Name: Le Jardin Secret
Brand: Pure France
SKU: 2915

Introduction

Le Jardin Secret is in a beautiful part of France, spectacularly unspoilt by the rigours of time, in a small, protected Cathar hilltop village surrounded by rolling hills of woods, fields and wilderness. Yet the grandeur of Carcassonne is just a 30-minute drive away alongside plenty of neighbouring villages and towns nestled in the surrounding landscapes.

Once upon a time, Laurac Le Grande was a key fortified stronghold and the capital of Lauragais – you can still see the remains of the old castle walls of this resplendent historic village.

The front door of this 18th-century house opens onto the village’s Grande Rue (with all of about 12 houses). Indoors lies a beautifully restored and very comfortable family home with stunning open views over the countryside. There are thick, stone walls keeping it fresh in the summer and there is a Jotul wood-burning stove in the living room for cooler nights. It has a breathtaking south-facing terrace as well as a spacious yet cosy open-plan kitchen, dining and living area alongside four carefully styled bedrooms with their own contemporary bathrooms.

There is a separate charming and private walled garden enclosing the fabulous pool, sun terrace and shaded dining terrace with its idyllic panorama of the untouched hillside. The scent of wild lavender, rosemary and thyme is abundant in the air and you can hear the occasional chime of the old church bell in the background.

Surrounding the hamlet, discover seemingly endless walking and mountain bike paths with views of the Pyrenees, Black Mountains and the Corbières. Beautiful market towns and vine-covered villages can be found in every direction.

If you can bear to leave this rural idyll, the Cité de Carcassonne (a UNESCO World Heritage site) awaits. You could also venture to the pink city of Toulouse, only an hour by car, or taste some of the finest sea-food near Narbonne and the sandy beaches of the Mediterranean. If staying in the winter months, some of the best skiing in France is less than a 90-minute drive away.

Back at Le Jardin Secret, enjoy leisurely lunches made with fresh produce from nearby markets, washed down with local wine. Stroll through pine forests and cypress groves, cycle along the Canal du Midi or simply rest at home – there are plenty of books to read beside the swimming pool before taking a refreshing dip. This is where worries float away, replaced by a stunning sense of the good life.

Le Jardin Secret is one of those rare finds where history and nature, alongside the personal touch of the artist-owners, have created a tranquil paradise in the sun-drenched Languedoc where the foothills of the Pyrenees begin.

Accommodation details

The villa is located over 3 floors with a separate private garden.

Ground Floor

- Utility room with washing machine, tumble dryer, walk-in hot drying room. iron and ironing board

- Back door leading down the road to the garden and pool

First Floor

- Large entrance hall with a selection of books

- Double bedroom (14 m²) with hand basin and private bathroom across the landing

- Bathroom with bath/shower, wash basin and WC

- Double bedroom (16 m²) with en-suite bathroom with bath, shower, wash basin and WC

- Twin or double bedroom (10 m²) with en-suite bathroom with shower, wash basin and WC

- Twin or double bedroom (14 m²) with en-suite bathroom with shower, wash basin and WC

Second Floor

Open-plan living space of 56 m² comprising of:

- Sitting area with comfortable sofas, armchairs, Jotul wood burning stove, plasma screen TV with UK channels, DVD player and a large selection of books.

- Dining area with large table for 10 guests with glass sliding doors opening up onto the terrace.

- Fully equipped kitchen with fridge, electric oven, microwave, electric hob, dishwasher, double sink and separate vegetable sink

- Large landing (14 m²) with freestanding freezer and wine fridge

- Guests WC with wash basin

- Terrace with wooden table and chairs, reclining sun loungers and gas barbecue with views over the pool.

Outside Grounds

- Separate fully fenced private garden (30 meters from the house down an almost unused road)

- Private swimming pool (8m x 4.5m) open from 1st May to 7th October (cooler months may not be suitable for swimming)

- Wooden terrace

- Sun loungers and parasols

- Al-fresco dining table

- Fridge in the small garden cabin

- Off-site parking (approx. 200m away)

