La Petite Bergerie, family gîte surrounded by nature

Our property is located in the heart of Corbières, in the Cathar Country, at the foot of the fortress of Termes, at the entrance to the vertiginous cliffs of the Gorges de Termenet, in the wild nature of beautiful holm oak forests, Mediterranean scrub and heathland. Far from the road and other homes, you will find absolute peace and security for your children. We raise a small herd of ponies there that you and your children will enjoy to the fullest. The space Our property is in the heart of Corbières, in the Cathar Country, at the foot of the Termes fortress, at the entrance to the vertiginous cliffs of the Gorges de Termenet, surrounded by beautiful oak forests, garrigues and Mediterranean meadows. It is here that we chose to settle in, to renovate our old sheepfold and two cottages, surrounded by nature, far from any pollution and mass tourism. Since then, we have been raising a small herd of Shetland ponies there in the surrounding Mediterranean mountains. The gîte is located at the entrance to the property, on the grounds of a former vineyard, in absolute quiet, far from the road and other dwellings. It has two terraces with panoramic mountain views, the vertiginous cliffs of the Gorges du Termenet and Cathar Castle. On this 5 ha enclosed lot around the house, your children will be able to play quietly, safely. The climate of our region is Mediterranean. The result is lush greenery of oak, pine, arbutus, juniper, lavender, marjoram, cistes, cypresses, and many orchids. In spring, nature immerses in a real flower bath. For hours, you will walk on the flowery meadows of the high plateau, without meeting anyone, apart from the shepherd, contemplating a grandiose panorama: hundreds of kilometers of Pyrenean peaks, snowy until July, and to the north the dark mass of the Black Mountain and the foothills of the Massif Central. At sunset, the show of the rocky mountains of the Corbières plunging into the sea will open. Even in the summer, the nights are pleasantly cool, clear, and free from air pollution. They'll give you sunset shows and a breathtakingly clear night sky. Autumn, too, offers us its special charms. Often the days are always pleasant until the end of October. After the September harvest, the vines dress in bright yellow and red. Then it's chestnut season that you'll grill in the pan. Countless hiking opportunities will be available to you, directly from the house. The GR 36 passes a few hundred yards away and several marked circular hiking trails will take you to the Château de Termes, telling you its Cathar past and tormented royal fortress, the flowery village of Termes, the steep gorges of the Termenet or the white limestone rock massifs of the Roc de Nitable. We have also opened hiking trails and walks around Prat de Mu, nowhere listed on guides, which we would be happy to share with you. In the gorges very close to the Termenet (500 m walk) you will find many opportunities for swimming in torrents, refreshing waterfalls, slides but also quiet swimming pools as well as in all the local rivers. Also, the Prat de Mu represents a great departure breasts to discover the Cathar country and its castles (Termes, Villerouge, Aguilar, Peyrepertuse, Queribus, Padern, Durban, Arques). We will be happy to provide you with guides, flyers, and books on the history and the Cathar country. At the reception of the Château de Termes, you will find a very interesting exhibition on the subject, with videos, bookstore and a small museum to support it. Digital mediation will allow you to visit the castle on your phone or tablet. The Corbières region produces excellent wines (Corbières and Fitou). We will deliver, if you wish, the secrets of the best wineries in the region as well as local products such as goat cheese, honey ... Historic old towns in the area: Narbonne, Carcassonne (World Heritage Site), Lagrasse, Limoux. City tours of Carcassonne, Narbonne, Perpignan, Collioure, Montpellier, Toulouse. You may be tempted to take a tour on the beaches of the Mediterranean coast (1 hour drive) or by an excursion to the Pyrenees, Andorra, the Canal du Midi (World Heritage Site) or the City of Carcassonne. The beautiful city of Narbonne will enchant you with the air of Charles Trenet, son of this beautiful Mediterranean. Others will love a visit to the Sigean African Reserve or the Dinosaur Museum in Espéraza in the Aude Valley. And, finally, let's not forget the many abbeys and monasteries including the nearby Lagrasse Abbey and Fontfroide Abbey with their concerts and exhibitions all year round. On site, in Termes, in addition to hikes in the Corbières, bike rides, some will enjoy horseback riding, accompanied by a local guide, climbing and swimming in the canyon. For little ones, we provide a portable cot and a high chair. Our pony farm offers you the possibility of games and rides with the ponies and our dog Toby. Thus, the small seasonal migration of our herd is part of the standard program for children staying at the cottages. Such an adventure through fragrant garrigues, flowering mountain meadows and oak-tree shaded forests is, according to the stories of many families, a strong and unforgettable point of their stay in the Corbières. Let's not forget, in this regard, the geological excursions that we organize, as well as the visits to the Prat de Mu llama farm, or Sylvie, the neighbor, who will be happy to show you all the history of these funny quadrupeds and, why not, take you on a hike with the llamas on a lead. Philippe and Olga, owners of the Moulin de la Buade, our closest neighbors, will show you how their old mill, recently restored with passion and love, and you can buy freshly ground organic flour there. Other activities: Canyoning in the Gorges du Termenet with an experienced guide, archery, rock climbing. For archaeology enthusiasts, a guided tour of the archaeological excavations in progress on the site of the Château de Termes is a must. And if, after a long day of discoveries, you are not too tired, we will be happy to invite you to have an aperitif on the sunny terrace of our sheepfold or we will make you discover this beautiful country and its exciting history. We have strived to keep the original nature, wild and untouched, in its original state, without artifices and we invite you to immerse yourself in it to find calm and serenity.