Took many trips into the surrounding countryside exploring the quaint, historic towns close by.  Got lost on a number of occasions  so saw a lot more of the country.  Trip by train to Barcelona was a great experience.
Robyn & Dorethy - Australia - September '08 - Le Petit Castel

We have spent a lovely week in this superbly equipped house.  Lots to see in the immediate area, also enjoyed Olonzac itself.
Jay & Judy - London UK - September '08 - Le Petit Castel

Too much to do and see and not enough time! Wish we could stay longer! Love the house & the town - simply perfect. Enjoyed the long dinner at La Citadelle & the crepes next door were delightful. Going through the huge basket of info helped us plan our days. Lastours & Peyrepetuse are amazing!! Don't miss the Gorges de Galamus. Words and pictures can't begin to describe it. Make sure to walk it. Too many great wineries to mention all of them. Any one of them won't disappoint. Enjoyed the market & making dinner at home, then eating on the rooftop terrace. The memories will be with us always of our great trip! Thank you
Chris & Tanya - Boston USA - September '08 - Le Petit Castel

Had a wonderful time in this great house. Everything you need on your doorstep. Highlights for us were the market outside the door on Tuesdays, Minerve, Carcassonne, Rieux Minervois, & Capestang.  Could stay for a month and not see it all.  Food and wine great.  Loved every minute.
Kay & Gerald - Ireland - August '08 - Castel Grand Rue

We had a great time.  The house is great.  Enjoyed our meals on the terrace.  Weather was fantastic.  The castle in Carcassone was great as were the beaches and  market day in Olonzac.
Lorrie, Graeme, Gavin, Claire & Brielle - England & Australia - August '08 - Castel Grand Rue

We had a great week and visited lots of places.  The house is a central spot to travel around the area.
Chris, Janine, Jorden, Lincoln & Kade - NSW Australia - August '08 - Castel Grand Rue

Thank you for your warm welcome and for the lovely condition of the house, a real pleasure to stay here and to be able to explore such a beautiful area. We have thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
Dilys - Kent UK - August '08 - Le Petit Castel

Thank you so much for our time here.  The last 2 weeks have been great and again  unfortunately not long enough! We loved the house, the town and the area and we plan already to make it back here sometime.
Margaret, John, Mark & Adam - Ireland - August  '08 - Le Petit Castel

We've really enjoyed our stay here. A week wasn't long enough. This is a brilliant location for visits to Narbonne Plage, La Cite Medieval at Carcassonne, the Lake just outside Olonzac where the canoeing was great fun. The gite had everything we needed. Our hosts made us feel very welcome. Thanks very much.
Ian, Sally Ryan, Rachel - England - August '08 - Le Petit Castel

This is our second time around.  We really enjoyed another great week.  
Fergus & Margaret- Ireland - July  '08 - Castel Grand Rue

Thank you for a very nice week here at the house in Olonzac. We have been out every day to see new things. We especially enjoyed the castle in Carcassonne, Rennes le Chateau and Lake de Jourres where we had the chance to cool down.
Cecilie, Marianne, Hans, Nicholai & Annette - Denmark - July '08 - Castel Grand Rue

Thanks for your great welcome and friendship. The house is great, so cute, really well furnished and clean. It was good to live the French village lifestyle. Olonzac is a quiet place but it has everything.  
Denise & Louise - Nth Avoca Australia - July '08 - Castel Grand Rue

We've enjoyed our week in this fabulous house. Olonzac is a nice village where we went for many walks in the evening. Tuesday's market was a fine experience for the whole family. We canoed, bicycled, went for long walks alongside the Canal du Midi. It is a beautiful walk through the vineyards to the lake.
It has been a great experience living in Le Petit Castel. Thanks
Anna, Peter, Thea, Susanne, Kim - Denmark - July '08 - Le Petit Castel

Thank you for a lovely gite. It is very well equipped and the basket on arrival, including bottle of red settled us in nicely! The balcony suntrap is ideal, the Aussie BBQ great  and Olonzac provided plenty of entertainment. Market on Tuesday terrific. Lac du Jouarres great for a cool off and just a short cycle ride away (Mellow Velos offered good value and excellent service) Citadelle Restaurant well worth a visit.  A long wait but service with a smile however, & lovely environment & atmosphere. Narbonne Plage was a super destination. As evening draws in Homps & Le Canal du Midi are excellent venues to sit and enjoy a refreshing drink in picturesque surroundings. We liked the local reds & whites so much we took some home for gifts. Will recommend to all. Thanks
Matt & family - England - July '08 - Le Petit Castel

Le Petit Castel truly gave us the opportunity to live the French way of life - the sounds of local children playing, the nightly gathering of neighbours at the square for the mandatory gossip, the barking dogs and  our giant French neighbour cranking up his cars - these are all part of village life. Thank you to our hosts for providing such a  high standard of accommodation. It is a testament of your hard work, care and thoughtfulness. You guys are certainly dinky di top blokes! 4 weeks have flown by so quickly and we dread the day we have to leave this wonderful part of France.  We vow to return and hopefully in the not too distant future. Cheers
Niall, May & William - Sydney Australia - July 08 - Le Petit Castel

Back here in the Minervois for the fourth time and yet again loved every minute.  Castel Grand Rue had everything we needed including a cold beer around the corner. Thanks for the welcome bottle of wine.
Sharon & Chris - United Kingdom - June '08 - Castel Grand Rue

So what could we say that has not already been said? The house is fun and very comfortable.  Olonzac is a beautiful place to be if you want to explore this beautiful and interesting area. The markets in Olonzac are simply the best. We'll definitely miss the comfort of Castel Grand Rue and we'll tell everyone how welcome we feel here. Thank you!
Kam & Erik - Norway - June '08 - Castel Grand Rue

Le Petit Castel has truly been the perfect "home away from home" for my stay of 11 weeks.  Thank you to my hosts for everything - it was great spending time with you in your Midi Paradise.
Some highlights for me :
* long walks  & picnics in the hills with all their wildflowers & herbs, plus along the canal
* abbeys for that "medieval fix" at Lagrasse, Caune and Fontfroide plus the beautiful round church with sculptures at Rieux
* castles : Peyrepetuse is stunning. Carcassonne also impressive
* villages : Minerve a must. Bize also interesting with the Oulibu olive oil centre
* prehistoric sites : the big Las Fades dolmen near Siran is very evocative. The Dordogne region is not too far away for the special painted caves at Lascaux and Sarlat is the perfect well preserved late Medieval town to choose as a base. 
* And launching the new seasons geraniums here at LPC.  Don't forget to water them.
So.. a bientot, for sure
Julianne - Sydney Australia - May '08 - Le Petit Castel

In spite of torrential rain we had a really good time.  The house is great - has everything we need.  
Vee & Alan, Alan & Hafel - England - May '08 - Castel Grand Rue

We enjoyed the eccentric house and the walk around to the bar each evening. Olonzac proved to be a good base for exploring the region and visiting many of the sights. The canal du Midi is not to be missed and we recommend the restaurant  "La Guingette" at Argens Minervois.
Gerard & Dianne - Melbourne Australia - May '08 - Castel Grand Rue

Thanks, all excellent. All surrounding villages are lovely. Queribus and Peyrepertuse are just extraordinary. Lagrasse was well worth a wander.  
Marge & Peter  - Kiama Australia - May '08 - Castel Grand Rue

Thank you to our hosts for a wonderful visit. Great weather! We had a very nice and reasonably priced lunch at the PMU bar. Vineyards & wine tasting much fun & village of Minerve spectacular. A bientot.
Pat & Al - Alberta Canada - March '08 - Le Petit Castel

Thank you for a wonderful reception at Castel Grand Rue. Beautifully presented for a holiday. We enjoyed the area, visiting Homps, Carcassonne and many of the small towns. We enjoyed Olonzac, particularly the park. People were very friendly and helpful. We will definitely recommend this area and house.
Bernadette & Peter - Victoria Australia - March '08 - Castel Grand Rue