Facilities

- Walk-in drying room

- Hairdryer in each bedroom

- Wood burning stove and logs

- DVD player and DVDs

- Eco-friendly electric radiators

- Fans

- Books

- 5 bicycles

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Rental Rates

Dates	Changeover dayChg. over	Minimum stayMin. stay	Daily	Weekly
04 Sep 26 28 Sep 26	Saturday	Weekly	-	£ 2,134
28 Sep 26 28 Oct 26	Saturday	Weekly	-	£ 1,474
28 Oct 26 19 Dec 26	Saturday	Weekly	-	£ 1,016
19 Dec 26 26 Dec 26	Saturday	Weekly	-	£ 1,728
26 Dec 26 24 Apr 27	Saturday	Weekly	-	£ 1,016
2027
24 Apr 27 26 Jun 27	Saturday	Weekly	-	£ 1,474
26 Jun 27 27 Sep 27	Saturday	Weekly	-	£ 2,134
27 Sep 27 27 Oct 27	Saturday	Weekly	-	£ 1,474
27 Oct 27 18 Dec 27	Saturday	Weekly	-	£ 1,016
18 Dec 27 25 Dec 27	Saturday	Weekly	-	£ 1,728
25 Dec 27 03 Mar 28	Saturday	Weekly	-	£ 1,016

Prices are for the rental of the entire property, payable in GBP.
35% deposit due at the time of booking. 65% balance due 12 weeks prior to arrival.
Security deposit €500 charged to client’s credit card as a pre-authorisation one month before arrival and refunded two weeks after departure, subject to full inspection.
Arrival time 4.00 p.m.
Departure time 10.00 a.m.
Energy costs included? Yes.
Linen & towels included? Yes. A linen/towel change for 2 week stays is also included.
Pets welcome? On request only and with prior agreement with the owner.
Changeover day Saturdays.
End of stay cleaning Standard changeover clean included in the price. Guests are required to leave the accommodation clean, tidy and in the same condition as on their arrival. Any extra cleaning, laundry, maintenance and/or rubbish disposal required will be charged against the security deposit.
Smoking Allowed? Outside only.
Insurance Guests are required to be in possession of a valid insurance policy, which covers them for cancellations, loss of personal belongings, personal liability and any accidental damage caused during their stay.
Minimum stay 7 nights.
Heating costs included? Yes and logs provided.
Pool towels included? Yes.
Pool opening dates? The pool is open approximately beginning-May to beginning-October. Please note that pool opening dates are subject to local weather conditions and pool maintenance requirements and that cooler months may not be suitable for swimming.

Tourist Tax
Where applicable, Pure France is required to collect and remit local government tourism taxes on behalf of our property owners. These taxes are calculated and collected from guests at the time of booking. Pure France then remits collected taxes to the applicable tax authority on the property owners' behalf.

Location

Le Jardin Secret is located in the hilltop village of Laurac in the Languedoc, close to the famous town of Carcassonne. With a population of about 150 in habitants, this charming village is a totally unspoilt and peaceful destination full of history and beauty. Castelnaudary is the nearest town (20 minutss away) with three large supermarkets, many bars and restaurants and many other shops, including a weekly market held on Mondays. There is plenty of free car parking within 250 yards of the house.

Within the surrounding area, there is much to see and explore on foot, by bicycle, in a canoe or kayak, or in the car. There are equestrian centres for horse riding in the local area. Similarly, bicycles can be hired in the nearby town of Bram. The cycle route along the Canal du Midi is ideal for all abilities and ages, making a perfect day out for the whole family with a picnic stop along the way! The Languedoc is abundant with hiking trails too, and exploring the region on foot is a lovely, leisurely method to discover the beauty of this region of France.

Vineyards sprawl across the land, and the famous region of Minervois is just beyond Carcassonne. Many local winemakers welcome groups for tours and tastings, and it is said that the best white wines from the South of France are produced here.

It goes without saying that the fortified city of Carcassonne is a must see, there are guided tours and medieval shows throughout the summer to entertain all visitors. There are also many of spectacular castles, abbeys and caves to visit in the area, especially the Grotte de Niaux with its pre-historic drawings.

Toulouse, known as ‘La Ville Rose’ (the pink city) is a vibrant city full of history and culture with many cafés, restaurants, museums and shops. Mirepoix is only 25 minutes away and has a beautiful market square and the town of Albi boasts formidable architectural features.

Laurac, Aude, Occitanie, France

Customer Reviews [23]

Fifi
Charming! We stayed here last year and intend to return, and soon. Charming little hilltop village set in beautiful country ...very rural, little fields full of butterflies and wild flowers and lovely autumn fruits to be picked. Old house with Capacious living room and kitchen, and big terrace overlooking beautiful tracts of French country. Wi-Fi, Sky...all you could want. Huge variety of places to visit, vineyards, markets, pretty villages, the cities of Carcassonne and Toulouse to name a few. Delicious restaurants, very good one in Castelnaudary. Very private and cosy garden surrounding the pool..barbeque et al.
You couldn't possibly be disappointed when you arrive in this house, it is everything it says in the brochure.

