Carcassonne - The Little French Maison (Canal du Midi)

Self-catering village house off the beaten track 8km from Carcassonne

This wonderful village house in the centre of beautiful Conques-sur-Orbiel, around 8km from Carcassonne, sleeps seven people in three double rooms. It's great value for money and ideal for couples, small groups or families who want their own space within easy reach of the Canal du Midi and the old city of Carcassonne. Patti, the owner, is a leisure cyclist and she's keen to see more riders use the house. There's a ground floor storage room for bikes, plus a ladies' Pashley and a men's mountain bike available for guest use. There are bike routes for all abilities from the door – gentle backroads down to the Canal du Midi and the vineyard routes of the Aude, but also the Black Mountains or the Pic de Nore (at 1211m it's a popular Strava segment and a Tour de France climb) for something more challenging (there are wonderful views of the mountains (above) from the house, looking out over the quaint village houses. The village itself dates back to early medieval times and still has a ruined chateau at its heart. Here, you'll find grocery shops, restaurants, including a bar/bistro, a pizza place and a traditional French restaurant. All told, The Little French Maison is a great base from which to experience local French culture while still being within easy reach of all the key tourist hotspots.

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