Thank you for opening up your house to us once again. This time we are waiting to move into our own house. For 3 weeks we have been in Olonzac and Grand Rue has been a cosy and comfortable house.  More than ever we feel that we have chosen a great part of the world for our retirement. A beautiful landscape, lovely towns and villages, mountains, a relaxed pace of life, marvelous food, the Mediterranean just down the road.  What more can anyone want?
Sue & Ken - Fabrezan France - February '08 - Castel Grand Rue

Many many thanks for your warmth, hospitality & helpfulness. The month I've spent in Olonzac has been wonderful, comfortable, relaxing, regenerative. And Le Petit Castel is the perfect home away from home - perfectly fitted out so all one has to do is hang clothes in the closet to feel completely settled in!
Olonzac is so centrally located that there are almost too many interesting things to see & do all in a few minutes walk to a couple of hours drive. 
All in all this has been a fantastic month. Thanks for making it so easy.
Meg - GA USA- February '08 - Le Petit Castel

Have had a very enjoyable and restful week here in Petit Castel.  The gite is extremely well equipped and comfortable. Olonzac has everything one needs to keep body and soul together, a very nice and interesting part of France. Thanks for your warm welcome and attention to detail. Thank you and best wishes.
Les & Lois - UK - February '08 - Le Petit Castel

Staying in the Petit Castel allowed me a most enjoyable experience as my senses, expectations and preconceived notions and education were challenged and expanded. Thank you for providing a modern residence in the middle of an old village and a way of life about which I was totally ignorant. I feel I've grown tremendously  for the better from having been here. 
Brenda - Maryland USA - January '08 - Le Petit Castel

Thank you, merci, gracias to our host. You are an absolutely fantastic person, gracious, caring  and incredibly hospitable. Your property demonstrates what kind of person you are. We enjoyed the visit and trip because you are part of it.
Elizabeth - Virginia USA - January '08 - Le Petit Castel

Quelles vacances!!! An incredible holiday. You must visit the restaurant "La Citadelle". The chef is fabulous, the food great. The service is excellent - especially with the nibbles to savour before the meal.
Charles & Diana - Wollongong Australia - January '08 - Le Petit Castel

What a great place! And special for our families too. It was a fantastic Christmas with the finest of foods and wine. Something that as Aussies we have often dreamed about. Our hosts are to be congratulated.  What a nice touch that when we arrived Grand Rue was decorated for Christmas. Lovely! We would recommend the place to all. We visited many lovely places. Just get in your car and drive.  There are surprises around every corner in this wonderful land.
Yvette, Stuart & Dominic - England & Australia - December '07 - Castel Grand Rue

We have enjoyed our stay at Castel Grand Rue Olonzac very much and exploring the surrounding countryside.  
Robyn, Brian & Matt - Australia - December '07 - Castel Grand Rue

This week we have been looking for the perfect French house to retire in and we have hit the jackpot! We love this area and have stayed in Olonzac before. We love the Castel Grand Rue. It has been a cosy and comfortable base from which to look for our home. Nobody coming to the Languedoc could fail to have a wonderful time, there is just so much to see and do, wonderful food, great weather and a wealth of history and stories to be told. The way of life is peaceful and relaxed and every village is prettier than the last.  We've had a wonderful week and will soon be back! For good!
Sue & Ken - Kent United Kingdom - December '07 - Castel Grand Rue

Thanks for an enjoyable stay. The house is warm and cosy and have had a very relaxing break this Christmas. The weather has been superb which always helps. 
Penny & David - December '07 - Le Petit Castel

From initial correspondence our host has responded immediately to all of our concerns/situations such as "Does Le Petit Castel really exist?" and "Where the hell is Olonzac?  We can't find it on any map!"  and situations like arriving in Narbonne at 7 pm on a bleak late Autumn evening to find our host waiting for us and providing transport to pick up our hire car in Montpellier. You're a legend! It's a beautiful base (more amenities than we have at home) to call home for 2 weeks and experience this part of France. Would recommend the accommodation  and location to anyone.  Au revoir, thanks for everything.
Peter & Janelle - Australia - November '07 - Le Petit Castel

We have been very comfortable here and have found the house well equipped with many home touches  and fun artwork. Thank you for the welcome basket, a nice touch! Thankfully we woke to blue skies most days so despite the cold, cold weather could organise our explorations. Thank you to our host. Well done.
Rick & Judy - NSW Australia - November '07 - Le Petit Castel

Nice to find a warm & comfortable gite with a dishwasher (truly a holiday!) Good weather - cool but dry allowing us plenty of trips  to the surrounding areas. The markets provided us with good food and drink so leaving here a few pounds heavier  with more good memories and images to take home... until next time!
Penny, David, Francesca & Murray - UK - November '07 - Le Petit Castel

Loved your house and found Olonzac a good base for exploring the Minervois. Enjoyed the great food market in Olonzac and the flea market was lots of fun. All in all a great week.
Susan & Howard - Newcastle Australia - November '07 - Le Petit Castel

Thank you so much for the use of your lovely home and for all the assistance and hospitality which you extended to us - it was very much appreciated. Had a lovely time exploring the local area.  
Margaret & Peter - Queensland - November '07 - Castel Grand Rue

Thank you for the very warm welcome on our arrival. The bottle of wine was very much appreciated after our journey. The house is delightful, just like the magic described on the internet. Could not fault your accommodation and your attention to detail.
Kay, Graham, Graham & Maggie - Australia & UK - October '07 - Castel Grand Rue

A lovely welcome. Thanks for the wine. Much appreciated. We really love this gite. So much atmosphere. Many thanks. Will see you again.
David, Julie, Mick & Diane - United Kingdom - October '07 - Castel Grand Rue

French village life is something we could all get used to very quickly. Quelle fantastique maison! You gave us a great welcome and made us feel at home instantly. Castel Grand Rue has  been everything and more than we expected. We will all have an abundance of great memories and experiences from our time "en Sud de la France". Our recommendation to our family & friends will be glowing.
Dot, Stephen, Carolyn, Hannah & Emma - Vistoria Australia - October '07 - Castel Grand Rue

Our first trip to explore the Languedoc/Roussillon area. Seven days is not enough. The weather in mid October was mixed. Nevertheless a great week with Olonzac as a good base. Carcassonne was amazing.  We loved Minerve and the Haut Languedoc. Our rusty French sufficed but we need to improve. The market was great fun on Tuesday. The two restaurants we liked in Olonzac were the Citadelle and the Bel. All told, a great week in a fantastic location and an amazing cottage.  
Andrew & Howard -  West Yorkshire - October '07 - Castel Grand Rue

A wonderful welcome to a great little house. The autumn here is perfect - beautiful & quiet. Anywhere you venture brings new sights. We loved the markets & cooking our purchases. Thank you again.
Jan & Anne - Melbourne Australia - October '07 - Le Petit Castel

We've had a wonderful week at Castel Grand Rue - thank you for all your assistance. Can only reiterate what everyone has said before about all the fantastic places to visit and things to see. We loved Olonzac and really hope to return one day.  
Dick, Julie, George Kirsten, Stuart, Lynne, Richard - Australia & UK - September '07 - Castel Grand Rue

What a great find! We all loved staying at Castel Grand Rue. Everybody was so friendly! Market day was the best! Vendors right outside our door on Tuesdays. Wish we could stay longer. Thanks again to our hosts.  
Nina, John,  Lori, Ed, Mary & Allan - USA & Wales - September '07 - Castel Grand Rue

Thank you for a lovely stay. Castel Grand Rue is delightful and our two weeks were a fabulous experience. We wish the same excitement, anticipation, tranquility and enjoyment that we have had here to all who follow.  
Sharon & Peter - Victoria Australia - August '07 - Castel Grand Rue

