Marmot Tours :: Gentle walking in the vinyards and castles of the cathar country

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Historical sights of the Cathar country.

A week of gentle walking, sightseeing and wine tasting.


Cathar history and castles. Based in a former bishops palace. Leisurely walking pace. Mediterranean climate. Variety of landscape. Wine tasting. Interesting flora and fauna. Mountain lakes and forests. Private transport throughout.
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OVERVIEW

This trip explores the sights and history of the Aude, a department of Languedoc-Rousillion. In the 12th century, this region was at its peak, being far advanced in language and culture than northern France. It was also home to many people of the religious sect,

. When the Albigensian Crusades began in 1208, initiated by Pope Innocent 111, with the aim of wiping out this supposedly 'heretic' group, this area and its towns were besieged and pillaged. As the crusades continued for over 250 years, these lands and their people were altered forever. The Cathars sought refuge in some of the areas most inaccessible fortresses, which we visit during our week here. From within the castle ruins, it takes very little imagination to bring back to life the history of the Cathars. The castles around the Aude are some of the most famous in France; Queribus, Peyrepertuse and Montsegur, amoungst others. Some are almost complete ruins, but stand on top of incredible rocky outcrops of land, offering stunning views and atmospheric reminders of times gone by.

Recent fictional novels by Dan Brown (The Da Vinci Code) and Kate Mosse (Labyrinth) have bought to the public eye the mysteries surrounding the alleged 'Cathar Treasure' (which many believe is the Holy Grail, or proof of the bloodline of Jesus). This area of Southern France is rich with treasure legends, and mysterious events and coincidences. A visit to Rennes le Chateau and its village church will give you plenty of food for thought as we take on some beautiful gentle walks in the areas local to the chateaux, drinking in the views and scenery as we go. The walks are at pleasant gradients and on good paths, and give us time to stop and notice the detail of the environment we are exploring.

Today, Languedoc-Rousillon is well known for its vineyards and wine production. It would be rude to ignore this part of the culture of the area, and a holiday in the Aude would certainly be incomplete without a 'degustation' of the local Blanquette de Limoux, a champagnoise.

Our base in the historic village of Alet les Bains gives us excellent access to the sights of the Aude, plus our hotel, the Hostellerie de l'Eveche, sits peacefully in splendid gardens, alongside the river Aude, that literally 'will' us to unwind. At the end of a day out, a welcome dip in the village open air swimming pool will clear the mind and relax the body before dinner.

This holiday is lead by James Thompson and Cathy Durbridge, who have made their home in the region. They are both keen walkers and James is a qualified International Mountain Leader (IML).

IS THIS TRIP FOR ME?

This holiday offers a mix of sightseeing and gentle walking. None of the walks, which are all optional, are very strenuous and so walking boots are not required. The maximum walking distance will be 5km with up to 200m of ascent. Most days will be taken fairly leisurely, leaving the hotel at 0930 and returning by 5pm, so there will be plenty of time to enjoy the hotel surroundings and the open air swimming pool in the village. This holiday is definitely about relaxing and enjoying what this outstanding corner of France has to offer. It is important to us that people book the correct trip. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have have any doubts.

Alet Les Bains

The village is dominated by the ruin of its Benedictine abbey which was founded in 813. The magnificent building was largely destroyed in the wars of religion in 1577 however the gothic choir survived only be be later destroyed to widen the road! The weather beaten ruin is floodlit at night making a nice backdrop to the hotel restaurant. The village itself is a a maze of narrow lanes, timber framed buildings and covered walkways. There is a shop and cafe.

The village owes its existence to the the thermal waters which attracted the Romans to the area. Unfortunately these are mainly used for medical purposes. However, the natural mineral water which flows abundantly from the mountainside was one of the first in France to be bottled. The village have created a fantastic 25m open air swimming pool (filled with mineral water), open to the public from mid June.

DATES

Sun 25 May - Sun 1 June 2008 (Trip code VFC H21)
Sun 22 June - Sun 29 June 2008 (Trip code VFC H25)
Sun 3 Aug - Sun 10 Aug 2008 (Trip code VFC H31)

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

The holiday costs £645, starting at Carcassonne Airport. Flights ae not included but can be picked up cheaply if booked in advance. If you want a guarantee a single room, there is a supplement of £120. Allow about £40 for drinks and the meals not included (outlined below). There are no other local payments or hidden costs. Please note that we offer a 5% discount if you book more than 3 months before the departure date. We also offer group and loyalty discounts. More Info >>

WHAT DOES THE PRICE INCLUDE?

6 days guided sightseeing and walking. Airport Transfers (specified times only). Private vehicle transfers during the week. 7 nights in a 2 star (Logis de France) Hotel. 6 evening meals, 7 breakfasts, 6 picnic lunches. Entrance to all castles included in the itinerary. Explanation of local wine and tasting in the Cave. French speaking English tour leader throughout.

WHERE DO WE STAY?

We stay in the charming Hostellerie De l' Eveche in the village of Alet les Bains. The hotel was formerly the bishops palace and has since been tastefully renovated into a 2 star hotel with an excellent restaurant. It is set in 3 acres of terraced rose gardens which lead down to the river Aude. Accommodation is normally allocated on a twin share basis with en suite facilities. A single room can be guaranteed for a supplement of £120 on booking.

