Delightful Guest House in Occitanie, France
When the days are long, in May,
Sweet the songs of birds afar,
And when I choose from there to stray,
I bring to mind a love that’s far.
I walk face lowered, and I glower,
And neither song nor hawthorn flower,
Can please me more than winter’s ice.
We are a bit busy at this time of year, but do still try to get out and enjoy the beautiful garrigue and wild hills of the Languedoc every so often! Our local lake just outside Laure Minervois makes for a very pleasant escape and is only ten minutes walk from Domaine de Palatz.
Continue reading “Afternoon stroll to our local lake. Windy day today!”
We are very pleased to announce that Domaine de Palatz has been awarded Superhost status by the kind folks at Airbnb!
Continue reading “Superhost Status Awarded to Domaine de Palatz”
The best time of year to tee it up with a golfing break? How about now!
There’s some excellent golf in the Languedoc, and at Domaine de Palatz we are rather well positioned to experience it all! From the Camargue to Montpellier and along the coast to the eastern end of the Pyrenees, the scenery and climate is simply superb for golfing. And there’s no shortage of quality either, with a number of well-designed and beautifully maintained golf courses scattered all across this area of south France.
It’s almost 11am on a chilly Saturday morning, and a Cathar horde is about to be unleashed upon the sleepy village of Villeneuve Minervois.
Michael and I are waiting patiently and peacefully amongst the throng, although our quiet restraint is under threat from the growing excitement levels all around us. Everything is set: the officials are in place, the tables are up, and the rope barrier strains under the mass of people-pressure: in just a few moments the market will open and the crowd will be unleashed upon the magnificent and exotic “black diamond”, as the local Languedoc truffle is known in these parts.
Season’s Greetings from Domaine de Palatz!
We hope you have all enjoyed a lovely relaxing Christmas and are looking forward to welcoming the New Year in suitable fashion! We shall be celebrating it here at Palatz with a few friends and perhaps a firework display or two, but in advance of that, we’d like to share with you some of our resolutions (ok, project deliverables) for the year ahead…
Wishing you a Merry Minervois Christmas from Cathar Country!
It is indeed a merry minervois at the moment, and these last few weeks we have been getting in to the festive spirit (hic’) and visiting numerous Marchés de Noel in our local village of Laure Minervois and surrounds. There seems to be something on in every village at the moment!
Have you begun Christmas gift shopping yet? Why not treat your loved one to a break at Domaine de Palatz in 2015. We can arrange festive gift vouchers at a value of your choice – order now and we can post it anywhere around the world in time for Christmas!
Continue reading “Celebrate the Season with a Christmas Gift Voucher”
We want to make it as easy as possible for people to find and stay with us, so to that end we have recently added a listing on the popular community travel and accommodation site Airbnb!
If you are not already familiar with Airbnb, it is a community marketplace where guests can book spaces from hosts, connecting people who have accommodation with those who are looking for a place to stay. It is another medium by which guests and hosts can build real connections with real people from all over the globe.
Continue reading “Domaine de Palatz is now listed on Airbnb”
Easter is a great time for an escapade around Cathar Country, with cooler weather for outdoor activities and the new growth and rejuvenation of Spring to enjoy. It is a colourful season, and every day we discover more natural beauty right on our doorstep: pink almond blossom that lights up the hillside; bursts of yellow from the wildflower overlooking the vineyards; explosions of red and purple from poppy and iris; and all set bright against the green rolling hills and woodland of surrounding Laure. In April, the region is also free from the crowds that clog up the more touristy spots of the Languedoc, making it a perfect excuse for a trip to the mediaeval Cité de Carcassonne or Albi.