What our guests say !

A little piece of Paradise
The description of Le Cazal regarding the location, layout and facilities is absolutely spot on. When you open the French doors and walk out on to the terrace for the first time, the views towards the Pyranees are simply breathtaking!
The property is spacious, spotless and very well equipped with everything that you need to have a relaxing holiday. The location is terrific, being within an hour and a half’s drive from Carcassonne Airport and minutes away from the picturesque town of Mirepoix. It provided us with an excellent base to drive a little further afield to Foix and Montsegur. There are so many places to visit nearby – if you can tear yourself away from the fabulous pool!
Lorna and David are excellent hosts, with just the right amount of friendly interaction with their guests without being intrusive. We would thoroughly recommend Le Cazals although we would really like to keep it a secret because it is so special!

Anonymous - May 2015
Perfect for relaxation and/or activities
Le Cazal is a perfect mixture. It’s attractive, in a quiet setting, well maintained, well equipped (including superb pool), extremely spacious and with stunning views to the Pyrenees. The location is 5 mins or so to the very attractive town of Mirepoix (for varied eating, drinking, shopping) yet within easy reach of lots of other places and activities. The owners are helpful and knowledgeable. It’s the sort of place where, as you leave, you say to yourself “I really want to return”. Oh yes, Treacle and Rosie, the 2 dogs, are friendly and well behaved.
Max - May 2014

Back for more!
We stayed last year at Le Cazal and loved it so much, we returned again this year.
Everything was exactly as we remembered it and the moment we stepped outside to the wonderful view across to the Pyrenees, we knew we had mad the right decision to return. The gite is fully equipped with everything we needed and this year we got to swim in the pool as the weather was glorious.
Lorna is such a wonderful host and makes us feel so welcome. We have already spoken about making it a hat trick and hope to return again next year. I think that shows just how much we love it!

Mummalove - september 2014

Beautiful Gite, Beautiful views
We decided on Le Cazal for its stunning location and surrounding countryside, but because it comfortably took two families, 4 children under 16 so 8 of us in total.
It was brilliant – nicely appointed, furnished and decorated, the house was perfectly large enough for us all without feeling we were living on top of each other. The well fitted kitchen and plenty of equipment made light work of meals and a large table sat everyone comfortably.
The deck with a further dining table and extensive views to the mountains was a stunning place to spend the evening when lighting the BBQ.
Equally great was the large heated pool, loungers for everyone and South facing, it was a real sun trap and we basked there many days when the temperatures hit around 30 degrees.
Mirepoix is just 10 minutes away, a well stocked Super U for provisions and a great bakery for daily bread and pastries. The Monday market is great but busy, but being so close didn’t mean very early starts to ensure parking in the town!
Le Cazal’s owners live on site in the main farm building and are as on hand and available as you want them to be. Always friendly and helpful, but never intrusive – they manage a great balance of refined support and service when you need it.
This is a fantastic holiday home, peaceful, relaxing, quiet and well appointed – we loved it.

Anonymous - Aug 2014

Lovely and Relaxing
Very much enjoyed our stay looking out towards the Pyrennees from the house. Simply but well furnished new conversion. Everything we needed, including quiet and sunshine. Lovely pool (no chemicals!) was great to plunge into after a day’s hike in the surrounding hills and mountains. Very clean and comfortable.
Lorna did a great job of looking after us, answering questions, getting the World Cup on the TV and all.
Would recommend

Charles - July 2014

 

Perfect week!
Le Cazal is a great location for a family holiday. The property is excellent; comfortable, spacious rooms, clean and very well equipped. We all loved the pool and made good use of the barbecue; eating outside in the evening enjoying the fabulous view will be remembered for a long time. Great walks and cycle tracks (well used by the fitter members of our party) and we all loved Mirepoix’s shops and market. The chateau at Foix, Carcassonne and the church in the rock at Vals are not to be missed. We would definitely recommend the property and the area and hope to return. Thank you Lorna and David.

