THE HISTORY OF THIS FASCINATING  PART OF THE WORD IS WRITTEN IN PAGES TO FOLLOW .

Our agents and associates have a wealth of experience in any area you choose and can advise you on the best investments, property ‘hot spots’ and the intricacies of local taxes and property law. They will provide as much help as you need and you will receive nothing less than a genuine commitment to customer services with the highest professional standards and expert advice every step of the way. Investing in overseas properties makes good financial sense. Some of the areas in the south of France have never had a property boom (as such.) So buying there will be a good personal or business decision and we believe you will make a good equity profit. Our staff are courteous and willing to help make your purchase abroad a pleasant experience every step of the way.

FUSION... WHERE MODERN COMFORT MEETS HISTORICAL PAST

At the very furthest point of the south of France there are grand chateaus, some of which dating back over 800 years. These have been tastefully restored and brought back to there former glory by a man whose passion is second to none. Never will you find such beauty and dedication from anyone. This man came to France in 1981 he bought old castles and restored them with the most wonderful enthusiasm and love for what he was doing. We have personally never met a developer like him; he loves his work and his creations. He imports artefacts from china for the finishes in these tremendous old buildings. Prices range from around 85,000 euros up to around 1000,000 euros and its unbelievable how you can own a big piece of history for such little money we truly believe this is a decision you would never regret, for we believe all who see will fall in love as we did.

FRANCE IS STEEPED IN HISTORY THIS IS THE TOWER AT RENNES LE CHATEAU.WERE THE DIVINCI CODE WAS REVEALED. 

When people hear the term "Southern France" most of them will automatically picture the "Provence and the Côte d'Azur. The south of France covers in fact the whole region south of the Grenoble-Bordeaux line but this is often omitted because of the overwhelming popularity of the above mentioned places. However, there are areas which have in every way more qualities than the Provence / Côte d'Azur.                                      

                           The AUDE region is the best example of this. It is popularly called the "La Petite France? As all the charm that made France famous all across the world can be found here: sun, sea, mountains, wine, snow, green land, haute cuisine, but also the French themselves here who still are very friendly and hospitable to the foreigners in their region. 

In the south side of the "AUDE" area you find vast rolling forests bordering the Pyrenees. In the west side the area enters flat land that is called the rain barn of the Lauraguais.
In the east, you have the beautiful miles long sandy beaches of the Mediterranean Sea. 

But the deep forests of the Montagne Noire and the inexhaustible heritage of Roman churches, Roman ruins and painted caves from prehistoric times make this an even greater area, and is therefore rightly given the nickname "La petite France".

                                         
     

There is a mild Mediterranean Sea climate despite the 250 sunny days per year; the sumptuous nature is fresh and green. In the Aude, all seasons have an unexpected charm. Autumn with its incredible colors offers one of the most beautiful experiences.
The AUDE is a wonderful department with a very rich and eventful history. 

It is the land of the Cathars. Picturesque medieval towns and hamlets are the remains of their exuberant and glorious past. And besides all those resources you can also choose to go hiking, fishing, swimming, skiing, playing golf, tennis, horseback riding, sailing ... In short: anything you like!
The originally rich land became quickly cultivated by the Romans and it was they who brought in a thriving wine culture. Their big "villas" determined the locations of many currently existing villages and towns. Moreover, the largest trade route across Europe  

(linking the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean) went straight through the Aude. 

This route offered many residents of the region a broader picture of the world then, it brought them wealth and made them more tolerant towards people and created in them a great sense of hospitality.
Here were the Cathars understanding, protection and hospitality. For them, the AUDE was one of the few places on earth where their philosophy could prosper again.
Nothing at all has changed in the AUDE since then and the people who stay for a few weeks or for a longer part of the year can experience it all the same.
Discover a fabulous area still known by few, and thus still affordable. However, this is changing rapidly. 

CARCASSONNE

When you talk about the Aude you will inevitably come across Carcassonne. The old city of Carcassonne is one of the best preserved fortified cities in the world and is also on the inventory list of the world heritage of UNESCO. It is a symbol of freedom.

The history of this city goes back to the ancient times and never has there been an army successful in taking it. Sill today we can all admire the defensive structure in all its details. Its sheer walls with towers and pinnacles are an example of military architecture. A visit to this great city is an absolute must.

The preservation of this great medieval ensemble is the work of a single man: Mr. Violet le Duc. Throughout his life he has fought for it and gathered together the necessary funds.

 

THE CATHARE

The Aude is also a region that is particularly rich in culture and very closely linked to the history of the Cathars. Catharisme is a movement that arose around the Black Sea basin and Spread all over Europe by the so-called Bogomiles during the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries. Their philosophy was "two-tier" and based on the coexistence of good and evil. God was not only infinitely good. Their philosophy found especially rich breeding ground in the region of the Languedoc - Rousillon and Catharism soon began to threaten the Catholic religion. This was of course seen as a big problem by the then pope around the year 1200 and a holy war against the Cathars was launched (from which the word "Heretic" was derived). In 1208, the crusade against the Cathars started under the name "Croisade des    Albigeois and, after a 40-year long war, the Cathars were completely eradicated.


The various Cathar castles are all magnificent places to visit and are always located on impressive sites. There are many published works for those who would like to know more about Catharism, and several websites on the Internet are also worth visiting.