Thank you very much for a wonderful warm welcome to your beautiful  house and all your kindness. We got a real feel for French life in a market town. Olonzac is lovely.
Angela, Tommy, Peter, Anna & Sally - Dublin Ireland - August '07 - Castel Grand Rue

Le Petit Castel was perfect, great location for seeing the sights around Olonzac & much quieter than we expected from an in-town house. Highlights for us:
*The wine tasting in Mailhac - very interesting to get to feel what a small family winery is like & taste some truly great wine.
*Tuesdays markets here in Olonzac, great fun! Olives, cheese, & best of all wild mushrooms - delicious!
*Le Montagne Noire with its canyons & impossibly situated villages & spectacular scenery.
*Ending almost every day sipping wine on the roof top terrace with smiles on our faces as we re-lived our experiences of each day.
For us, every day was an adventure. I don't think we've ever had a week pass by so quickly. Thanks again for your hospitality.
Mike & Ellie - October '07 - Le Petit Castel - Pembroke M.A. USA

A wonderful welcome to a great little house. The autumn here is perfect - beautiful & quiet. Anywhere you venture brings new sights. We loved the markets & cooking our purchases. Thank you again.
Jan & Anne - October '07 - Le Petit Castel - Melbourne Australia

Many thanks for providing a well thought out accommodation, everything is here you could possibly need & more. The starter supplies were also very thoughtful & appreciated. The house is in an excellent base for exploring the region & so we did with relish.
Rob & Wendy - September/October '07 - Le Petit Castel - Victoria B.C. Canada

It has been a great pleasure staying here in Le Petit Castel. This is a first class apartment & many thanks for that.
Skarphedinn - September '07 - Le Petit Castel - Reykjavik Iceland

Le Petit Castel has been an excellent base for the first week of our holiday in France. The house is first class, very comfortable & has everything you need.
Ross & Hilary - August/September '07 - Le Petit Castel - Lakes District UK

3 Australian couples, a little close but oh so much fun. Had the best time. So much to see & do, a very French experience. A fanstastic intro to the South of France with a great base to come home to each night. So much to see within easy reach. Minerve was a surprise worth seeing with a great aperitif from the wine cellar within the complex. Hosts very obliging & helpful. Would recommend & will be coming here again & again.
Len, Sheryl, Randall, Margaret, Al & Di - August '07 - Le Petit Castel - Australia

We wanted to stay in an old-fashioned, non-touristy French town & we were certainly not disappointed! It is quite unusual to find such diverse landscapes & cultures so close to one another.
Bob & Judith - July/August '07 - Le Petit Castel - England

We had a wonderful time, a dream come true. The countryside is just as pictures in books & movies. Quaint villages every direction. Must sees Minerve, Lastours, Canal du Midi, Cave at Limousis, Carcassonne, Nimes. Just drive or ride bikes in any direction, you will see many things to photograph. The house was great as was Olonzac. Locals were tolerant of our limited French. If we can survive, anyone can. We will miss the quality of life here. Vive la France!
Mike, Colleen, Chris & Dan - July/August '07 - Castel Grand Rue - Arizona USA

Really enjoyed our stay. This was our first visit to this region of France and it didn't disappoint. Lots of beautiful & interesting places to visit in the area; we particularly liked Minerve, Carcassonne and the drive to St. Pons de Thomiere. The fireworks display in Carcassonne on the 14th of July was spectacular, definitely well worth seeing. Olonzac is a friendly, lively village, Hopefully we will return in the not too distant future.
Fergus & Margaret - July '07 - Castel Grand Rue - Armagh Ireland

Lovely gite & a great weeks holiday. Highlights included Minerve, Carcassonne, relaxing next to the Canal du Midi in Homps, Tuesday market, local wine tasting. All in all a lovely week, thanks for the welcome, the wine was most appreciated!
Suzanne & Chris - July '07 - Le Petit Castel - England

Thanks for your hospitality and warm welcome. We've had a wonderful time in Languedoc & will be back again one day to check out more of those caves.
Trish, Ned, Lilly, Jessie & Bella - June/July '07 - Le Petit Castel - Australia

After 2 weeks we felt quite at home with Le Petit Castel & Olonzac. We appreciate how well equipped the house is & how well located the village is for sightseeing. We particularly enjoyed Carcassonne, Collioure, Mirepoix, the local villages that still retain their quaintness & true French feel that is being lost in some of the more visited areas, the walk to Homps through the vineyards follwed by a drink beside the Canal du Midi. Thanks for everything.
Michael & Margaret - May/June '07 - Le Petit Castel - Adelaide Australia

Thank you so much, what a beautiful place & you were so helpful. Olonzac is lovely & the market on Tuesday is not to be missed. Only had time to do Minerve & Carcassonne in the middle of the househunting but saw much of the countryside & many out of the way villages, can not fault the area. We will be back!!!
Jeanette & Paul - May '07 - Le Petit Castel - United Kingdom

Unfortunately our week at Le Petit Castel has come to an end. Much more than a week is needed to experience the highlights of the Languedoc Roussillon region. Olonzac has been the perfect place to base ourselves & the accommodation provided at Le Petit Castel has been first class. Our thanks for providing us with everything we needed. We had a  great week.
Sandra & Brendan - May '07 - Le Petit Castel - Geelong Australia

We have come to really like this vertical little house of 3 levels. It works really well for 2 couples. We have had a great fortnight of travelling through the country side  to visit the small villages of the area. It's a great area for people who like to 'wander' with small villages dotted all over & along the Canal du Midi. Thanks for your hospitality, you ad that extra touch of friendliness.
Andrew & Carol - April/May '07 - Le Petit Castel - Melbounre Australia

Thanks so much for everything! Even before we left New Zealand you were offering us helpful advice & considering we were staying for 10 weeks, assuring us we would not be disappointed. You were so right! Our time here has exceeded all expectations & we have loved the opportunity of experiencing French village life first hand. And what a friendly village! We have come to enjoy being greeted each day at the bar/café with a welcome & handshake. Very unlike N.Z. We loved the Tuesday markets, even getting free cheese when I told the nice cheese man it was our last week. As for exploring the region we saw so much. Highlights? Peyrepertuse & Queribus, walked to the top on a fantastic day- great views. Villages of Minerve & St. Guilhem le Desert, also La Caunette & Caunes-Minervois. Greatest thrill was possibly simply cycling along the Canal du Midi, watching the boats negotiating the locks. Quite entertaining! Thanks for all the fun times and also for the welcome meal and wine. You've helped to make our holiday a wonderful experience we will never forget.
Anne & Bevan - March/April/May/June '07 - Castel Grand Rue - Auckland NZ

It's a quirky little house, but very comfortable, well set up, & a great base to explore the area. The previous guests comments were useful, & we would particularly recommend:
* The Tuesday markets
* The castle of Peyrepertuse, the Termes Castle & the Gorges de Galamus (a long day of driving but worth it)
* Abbaye de Fontfroide
* Bike riding along the Canal du Midi
We've had a great week & have been fortunate with the warm sunny weather. Thanks for a well set up base, with all the essentials provided, allowing us to relax & enjoy our time here.
Lyn,Chris, Lauren & Ellen - April '07- Le Petit Castel - Australia

Its been a pleasure staying in your gite, everything as expected - excellent!! We've had an enjoyable week visiting our daughter who recently moved to the south of France. Thanks for all your help.
Ken & Elizabeth - April '07 - Le Petit Castel - UK

We found this gite to be of a very high standard. The welcome basket was a lovely touch & wasn't expected. It was nice to be right outside the Tuesday market with the ease of bringing our items right back to the fridge to store. The beds made for a great nights sleep. Thank you.
Jenny, Roy & Julie - March '07 - Le Petit Castel - UK / Ohio USA