Sheila - May 2014

Our half term break
We have had a great time at Le Cazel, the description on the website does not do justice to this fabulous property – seeing is believing! Large spacious rooms, superb views, a well appointed kitchen area, and a big log burner (wood etc supplied) if you need it. The property is spotlessly clean, with the owners on hand to tend to anything you may need. We enjoyed everything from local walks through the woods, trips to medieval Mirepoix, the nearest town, also further afield to Castelnaudary and Carcassonne , where a leisurely lunch in a restaurant, followed a two hour trip on the canal taking in the scenery, is to be highly recommended. We would highly recommend this property to anyone thinking of taking a break in the south of France at any time of year. You will not regret it!

JB - Oct 2013

 

 

 

This is second visit to Le Cazal and we have loved it, perhaps even more than last time. The stunning view and the peace and quiet while sitting on the patio, glass of wine in hand! We have enjoyed some lovely drives around on some rather scary roads at times, but the scenery has been amazing. The best, the road to St Girons stopping at Col de Port where we had our picnic to the sound of cow bells as the cattle walked down from the higher pastures to join us and the horses. Views amazing! The weather has been beautiful. Warm sunshine and only a couple of rainy cloudy days. Thankyou again to Lorna and David for their kind hospitality, information etc, so helpful. We shall miss wonderful Treacle and Rosie. Perhaps a third visit is called for!

 

Mary and David October 2016

 

 

Thanks for having us Lorna + David! We had the pool and the beautiful view! The castle of Montsegur was a highlight for us- well worth a visit but don’t forget to wear sturdy shoes and take plenty of water. Sorry to be leaving so soon – the week has flown by!

 

The Browns August/ September 2016

Merci pour l’accueil chaleureux et cette splendide vue. Merci Stewart pour ton aide. Bon ete a vous.
Lovely gite – very friendly and welcoming – would highly recommend
Thankyou – and thanks to Stuart for his hard work.
Jared and team LPM Bohemia June 2016

 

Jared and team LPM Bohemia June 2016

Silence, view, view, welcoming….Le Cazal has got it all. We were just a little apprehensive about a place to stay that was a little bit more rural than we had previously rented in France, but this place has it all….and a couple of friendly dogs is just icing on the cake, added to Lorna’s friendly and helpful presence.
As to places to visit… Mirepix is not only 5 minutes or so away, its market is good and there are plenty of bars and restaurants. We’d recommend ‘Le Commerce’ (a Logis de France hotel) for an excellent if slightly old fashioned meal – and excellent value. Llobet looks quirky and different but a bit more expensive.
Further afield-
Vals church. Not big but unlike anything else we’ve seen (5 mins away)
Chateau de la Fiches (about 15 mins), (near Verniolle on the Coussa road) A small scruffy family owned chateau with unusual painted ceilings. Different and interesting – though not huge.
Foix – for the market Friday, the town itself and its chateau/castle
the Riviere Souterraine de Labouiche, about 5 km NW of Foix for a different sort of cave visit in boats.
Trips up the Pyrenees for walks and a bit of vertigo. Montsegur castle ( 40 mins to the top) looks great and Montsegur village is interesting.
A great place with friendliness and hospitality.

Max, Mary & Christine September 2014

Peace, quiet, stunning views, base to explore from
We stayed at Le Cazal for a little under two weeks. Our hosts, David and Lorna were fantastic in many ways from making us feel welcome to advice on places to visit in the region. Our only disturbance during our stay was whilst sitting on the decking in the evening by the Cuckoo’s in the surrounding woods or the frogs in the old irrigation pond in the next field!
The property was lovely, a converted barn with stunning views across to the Pyrenees. It was well furnished and clean with all of the essentials required for a self-catering property. The fresh water pool was beautiful although we didn’t get to use it half as much as we would of liked due to an unfortunate run of weather! We stayed with our 10-month old daughter who is very mobile and into everything, this wasn’t an issue though as the Gîte is fairly baby friendly.
The Gîte is a 5 minute walk from the pretty little village of Manses or a 10 minute drive from Mirepoix. Mirepoix is the closest town for the supermarket and petrol station and has a beautiful cathedral and historic town square that must be visited. Also very close by and well worth a visit is the church at Vals which is built into a rocky outcrop on the side a hill. From the Gîte itself we enjoyed a couple of strolls up to the meadow on the ridge above the farm and enjoyed the magnificent views across to the Pyrenees. There is a short (3 mile ish) circular that takes you back through the village of Manses to the Gîte.
We used Le Cazal as a base to explore the beautiful Ariège region and from here we visited Ax-les-Thermes, Vallée d’Orlu, Montbel, Foix, Roquefort-les-Cascades, Castelnaudary, Carcassonne, Gorges de Galamus, the magnificent Cathar castles of Quéribus, Peyrepertuse and Montségur, La Fontaine de Fontestorbes, Saint-Cyprien and finally Camon!
You get the gist. If you want a large, well equipped Gîte in a peaceful location with stunning views and positioned nicely to explore the region, then look no further!