FOOD

The hotel provides a substantial buffet breakfast which includes: Teas, coffee, juices, bread, croissants, home made jams, yogurt, fromage frais, ham and cheese. All 7 of the evening meals are included and will be taken in the hotel restaurant. Each night there is a traditional French fixed menu of 4 courses (although if you do not like the suggested meal an alternative will be offered). Vegetarians can be catered for, although should be warned (as everywhere in France) that the meals may be little unconventional. We provide picnic / pack lunches everyday with the exception of the visit to Carcassonne (where there are plenty of street cafes / restaurants to choose from.)

GUIDING AND INSTRUCTION

This holiday is led by James Thompson and /or Cathy Durbridge who have made their home in this region. They will be with you throughout the holiday and will offer informal lectures into the history of the region.

GROUP

There is a maximum of 16 people (minimum 4) plus James and Cathy on this holiday. Bookings from single people are welcome as these holidays are a great way to make new friends.

TRANSPORT

We have our own private minibuses which will be used throughout, enabling us to keep the itinerary flexible and not tying us down to public transport timetables. The amount of time spent in the bus varies from day to day, but will not be more than 40 mins without a break to see something of interest.

CLIMATE

The proximity of this region to the Mediterranean gives us a warm stable climate. In June we can expect fairly fresh mornings with temperatures soon rising to their mid 20's. During July and August it can be a bit hotter and we can expect to be sitting outside for dinner. Unfortunately at all times of the year rain can not be ruled out, but there are plenty of wet weather alternatives.

WHAT TO BRING

No special clothing is required for this trip. A full kit list will be sent on booking.

HOW DO I GET THERE?

Carcassonne Airport is only 30 mins from Alet les Bains by road. To make your arrival day as hassle free as possible we offer minibus transfers for the following Ryan Air flights. If it is more convenient for you to travel into Toulouse (see transport for info on the airlines), there are good / easy public transport links from Toulouse to Carcassonne.

Please note that Ryan Air has not yet published its timetable for 2008, so these times are provisional. If you book before the timetable is announced we will send you an email with the modified timetable as soon as the flights are released for public sale - you can then benefit from a good price.

LIVERPOOL:
OUT: Depart Liverpool at 1155, arrive Carcassonne at 1455
IN: Depart Carcassonne at 1520, arrive Liverpool at 1625

LONDON STANSTED:

OUT: Depart Stansted at 1305, arrive Carcassonne at 1600
IN: Depart Carcassonne at 1310, arrive Stansted at 1405

If these flights are delayed then the transfer will naturally be rescheduled.

There are also Ryan Air flights from Nottingham, Dublin and Shannon. Please contact us to see if we can arrange transfers for these flights.

Please see the Transport section for all travel options (air, road and rail), plus getting to the start point independently.

HOLIDAY ITINERARY
NOTES	Below is an outline of the kind of activities/trips that you are likely to experience on your holiday. However, there are many options available, and James and Cathy will tailor your program to the weather, and the wishes of the group. Alet les Bains is on the train line, so it possible to do your own thing on any day, with a visit to Perpignan, Toulouse or even Narbonne, on the Mediterranean coast.
DAY 1	Arrive in Carcassonne and transfer (approx 30 mins) to the hotel in Alet les Bains. There will be plenty of time to explore the village before a briefing and dinner.
DAY 2	Puilaurens is one of the best preserved 'Cathar castles' and has been described as 'a model of military architecture' - the perfect place for us to start looking into the history of the region. We will have time to visit the castle and have a walk around the surrounding forest before descending to the town of Quillan.
DAY 3	Today we head to Rennes-le-Chateau, a small fortified hill top village which is shrouded by the mysteries of the the holy grail and the Cathar treasure. The gregariously decorated church and font which is supported by a statue of the devil certainly steer the imagination. For those wanting to stretch their legs there will be an opportunity to walk back down to village of Couiza. On the way home we will stop of at a vineyard for an explanation of how the local sparkling wines (Blanquette de Limoux) are made - naturally there will also be the opportunity for a tasting!
DAY 4	The high Pyrenees dominate the skyline to the south and today we head into their foothills and the area of Donezan. This area is a floral spectacle in the spring and in contrast to our other days is very green. Our aim is to walk up to a mountain lake for a picnic lunch. On the way home there is the option of visiting the chateau of Usson.
DAY 5	Carcassonne - Europe's largest fortress and a town which does not need any introduction. You will have the entire day to explore the medieval city, museums and art galleries.
DAY 6	The Cathar bastions of Queribus and Peyrepertuse high on their rocky outcrops are the focus of today's trip. However the scenery is stunning and there will be an opportunity to walk to the hermitage nestled in the side walls of the narrow gorge de Galamus.
DAY 7	For our last day we take a drive to the magnificent and famous castle of Montsegur. The castle stands atop a rock 1207 meters high, and to reach the ruins we take a 45 minute walk up and around the hill. In the afternoon we will stop off at Mirepoix for a spot of shopping or relaxing in one of the many street cafe's.
DAY 8	After breakfast we transfer to Carcassonne airport, feeling refreshed and full of memories of an excellent week.

Contact Marmot Tours: info@marmot-tours.co.uk
Tel/fax: 0033 561 02 80 43. French Mob: 0033 (0)6 30 01 12 98