We were lucky with the house, the town & the welcome. Thanks for all your help. Spiral staircase was a great novelty for us staircase and generous amounts of the local red wine do not necessarily mix beware.
Paul, Irene & Di - March '07 - Le Petit Castel - Manchester UK

After a delayed flight & torrential rain it was a delight to find this warm, delightful gite. Everything you could want, comfortable beds, peace & quiet. Spent a lot of time driving around, Largrasse, Limoux, Carcassonne & even Colliore & Spain. Well worth the effort. Thanks for everything.
Carol, Alan, Hazel & Steve - February '07 - Le Petit Castel - England

Thank you for sharing your beautiful home with us. Everything was comfortable & our needs were well catered for. Hope to come back soon. Olonzac is a surprisingly charming village, the people are friendly & welcoming, the pace is relaxed.
Jan & John - May '07 - La Maison en Pierre - Brisbane Australia

Thank you for the lovely stay. Hopefully we will come again.
Giorgia, Rosa, Phill & Andrew - May '07 - La Maison en Pierre - Melbourne Australia

Very comfy beds, fabulous house, very charming village, pleasing décor.
John, Cheryl, Tessa & Claire - April '07 - La Masion en Pierre -  Richmond USA

Loved the house, it had everything.
Miriam, Ciaran, Cathal & Dierdre- April '07 - La Maison en Pierre - Galway Ireland

Lovely house in a great location, excellent weather too. Restaurants & shops all really friendly to the kids.
The Powells - April '07 - La Maison en Pierre - Kew London

Exquisite village, home, people & experience. We couldn't have been happier.
David, Vicki, Jan & Caryl - April '07 - La Masion en Pierre - Victoria Canada

Your hospitality welcome & friendly professional manner will always stay with us. We had no idea that our holiday would turn into one of the best we have had. Loved the house, the area & all it had to offer. Enjoyed the Tuesday markets & the friendly & happy couple in the corner supermarket. Visited  few castles & chateaux & was very charmed by the history & beautiful sunsets. For the more adventurous ones, we recommend the drive to Andorra, the tax free haven. We even took a trip to Barcelona to see Gaudi's wonder, to Costa Brava & admired the lovely country side. The area here is just perfect for total relaxation or so close and handy for those with a bit if adventure. Thankyou once again for this wonderful opportunity and a lifetime of memories. We look forward to returning one day, the sooner the better.
Irena, Phillip & Aaron - January/February '07 - Castel Grand Rue - Sydney Australia

Our week at Le Petit Castel has been fabulous. The house is a perfect location for exploring the surrounds of Languedoc & we couldn't have asked for a more comfortable place to stay after many day trips into the countryside. Some of our highlights have included:
*Popping in for a wander around the very pretty village Lagrasse.
*A trip to the medieval town of Minerve.
*Exploring the Corbieres including the Cathar castles of Peyrepetuse & stumbling across the Gorges de Galamus. Not for the faint hearted but most definitely a fantastic picturesque drive.
*A day trip to Toulouse with its wonderful buildings in all shades of red brick.
*Exploring Narbonne (especially the excellent covered markets for great fresh food), La Clape & seeing the Mediterranean at Narbonne Plage. Thanks for the warm welcome and & such a fantastic place to stay.
Louisa & Nick - February '07 - Le Petit Castel - Sydney Australia

We very much enjoyed our stay in Olonzac & were lucky with the unusually warm winter weather. We ventured here & there - Carcassonne, Minerve, Narbonne & Sete. I even ventured into the Mediterranean for a swim! It was freezing but very refreshing! It's nice just hanging around Olonzac & having a drink/coffee at the local. The market is great for your local produce. Thanks for all your hospitality & the comfortable accommodation.
Neal, Leone & Amelia - January '07 - Le Petit Castel - Byron Bay Australia

A wonderful 2 weeks in a great location. Didn't find it difficult to fill in 2 weeks, in fact there were several trips we didn't have time to do. Best experiences for us: Gorges de Galamus (makes Amalfi Road look like a freeway!). Peyrepertuse (castle & walk). Castle Lastours. Figueres (Spain) which has the Salvador Dali Museum. Visited on Thursday which was market day. Cirque de Navacelles. St Guilham de Desert.
Ann & Alan - November/December '06 - Castel Grand Rue - Goulburn Australia

Terrific week in terrific house! Sunday brocante market here in town was interesting. Queribus & lunch in Cucugnan were memorable, as was the drive through the Gorges de Galamus. Market day not to be missed, the stallholders are so friendly & the produce has helped put on kilos! Carcassonne a must, followed by lunch in the beautiful town of Mirepoix. Caunes very pretty (& great coffee) plus the Patisserie makes the best almond croissants. The drive to Pic de Nore is beautiful, just don't look down from the passenger side. The drive to Millau is worth it, what a fantastic bridge, just stunning - plus the town itself is lovely, we managed to be there on market day too. Thanks for such a well presented house. You do a wonderful job of having it all just right!
Lisa, Shane & Nick - November '06 - Castel Grand Rue - Australia

We arrived in the dark after attempting to master a left hand drive for the first time, getting slightly lost, feeling a bit peckish and shops all closed... and then there were the hosts - food in the house, a very special bottle of 'Le Vin Rouge', hot beverages, bread & a welcoming smile. The last part of our journey was quickly forgotten & we all settled into this fabulous house. We quickly discovered that we were at the centre of many amazing historical sites & attractions that were so accessible at this time of year (after the queues of Paris & Rome). A drive to Barcelona will never be forgotten, we got lost again in the city, but the picturesque journey especially at the border was unforgettable. The wines were a delight as was the Tuesday market. Beware of the charming cheese vendor,  who passed his phone number to us to give our daughter... "We'll play with my guitar."
Imogen, Glenys & Trevor - November '06 - Le Petit Castel - Melbourne Australia

Had a great week in Olonzac & the surrounding district. Le Petit Castel had everything we needed & provided an excellent base from which to visit the surrounding district. We ventured as far as Andorra (a very long day) & would recommend going through Foix rather than Perpignan - Mont Louis. The Canals were very colourful at this time of year with their carpet of leaves floating on the surface. We'll be back... so much to experience!
Les & Roz - November '06 - Le Petit Castel - Jindabyne Australia

Beautiful house & really conveniently situated. Carcassonne really amazing but all around plenty to see and do. We all feel we will return to the area and maybe become neighbours. Thankyou for your hospitality.
Rosaleen, John, Terry & Val - November '06 - Castel Grand Rue - United Kingdom

Le Petit Castel is a total delight. Situated on a quiet & peaceful street in Olonzac, it is the perfect place to centre yourself in the South of France. I spent a week & lived a life. Enjoy the community surrounding this house. The people are interesting & can make your visit even more rewarding. Cheers to our great hosts.
Randall - October '06 - Le Petit Castel - Sacramento California
 
Le Petit Castel was everything I had hoped it to be. You were right, by day two I was running up & down the spiral staircase as though I had lived here all my life. The market was fabulous on Tuesday & I was able to buy all meals, fresh fruit & vegetables (the size of the mushrooms need to be seen to be believed) plus local produce. I walked everyday & particularly enjoyed Lac de Jouarres. The days flew by. The village of Olonzac is both welcoming & friendly to those that have not spoken French since school some 35 years ago. I will be back one day as I need to see more of the area. I would particularly like to thank the hosts for their transporting me from & to Narbonne, for the added touches to Le Petit Castel (milk, coffee, pasta etc) & their helpfulness & knowledge of the area.
Wilma - October '06 - Le Petit Castel - Victoria Australia
 