Colleen G May 2016

 

Fantastic airy accomdation which happily fitted two families

We had a brilliant time and loved the endless views of the Pyrenees, the gorgeous pool and the easy access to wonderful French towns and villages. We were wowed by the fields of sunflowers all around too!
The house is very well laid out and the owners have thought of lots of handy details to make it a breeze to live there for a week or two. Good washing machine and dish washer with bags for bins etc provided.
We enjoyed the local market at Mirepoix, visited Carcassonne and Foix. All lovely but the pool and view were definitely our favourite things!

Katy

Breathtaking Views from a Stunning Gite
Firstly, I have to say Lorna’s replies to all email enquiries were instant and 100% helpful…a real bonus when trying to book our holiday.
Although all lovely, the photos do not do the place justice! The gite is beautiful and tastefully furnished throughout with every little detail catered for, you will not wish for anything. Lorna & David are on hand for any help or recommendations you may possibly need and are so welcoming.
Be prepared to be mesmerised by the incredible views across the countryside to the Pyrenees in the far distance. The only sounds you hear are bird song and the chickens as they wander around the grounds. If you want peaceful, this is the place for you. The gite is set in acres of fields and they are all yours to explore at will.
The swimming pool is huge and heated but we didn’t get the chance to use it as we were off out exploring most of the time. I can imagine how refreshing it would be swimming there taking in the spectacular scenery.
We had the most amazing time at Le Cazal, felt truly at home and had simply the most wonderful holiday. If all goes to plan, we hope to return next year and certainly recommend it to anyone wanting to stay in relaxing, incredible surroundings, yet still have great access to nearby towns and attractions.

Mummalove Oct 2013

 

Thankyou Lorna for your hospitality, we had a great 2 weeks at le Cazal. We enjoyed the view from our many walks around Le Cazal especially the walk along Compostelle to Teilhet. Of our trips, we would recommend
– Carcassonne, canal boat trip and walk through medieval town
Foix, a visit to Chateau de Foix
Collioure, a beautiful seaside town, nice road train trip through vineyards and mountains (2.5hr drive)
– Monsegur, a nice drive, spectacular views with a 40 minute hike to the chateau!
Churches in Vals and Mirepoix worth a visit!
To travel to Toulouse it is easier to take the train from Pamiers as parking difficult in Toulouse. Nice market in squarealso road train available from square
Lourdes is a 2.5 hr car journey. Well worth a visit! The candle lit pocession is not to be missed!!
Andorra is a 1.5hr car journey, beautiful scenery along the way and only a short drive to Spain.
In Pamiers there is a great chinese restaurant, buffet style, after the first roundabout, opposite Mcdonalds. Also there is a hypermarket here. Enjoyed cycling around Le Cazal and the old railway line route from Mirepoix. Many thanks and best wishes

Pat, Mary, Michael, Matthew& Jonathan June/July 2014

A lovely stay. I most enjoyed, pool, views, birds especially the lammerguyers, butterflies, wild flowers and lizards. Owls!! The trips were all incredible, if a little heart in mouth. Best day – up to Etang de Laurenti, walk to lake, driving via Quillan and gorges then back over 2000m pass to Ax, will live long in the memory!