Victoria
Fantastic stay, Holiday was in a pretty village in great location. The house was fully furnished with everything you could need and the view from pool and balcony was stunning. We had a fantastic stay.
Only small points.. one of the bedrooms did not have a fan which would we useful for future bookings and also the upstairs lounge was very warm despite a fan in use. It would helped if black out blinds could be put down over sliding doors during the day whilst you are out to keep that room cool.

Harris
We absolutely adored our stay in Laurac! There is a huge amount to do in the area, much of which we discovered thanks to the info in the house book! Enjoy your stay to future guests, and a massive thank you to the wonderful hosts.

Kate
Beautiful house in a quiet unspoilt village. Amazing view from the terrace and the pool is beautiful and private.

Hawkins
A wonderful family break in a tranquil spot, our family has made wonderful memories, watching the shooting stars on the balcony.

Show more reviews [18]

Laura
Le Jardin Secret did not disappoint, the village is beautiful and quiet and the garden is magical, I won’t say anymore than that! My family had a wonderful time thoroughly recommend a visit!

Parkers
Wished we'd booked two weeks. We all had a wonderful week here and wished we'd booked two weeks. Enjoyed chilling on the terrace - especially in the evenings and watching the stunning sunsets. Pool was fantastic - we'd bought pool games and floats with us and just had fun!
Sorry to have to leave, enjoy your stay!

Thompsons
A lovely tranquil place to stay, ample room for the whole family and the views are stunning, the private pool created many happy memories. Enjoy.

Gaia
Just what we wanted for a relaxing getaway
Lovely peaceful place. Beautiful surroundings. Superbly comfortable beds. Excellent veranda area for cooking BBQs.
Friendly and responsive owner. Just what we wanted for a relaxing getaway during the pandemic.
The French were far more responsible with regard to mask wearing, and vaccine passport checking than anything going on in the UK. The supermarkets were fully stocked and everything was easy and smooth.
Loads of space in this house and stayed cool even in 38 degree heatwave.
The pool was clean and refreshing during the heat.
Would definitely return here, it was blissfully relaxing.

Imogen
Possibly the loveliest holiday I have ever had!
everything about the house and area was stunning, but mostly importantly as someone with children it was very practical. Information about the local area and things to do was provided a few weeks earlier which was an inspired idea as meant that I booked things and also had things to look forward to. The house was beautifully done. The living area on the top floor has beautiful views and is wonderfully put together - my son spent a huge amount of time relaxing in the Eames style chair flitting between Minecraft and looking out at the hills. The middle floor ensures cool bedrooms with plenty of bathrooms / showers. And the ground floor is super chilled. Then there is the secret garden which was just magical. I will not divulge it as genuinely a lovely surprise. However it was a wonderful place to decamp to either for an afternoon or at the end of a day trip. For me the house and gardens were absolutely gorgeous and my deepest regret is that we did not enjoy them more. Needless to say that halfway through the holiday I was already looking to rebook for next year. The location was perfect as both practical and beautiful - a stunning home in a tiny French village, but the Intermarche is 10 minutes away! You had medieval church bells but knowing that food and wine was within easy reach. Even the neighbours were chumbly with my very basic French. I genuinely felt as though I had got away from it all, enjoyed a small part of French village life and had a holiday.

Show more reviews [13]

Bobby S.
We had an absolutely lovely time!
Both the accommodation and village were absolutely beautiful. We'll definitely recommend it. I just wish we'd been there whilst all the surrounding sunflowers were in bloom. That must look spectacular.

Ayse
It was an absolutely wonderful place to stay!
It is a truly authentic experience in a beautiful, peaceful village. The views from the balcony and the pool are exceptional; the interior of the house was nicely decorated and clean; and the concierge/owners were on hand for any questions. The fact that the pool is across a short road was no issue at all; we did not come across anyone else on the road the entire time and it was every bit as good as the pool being directly next to the property. I would not hesitate to come back and would look forward to doing so!"
In terms of improvements I really cannot think of anything; it met or exceeded our expectations in every way. The only tiny thing I would recommend may be to change the driving recommendations slightly. But like I say, that is such a tiny recommendation compared to a wonderful experience!

Phil
Lots of facilities. Great views, a lovely setting.!
Just to say we had a fantastic holiday at Le Jardin Secret. Everything was as as Olivers stated and the pool area is fabulous.