Le Petit Castel is a delightful house situated in quaint, historic Olonzac. Fully renovated, Le Petit Castel offers comforts of home and much more in a superbly clean and most pleasantly decorated setting. We quickly referred to it as 'our home' following a day of touring in the region. Blessed with several amenities (including clothes washer, dish washer & more), life became quite simple by allowing is more time to enjoy local sights. In addition this home is conveniently close to essential services (bakeries, greengrocers etc). We found Olonzac to be a great starting point for our many trips, from Collioure to Montpellier & from Toulouse to Millau. Close by, Minerve is a must as are the castles & abbeys of the Caunes & Pyrenees. We even managed a one-day return trip to Paris but would recommend it only if one is ready to have a long day and a short night. Olonzac offers a truly excellent market on Tuesday mornings & even local inhabitants from a wide area would do their weekly shopping at this event. We found goods, from many types of cheeses, meats, sea products as well as veggies to home made pates, to be very fresh & superb. The village is a safe & welcoming agglomeration. Kudos to the hosts who did their utmost to make our stay most memorable. We are very pleased to recommend Le Petit Castel, most definitely to one & all. As the French say, it is really "Super!".
Marie & Mike - October '06 - Le Petit Castel - Ontario Canada 
 
Thankyou for the kind welcome & excellent amenities at Castel Grand Rue. We've thoroughly enjoyed staying here for several interesting & relaxing days. Much of what we've done came out of recommendations in this book & from yourselves. Wine tasting at La Liviniere (& subsequent purchases), walking beside the Canal at Homps, visiting Minerve & Carcassonne (walk between the walls to get away from the other tourists & to get more insight into the sheer scale). Just driving around the area was great. We also had an enjoyable time exploring the market on Tuesday and living off it since. In terms of Olonzac itself we can recommend the coffee at the post-office bar, the helpful staff at the pharmacy nearest the house, the restaurant next door. Hopefully we'll return in the future and we'll certainly recommend Languedoc Gites. Thanks again
Kristena, Noelle & Barry - October '06 - Castel Grand Rue - Ballarat Australia
 
As usual another fantastic retreat in Castel Grand Rue. Being in the centre of the Minervois is always a great feature of the house. But it is the detail for the guest that always means the most. I appreciate the greeting of wine & bread & the graciousness of my hosts. The house is wonderfully equipped & wonderfully clean for new arrivals. Castel Grand Rue is always a welcome home away from home during my travels to France. I always recommend you to my friends & colleagues.
Randy - October '06 - Castel Grand Rue - USA

Our 1st visit to this area but compares well to all others except the Chateaux of the Loire! We are from a large city so tend to avoid French cities & stick to rural areas & villages. Minerve is a must see. Cap d'Agde is good to visit by the Med, park by the marina, there are a number of acceptable places for lunch. The Tuesday market is a good reason to stay here. Being Autumn the mushroom man was outside the door. 500g of mixed mushrooms, a chef's delight! Fried in butter, olive oil, a splash of white wine, herbs & seasoning, with crusty bread provided a lunch which would cost a fortune back home. Finally, Castel Grand Rue gave us a very good base for the area & the house itself was perfect & all as detailed on a very good web-site. A great place to stay with plenty of facilities.
Aileen, Gordon, Philip & Nigel - October '06 - Castel Grand Rue - Sheffield UK

Thanks for a lovely stay in your beautiful house. We appreciated the well-equipped kitchen, welcome bottle of wine etc. Driving tour from St Chinian / Roquebrun / Olargues / St Pons was very beautiful. We hope to return again in a few years.
Joyce - October '06 - Castel Grand Rue - British Columbia Canada

A lovely gite, beautifully furnished & equipped & very comfortable. Thankyou for your welcome & the thoughtful touches of bread & wine. We had very hot weather for our stay - we had a day cooling off in the Med at Sete, very nice beaches & interesting town to go around. Try a boat trip on the Etang de Thau, but pre-book it. Other attractions; cruise on the Canal du Midi from Homps (again pre-book), Minerve, Lagrasse, Montagne de Noir & walking to tow tow path of the Cnal du Midi. Coillure is also a top place to visit. All in all a lovely break.
Caroyln & Andy - September '06 - Le Petit Castel - Gloucester England

Thankyou for welcoming us to Olonzac. Never having been to this area before Castel Grand Rue made a very comfortable base for our explorations. We have travelled north to the Black Mountains and Albi, South to the lower Pyrenees, east to the Mediterranean & west to Carcassonne. What a diversity of scenery! We have visited markets, abbeys, castles, gorges & of course the Canal du Midi. Perhaps the best were the inspirational towns of Pezenas and the historical implications of the Cite of Carcassonne.
Sally, Colin & Mary - September '06 - Castel Grand Rue - England

We have had a wonderful time. 3 weeks into our tour of France, it was just what we needed. The 2 boys were hanging out for some English television - sad isn't it?! But they got what their hearts desired. Even better they found a friend. The 10 year old from next door in the restaurant is a lovely boy and despite the language differences they spent happy evenings out on the road. Guillaume was very generous letting them play with this BB gun. The senior members of the party really enjoyed the opportunities to dine out. We took up the suggestions from the guest book and went to Auberge de St Martin at Beaufort and the restaurant next door. It was lovely. Another treat was in the walled village of Carcassonne. We did venture to Mirepoix which was impressive with its medieval square. Walking through the caves along the dry riverbed in Minerve was pretty special. Don't miss the market on Tuesday morning, the food street stretches from the front door here up Grand Rue.
Keith & Lynley - September '06 - Castel Grand Rue - New Zealand

Thanks for making us feel welcomed leading up to & including our arrival. Castel Grand Rue was wonderful & we felt as though it was our own 'home' with everything that you could think of. Perfect location & we enjoyed seeing the different produce at the market on Tuesday. We found Olonzac to be the ideal base to explore surrounding countryside. Congratulations.
Sam, Dianne, Sam & Margaret - September '06 - Castel Grand Rue - Melbourne Australia

*Day 1 - Firstly, love the house, so much atmosphere, so close to everything, we loved it. Guys, you know what it's like wife books a place in the South of France and tells you 'you are going to love it'. Great, 7 days in the middle of nowhere, but if you complain no body to body contact (B2BC). Driving on the other side of the road and a manual car, then the car goes mechanical arguments WWWIII. Went to Beziers & around different villages. Loved the area & people. Restaurant next door great food & service, a few laughs explaining we are strict vegetarians. Loved it!
*Day 2 - Canal du Midi - Restaurant at Homps after cruise, perfect food & service. Visited Minerve in the morning, worth the time to look & walk around. Surrounding villages great. Got lost on a one lane road & prayed nothing came the other way.
*Day 3 - Drove to Toulouse, very nice but just another city. Shops are good didn't get lost. Then onto Carcassonne Castle. I don't think I have ever taken more pictures in all my life. A treat, walk in history.
*Day 4 - Markets, an experience. Watch the cheese seller, a bit of a con. Great experience, then to lunch at Beaufort. Great great food & a total foodies experience. That good we booked for our last night.
* Day 5 - Went to Le Pont du Gard, spectacular. Lot of driving & getting lost (half the fun). To Sete no comment (atleast I saw the Mediterranean).
*Last days - Went to Mailhac & Caunes the abbey. Really tested my patience & driving skills, just drove around, fell more in love the place, went to the lake.
*Summary - Love the place, people food, wine (B2BC). Thanks, will be back! See you again soon!
James & Nita - September '06 - Castel Grand Rue - Sydney Australia

We have spent a very relaxing week in Le Petit Castel - the house itself is of course fab & a really good location for lots of day trips - as well as interesting bike rides (Mellow Velos were v.good!) without forgetting the wine tasting!
Catherine & Patrick - August '06 - Le Petit Castel - Leeds UK

We have spent 2 weeks in Le Petit Castel. We have enjoyed our stay very much. We went to the beach at Sete one day. The traffic was very slow but when we finally got there we enjoyed the beach which is huge with a long area of sand. We also went to Carcassonne, Perpignan & Toulouse. All together we enjoyed our vacation and the stairs were good exercise! A little 'parasol' on the terrace would have been nice on the hot days.
Kirsten & Birger - August '06 - Le Petit Castel - Denmark

