Gîte l'Erable in the heart of nature, Pays Cathare

Small, bright, 13th-century house with exposed stone for 2 people in an isolated hamlet near Cathar castles and beautiful swimming spots in the gorges. Absolute calm, nature, hiking. Private terrace with table and deckchairs. Fiber optic Wi-Fi internet access. Access to the hamlet via a 2.2 km unpaved road, passable at about 25 km/h by all vehicles. Access to the house is via a staircase with about 20 steps. Private parking. Ideal for unwinding. The space In July and August, bookings are from Saturday to Saturday. If you have a specific need, contact us in advance. It is possible to arrive on the day of your choice outside of high season. Le Gîte de l'Erable is a small cottage with exposed stonework that will appeal to nature lovers and those who appreciate authenticity and history. Indeed, the hamlet of Le Carcassès was built in the Middle Ages with the stones of the castle "Castrum de Carcassesio", which was destroyed in the 13th century. It's a living environment where you may accidentally encounter ants or other insects. If you're lucky, you may also see wild boar, foxes or deer on the access road after dark, as well as buzzards and vultures in the air. Le gite de l'Erable is a small, very bright cottage. It has views from the two windows to the east of the mountains and the orchard. The other window, located to the south, and the front door overlook the private terrace. There is no human traffic in front of the cottage (a cat may sometimes pass by :-)). If you look behind the 2m-high wooden panels that protect your privacy, you can see the rest of the hamlet of Le Carcassès, which does not belong to us. So we don't control the view if you look over the wooden panels. The neighbor's goats may occasionally be in the park located near the terrace. The cell phone signal is best by the kitchen window and the terrace, but it depends on the operators, and you have the option to make calls via Wi-Fi (WhatsApp, Messenger). Within a year, we will even have access to fiber optics. Please note there is no washing machine at the cottage. Your four-legged friends will appreciate the place, where they can walk in nature without the risk of being run over. Here, there is no main road, no railway, and not even any planes that pass over the cottage. Access to the vacation rental is via a 2.2 km unpaved communal road. It is passable at about 20 km/h by all vehicles, but we do not recommend it for people who do not like unpaved roads. You can park below the cottage; a parking space is reserved for you. Access to the cottage is via a private staircase of about 30 steps. Since your complete satisfaction is our concern, we therefore do not recommend this place for people with limited mobility or for people who are looking for the paved and sanitized streets of our cities. Welcome to lovers of life and nature who want to relax in the peace and quiet of birdsong in a cottage that still has modern comforts including Wi-Fi, and is located close to Cathar castles, beautiful swimming spots in the gorges, and hiking trails. See you soon in Cathar Country for the pleasure of interacting. Christelle & Laurent. Practical information: Cleaning is your responsibility. A deposit check of €60 will be requested for cleaning. To date, we have never kept a deposit. Please bring your 140 cm sheets and towels. If this is not possible, you can rent them (please let us know in advance). Pet fee: €14/stay/animal. The cottage is closed from November to April. Reopening in early May. Booking from Saturday to Saturday in season. It is possible to arrive on the day of your choice outside of high season. We do not charge a cleaning fee; this is your responsibility. Guest access An access map will be provided after booking. You will easily find the house with the help of this map, especially since there are signs from the mailboxes: - If you come from Félines Terménès (Narbonne, Carcassonne or Lézignan), turn left 50 m after the bridge towards Bordegrande and Carcassès. If you arrive from Mouthoumet (Arques, Couiza or Limoux), turn right towards Bordegrande and Carcassès. You are 7 minutes from the hamlet. - Follow the main paved road for 2 km (do not take the side road on the right) - When you see the mailboxes, take the unpaved municipal road on the left. The route is marked from the mailboxes. - Continue on the dirt road for 1.5 km. Stay on the main road. - 1.5 km after the mailboxes, arrive at a crossroads, turn right onto the path in a field indicated by a green "gite" sign (on the left, the GR; in the middle the access road to the hamlet Le Carcassès). - Follow the directions on the map provided after booking. Other things to note Please bring your own sheets, towels and tea towels. If necessary, it is possible to rent them. The barbecue is an electric barbecue to avoid any risk of fire, since you will be in the middle of nature. We are flexible for your arrival time, but in case of rental just before you, it is possible that the cottage is only ready at 3 p.m. or 4 p.m. maximum. But, in general, it is possible to arrive earlier. Contact us for more information.