You can find a list of free public Internet access points in the Aude at NetPublic. They have lists for all of France and you can pick your location on a map. It might be a good idea to phone ahead and make sure they’re open.
Thanks to Craig McGinty at This French Life
I love this house. Elaine listed it – she always lists gorgeous properties. It’d make a great gite – the pool in the court is so private.
Montreal is a nice village has all the basics, bars, restaurant, bakery, groceries, galleries, and it’s so close to Carcassonne. Easy to get to the autoroute. Close to Bram so you can go to the best market in the Aude (Elaine told me that – I haven’t been.
Please contact us if you’d like more information about the house – info@aude-france-property.com.
19th July 2010
Last Saturday evening saw a one-off performance by Covent Garden’s Royal Ballet in the grounds of the Abbaye de Lagrasse.
Staging, lighting and seating were imported for the occasion as were outside caterers who put on very good three-course suppers before the performance.
23rd April 2010
The SPA in Carcassonne is where a lot of this region’s lost or abandoned dogs end up. They do all they can to re-home these dogs but, if they are unsuccessful, then they are left with no choice but to have the dogs put down.
They are a purely charitable organization and have only a limited amount of space to house their dogs.
This post is provoked by an ex-client who asked me to publish this picture of a dog who had until this Monday to find a home. Happily, he was re-homed before the deadline.
If you could help by taking one of these dogs, please look at the SPA website http://spacarcassonne.e-monsite.com/ or, better still, go along to visit.
8th March 2010
Just when I was getting ready to come out of hibernation. A week or so of lovely sunshine, almond blossom appearing, the first daffodils and crocuses… and I open the shutters this morning to this!!
This is the third lot of snow this year – not to mention the fact that it is actually March. In the eleven years I've lived down here it has always only ever snowed once every winter. And then just briefly. Just so we remember what it looks like. And it usually disappears the next day.
It's now four o'clock in the afternoon and it's been snowing steadily since six o'clock this morning. It's very pretty but I think I've had enough now, thank you. What on earth is going on???
Back to hibernation. I'll come out when the sun does! And I hope that'll be soon…
Ryan O’Connell of O’Vineyards in Villemoustaussou – is hosting a Fete for photographers at his vineyard. Nice opportunity to meet other people who are interested in photography in the Aude.
Thanks to Craig McGinty at This French Life for the tip.
By Sam Mooney
My friend Valerie makes hand-printed tea towels – dish towels, torchons – from vintage sheets. She also makes aprons, cushion covers, and uses fabric remnants to make lovely scarves.
She's having a sale on December 13th, Sunday, at 14.00 (2 pm)
It's at her house in Villetritouls – which is about 30 minutes south of Carcassonne in The Corbieres.
It's a tiny village. Park at the end of the village by the old church, walk down the road on the north side. Valerie is on the left, past the little open space and the barn. She'll have a sign, or ribbons on the door, or something.
For more information you can call her at 0468 78 11 45 or email her at valerie@shop-vecu.com.
We're in the process of setting up an etsy shop – vecu.
By Sam Mooney
22nd October 2009
From 22 October and 4 November 2009 Les Grands Chemins, the established showcase of the Minervois, is preparing its annual fortnight-long festival of the senses – art, culture and fabulous food – all designed to introduce you to the delights of the region.
An astonishing range of activities, from the creative arts, food and wine tastings, evenings of music ranging from jazz to the classics, strolls through the vineyards, cinema including the films of Agnes Varda, theatre paying tribute to PierrePaul Riquet with Guy Vassal’s play “The Madman of the Canal”,
a cabaret evening dining to the poetry of Charles Trenet….
You can choose to follow an exciting and varied programme of events; alternatively you are welcome to organise your own tour around the region where a profusion of historic sites, workshops and exhibitions await you.
http://www.les-grands-chemins.com/
Thirty artists are exhibiting this year in different places in the area.
http://www.les-grands-chemins.com/lesartistes.php
Am I the only person to have not known about QYPE? (For the North Americans among us QYPE is a review site similar to YELP.) I have to admit that I'm new to review sites and wish I'd known about them earlier. They offer me a place to add or comment on my favourite places – or my least favourite places.
If you own a business in the Aude you can add it to Qype and add details and information to help people looking for the service you offer. The web is such a huge place it helps me to have a way to narrow things down. Reading the comments and ratings helps me to decide who to contact or where to go for whatever it is that I'm looking for.
I added Aude France Property – shameless plug, I know. If you search for estate agent Aude you'll find us. Feel Free to add a review!
If you're also new to the idea of review sites spend some time looking around QYPE for the Aude. You'll find some old favourites and some new businesses to try. Review your favourites, business owners will appreciate it.
Guest post by Sam Mooney
12th October 2009
L'Odalisque is a relatively new restaurant in Limoux. It opened in April of this year and in a fairly unlikely situation. It's in Rue des Cordeliers, a narrow street just behind the Place de la République.
There are three separate dining areas: the first small room which seats about 20 people, a larger, more formal room for up to 25 and a cellar which can take up to 40 people.
It's all been beautifully renovated with exposed stone walls and original features but the tableware and furnishings are strikingly modern.
There is a three-course weekday lunchtime menu at 15 euros and the evening menus range from four courses at 26 euros through to a gastronomic menu at 50 euros.
I've only been once so far but it was superb – and everyone else I've come across who's been has thought so too!