Becca
We will look to revisit and recommend to others!
The location was as tranquil and peaceful as explained and the surrounding village definitely is a hidden gem with beautiful views and an elegant design throughout. The private garden and pool area was not far from the villa and we enjoyed playing in the pool with the children, soaking up the sunshine on the sun loungers and grabbing a bite to eat in the seating area. The beach hut was very useful for storing water and snacks for the children, and the vast selection of inflatables added to the overall enjoyment. The villa itself was spacious, well equipped and very comfortable. The amenities were clean and easy to use to help contribute to a relaxing holiday. The additional items offered to accomodate our children, made the travelling process much more manageable which is greatly appreciated. The balcony offers an incredible view in which we would enjoyed every evening as the sun set. We were very lucky with the weather during our stay and thoroughly enjoyed the suggestions of sites to visit. Overall a very positive and enjoyable stay at Le Jardin Secret.

Michelle
Lovely Stay!
We have just returned from our holiday and I just wanted to thank you for the use of your gorgeous house. On your villa page, I could see from the photos that your property was lovely but the house and pool exceeded my expectations. Anne Marie and Hubert are such a charming couple and took great care of us during our stay. We were very sad to leave.

Show more reviews [8]

Michelle
Fabulous! What a treat! This is a truly fabulous property in the peaceful and beautiful village of Laurac. The house and pool were immaculately presented and far exceeded our expectations. The concierge service was fantastic and we were very well looked after. We took advantage of Anne-Marie’s cooking and I can highly recommend it! The locals were very friendly and welcoming and we were lucky enough to experience the annual fete which was a real treat. The house is in an ideal place for a relaxing get away from it all holiday, but adventures can be found less than an hour away. We visited the bustling city of Toulouse, the ancient medieval city of Carcassonne, the water park on the nearby Lake Cavayere, the beaches at Narbonne, the wine factory in Limoux and lots of the quaint villages nearby. The unique little town of Mirepoix is well worth a visit, and is awash with places to eat. We had 2 weeks here and could easily have filled 2 more! I can not recommend this little hidden gem of a property highly enough. We will definitely be returning!

Liz
Wonderful location and property!
It was a beautiful villa, lovely bedrooms and such stunning views. The village was beautiful and such an amazing place to be able to visit Carcassonne and Mirepoix and the beauty of the place just took our breath away. The secret garden and pool was just amazing and sitting watching the sunset from the balcony was beautiful.

John
Such a nice place!
Great location for some R&R. The pool was perfect with weather being hot and humid.

David
Wonderful Stay!
We absolutely loved the location, the peace, tranquillity, smell of lavender as you walked down the narrow lanes and the friendly hellos of the locals. The house was perfect of our needs and the pool was most definitely a beautiful secret garden.

Gerard
Charming Place!
Nice house and pool in a beautiful, peaceful location!

Show more reviews [3]

Dorset Family
All in all an amazing place.
We have recently returned from 2 weeks in Laurac as a family of 7 across 3 generations ranging from 4 years to 76. The house is beautiful and no photo of the view from the wonderful terrace could ever do it justice. With 4 en-suite bedrooms, all of which were very comfortable, on the first floor, and a large open plan kitchen/lounge/dining room on the second floor, all of which looked out on to the huge French windows and terrace, we had plenty of room and comfort. The pool set in the secret garden, a short stroll from the house, was perfect for relaxing in, and there is loads of space on the decking for stretching out on the loungers and catching the sun. For shade lovers there is also plenty of this as well as the garden is very well designed.
With loads of amazing places close to Laurac there is loads to do and see, and the village itself is stunning and amazingly quiet.

Gregor H
Peaceful village and amazing views.
Having taken a holiday on the Canal du midi in 2015 my wife and I wanted a base to further explore this beautiful region. I looked for somewhere close to Castelnaudary but with a rural aspect. Boy did we luck out in finding Les Collines. The property has been renovated to a very high standard and the views from the roof terrace are amazing. We could not believe how peaceful the village was and to sit on the terrace watching the sun go down with a glass of wine is bliss itself. We also took full advantage of the private swimming pool which is surrounded by aromatic lavender and rosemary and fresh figs hanging from the fig tree.
The surrounding countryside invites you to explore and this can be done on foot, bicycle or simply by car. You are only less than ten minutes into the nearest large town namely Castelnaudary where you can stock up on supplies, visit bars and restaurants as well as links to Toulouse and the Canal du midi. If you are looking for a peaceful vacation in amazing surroundings with superb weather then look no further. My wife and I would definitely stay here again.

Anonymous
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the house.
The owner was incredibly communicative and helpful, the housekeeper really sweet and welcoming. The bedrooms are all simple and clean with efficient bathrooms and gorgeous shutters. The layout of the house and thick walls meant that the bedrooms were cool even in 35 degree heat. The terrace was great for late evening meals and star gazing and the pool provided hours of fun for us all.
Charming village, super landscape. Really good for walking or running past fields of sunflowers! We were there for 2 weeks and there was plenty to do. Our children's favourite was the Haunted House in Carcassonne!