Chalet L'Oustal (4 pers.) in the heart of nature

Chalet L'Oustal is a small, all-wood house, very warm, cozy, comfortable. It is at the end of a private road, totally isolated with no neighbors within 80 m, not overlooked, no traffic, at the top of a hill surrounded by holm oak woods and Mediterranean scrub – the ideal place to find calm, serenity, rest, but also safety for your children. The space Our property is located in the heart of Corbières, in the Pays Cathare, at the foot of the Termes Fortress, at the entrance to the dizzying cliffs of the Gorges de Termenet, in the middle of unspoiled nature, surrounded by beautiful holm oak forests, scrubland and Mediterranean meadows. This is where we chose to settle, 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 in the surrounding Mediterranean mountains. The cottage is located on the edge of the woods, on the land of a former vineyard, in absolute quiet, far from the road and other dwellings. It has two terraces with panoramic views of the mountain, the soaring cliffs of the Termenet Gorge, and the Cathar castle. On this enclosed property of 5 ha around the house, your children can play quietly and safely. The climate of our region is Mediterranean. The result is lush vegetation of holm oaks, pines, strawberry trees, junipers, cade, lavender, marjoram, cistus, cypresses and many orchids. In spring, nature is immersed in a veritable sea of flowers. For hours, you will walk through the flower-filled meadows of the high plateau, without meeting anyone except the shepherd, while contemplating a magnificent panorama: hundreds of kilometers of Pyrenean peaks, snow-covered until July, and to the north the dark mass of the Montagne Noire and the foothills of the Massif Central. At sunset, the spectacle of the rocky mountains of the Corbières plunging into the sea will unfold. Even in summer, the nights are pleasantly cool, clear and free of any air pollution. They will offer you spectacular sunsets and a night sky of breathtaking clarity. Autumn also offers us its special charms. Often the days are still pleasantly mild until the end of October. After the September harvest, the vines are dressed in yellow and bright red. This is the season for chestnuts, which you can roast 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 about its Cathar past and its turbulent history as a royal fortress, to the flower-filled village of Termes, to the steep gorges of the Termenet, or to the white limestone rock massifs of the Roc de Nitable. We have also opened hiking and walking trails around Prat de Mu, which are not listed anywhere in guidebooks, and which we would be happy to show you. In the nearby Termenet gorges (500 m walk), you will find many opportunities for swimming in torrents, refreshing waterfalls, and slides, as well as quiet pools for swimming and all the rivers in the area. Also, the Prat de Mu is a great starting point for discovering the Cathar Country and its castles (Termes, Villerouge, Aguilar, Peyrepertuse, Queribus, Padern, Durban, Arques). We will be happy to provide you with guides, brochures 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, a 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). If you wish, we will share with you the secrets of the best wineries in the region as well as local products such as goat cheese, honey, etc. Historic old towns in the region: Narbonne, Carcassonne (a World Heritage Site), Lagrasse, Limoux. City tours of Carcassonne, Narbonne, Perpignan, Collioure, Montpellier, Toulouse. You may be tempted to take a trip to the beaches of the Mediterranean coast (1 hour drive) or an excursion to the Pyrenees, Andorra, the Canal du Midi (a World Heritage site) or the city of Carcassonne. The beautiful city of Narbonne will enchant you to the tunes of Charles Trenet, son of this beautiful Mediterranean city. Others will enjoy a visit to the African Reserve of Sigean or the Dinosaur Museum in Espéraza in the Aude Valley. And finally, let's not forget the many abbeys and monasteries, including the nearby Abbey of Lagrasse and the Abbey of Fontfroide, with their concerts and exhibitions year-round. On site, in Termes, in addition to hikes in the Corbières and bike rides, some will enjoy horseback riding, accompanied by a local guide, climbing, and swimming in the canyon. For little ones, we provide you with a baby bed and a high chair. Our pony farm offers you the possibility of games and rides with the ponies and our dog Toby. So, the small transhumance of our herd is part of the standard program for children staying at the cottages. Such an adventure through fragrant scrubland, flower-filled mountain meadows, and shady holm oak forests is, according to the accounts of many families, an unforgettable highlight 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, where Sylvie, the neighbor, will be happy to show you the whole history of these funny quadrupeds and, why not, take you on a hike with the llamas on a halter. Philippe and Olga, owners of the Moulin de la Buade, our closest neighbors, will show you how their old mill works, recently restored with passion and love, and you can buy freshly ground organic flour there. Other activities: Canyoning in the Termenet Gorge with an experienced guide, archery, climbing. For archaeology enthusiasts, a guided tour of the ongoing archaeological excavations on the site of the Château de Termes is a must. And if, after a long day of exploration, you are not too tired, we will be happy to invite you for an aperitif on the sunny terrace of our sheepfold, where we will introduce you to this beautiful region and its fascinating history. We have endeavored to keep the original nature, wild and intact, in its initial state, without artificial elements, and we invite you to immerse yourself in it to find calm and serenity.