Le Savetier is a stone village house, built in the 16th century as a shoemaker’s workshop. This traditional Languedoc village house is situated on the corner of Shoemaker and Washerwomen Streets, in the heart of Caunes-Minervois, a medieval village in the richly historic Languedoc-Roussillon region. The three-storey village house is full of character, with shuttered windows, exposed stone walls, and wooden beams throughout. It is furnished with antiques found in the local brocante markets, and decorated with paintings, posters and fabrics, which reflect the history of the surrounding area. It has been restored with plenty of love - and good plumbing...

There is a lovely small walled courtyard on the ground floor with a water fountain, which is ideal in spring and summer for breakfast, apéritif or serious meals.

Downstairs is the dining area and living room, which has a flagstone floor, limewashed walls, and an original working fireplace. The kitchen is compact and fully equipped. The ground floor opens out through French doors into a walled private courtyard, which is planted with flowers and has a fountain. This area is ideal for summer breakfasts, apéritifs or barbecues. Up a flight of stone stairs is a bedroom with shutters and exposed beams. On this level there is a bathroom, a separate WC, and a laundry area. On the third floor is a second bedroom and a bathroom.

The owner of Le Savetier, Ingrid Hudson, also owns La Maison Verte, a house sleeping 6, in the same village.

Special features:

• Pets welcomed • Bilingual assistance available on site • Credit cards accepted

Caunes-Minervois is a small and compact medieval village, famous for its wine, and delightful to explore. There is a good basic range of shops and services available: Le Savetier is within a five minute walk of the local boulangerie, a bank, and a bar. There are two restaurants, a wine co-operative, and a set of tennis courts; horse-riding is available in the summer. Le Savetier is situated close to the 8th century abbey, and is surrounded by many more historical monuments. Caunes-Minervois slopes down towards vineyards, while mountains rise up behind the village. Caunes-Minervois is perfectly placed to explore Cathar Castles and towns.

This region of France experienced the turbulent era of the Cathar heresy in the Middle Ages, and that period has left its marks all over the landscape. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the Cathars, a radical Christian sect, were brutally suppressed by the French Papacy. Today, the countryside is dotted with destroyed castles and fallen fortified villages. The hillside fortress city of Carcassonne is just twenty minutes away; this World Heritage site was begun by the Romans, and further built up during the Middle Ages. Among other cities within easy reach: Albi, which has an excellent collection of works by Toulouse-Lautrec, Castres, with its Goya Museum, as well as Toulouse and Montpellier, which are a little further afield. The Canal du Midi, a 16th century engineering marvel which connects the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, meanders through the vineyards of the region, with plane trees lining its banks. The Mediterranean is an hour away, and Spain about two hours. The weather is typically Mediterranean, with hot sunny summer days and balmy nights, and a mild winter.

The living room	The living room
The fireplace in the living room	Looking in from the courtyard
The master bedroom	The bedroom with twin beds
The bathroom	The courtyard with the fountain

We appreciate the effort and passion that you have put into this lovely cottage with such unique character, surrounded by a countryside which offers ancient castles to explore, mountains to climb and quaint villages to visit.
Charles W. - Sydney, Australia

The visit to your lovely house and the area surpassed our expectations for charm, beauty and serenity. The staggering beauty of Carcassonne together with the friendliness and history of the village made for a memorable visit.
Marilyn B. - Perth, Australia

A true delight. A fabulous corner of the world. We had a ball.
Mark and Linda B. - Australia.

Thank you both for a wonderful stay in your beautifully finished village house. It gave us a wonderful base to explore this exceptional part of France. We have been well fed and well received and will recommend to our friends a stay here in Caunes.
Mary and David M. - Ireland

We have enjoyed the Minervois very much. The wines are fantastic and we had good fun tasting them as we travelled around. Thank you for your hospitality, helpfulness and kindness, it has made our stay very special.
Lyall and Gerrie T. - Hervey, Australia

Thank you so much for your friendliness, assistance and wonderful gite. The village is great and very friendly and the surrounds are beautiful. We totally enjoyed our stay and will recommend your houses and your village to all.
Janet W. - Canberra, Australia

It was wonderful staying in a house with so many lamps and light to read by and enough shelves and other space for one’s things. Much better than my house back home.I will miss the quietness and sitting under the huge trees drinking wine and watching the people.
Helen M. - Pretoria, Johannesburg