The Robinsons August 2016

We thoroughly enjoyed our time at Le Cazal! This was the ideal location to both do and see as well as relax. The highlight of our stay was the BBQ with the fun Dutch neighbours and you and David. Thankyou for your kindness and hospitality. Best wishes

Jim, Paige, Tori and Tara July 2016

We had a brilliant week here. What a well equipped house, beautiful pool and lovely area. Day trips to Foix and Carcassonne. Loved the Monday market at Mirepoix and ate very well thanks to local boulangeries and Pamiers Intermarche. A great time – thankyou.

Pinchess and Greenaway families July 2016

 

Really enjoyed our time here. Visited Foix, Carcassonne, Montsegur, Alet- les- Bains and of course Mirepoix. We particularly liked the caves at labouiche and the climb to see the view from Montsegur. Lots of really good lunches were enjoyed especially at Relais in Mirepoix and Les Sapins at Nalzen. We hope to be back one day

 

Chris, Fiona and Mavis June 2017

Thankyou Lorna and David for the opportunity to enjoy this gite with the wonderful views. We were able to use the swimming pool every day owing to the hot weather! We made trips to Foix, Carcassonne, Mirepoix and Montsegur, however the highlights were picknicking by water – Lac Montbel, Roquefort Cascades and the Aire de Fraternite (past Vira). It was wonderful to paddle in the streams in the heat! We hope to come again!

Elaine and Barry June 2017

 

We have had a great and very hot week here. Views are wonderful. Gite has everything we needed. Thankyou Lorna and David. We climbed Montsegur in the heat! Visited Foix, Mirepoix market. Mirepoix for beakfast and Mirepoix for evening meals. All very good. Picnic at Grotte di Mas d’Azil and Roquefort-les-Cascades. We used the pool every day. We stay in different parts of France most years, not returning to the same. But would I come here again? Definitely

 

Martine and Trevor June 2017

Travelled here in the sweltering heat.
Really glad to get here and dip our feet
In the glorious pool. That’s been our lifeline!.
It’s been 40 degrees and we’ve been supine!
Fantastic “orages” entertained us at night .
And aren’t the mountains a wonderful sight.
The views have inspired us to run, cycle and swim.
We will all go back looking so trim!! (lol)
The washing machine is all shiny and new
And from the washing line there’s a wonderful view!
(We should know, we used it a lot!)

We wandered the market at Mirepoix-
having finally found somewhere to park the car
Le Cazal is a wonderful place to stay
And we’ve had a fantastic holiday.
Lorna always has a ready smile,
and is prepared to go the extra mile..
But as we tried to keep this in iambic pentameter.
We should say she went the extra kilometer!

Hope to come again, thanks for everything

Anna Caroline et al.July/August 2013

 Comfortable place. Wonderful sitting on the deck and dining with amazing Pyrenees view. Great to dip in the beautiful pool after a busy day about. Comfortableand relaxing. Great place to tour the area. Love the pool – no chlorine! Thanks for a great stay.

 

Charles and James, Barb and Mike July 2014
Many thanks to Lorna and David for providing such a comfortable and spacious gite in which to spend our holiday, to say nothing of the wonderful setting and incredible view. We’ve had a great time around the pool and touring the area. Mirepoix is a great place to mooch around, especially on Monday (the market day), and well worth a visit are Limoux, Carcassonne and Foix. If you are able to handle the windy roads we would also recommend the trip to the Cathar castles of Queribus and Peyrepertuse. Extraordinary views and impressive castles and worth the trip. Otherwise there is of course Montsegur on the doorstep. Thanks again

Mark, Anna, Anders & Daisy August 2014

Staying here with Ian and Claire, we have to echo those comments, from David and Lorna’s welcome and fantastic home to the area, peace and tranquility. Many thanks

 

Martine and Trevor June 2017

Alovely week with stunning views and a perfect location for exploring the Pyrenees. Canoe/kayak hire at Sineat is a lot of fun. We also enjoyed Mirepoix market, a visit to Foix and Carcassonne. A lovely gite and pool, which we made good use of, even on cooler days. Thankyou David and Lorna for tourism advice

Andrew, Esther, Rebekah, Elizabeth and Annabelle July 2015

Thankyou to Lorna David Rosie and Treacle for a lovely stay. Rosie took us on some wonderful walks. Hope to return soon.