After staying in Olonzac for 2 weeks we are sorry to go back to the cold north. We stayed one week in Castel Grand Rue and another in Le Petit Castel, both very charming town houses - although we could have used a 'shadow-maker' in the last place. Both houses were well equipped and we enjoyed the hospitality. The surrounding Minervois countryside is a beautiful part of France with the nearby Montagne Noir. In addition to the interesting sites mentioned by other guests in this book we would like to point out 2 small towns south of Lezignan named Lagrasses and which offers prefect opportunities to bathe in the river with clean water and lots of fish - exciting for children! The Queribus fortress in Haut Corbieres was very inspiring.
Lise & family - July / August '06 - Castel Grand Rue & Le Petit Castel - Denmark

What a wonderful way to get to know Southern France. Le Petit Castel is located in an area that allows for all types of exploration. All the comfort of home has been provided. The gorge and Minerve are beautiful and the little walk ends at a pond and small waterfall where one can watch children at play in the water and picnic. And don't miss market day in Olonzac! The fresh fruit, vegetables, cheeses and wine make a delicious summer lunch. I loved this place and would come back in 'a New York minute'.
Suzanne - July '06 - Le Petit Castel - Scotland / California

We loved the wine tasting too. Thanks for giving us such a good welcome. Loved Le Petit Castel and the town of Olonzac. I hope to be back. A bientot!
Mary & Denise - July '06 - Le Petit Castel - Glasgow

Thanks for a great stay. We became quite attached to Castel Grand Rue. We had a great time wandering around the Minervois. It was a great experience in getting used to driving on the "wrong side of the road". We particularly enjoyed our visit to Carcassonne and our time spent wandering around the old city. We also had a very enjoyable lunch there which included a free bottle of wine. Narbonne was worth the visit even though the shops were shut (it was a Monday). Yesterday we visited the pretty village of Mailhac. From here we drove into the scenic Black Hills and then back to Homps for some internet contact with family and a refreshing breeze off the lake. Our trip along the Canal du Midi earlier in the week was well worth it. The market day was fun and we had a ball sampling local produce and buying things at the clothing stalls. Best wishes to you and au revoir.
Shirley, Ken, Helen & Tony - June/July '06 - Castel Grand Rue - Western Australia

Last year we spent a week in the house Castel Grand Rue. We loved it! This time we rented the new house Le Petit Castel. We can't make up our minds which is the best. They are both lovely houses and Olonzac is a nice village. Thankyou for a warm welcome and congratulations with this new house.
Pernille, Johan & Niels - June '06 - Le Petit Castel - Copenhagen Denmark

Had a great time here in Olonzac - much to see & do, In the village, markets on Tuesday are fantastic. We bought some beef/vegetables & cooked on the Weber BBQ. Couple who run the PMU are lovely. Pizza/pasta restaurant is great & relatively cheap. Make sure you visit local villages. In particular the villages on the Canal du Midi  eg. Le Somail, Roubia. Take the 2 hour cruise from Homps - very interesting. We did some big drives - down to Perpignan & then down coast road into Spain - spectacular scenery. We then came back through the Pyrenees. The beaches up towards Sete are quite nice - wasn't warm enough for us to swim but that will change. Carcassonne is fascinating - you need 2-3 hours to explore it. Beautiful part of the world.
Geoff, Karen, Ross & Sue - June '06 - Castel Grand Rue - NSW Australia

This has been our last week in France of a six week holiday, so we feel rather sad! But the week here has been a good note to finish on. We have loved every day whether it involved a trip to the stunning gorges near Olargues, on the beach at Sete, or just pottering about in the village and surrounding area. Languedoc has many hidden charms. Thankyou for superb accommodation and for being so helpful and hospitable. Please visit if you ever get down to Tasmania.
Angela, Paul & Claire - June '06 - Le Petit Castel - Tassie Australia

Recommendations: Villages & Towns :
*Minerve - beautiful village to explore, delicious lunch at Chantarant.
*Carcassonne - medieval city, full of history, good shopping. Tour la cite with guide.
*Narbonne - delightful town near the Mediterranean with canal running through town. Amazing old catherdral, museum, Roman Rd remains in town square.
*Narbonne Plage - beautiful beach, wide esplanade, easy parking.
*Peyriac de Mer/Bages (south of Narbonne 20 minutes) - 2 very attractive villages surrounded by old salt pans and lots of wild life. Pink flamingos are around at times but we didn't see them.
*Black Mountains - via St Pons up to La Salvatat & the lakes. Lake/mountain views & pretty wild flowers/
*Local Markets - fresh food and local goods are without equal round the world! Each village has a weekly market.
*Le Somail - Village by Canal du Midi. We had coffee by the canal & watched the boats go by - very relaxing.
*Canal du Midi - 2 hour cruise from Homps. Very interesting commentary en route, a pleasant trip.
*Caunes- Old Abbey & town is very pretty.
*Get in the car & explore! So much to see & do in this fascinating, historic area of France. Signposting is excellent & it's virtually impossible to get lost. Do your best (as we did) to help the French resolve this 'wine glut', wine is very cheap & good. There are several caves close by. Go by recommendations.
Thank you so much for your welcoming hospitality & good advice during our stay. We have been very comfortable here & will always remember Olonzac, the market town as a very special place.
Gaie, Lee & Malcolm - May / June '06 - Castel Grand Rue -  NSW Australia

Thankyou so much for a really great stay here in Olonzac - it has become like a house - and soon will be as we've been fortunate to find a lovely house to buy right here in the town (which was the purpose of our stay). Many many thanks for all your help, guidance and tips. We look forward to seeing you again on our return in August.
Sally & Peter - May '06 - Castel Grand Rue - UK/Australia

The Gorges de la Cesse, near L'Aurrole, spectacular/ Do not miss the 'curiosite de Lauriole' where your car will go apparently uphill with engine off. Do take the empty 5L wine container to La Liviniere, where 5.50 euro will get you litres of a great red. Just truck around, take any interesting looking road, it's impossible to get very lost. Sit by the the Canal du Midi at any of the lovely towns on it and watch people tying up their boats -  we had some great laughs at the manoeuvres - we'll be providing the laughs ourselves in a week or 2. You've been super welcoming and have given us help & advice over & above ahtw we could reasonably ask. A top 10 days, we could easily do it again, and may do.
Jonathan & Jennifer - April/May '06 - Castel Grand Rue - Sydney Australia

Thankyou very much for a very comfortable home for the last 10 days. Loved the local park, particularly the perfumed roses (Australia doesn't seem to produce too many roses with perfume these days). A few notable places - locally Le Somail & Ventenac - both spots on the canal du midi where boats berth. Grotte de Limousis a bit further a field but worth a visit. There are a series of chambers with an enourmous chandelier a particular feature.
Margery - April/May '06 - Castel Grand Rue - NSW Australia

Many thanks for a brilliant 2 weeks in this wonderful house. We had a great relaxing time in this great part of France, lots to do for all ages. Castle district in Carcassonne is a great place to spend a few hours. Take a trip to the Black Mountains for a picnic. We also did a field trip to Mont Louis in the Pyrenees at 1900 metres. The beach on the way into Sete is very good. Olonzac itself has pretty much everything, restaurants, bars, supermarkets, playground, lots of boulangeries etc. And best of all on Tuesday from about 8am the market outside the front door! How better to soak up the French way of life. Thanks again for all your help. Hope to return in the future.
Pete, Niamh, Ben & Ellen - April '06 - Castel Grand Rue - Dublin Ireland

