Couple from Invercargill New ZealandLength of stay 1 week – 28 Rue des Remparts We had such a restful time in your cottage – thank you. I love your kitchen & bathroom and the décor. Man from Halifax CanadaLength of stay 2 weeks – 28 Rue des Remparts Well appointed, well done for a small space, good eye for detail. Marilyn & Steve you will soon be the new Trancavels! Couple from Sydney AustraliaLength of stay 2 weeks – 28 Rue des Remparts We had a lovely time in the house – we found it very comfortable and the appointments are 1st class. We liked the décor and found the house charming. Thank you. Couple from Auckland New ZealandLength of stay 1 week – 28 Rue des Remparts The most wonderful honeymoon we could have imagined! A lovely villa, and lovely generous hosts. Thank you for your gift, and for your friendly hospitality. We have loved the town and its people (especially Martine & Jean Pierre!) and the countryside. A most beautiful part of the world, which we will visit again, and we hope we see you again soon. A bientôt!! Couple from Wellington New ZealandLength of stay 1 week – 28 Rue des Remparts A thoroughly enjoyable week. We love the house and its style. Amazing what can be done in a small space. Thanks a lot. Couple from Sydney AustraliaLength of stay 2 weeks – 28 Rue des Remparts Being “our” house for two weeks wasn’t long enough. The thought and flair within a small space is exceptional. All this in a village atmosphere – plus 21st century shower & kitchen! As a base to explore Languedoc and beyond it has been superb. We leave with the hope that we can come back to a wonderful setting and enjoy the hospitality of charming hosts. Couple from Egham EnglandLength of stay 1 week – 28 Rue des Remparts How wonderful to spend our first wedding anniversary back here in Trausse. The house is beautiful – perfect for a couple; really sweet and cosy which was a good thing due to almost three days of solid rain! It didn’t spoil a second of our stay and we found some new places to eat, especially the restaurant by the Canal du Midi at Homps – “Les Tonneliers” which was fantastic. It was lovely to spend time with Marilyn and we enjoyed another memorable meal Chez Barlaud. We’ll be back! A bientôt! Couple from Sydney AustraliaLength of stay 1 week – 28 Rue des Remparts A cosy cottage for 2, such a great base for exploring the area & beyond – the boat trip down the Canal du Midi a great experience to top it off, enjoyed lunch at “Les Tonneliers”! Also enjoyed “Lo Cagorol”at Aigne. Minerve is a must see! Couple from Sydney AustraliaLength of stay 1 week – 28 Rue des Remparts Drove from Vienna to Trausse to meet up with our friends from Sydney staying in 4 Rue de Minerve. Great fun, lots of laughs, beaucoup de vin!! When they left we found the village to be most tranquil – the perfect resting place before we launch on our next mega-drive southern Spain. Favourite side trips were winding through resting vines & countryside to Minerve and Mirepoix. Thanks to Marilyn &Steve for generous hospitality. Couple from Yarramalong Valley NSW AustraliaLength of stay under a week – 28 Rue des Remparts Great to absorb the French village culture. Wonderful accommodation, food and company. Carcassonne & Mirepoix outstanding. Had a wonderful time with great old friends. Thanks Couple from Cambridge NZ, lady from Fremantle, Aust.Length of stay 2 weeks – Rue du Maquis After taking only a few days to travel down through France from Paris it was delightful to finally arrive at our destination, made even more delightful by the comforts of No. 9 Rue du Maquis. Our stay here has been great, the village is friendly & the situation to the surrounding sights is very convenient. The road to Mazamet or St.Pons, via a small village called Mas Cabardes – has a lovely picnic area beside a stream with ruins on the hill beside. Limoux – not far past Carcassonne – a great town for browsing the shops or stopping for a cup of coffee in the town square & just past Limoux is the most beautiful village of Alet les Bains – is a photograph at every turn and the most picturesque picnic area we have come across. This really is a beautiful corner of France and though we have been here 2 weeks, we have not seen half of what we would have liked. And no matter how far we went during the day it was always a great pleasure to return to Trausse. Great memories – Thank you! Two couples from Perth, AustraliaLength of stay 1 week – Rue du Maquis Having had 11 months to dream about a week in a house in the Languedoc amongst the vineyards, having waved around to workmates the appealing brochure posted to us by Marilyn and having had our appetites further whetted by the Gourmet Traveller article on Carcassonne (Sept’2001) it was with a measure of trepidation that we followed Marilyn’s (great) directions to Trausse on a beautiful day during the Indian Summer that spread across France late Oct/Nov. We came off the Autoroute, onto the Route Nationale, onto the smaller road to Trausse (great excitement actually seeing the village name on a signpost!) round past the green fountain & telephone box into the lovely treed square to park the car. Then through narrow streets, deserted over lunch of course, and finally to the house with Blue Shutters. Our trepidation as to whether the reality would match the dream evaporated when we stepped inside number 9, and so it has continued. We have set out each day to visit places recommended by previous guests –