CANAL DU MIDI

Another phenomenon is the "Canal Du Midi" imagined and built by Pierre Paul Riquet! He connected the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean! It is one of the most amazing Construction works in Europe. This huge work was carried out under the reign of Louis XIV, and was funded by his minister of finance, Colbert, at the request of Pierre Paul Riquet. A channel, over 240km in length, was therefore built in a region with a whimsical topographically and on the water shed line. As a result, countless unique locks were built. Prosperity came in the region thanks to this channel. The transport of the goods that were produced in the Aude could now be transported cheaply to the further destinations. A horse can carry only one ton through the roads but 6 tons on water. The benefits were easy to calculate! The "Canal du Midi" is included in the world protected monuments of the UNESCO as one of the 469 world constructions and thus compares to the Pyramids, the temple of Angor and the tower of Pisa. This channel is really unique and is very easy to visit or navigate on. Cycle along its banks is very popular nowadays.

WINES
In the Languedoc-Rousillon are the most extensive vineyards in France and perhaps in Europe. Brought by the Romans 2000 years ago, they have developed into great and affordable wines. The Chardonay wines are a reference and twice has a wine in this region been awarded as being the best wine in the world. The Blanquette de Limoux is a revelation and is the oldest Champagnes of the world. Indeed, in the 16th century, the secondary fermentation in bottle or in barrel were already applied here and in that century a military Italian nobleman already gave Blanquette to his soldiers for giving them courage. Although difficult to imagine! But it still does mean that Blanquete already existed at that time. In short, the Aude offers a very good and affordable wine that has nothing to envy to other producers in the world.

                           

BY PERSONAL CHOICE, AND  BEING A CHAMPAGNE LOVER ,I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS VERY LITTLE THAT CAN STAND UP TO THE FRAGRANT TASTE OF THIS BEAUTIFUL SPARKLING WINE.


GASTRONOMY                                                  

The country of abundance. With delights like Foie Gras. Truffles,Cassoulet, Fricassee de Limoux, Civet the Sanglier, Jambon de Montagne, Gigot,la Ficelle,Magret the Cannard, Fromage de Chare et des Pyreneees, It just doesn’t stop. The Americans call it the "French Paradox". So many rich foods and the people there have still the highest life expectancy along with those living in Andorra! Even the smallest village restaurant creates a feast from a simple menu. He who has experienced this once will not forget it and will definitely use it as a reference. Only this phenomenon makes the whole journey worthwhile.




The Mediterranean Sea
Not even an hour away from our projects and you will find yourself in the Mediterranean Sea, with its miles of sandy beaches. Here there is room for everyone, and the salty water is among the purest of France Here one can go surfing, swimming, sailing, fishing and diving. The underwater clarity is rich and the water is very clean. During winter time you can walk along the long beaches!

SKIIING
Skiing in the Pyrenees is a true experience, and it’s not overcrowded. The region has a wide range of ski resorts. Both cross country and Alpine skiers can experience memorable moments. The French national ski team also chooses the eastern Pyrenees for training. Beginners, children as well as elderly people can ski here in peace and security and learn skiing or snowboarding. Cross country skiing is especially great there, and you’ll discover enchanting places skiing through the centuries old cedar forests while enjoying a really healthy sport. All these options are on average 1 hour away from our projects and make your potential investment once more worthwhile.


HORSE RIDING
The whole region is very suitable for horse lovers. It is a country without barbed wires, without broad ditches and without banned domains. Whether on horseback or hiking, cross-country is a paradise. There are many horse riding schools and opportunities for leaving the horses in stables during the holidays. There is also enough land to keep your horses and care for them. Organized tours from one day up to weeks are possible and are very well organized. You can find more details through our web-links.


                                         

CYCLING
A real cyclist's paradise! Anyone can find his count. Plains, valleys, hills, mountains. You name it, it's there! Everything we said for the horses can also apply to mountain bikes. It is simply fantastic.

 

GOLF, TENNIS,

Some very beautiful 18-hole golf courses can be found in Carcassonne and its surroundings. Golf is an emerging sport in the Aude and there are several courses under development. As far as tennis is concerned, it is really great because a few years ago when Janik Noah still played almost every village had one or more tennis courts built. By buying a subscription for €90 you can play on any municipal court in the area.

                              

HIKING

You have already had an insight into what this land offers but with a walk you’ll also find your happiness. Hundreds of roads and walking paths are given in all categories. It can be found on Special hiking maps and once you have it you’ll then realize the infinity of possibilities offered.
This is not really strange in a region that is half as large as Belgium and with less than 500000 people!

White water rafting, gliding and much more..
Extreme sports also find their place in the Aude. From across the world, people come here for gliding or parachute flying. There are a lot of thermal winds against the rocky walls and each year there are contests in Puivert who count for the World Championships.
Kayak rental is available in the valley of the Aude, as for rafting there is a strip of water in the Aude also listed in the championship.

      


ACCESSIBILITY
The Aude is a region easily accessible from all areas of the uk.
Whether by car, through the chanel tunnel, by ferry. 
It is even easier by air. From most uk airports direct to Carcassonne with Ryanair. cheap flights in both winter and summer.
(Daily flights). We have even known flights as cheap as £9.00 (one way)

You could leave work on a friday and be there ready for your evening meal and a refreshing bottle of Blanquette de Limoux.  
 

By Air        or ferry            

CONCLUSION
A few years ago, we visited a place a beautiful place that stuck in our minds forever breathtakingly fresh what seems to be pollution free. Infact it would be hard to find something that it didn’t have, as this historic place has something for everyone. Here were the Cathars understanding, for protection and hospitality. For them, the AUDE was one of the few places on earth where their philosophy could prosper again. Nothing at all has changed in the AUDE since then and the people who stay for a few weeks or for a longer part of the year can experience it all the same. Discover a fabulous area still known by few, and thus still affordable. However, this is changing rapidly.

                                 

                                            The question is why wouldnt you visit one of gods most purfect creations?