Glorious weather this week -  perfect fro visiting local towns, beaches and mountains. We would recommend the following: Beziers - boutique style shops & the view of the surrounding countryside from the cathedral is fab. Beach - The best one is just before you reach Sete. A very long stretch of beautiful sands. You can just pull over onto the side of the road. Wine - We visited a couple of vineyards, a good small winegrower was Chateau Torril just up the road. They explained it all to us and we were made very welcome. Countryside - The Black Mountains are a must, head towards Pid de Nore at over over 1000 metres it offers fab views if the cloud is not to low! Don't forget to go to Minerve, a beautiful village. Thanks for a lovely week.
Dawn & Steve - April '06 - Castel Grand Rue - Bedfordshire UK

We leave with reluctance - a great Castel in a terrific little town. Our highlight was a trip to Collioure -  we will now go on & stay there. Thanks for your care & welcome. The Castel is well set up and quickly becomes a home away from home.
Bernie, Pete, Lucy & Anthony - April '06 - Castel Grand Rue - Melbourne Australia & South Africa

Thanks for the lovely welcome. We enjoyed the wine and have loved sitting around the fire every night. Olonzac and surrounding area has been better than expected. We particularly enjoyed our rides into the Black Mountains, Minerve and even ventured to dip our toes in the Mediterranean. For Dan Brown followers a trip to Rennes-le-Chateau is a must. We even ventured into Andorra to watch the winter sports. Carcassonne was wonderful and spent several evenings walking along the Canal du Midi collecting kindling! The house has been great with everything we needed and more! Will recommend it to family and friends. Thanks for the wonderful weather as well!
Jenny, Mick, John & Mika - March '06 - Castel Grand Rue - Blackburn UK

Thankyou for your great hospitality and warm welcome to Castel Grand Rue. The maison is a particularly great place to stay. It is equipped with everything a traveller could wish. I will certainly return on every opportunity that I am able. Olonzac being in the heart of the Minervois is particularly convenient for my property investigation visit. The village has great little stores, restaurants and boulangeries. Thankyou for all your suggestions and I look forward to seeing you both again in the near future.
Randall - March '06 - Castel Grand Rue - California USA

Well what can you say about an area that welcomes you and enchants you like this region. We had a great time! Whether it be the mysterious Minerve, the quaint Homps or the very busy but elegant Beziers, this area has so much to offer. The food was fabulous. Thanks for all your help, you were fantastic before & during our stay, welcoming & helping us when & as we needed.
Paul, Margaret & family - New Years/January '06 - Castel Grand Rue - Gold Coast Australia

We have thoroughly enjoyed our week in Castel Grand Rue. The house was perfect and had everything we needed, including a welcoming warm fireplace for those chilly winter nights. Olonzac was a great little village and seemed to be a meeting place for many people from neighbouring villages, to replenish their supplies. We enjoyed the Tuesday market for fresh produce & delicious fruit, cheeses, olives and wine! We enjoyed exploring all the villages with their quaint maisons, alleyways and history. Great to reacquaint ourselves with this area after visiting it briefly 6 years earlier. Thanks once again for the perfect welcome, house and week's holiday!
Michael, Sharyn & Samuel - Christmas '05 - Castel Grand Rue - Queensland Australia & Vienna Austria

We came for 3 weeks & stayed for a month! Olonzac & the people have been so friendly, helpful & willing to have a talk, that our stay here has confirmed our initial impression of the French we met in Paris. The French reputation for arrogance & being unfriendly to travellers/tourists is unfounded!! That was our impression atleast. Join in, consider it all a new adventure to try & you will enjoy this part of France as much as we did. The house is great comfortable, bright and central to many varied excursions. You have been helpful, informative & most of all, fun. We have appreciated our stay very much. Thankyou.
Sue & Tim - November/December '05 - Castel Grand Rue - Orange Australia

We had good times in Olonzac,
Can't promise when but we'll be back.
This house on the street was such a treat,
With landlords sweet and great to meet!
Paul, Rita & Jack - October '05 - Castel Grand Rue - Blue Mountains Australia

It was a great wedding and we had so much fun. Many thanks for all your help and encouragement, without which we would not have persevered, and it wouldn't have all happened.
Claire, Steve, Jack, John, Judy and Eve - October '05 - Castel Grand Rue - Canada

Thanks for a wonderful week - the wine was a lovely welcome. Loved the house. We can recommend the bar around the corner for coffee and drinks and definitely the restaurant. The Tuesday markets are great and the chap up the lane from the house does a great lunch. Great base for exploring, love to come again.
Fran, Ellen & Diane - September '05 - Castel Grand Rue - Sydney Australia

A most convenient base to explore a wonderful part of the country. Enjoyed Minerve, Homps canal ride, Azille (lovely ladies in the information centre) & especially a drive through several picturesque villages to the Haut Languedoc. Can thoroughly recommend the fresh apple juice at Citou! Olonzac itself is lovely - so much to explore. Thanks again for a wonderful holiday.
Val & Jon - September '05 - Castel Grand Rue - Gosford Australia

Good beds made for good sleep. How delighted we were to spend some lazy hours in the park, it really does make the village that much more enjoyable to an elderly person - like me who cant walk too far. Shops on the doorstep too - bliss!!!
Olive - September '05 - Castel Grand Rue - Australia

Thankyou for your lovely warm welcome. We visited Barcelona, well worth doing if the length of the trip doesn't daunt you. Figures is where the Dali museum is located and also worth a visit. Narbonne Plage and restaurant close by are good places to eat. The bar around the corner does good ice creams. Lac du Jouarres has a sandy place if you turn left at the café & not right! Kids enjoyed the river bed & caves in Minerve. Queribus for the energetic - huge walk up hill but the views are worth it. Roast chickens tasty at the Olonzac markets. Don't lie in on Tuesday or you will miss the market. Many thanks once again.
Mike, Jane, Stephen, Rachel and Robert - August/September '05 - Castel Grand Rue - England

Thanks for everything, a wonderful gite, very well equipped and perfect for us. Olonzac is a lovely town and very central for the rest of the region. We visited many places and can really recommend a visit to Bezier, the drive between Bages and Peyriac de Mer, restaurant at Homps, Lac du Jouarres, and for the more energetic, a walk to Queribus. We also spent a lovely day in Lagrasse and can recommend the plein d'eau there. Food + wine in the region always lovely and we have really enjoyed shopping at the Olonzac markets - our car crammed with samples of the local vin rouge & blanquette. Thanks again for making us so welcome. See you next year..?!?
Mark, Nicky, Daniel, Ben & Isaac - August '05 - Castel Grand Rue - Cornwall England

Thankyou for the wine, we have enjoyed our stay in your lovely house, we are sorry we could not have had 2 weeks. Hope to come again in the near future. Thanks once more.
Dennis & Ann - August '05 - Castel Grand Rue -Skepton North Yorkshire UK

Thankyou very much for a nice week in your charming house, well situated in the Minervois. We (four Danish people) have enjoyed our stay here & we certainly will be back.
Peter, Linda, Jim & Hanne - July '05 - Castel Grand Rue - Denmark

We have had a great time here, the house is superb and had everything we needed. Languedoc is very interesting, we have had a very memorable time, we went to: Homps where we hired bikes and cycled along the Canal du Midi, Lac de Jouarres, Mailhac, Minerve where we had a great lunch, Lagrasse where we saw the abbey, Narbonne, Carcassonne where the castle is amazing and if you go in July or August there is a 'Jousting show'. We swam at St Pierre la Mer and Valras Plage but we preferred Valras Plage. We hope to come again! -
Henry, Simon, Portia, Jeanette and Alice - July '05 - Castel Grand Rue - Aussies living in Vienna Austria

Thank you for a warm welcome. This part of France is rather new to us but we discovered the benefit of being close to everything by staying in Olonzac. We will return to this part of the country again. The house is really nice especially the terrace. Climbing the stairs is good exercise. Thanks again.
Pernille, Johan & Niels - July '05 - Castel Grand Rue - Denmark