We have been lucky enough to have Marilyn on hand & she has been as helpful as ever – she is real and has certainly thought of everything to make ones stay comfortable. Also met Martine at her restaurant –bar – beware the Choucroute (Sauerkraut) at her place – it is huge – but she is a treat. Couple from Leura, AustraliaLength of stay 2 weeks – Rue du Maquis Lovely cottage – great little village. We enjoyed our stay very much. Our favourite places:
Favourite restaurants
Thank you Marilyn & Steve – We had a great time. Australian family at the time living in Dusseldorf, GermanyLength of stay one week – Rue du Maquis We had a wonderfully relaxing week in Trausse & surrounding areas. The friendliness and warmth of the people in this region made it all so much more enjoyable. Thank you Marilyn for your hospitality and welcome. You do a great job with your houses and people and we will be recommending you to friends who are wanting this type of holiday. Thank you also for making this region so accessible to Australians and others. Au Revoir & Auf Wiedersehen Couple from Maclean, AustraliaLength of stay one week – Rue du Maquis Today we must leave, we have had a wonderful week – everyone in Trausse has been very kind to us. I think it gives them something to talk about. To Marilyn & Steve thank you, you have thought of everything, and to the new people we hope your stay was as good as ours. Couple from Melbourne, AustraliaLength of stay one week – Rue de Minerve One week was certainly not enough time to see & absorb all that this area has to offer! Yes we had dinner at Hotel D’Alibert – wonderful! Allow Frederick to choose a wine to compliment your meal (we had one from Trausse). Upon making our reservation we mentioned we were staying in Trausse, with that he suggested we bring in the "Guest Book" so he could read all the recommendations – he was quite happy with this! Now, places to go & see include:
So thank-you to Marilyn & Steve for providing such a comfortable and welcoming environment, we already want to return! Many thanks. Couple from Bowral & couple from Merimbula, AustraliaLength of stay one week – Rue de Minerve Home. There’s no place like it, and we’ll soon be going there. The greatest compliment we can offer for "Yellow Shutters" is that from the moment we stepped into the house, we felt comfortable. In fact, on the second night discussion centred on whether we would go out or stay home for dinner. During our stay we have probably fallen into the same trap as many others – trying to do too much, It is possible, thanks to cruise control and the autoroute, to go to Barcelona and back in a day. Whether it is wise is another matter. It’s a long way to go for a quick dash past the obligatory tourist sights and scarcely does justice to the city. Still, at least you can say you’ve been to Spain. Our advice regarding a trip to Andorra – choose a day on which you can actually see the Pyrenees, unless you particularly enjoy driving on winding mountain roads with five metre visibility. When the border post at La Pas de la Casa loomed out of the fog like a scene from a Kafka novel, we decided to retreat to Foix. Unfortunately, it was closed (midday – 2pm). Places we particularly enjoyed visiting were Chateau Queribus, absolutely spectacular on a clear day, and the Gouffre Geant but there’s more than enough to keep you occupied for a week within 20 klms or so of the village. The guy in the tabac, a French branch of the Fawlty family tree is a tourist attraction in himself. Narbonne Plage is a……beach. Unless you’re desperate for a swim in the Mediterranean or you’re partial to the smell of bodies slowly roasting in coconut oil, save yourself the time and trouble. Finally, a warning. If Steve and Marilyn are in the village, approach an evening out with extreme caution. I won’t vouch for the spelling, grammar or handwriting of this entry as it is being written under the influence of Martine’s finest. Steve is an enthusiastic salesman for the local wines and he certainly sold us last night! However, a great night to conclude a great week in Trausse. Couple from Auckland, New ZealandLength of stay one week – Rue de Minerve Second visit to Trausse & delightful time again – enjoyed dinner with Martine’s hospitality – dined with Marilyn & my husband on a beautiful sunny evening. Highlight trip to Albi – wonderful Cathedrale St Cecile – built in Red Brick Gothic Style, the interior is amazing no surface left untouched by Italian artists in the 16th Century. Next door a must is the Musei Toulouse-Lautrec. 