Esperaza Cottage Rennes le Chateau France

We've been here 3 times & have thouroughly enjoyed each time. Do all the amazing sightseeing but make a point to meet the people in the town.
Boots & Carole, Georgia USA, February 2008 Thank You ... We truly had a wonderful time ... it feels like we've been here for months as we feel well rested, rejouvenated and energized. We've gone to visit many villages, markets, abbeys, etc each day and have put almost 2,500 km on our rental car!! This trip has stimulated all our senses ... great food, gorgeous views meandering through the countryside. Sadly, it is now time to go back home, but already we can't wait to come back!!
Sharon & Jerry, Totonto, Canada, December 200 This is our last night in this lovely cottage. We have had a wonderful holiday. Loved the Sunday market. Highlights:
_. Nebias - fantastic two and a half hour nature walk ... beautiful picnic spots ... Highly recommended;
_. Gorge de Galamus - incredible views. Don't forget to stop to walk down to the Ermitage de St-Antoine which is beautiful.
_. George St-George - lovely drive along the aude
_. Chalabre has two boulangeries. One sells amazing chocolates
We loved the fact that nearly everyone we met stopped to admire or coo at our baby. People are very friendly.
Fionula & Ross, Ireland, October 2007

... thank you for a wonderful and peaceful stay in the Espéraza Cottage. We enjoyed our week very much!!!. First we did the "musts": Château de Queribus, Rennes-le-Château and Carcassonne. We found in this wonderful place a lot of inspiration. ...
Michael, Sabine and Alicia, Germany, October 2007

Enjoyed our seven nights in the gîte. We were very lucky to arrive on the weekend of the delayed festival. Really enjoyed the dancing on the Sunday night in the square. ... Store next to bar [in the square] is well stocked and very friendly people. Patiserie near by is great too. ... Sunday market a highlight ... some fabulous jewellery and there was a "juggler with glass balls" who was awesome.
Trip to Andorra was great - especially as we went by the route of Day 14 of the Tour de France. ...

Thanks to previous directions to Rennes-le-Château [in the visitors' book]. Great walk both ways.
Wine tasted at Sieur d'Arques just out of Limoux. Very nice and well priced.
Carcassonne - touristy but worth it - even the 20 year old enjoyed it.
Carol & Rob, Justine & Mike, Australia + New Zealand, October 2007

We found Espéraza the perfect centre for short travels to most points of interest in the area
Enjoy your stay as we did
Kevin & Gail, Australia, August 2007
Enjoyed our 2 week stay at Espéraza. ...Enjoyed eating out at a varying range of establishments.
Carcassonne at night is quite an experience - well worth the visit.
Enjoyed various walks in the area.
Anne and Andrew Both, England, June 2007

Thankyou for a wonderful stay in the Espéraza Cottage!
Using this as our centre, we've explored almost every Cathar Castle in the environs between Foix, Carcassonne and the Mediterranean Sea. Beautiful landscape.
We look forward to coming back!
Ingrid, Daniel, Ulva, Norway, February 2007

We were lucky enough to be here during the Tour de France (passed en route to Carcassonne). Lots of freebies! A fantastic atmosphere!
Colin, Lorna, Jennifer & Catriona, Scotland , July 2006

...the cottage is perfectly situated for getting about…
... There is lots more to do but our week is over mores the pity. I am sure we will return.
Alison & Richard, England, July 2006

... it's great to be a bit off the beaten track and to experience rural France and discover the natural and historic landmarks of Languedoc, which are as good as anything we've seen.
We'll be recommending this area, and the cottage, to other Australians with the travel bug.
Lynda, Jan & John, Australia, June 2006 We had a wonderful time in Espéraza and loved the cottage. It had everything we needed and Sophie went out of her way to help whenever she could. We didn't have a car but found that our stay was still not long enough. So yes, plenty to do on foot or bicycle.
... wonderful walk to Rennes-le-Château. Beautiful views and we didn't come across anyone else on the walk, so was nice time-out.
... We will be back and we will tell friends! Sharn and Adam, Australia, May - June 2006 Enjoy your stay here - we have. Peter and Catherine, New Zealand, May 2006

