Your contact:	Juliet Gibbs
Telephone:	+44-(0)1223 360670
Email:	Click here to contact La Bergerie at Les Horts

La Bergerie at Les Horts was built in the 17th century as a stone shepherd's cottage in the beautiful valley of the Juar river, now part of the Haut-Languedoc National Park. A set of stone steps leads off a restricted-access track through the village of Les Horts, to the secluded landscaped garden which surrounds the property. La Bergerie has been imaginatively converted and extended to accommodate four guests in comfort with all modern amenities. The house faces south and gets lots of sunshine. The lower floor was once the place where the shepherd kept his sheep in the winter. Today, it contains a large and comfortable twin bedroom, with a great vaulted stone ceiling and French doors which open onto a sunny stone terrace.

The terrace has garden furniture and a sun umbrella, making it ideal for taking meals outside, or enjoying the sun. This space is connected to the main upper floor by a spiral staircase in a modern glass atrium. Upstairs is a well-equipped kitchen, and a cosy, comfortable living room with stone walls, exposed wooden beams, and an open fireplace. A large covered terrace opens out from the kitchen and living room; from it, there are magnificent views up and down the valley of the Juar river. The second bedroom is on a mezzanine above the living room, approached up a wooden step ladder. It is an unusual and very characteristic sleeping area, with the double bed situated under the vaulted ceiling. Downstairs there is a fully fitted modern bathroom and laundry facilities.

Special features:

• Credit cards accepted

Fresh baguettes and croissants can be picked up every morning at the boulangerie in the historic village of Olargues, which is 3km away. Here there are also a small grocery, butcher, café, pharmacist, and doctor, with the local market some days. There are supermarkets a little further away at the spa town of Lamalou-les-Bains (15km), and at the entrance to Bédarieux (20km). The track which runs past the house through the village of Les Horts, twists up to the top of the ridge, where it joins one of the grande randonée signposted hiking trails. With the house situated in the middle of the Haut-Languedoc National Park, it is a walking paradise, with many treks across the wild Caroux region, punctuated with refreshing mountain pools. Canoes can be rented for trips down the rapids of the Orb from Tarrasac (5km). Mountain bikes, rock climbing, horse riding and even golf are all catered for nearby.

There are a wide range of tourist activities available in the Langedoc-Rousillon region. The nearest beaches are about an hour away at Valras-Plage, with many more beautiful beaches along the stretch from Marseillan-Plage to the old fishing port of Sète. However, there is great swimming in the refreshing local rivers, mountain streams and lakes in the summer. This region is steeped in history, particularly the time of the medieval religious wars of the Cathar faith. There are many hilltop castles and villages dating from this period. The medieval fortress city of Carcassonne is a couple of hours away, and is well worth a visit. To the south, a good day trip would take in the beautiful châteaux of Quéribus and Peyrepertuse, and the narrow Gorge of the Galamus river.

The stone flagged terrace, with doors to bedroom, and spiral staircase up.	Covered upper terrace, looking in towards the kitchen and living room door
The kitchen area of the main room	The downstairs vaulted bedroom, which opens out onto a stone terrace
Walking up in the hills up behind Les Horts village	Taking a rest while canoeing down the nearby valley of the Orb river