Welcome to the La Calade Blog
A helpful read
The Cirque de Mourèze
Exploring the Natural Beauty of Cirque de MourèzeNestled in the heart of the Hérault region is the natural wonder of Cirque de Mourèze. This breathtaking area boasts a unique collection of limestone rock formations, sculpted by centuries of erosion, that create a...
Cycling in the Orb Valley
Cycling the Villages of the Orb Valley Discover the beauty of the Haut-Languedoc and the Orb Valley on this cycling tour. Wind your way up to Berlou through rolling hills, holm oaks, vineyards and olive groves at the foot of the Caroux. Marvel at the remarkable...
Discovering the Languedoc – Our Top 10 of 2022
Discovering the Languedoc - Our Top 10 of 20222022 has been another pretty busy year of discovering the beautiful Languedoc area. We've eaten in many restaurants, shopped in a multitude of markets, strolled through various villages and towns and swam in a lot of...
December in France
December in FranceDecember is a wonderful month to visit France, a time when the entire country comes alive with seasonal delights. Ice skating rinks are set up in major cities, often alongside Christmas markets that fill the streets and squares, attracting crowds who...
Christmas Markets South of France 2022
Christmas Markets South of France 2022The south of France is not well-known for it's Christmas markets but almost every town and village will have a Christmas market at some stage from mid-November to New Year, but usually just for a day. The big towns and cities,...
Narbonne Indoor Market
Les Halles de Narbonne Indoor MarketRunner-up in 2021 – Narbonne indoor market has just deservedly won ‘le plus beau marché de France 2022’ in a much-loved annual contest. This elegant Baltard-style pavillion, famous throughout the South of France is a must-visit for...
Autumn Fairs in Hérault and Aude
Some Great Autumn Fairs in the Hérault and AudeAfter the blazing heat and fast pace of a Mediterranean summer, the autumn comes as a bit of a relief. The weather is ideal - mostly warm, sunny days in the high 20s but with a bit of a breeze and cooler nights. The...
Top 5 Wild Swimming Spots in Languedoc
Top 5 Wild Swimming Spots in the LanguedocSummers in the Languedoc are pretty much always hot and sunny with endless blue skies. So, you definitely need places to cool off. Of course, there is “ la grande bleue” as the French call the Mediterranean Sea. But inland,...
Minervois and St Chinian Vineyards Cycling Circuit
Cycling the Minervois and St Chinian Vineyards Departing from Montouliers, the cycling loop offers beautiful views of the Minervois and Saint-Chinian vineyards. The route follows pleasant secondary roads and traverses small villages and passes several wineries where...
Les Fenestrettes Hike
A surprising walk with breathtaking views: this astonishing path, built by the monks of Saint-Guilhem, hangs above the void. It is often thought of as the most beautiful trail in the Hérault and is an ideal complement to a visit to the village of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert
The Most Beautiful Villages
Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (meaning “the most beautiful villages of France”) is an association created in 1982 to protect and promote the rich cultural heritage and appeal of small rural villages
Best Beaches in the Languedoc
The Languedoc’s beaches are vast and striking, with unbroken stretches of sand and backdrops of wild grasses. The better known ‘town’ beaches, such as Carnon, St Pierre and Canet are pretty awful – ruined by cheap concrete beach apartments. But get off the beaten...
How the French celebrate Christmas
How the French celebrate Christmas includes letters to Santa, presents at the beginning of December and a huge meal on Christmas Eve. Letters to Santa Writing to Santa is tradition across the world, but in France he writes back! Since a law was passed in 1962 stating...
Les Grands Buffets, Narbonne
The restaurant Les Grands Buffets in Narbonne has revived the French tradition of buffets. Since the Middle Ages, this is how the French aristocracy have enjoyed their grand banquets; serving all the dishes at the same time on a 'buffet' inviting each guest to compose...
A Trip to Minerve
If you are visiting this part of France then a trip to Minerve should be on everyone's itinerary. There really is something for everybody - breathtaking scenery, rich history, walking, swimming, great restaurants and little local shops. Here are a few things that...
Autumn in the Languedoc-Roussillon, Occitanie
Autumn is a fantastic time to visit the Languedoc-Roussillon, Occitanie. The stifling heat of summer gives way to a comfortable warmth with temperatures a very pleasant 20 to 25 °c and the air becomes much clearer. It's superb weather for walking and cycling, and is...
Eating in at La Calade
We are lucky to be able to offer you the perfect spot for eating in at La Calade -why not relax under the shade of a large lime tree in our tranquil, south-facing garden? So many of our guests don't want to leave it once they have spent some time there. So we've been...
The Perfect Mid-Week Break in Occitanie
We thought we would share with you our idea of a perfect mid-week break in Occitanie - in and around Montouliers. The weekends can get busy on the beaches, in the restaurants and on the roads, so why not make the most of the quieter times and come and have a break...