Thanks for the welcome and set up. Being right in the village was a huge bonus and we were made to feel part of the village life, from drinking in the local bars to shopping to watching 'boules' in the park. A great place. A visit to Carcassonne was great, the castle and 'La Cité' were worth 2 visits. Homps is a must - cycling by the canals better value than the boat ride. Minerve and Aigne were good. Top event was the Olonzac Tuesday markets. Thanks again.
John, Levonne, Terry, Kay, Geoff & Vicki - June '05 - Whangare New Zealand

'Quelles bonnes semaines!' We arrived at the perfect time to see all the things we love: fields of poppies just bursting, the vineyards brilliant and green. Olonzac is so friendly and a good home base. We enjoyed good meals at the restaurant closest to the house and ate very well from the market. Good walks on the canal, ducklings abound. Thought Aigne was a remarkable town, artists all around 'l'escargot'. We love the maison, hope to return with friends another year. Appreciate your extra touches. Thanks.
Diana - May '05 - USA

The village of Olonzac and surrounding villages were great places to visit. Minerve is highly recommended as well as the fields of thyme growing above. Worth a drive with windows open wine of the region was very much enjoyed. La Livinière produced some of the most interesting wines, the region has good variety and beauty. Thanks for all the assistance and patience with our arrival - you're welcome in our neck of the woods anytime!
PS. The white kitty who roams the alley loves to dine on any scraps lying about - she's a little rough around the edges but very sweet.
Sarah - May '05 - USA

Great location for seeing the area! In Olonzac the boulangerie is good for freshly baked bread etc and the local market on Tuesday. Don't miss 'La Cité' in Carcassonne. If it's cloudy locally, try driving down the coast from Narbonne. We thought Minerve and Mirepoix definitely worth a visit, drive south after Mirepoix and get some exercise climbing Chateau Montsegus. For good wine tasting, go to La Livinière about 15 minutes from Olonzac.
Don & Pam - May '05 - Edinburgh Scotland

Its been wonderful! Love the house & Olonzac. Such a pretty spot, we could really get used to the pace of this quaint area. Minerve was our favourite spot and really recommend it. Thanks for your help with directions as we did get to 'Queribus' - very enjoyable. We also had a lot of fun getting lost, but found all the locals very friendly. Thoroughly enjoyed the markets. Will tell all the folks back home about 'Chateau Grand Rue!'.
Sandra & Ross - April / May '05 - Connells Point Sydney Australia

Thanks for the welcome. Your maps etc very useful. A great maison in an ideal village to explore all points of the compass. I hope the little boy with the sad soft voice has "trouvé son chien". Thoroughly enjoyed our visit to several 'caves' to sample the wine - how about the prices compared with the Aussies! Says something about subsidised farm production. I hope the French farmers win their battle against the senseless free market. Mantra & maintain la guerre - otherwise smaller medium family farmers will disappear! After rain in Provence the sun finally smiled on our visit to Narbonne and the plage. Merci beaucoup, au revoir.
Peter - April '05 - Millthorpe Australia

This is my first visit to France. Since I was a child I have wanted to come here. I have found the French people in Provence & on the way to Olonzac & in this area so very friendly. France makes my heart sing. Thanks for the comfortable stay & the great communication via email before our arrival. Au revoir pour maintenant mais je reviendrai~ someday.
Valerie - April '05 - Millthorpe Australia

Thankyou so much for helping me settle into this gorgeous town Olonzac & particularly this home which is in the perfect situation to base yourself while exploring the neighbouring villages & their abbeys, caves and canal ports. I loved the 'locks' and would love to come back one day to do a canal trip. Excellent place to practice your French too! I had to!!!! Thanks again.
Sandra - April '05 - Sydney Australia

Lovely welcome - bottle of wine and enough provisions for a breakfast - GREAT! Castel Grand Rue has been great for our base - we hopefully have managed to purchase our lovely bolt hole! We love this area - everything you need, great restaurant close to the house. Love Narbonne. Olonzac is a neat perfect village, everyone so friendly & certainly everything you will need, Carcassonne spectacular, well worth a visit. Travelling around the surrounding villages are a must, even if only for a drive through.
Caroline, Stuart & Isobel - February '05 - Birmingham England

Thanks for making sure everything all went smoothly for our stay here in Olonzac. We enjoyed our week very much, visits to Carcassonne, Montpellier & Beziers & local towns & cycle rides along the Canal du Midi. We at well & enjoyed the delicious local produce including 'lapin' for our New Years Eve meal. The wines were great & the weather kind to us after a chilly start. I hope we can come again soon.
Anthony, Bronny, Sharon & Fenton - December / January '04 / '05 - Aussies in London & Tokyo

We had throughout our time here a thoroughly enjotable visit and enjoyed staying your villa very much. Will certainly recommend it to our friends in the future.
Michael & Lovice - December '04 - Belgium

We have enjoyed our time in Olonzac. The many little villages in the surrounding area are very interesting - I have never seen so many vineyards. 'La Cité' in Carcassonne is well worth a visit just to imagine what it would have would have been like to live in medieval times. There must have been a lot of 'agro' during that time, very unlike now. This part of France is relaxed & friendly. Narbonne is well wort a visit on the way to the coast. Not a lot happening on the coast at this time of year. We may have to come back and check it out in the warmer months. Ciao.
Ben & Katherine - December '04 - Milan Italy

Thankyou so much for all your help and advice. Loved the house & Olonzac. Made many new friends in the café!!! Look forward to returning ASAP! Best regards.
Dawn & Juellien - November '04 - England

This is a wonderful house in the centre of a charming town! We have thoroughly enjoyed our week touring around, often getting lost and discovering many beautiful French villages along the way! We have enjoyed talking with the friendly locals and sampling the superb local produce along the way too. Thankyou for your warm welcome. We really appreciated your assistance and suggestions.
Kay & Bruce - November '04 - Newcastle Australia

Ideal, very central spot for property hunting as we have been able to explore over to Carcassonne (wonderful - take a ride on the gypsy carousel outside the castle walls), south into Corbieres, west to Narbonne, Beziers & the coast and & north through the Minervois tot he Black Mountains. Olonzac has everything necessary in terms of shopping & the house is excellent, would certainly stay here again. Loved the Canal du Midi at Homps and elsewhere, also the lovely Abbey at Lagrasse. The shopping at Narbonne was perfect for gifts, and the unusual - also many shoes to choose from. Many thanks for the wine and the welcome, also the shower and the terrace.
Paul & Joy - October '04 - North Yorkshire UK

Great place - house is lovely. The shower spa us pretty groovy. We really enjoyed chilling out here & taking in the local life. Would love to spend more time here. Thanks for all your help.
Tania & Michael - October '04 - Queensland Australia

We had a wonderful relaxing time at Castel Grand Rue and many enjoyable day trips. Setes beaches are beautiful, Carcassonne and Minerve are both beautiful and interesting. Tuesdays markets are delicious and the man with the roti poulet just outside the doors
cooks a great lunch. We love the house and the village and will strongly recommend both to our friends in Australia. Thanks again.
Garry, Chistine & Rebecca - September '04 - Tumbi Umbi Australia

House is lovely! Wine & flowers as welcoming gesture were greatly appreciated. Beach at Sete is lovely. Flamingos can be seen at Bages + Peyriac de Mer. Minerve worth a visit, Carcassonne also well worth a visit.
Ian, Elaine & Joyce - September '04 - England

We loved this house and want to return. This house is the Olonzac Chateau. It was very entertaining watching town life out of the windows as we live in a small village in the middle of nowhere.
Elly & Elyse - August '04 - Suffolk England

Your villa is lovely, we have had such a great time. Enjoyed Sete, Narbonne, Carcassonne, Beziers, Saint Cyprien, Minerve and a small part of Spain. Olonzac is a great little town, we shall return!
Angela & Neil - August '04 - England