Pincardel - Holiday home in the South West of France

19/02/2024

Skiing in Les Angles 🎿 ⛷️

19/02/2024

Front field ready for some football goals or a wedding marquee 😃

21/07/2023

Making our way to the Dieppe ferry…..we stopped for a day and night in Versailles ⭐️ We had an amazing day spent exploring the park 🌲 🌳 and gardens 🌸 We had Lola dog 🐶 in tow so had to take turns in the gardens (dogs not allowed in the palace or gardens, but welcome in the park). We ate at La Flotille by the Grand Canal, which is next to the bicycle hire and golf cart hire. It was average food wise but the setting was lovely, as was the service. I definitely recommend hiring a golf cart or bikes. Versailles is vast- the whole estate is over 800 hectares! You can also book the little tourist train and row a boat on the grand canal. It’s just stunning. The palace itself has 2,300 rooms. The garden is free but you need to buy tickets to access the garden, palace and other estate buildings such as the Trianon. These can be bought separately or part of a whole pass. For the palace- order well in advance and, ideally, plan your trip mid week and for an early morning entry. You will need a lot of time and comfortable shoes.

18/07/2023

Scorching day here at Pincardel with temperatures reaching 36 degrees! ☀️ The fruit trees 🌳 are thriving. We have the mirabelles (orange, red and yellow varieties. Larger than a grape but smaller than a tomato), lots of pears 🍐 not yet ripe but getting there) and figs🍃 a plenty (ripening soon). Guests are welcome to go fruit picking. Try making a crumble with the mirabelles or have them with some ice cream or yoghurt or even make a jam. The figs are great in salads with cold cuts 🥩 and a great accompaniment for cheese 🧀 - again you can make jam with these too. Pears, all of the above. Enjoy 😃

17/07/2023

Mirepoix hosts a market in the central square Place du Marchéchal Leclerc, by the Cathedral, every Monday morning from 8.00am to 1pm. This is a beautiful and varied market where you can buy fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, cheese, honey, fresh breads, saucisson, olives, snails, mussels etc etc, jewellery, bags, shoes, clothes, home wares, art and so much more. Well worth a visit. There are lots of restaurants, and actual shops selling their wares, around the outside looking onto the market. Watch the world go by over a coffee or a superb ice cream (from the stall outside restaurant Maurice….their salted caramel is amazing), buy a traditional market basket and fill it with yummy goodies for lunch at home, a new summer dress (or two) and inevitably some souvenirs the children have acquired (a music box and friendship bracelets in our case today!). We just all love Mirepoix. An easy 25 min drive. There are parking spots in the streets parallel to the market, or you could try the free parking lot at Avenue Gilbert Fauré (10-min walk to the square) or park at Super U supermarket and walk into town (5 mins or so). We found parking on the approach road, before the traffic lights at the crossroads which was super easy (2 min walk).

16/07/2023

L’Autre Jardin in Mirepoix (25 mins drive). Perfect for an adult date night. Delicious food and fantastic service. I’d definitely go again. Loved the Asian influence in some of the dishes. It’s worth noting that they do sushi on Friday lunchtimes

16/07/2023

Pizza Le Roll restaurant in Belveze du Razes, just 8 mins away. Parking available right there (opposite the pharmacy). Pizzas 🍕 salad 🥗 entrecôte 🥩 and hamburgers 🍔 and yummy desserts 🍨 🍰 There’s a little play area in the garden for under 7s (bouncy castle etc). Open every evening the summer (except Monday). You can also order takeaway (for collection).

16/07/2023

A beautiful afternoon spent in Lagrasse. It’s a long drive (1 hour 10 mins but the drive alone is stunning). Make a day of it- Take a picnic, swim in the Orbieu river, have a drink and ice cream at Le Recantou and visit the Abbaye Sainte-Marie de Lagrasse (Lagrasse Abbey). Easy pay and display outdoor carpark a stone’s throw from the walk along the river

16/07/2023

Triple threat; outstanding first release of the Grenache, Muscat & Syrah varieties from the Domaine Nicholas John Coates. Highly recommend 🙌

15/07/2023

Volleyball game face on

14/07/2023

Adventure and exploration day- Picnic and river fun at Rennes-les-Bains. Known for its natural thermal spa dedicated to the treatment of rheumatism. Park by the actual spa and take the public footpath down to the river, bearing left. Just 5 mins walk from the car you’ll find a lovely picnic spot, a shallow part of the river to paddle in and the natural warm water basin. We went here after rafting at Rodeoraft, in Belvianes-et-Cavirac, with kids aged 8-15 years old. All absolutely loved it.

10/07/2023

Super hot here in the Aude today. 🥵 ☀️ 36 degrees. Enjoying the gorgeous sunshine and the peace & quiet of our countryside home away from home. Hello summer holidays! ❤️ home

05/06/2023

The annex. An additional space in the barn that larger group bookings can utilise. Separate to the main house with its own external staircase access

03/06/2023

Entertaining spaces at Pincardel, a former winery. In the dining room walls you can see the black iron doors to the original wine vats, which still exist behind the wall. 🇫🇷

01/06/2023

Pincardel, your home away from home 🏡 🌊 ☀️

30/05/2023

Wine in the sunshine…..hello summer! ☀️

04/01/2023

🎿 ⛷️ in Les Angles

04/01/2023

Les Angles 🎿 ⛷️

02/11/2022

Tried A’kotee restaurant ce soir. An easy 14 min drive away 🙌 Tapas style snack starters (prawns, calamari etc) and a range of mains from chicken coconut curry, chilli con carne, mac and cheese, hamburger, steaks, aubergine gratin etc Friendly atmo and kid friendly (chicken nuggets and chips available). An easy mid week eatery

02/11/2022

2nd November! Glorious ☀️

25/10/2022

25/10/2022

Another stunning drive out towards Axat today. Lots of canoe and rafting places along this route. We ventured just past Quillan to Rodeo Raft. Stop off in Couiza or Quillan for a bite to eat or pick up picnic bits at the big Carrefour and nibble by the river. Best to book, to ensure all members of the same family can go on a boat together (or you may have to split up to make up numbers on other vessels). Super fun. Approx 45 min drive but there are canoeing places closer.

25/10/2022

Fantastic afternoon spent with Oxygen Adventure undertaking the Via Corda activity at Belvianes-et-Cavirac. Climbing, abseiling and zip lining through stunning scenery. The perfect family adventure for the Autumn season

01/08/2022

Sunset at Pincardel. The end to a lovely day.

31/07/2022

A spot of night swimming/pool disco! The kids had so much fun with the changing pool lights - a fab end to their holiday with friends

31/07/2022

Sundays are very relaxed in France and very few shops are open. Those that are close by 12pm so be sure to stock up during the week……If you fancy getting out and about - a great option is the Sunday morning market in Esperaza (closes at 12) followed by a swim the beautiful Lac de Puivert. These are a 35-40 min drive from us

30/07/2022

For the golfers out there…. the course at Carcassonne is a must do….in the grounds of an old chateau overlooking the rolling valleys and vineyards of Carcassonne. Use the clubs at our house or hire there. Very relaxed and friendly with a superb restaurant. The ideal place to hang out with friends at the 19th hole 😉

30/07/2022

Such a fantastic day…worth a few posts! Great hosts, lovely food, gorgeous setting and amazing company. So grateful to our friends who came all this way to celebrate a belated birthday with me. x

30/07/2022

Wine tasting and long lunch

26/07/2022

Sophie practising with her drone 😃