The apartment was wonderful. It gave us the "French" experience we wanted.
Michael & Shannon, USA, Spring 2006

Les plus beaux villages de France: there are 148 of these in France, and around here there are quite a number:-
_. Lagrasse
_. Camon
Towards the Pyrenees:
_. Villefranche de Conflet
_. Erol
_. Eus
_. Mosset
_. Castelnon
Also visit Mirepoix and Fanjeaux
Val & Iona, South Africa, January 2006

I also want to tell you how much these emails [to & from Sophie] have eased my mind regarding my trip ... France has always been 'daunting' to me... You have made the difference between anxiety and anticipation! GS, 2006

The apartment was wonderful. It gave us the « French » experience we_wanted and wonderful day trips.
Shannon and Michael, USA, 2006

We had a wonderful time in Espéraza and loved the cottage. It had everything we needed and Sophie went out of her way to help whenever she could.
Sharn and Adam, Sydney, Australia, 2006

We enjoyed our week in the Espéraza cottage and thanks to Sophie for making us feel so at home.
Lynda and Jan, Australia, 2006

Almost any road is different and breathtakingly different. Our week here was full and uplifting for the spirit. We shall remember our stay.
Eileen and Paul, Australia, 2006

Carcassonne was wonderful and we ventured to the Airbus factory in Toulouse.
Ainslie and Tom, Sydney, Australia, 2006

A lovely week in a sweet village. We did so much - a grotte with prehistoric drawings, up into the Pyrenees, Château Peyrepertuse (hard climb, but amazing).
Keith & Melanie, USA, November (?) 2005

we have spent a wonderful week here. ... we have fallen in love with the scenery of Southern France. Almost any road - new and breathtakingly beautiful!
An ideal centre for excursions to Toulouse and beyond; north-east Spain; Carcassonne; the High Pyrenees; Camargue and also the Pays de l'Aude and to the other scenic areas which encompass this town.
Our week here was full and uplifting for the spirit.
Eileen & Paul, Australia, October 2005

Beautiful scenery. We particularly liked being here in autumn, we could sleep with our windows open and enjoyed the changing colors of trees and leaves on grapevines ... ... Château de Puilaurens in Lapradelle - beautiful, quiet ruin and fun to climb around in. We also enjoyed Château de Queribus with a stunning view. We ate a local Catalan lunch at Restaurant de Viaduc in Lapradelle and had a good lunch at the Divine Comedy in Carcassonne.
We also enjoyed Grotte de Niaux and went on to see the prehistoric cave paintings. The cemetery, abbey and the old town itself Alet-les-Bains is a lovely visit.
We spent one afternoon in Perpignan and found it to be a lovely and interesting city. Barbara & Quentin, USA, October 2005

Chose Espéraza + the gîte for our honeymoon destination, and we couldn't have chosen better.
The gîte has a lovely, slightly rustic feel but is comfortable and has everything in it anyone could possibly need allowing us to cook lovely meals in between forays to the wonderful restaurants…thanks for being so approachable and friendly.
Jenny and Scott, England, September 2005

Stunning September light walking the nearby banks and slopes of the river Aude. .. . One of the most memorable meals of our lives at the Ducs de Joyeuses restaurant at Couiza. David and Sue Knight, England, September 2004

Espéraza is an excellent base for seeing a very beautiful area steeped in fascinating history.
Tony and Margaret Knight, England, September 2004

Wonderful mattress. It is the first time in three years I have woken up without a sore back.
Harry Johnston, 2004

Wonderful visit and beautiful weather. Walks to Rennes-le-Château worth doing and Rennes les Bains also charming. Castles Queribus, Montsegur, Arques and Puivert all different and amazing. Pack lunches a must in Winter. Louise and Kevin, 2005
Have done so much in such a short time._ Day 1 Carcassonne _ Day 2 Andorra _ Day 3 Rafting at Axat and the Château de Puilaurens _ Day 4 Lourdes _ Day 5 Puivert castle and the château at St Ferriol _ Day 6 Toulouse_Thank you for your suggestions.
Steve and Debra Tindale, Australia, July-August 2004