Location

The château is situated in the department Tarn in southwestern France, just south-east of Castres, and 80 kilometers due east from Toulouse. On a large-scale map the château is marked exactly halfway between the villages Noailhac and Valdurenque (see this link to Google Maps; the château is marked). One hour from Toulouse and its international airport, which you can access by Air France, KLM, SN Brussel or Lufthansa. One hour also from Carcassonne with its smaller airport with Ryan Air from London/Stanstead. Just minutes from the yet smaller Castres-Mazamet airport.

There is lots to do and see within a couple of hours' drive, beginning with the Mediterranean, with the beaches at Narbonne, Leucate, Agde or Sête. A lake where you can swim is situated in the Montagne Noire just 20 minutes from us. Within easy reach you also find Roquefort with the cheese caves, Cathar castles (Lastours, one of the most famous, is just 45 minutes away), caves and lots of other things. Carcassonne is the best maintained medieval town in Europe. It was used during the filming of "Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves". It has several museums including one on torture during the Inquisition, and spectacular shows of free-flying birds (eagles, vultures...). More on Carcassonne here. In Millau, northeast of us, has just been opened over the river Tarn the world's highest bridge, higher than the Eiffel tower. For kids and grown-ups there are ponies and bigger horses just nearby. The golf course in Mazamet 15 minutes away is reputed to be good. Tennis courses are available in nearby Valdurenque. The ski slopes of Ax-les-Thermes are some two and a half hours away.

In the nearby village Noailhac there is an excellent restaurant, Hostellerie d'Oc, mentioned in the Guide Michelin. The nearby villages of Boissezon and Lagarrigue also have a good restaurant each. Within an hour's drive there are at least four restaurants with a star in Guide Michelin.

More on the practical side, there is a "hypermarket" ten minutes away, and the town Castres is ten minutes further on.

Property

The ground covers 27 000 square meters and is situated on a sunny south slope with a lovely view over the Montagne Noire with peaks up to 1 200 meters, snow covered in winter. There is a 12x6 meter swimming-pool, poolhouse with complete kitchen (refrigerator, dish washer, range, etc.), a WC, shower room. Deck chairs and sitting arrangements for 20 people.

The basement contains a rustic sitting-room with an open fireplace (that could be converted into a kitchen), a room with two washing machines and a dryer, a WC, a wine cellar, storage rooms, and the central heating.

The ground floor contains a double hall that goes through the building to the terrace and three reception rooms: a dining room with an open fireplace seating up to 20 persons and a grand piano; a large drawing-room with an open fireplace and television, and a large library. Each tower contains an office with windows in two directions. The remaining quarter of the ground floor is occupied by the two stairwells, the kitchen (with dishwasher, microwave, etc.), and WC.

Internet is available by ADSL broadband.

The first floor contains five bedrooms, each with its own bathroom (shower or bath). All the bathrooms have been renovated recently. The master bedroom has its own WC, the others share one WC. The three largest face south with a beautiful view over the mountains. There is a large independent dressing.

The top floor is a self-contained apartment with three bedrooms, WC, bathroom, kitchen, and a big room currently used for storage.

Above that is a large unused attic, and yet above that there is a minuscule terrace running the ridge of the roof (accessible by staircase).

In the current configuration, all eight bedrooms have a double bed, and two rooms have an additional one-person bed, so a total of 18 people can be accommodated.

The south-facing terrace is 130 square metres, and a double staircase down to the lawn.

There is an independent large open garage for two cars, and other minor outbuildings.

There are two pairs of gates from the public road. The main gates are remote-controlled through a video interphone and beepers.

You may contact owner@chateau-de-noailhac.com for information, or call +33.563500139 (English, French, German, Spanish, Swedish spoken).