500 examples of the artists work. Wonderful – restful 5 days. Another delightful stay in Trausse highlighted by the visit to Albi – even atheists can appreciate the truly wonderful architecture of the cathedral. For another highlight quite different, take the D56 out of Siran on the road to Lauriole, turn towards Fournes stop your car and watch it roll uphill – try it in reverse and go backwards – don’t believe it, then go and try it for yourself. Couple from Adelaide, AustraliaLength of time one week – Rue de Minerve A week is not enough to explore this wonderful part of France. We took the recommendations of previous guests & toured much of the local region. The Cathar country is incredible – we especially loved Minerve, Carcassonne, Caunes & Lastours (the climb to the latter is not for the faint hearted!) Recommend the activity on the Canal at Trebes, and La Grasse is very pretty. Naturally we lunch at Hotel D’Alibert & the Magret de Canard at Martine’s is excellent! It has been a challenge navigating through the small villages & driving on the other side of the road can be stressful, especially in bigger towns. We are prepared now for greater things in Provence. Thank you for such a wonderful accommodation – you have thought of everything. Au Revoir et Bon Voyage Family from Auckland, New ZealandLength of stay one week - Rue de Minerve What a wonderful holiday. The yellow house has provided a great base for exploring the area and relaxing. We appreciated the tasteful blend of modern comforts and traditional charm. Highlights of our trip: Martine’s superb cooking and hospitality at Chez Barlaud, Minerve, Queribus & Peyrepertuse (worth the effort), Carcassonne, and just exploring minor roads ….. and of course hot, sunny weather! Wished we’d made an earlier booking for Hotel d’Alibert - missed out on a meal there. Also wished we’d managed to catch one of the bigger markets ……but there is never enough time for everything. Thanks for everything Marilyn & Steve. Also had a great time on the last night dining with everyone at Martine’s. Family from Launceston, AustraliaLength of stay one week - Rue des Remparts Lovely week in and around Trausse - Carcassonne, Minerve, Gruissan, Foix, Niaux, Beziers, Montpellier & Caunes. Also lots of great local wine. Marilyn & Steve thank you for your hospitality. Couple from Sydney, AustraliaLength of stay 2 weeks - Rue des Remparts Thank you for introducing us to Trausse. We have talked to you both over the years telling the delights of the country & it did not disappoint. It was nice to be your neighbours here as well as in Sydney. Thank you again - the house was just wonderful with the Steve & Marilyn touches. Couple from California, USALength of stay one week - Rue des Remparts The area is beautiful! So much to see and do that a week is not nearly long enough! Steve & Marilyn - thank you for all the local tips and being our guides. The open markets and of course the brocantes were fantastic. After a whirlwind week in Paris- this was what we needed. Days to roam the countryside seeing Minerve, Carcassonne, Mirepoix, Lezignan-Corbieres, and up-up-up to Peyrefiche! Picnics and of course your "tres magnifique" dinners - lapin a la moutarde - we will never forget!!! Thank you for wonderful memories! Lady from Atlanta, USALength of stay 4 weeks - Rue des Remparts It was a delight to be able to return to Trausse just 3 months after my last visit. Four weeks alone to relax, soak in the village life, and do some thinking about the next few years. I feel at home in this wonderful cottage and the neighbours are always friendly. New excursions this trip were - Lastours, a wonderful site of four ancient towers only a short ride from Trausse. Peyrepertuse - a longer journey but well worth it and the steep climb to get to the top, and Montolieu - the "book village" full of lovely book shops. The highlights of this years second visit was experiencing the vendange and the grape leaves in colour and of course the hospitality of Steve & Marilyn. Couple from Brisbane, AustraliaLength of stay 2 weeks - Rue des Remparts Firstly thanks Marilyn & Steve for your great hospitality and help. We very much enjoyed our stay at no. 45, loved the house, the village, great walks - all directions - the lovely countryside & several interesting bus trips around the district. The house was always great to come home to. |