First Visit

These photos were taken during out initial Dec. '04 "scouting" trip on a disposable camera on a late December afternoon. It would have taken the talent of a Ridley Scott to capture the soft, misty quality of the light, the low clouds and the rust-to-dark green pastels of the vineyards and forests, or the cozy, medieval charm of Chalabre...

DRIVING FROM LIMOUX TO CHALABRE

As you leave Limoux and drive towards Chalabre on the Departmental Road 620, you're still in wine country, with beautiful, rolling hills covered in grape vines, not unlike the Napa Valley (similar weather too)...

Then, as you cross into the hills, the vegetation becomes more forested, with streams and fields of wild flowers near Saint Benoît...

WALKING THROUGH CHALABRE

THE COURS

The Cours are large avenues, lined with rows of platanes (plane trees) and marroniers (chestnut trees) and fountains; some buildings have shops on the ground floor; others are residences (like ours).

THE HOTEL DE FRANCE

The Hotel de France is Chalabre's hotel-restaurant; it is located on the north-east corner of Cours Raynaud; it has 2 stars and very reasonable prices (35 to 45 euros/room).
More on the Hotel de France.

THE BASTIDE (OLD QUARTER)

The Bastide is the medieval center of Chalabre (10th-12th century);
there are shops, narrow streets, the 12th century church with jutting clock, and at its center is the market...

THE MARKET

This is a covered (ie: permanent) market, held once a week; one can buy local goods, produce, poultry, etc. They also hold concerts, etc.

BY THE RIVER

Just a few yards down from our house, there is a small bridge crossing the Blau, a small river lined with ancient houses.

APPROACHING OUR HOUSE
As you walk down the Cours Colbert, one arrives at our house; it is the 3-story pink house with the blue-green shutters on the left.