THINGS TO DO

Things to do

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Wine Tasting

In the Languedoc, world-renown wines are on the door step with mostly all of the vineyards offering wine-tasting tours known as degustations.

From local sparkling Blanquet de Limoux such as Aime Baron to rich reds like Fitou from the Mediterranean coast. Most bars offer carafes or pitchers of local wine at local prices which are very quaffable. From pale sumptuous rosé wines to freshen up hot summer evenings to gutsy reds to warm you up during the colder months. There are wines for every palette and budget. Of course, if you want to go really local, the bar opposite the local Petanque (French bowls) place, offers pitchers of Ricard Pernod too.

Explore Outdoors by foot, wheels or wings!

Ginoles and Quillan are nestled in the foothills of the Pyrenees along nature routes and a natural stop on the famous Route de Cathares. There are amazing road racing, mountain biking (Espace VTT) and trekking opportunities in the region, many starting from the house. There are active communities to enjoy the many sporting events in the region, including Trail Quillan. Most of these trekking routes or parcours permanents are available all year around for different levels of fitness and adventure seeking! Whether you just want a light stroll, are training for a major sporting event like the Tour de France or Trail Quillan, or just want a fun way to get the kids off the screens, there is plenty to experience in these mountains and lakes. For avid cyclists that require bike rental and routes etc, we have lots of information to help set up the perfect cycling holiday for you. If flying high is your thing, the region has many parapenting and gliding opportunities, check out the view from the skies from a fellow adrenalin junky.

Visit local markets - Day and Night

The Aude-Languedoc region is rich in produce, arts and crafts. Shopping in the local markets presents a great opportunity to connect with the communities and sample the wide ranging wares. The Quillan market, 15 mins' walk from the house, is on twice weekly on Saturday and Wednesday mornings throughout the year and on Thursday evenings during the summer. Click here for more details on all the local markets.

Satisfy Medieval Curiosity

Transport yourself back to medieval times, by exploring the fortified city of Carcassonne; the fireworks on 14th July or regular Jousting spectacles are not to be missed especially for Kate Mosse, Labryinth fans. For the more adventurous types, scale up steep mountains to reach the many majestic Cathar castles and abbeys across the region such as Puylaurens, Peyrepertuse or Montségur. Alternatively, follow the trail of the Davinci code to nearby Rennes le Chateau and its famous Tour Magdala.

Rivers and Lakes

The region is named after its key river, the Aude. Its source is in the Pyrenees mountains then runs to Carcassonne and finally reaches the Mediterranean Sea near Narbonne. The river is navigable for nearly all of its length, creating lots of great opportunities for active watersports, such as rafting, canoeing or canyoning through Gorges Galamus. There are also nearby Lakes in St. Bertrand and Puivert to enjoy swimming all year round.

Sea. Snow. Stroll.

For more active days out further afield, head off towards the Mediterranean coast at Perpignan to enjoy windsports, drive up towards the Pyrenees for snowsports either in Andorra or the French local resorts such as Camurac.