Pat and Gabby May 2016

Comfortable gite with amazing views- an excellent base to explore the many sites of historical interest in the region. Fantastic walking opportunities from the doorstep. Launa and David have both been very helpful with local info.

Rosie and Neil May/June 2016

We have had such a wonderful and relaxing 2 weeks stay here at Le Cazal. Our hosts, David and Lorna have been very helpful and welcoming. The views are just incredible and so peaceful. Places we visited.
Mirepoix The cathedral is beautiful as well as the town itself. The market is a must but very busy! We just managed to get a spot to park at SuperU
Ax les Thermes Lovely picnic site at Vellee d’Orlu just south of the town. We visited the hot springs but didn’t go in as it was raining. Nice drive up to the town through the mountains( detour!)
Lac Montbel Nice walk and picnic on the lake
Foix castle, market and church
Roquefort les Cascades lovely waterfalls and picnic spot
The church at Vals is very interesting and just a short drive away. The beach at St Cyprien was a long journey but a lovely beach
Castelnaudary Not a lot there – only really the canal du midi
Carcassonne Well worth a visit especially the old town with a fairy tale style castle. We really enjoyed the castle tour- lots to see and do. Expensive ‘real chocolates’ though.
Gorges de Galamus (including Ermitage) The drive was amazing but the road is very narrow with steep drops!! Well worth a stop to visit the ermitage set into the rock face.
Queribus, Peyrepertuse and Montsegur. These are well worth a visit. All old castles. A bit of a walk but nothing too tasking, just good footware needed!
Camon Pretty little village. Nice for a short stay.
La fontaine de Fontestorbes- Cave resurgence. Interesting visit and nice picnic spot on the way to Montsegur.
Thankyou once again to David and Lorna. We have thoroughly enjoyed our stay.

Tom, Colleen and OrlaithMay 2016

Fabulous
We had a week here in May and can’t wait to go back. The owners have made a fantastic job of renovating this building and it’s finished to a very high standard. It surpassed our expectations massively. The views really are as good as they say they are and the photos do not do it justice. We would recommend this place to all our friends and family. The owners were very hospitable and nothing was too much trouble. We had a brilliant time.

Bikerbabe May 2013

Superb and deeply relaxing

Le Cazal is a great spot to get away from things. The gîte was well appointed, very clean, generously proportioned and we wanted for nothing. The views are superb and the pool was a real treat. The walking directly from the property is fantastic. Owners David and Lorna made us feel very at home. We would definitely book to stay here again and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.

Oliver F Sep 2016

Thankyou so much for being such welcoming and helpful hosts. We had a lovely time,which we will remember for many years to come. We hope to be able to come back again in the not too distant future. – And remember – always check the fridge !! All our best wishes

Julie, Hugh, Hannah and Grace (not forgetting Fergus) July 2013

Fantastic 2 weeks at Le Cazal- great accomodation, wonderful area to explore and the pool a much reason respite from the long, hot sunny days. Many thanks to Lorna and David for all their advice and to Rosie for her patience during never ending games of fetch. We particularly enjoyed the following
1 Montsegur – spectacular views justify the 1km ascent ( average gradient 17%)- too steep for little legs, but the village is lovely with a playground that allows tag-team parenting!
2 Dinner at the evening market at Leran – Fridays from 1830
3 Mirepoix square and church. Monday market lots of fun.
4 All of Carcassonne – great restaurants in the old city.
5 Camon and Le Voie Verte
6 Beaches near Narbonne, great for kids with warm shallow waters. Went to Gruissan and Le Franqui, both 70-80 mins drive on the peage
7 Prehistoric Park in Tarascon was a big hit with the kids.
Thanks for a great holiday

Matt, Gayle John(5) and Eve(2) July 2015