La Souqueto is a sensitively restored and renovated townhouse in a small medieval village. It offers great food, a friendly atmosphere and oodles of artistic inspiration. There is a large, bright artists' studio at guests' disposal and a roof terrace as well as a small patio for private relaxation. La Souqueto sleeps upto 12 people in 5 double bedrooms (3 rooms with double beds and 2 rooms with twin-beds). There are 4 bathrooms. All rooms are sensitively furnished and decorated... all have fresh flowers, cooled spring water for drinking and, it goes without saying, freshly laundered sheets and fluffy towels as well as nice toiletries. The master-suite EMILIE is a large and quiet room overlooking the trees that line the river and Rigole canal. It has a comfortable Louis XV bed and an en-suite bathroom with spacious walk-in shower, sink unit and toilet. Bedroom ISOLDE is a small but equally quiet room with an antique double metal-framed bed. It shares a large and airy bathroom (with bath, large shower, sink unit and loo) directly opposite. Bedroom MELANIE has a double bed and shares a large bathroom. Bedroom ANNE has two single beds and also shares a bathroom. Top-floor bedroom MARCUS is small and low in places, as is its bathroom. But it opens out to the spacious art studio and sunny roof terrace. Our B&B is open all year. Breakfast (copious and daily-changing) is included in the price. Evening meals may be pre-arranged for 6 or more. Wi-Fi and free parking available. We speak French, English, Dutch and Spanish.

We are in the centre of the village Mirepeisset. Our GPS purposes our coordinates are N43.285374 and E2.897601. If you come from the direction of Perpignan on the A9 take exit 38 (Narbonne Sud), then the N9 towards Beziers. At the second roundabout take a left (the D607 to Marcorignan). Continue all the way straight for about 10 kms (you pass through the villages of Marcorignan and St Marcel), then turn right to Mirepeisset after Le Somail. In the centre of the village is a restaurant called La Taverne and there is a carpark on the righthand side of the restaurant. We are in the little alley right opposite the carpark entrance. If you take the A9 from Montpellier, take exit 36 (Castres, Mazamet). Turn right towards St. Pons then continue until the turn-off towards MONTADY (the 4th turn-off). At the T-junction turn left and follow the road all the way straight for 15 kms, then turn left at the signpost Z.I.Truilhas. 2kms further, turn right into Mirepeisset. In the centre of the village is a restaurant called La Taverne and there is a carpark on the righthand side of the restaurant. We are in the little alley right opposite the carpark entrance. If you come from Carcassonne, don't take the Autoroute - the D610 (which becomes the D5 to Beziers) is by far the easiest way. Setting off from Carcassonne Airport first follow the signs Centre Ville and continue in the direction of the Medieval city called La Cite. Do not enter The Cite but follow straight through towards Narbonne (a green sign). Then after a few kilometres look out for the sign for Trebes/Marseillette on the left which brings you onto the D610. Keep going straight all the way for about 35 minutes or so. About 3kms after passing the village of Pouzols there is a large roundabout - take a right (towards St Marcel), then a left at the next crossroads towards Mirepeisset. Entre the village till restaurant La Taverne. There is a carpark on the righthand side of the restaurant. We are in the little alley right opposite the carpark entrance.

Mirepeisset is a small medieval village which literally means 'the place to see fish' - due to the proximity of a lake, a river and the Canal du Midi (the latter two "cross" each other by means of the famous pont canal at the Porte Minervoise, a delightful 20 minute stroll from the house). There are two restaurants in Mirepeisset - La Taverna (centre village) and La Garenne (which overlooks the river). You can swim in the sparkling clean river (La Cesse) or its dammed lake (La Garenne) behind the house , and the sea and beach are within 30 minutes drive (with possibilities of kite- and windsurfing). The village itself has tennis courts and horse riding facilities for both children and adults, and since we're right beside the Canal du Midi, you can walk, cycle or cruise in the dappled shade of the platanes trees that line the paths and waterways (bicycles and boats for hire locally). Hiking (both gentle and rigorous) can be done along nearby gorges. We are also conveniently located for visits to Cathar strongholds and medieval towns as well as fashionable cities for shopping and sightseeing... (Narbonne and Beziers are within 20 minutes whilst Montpellier, Perpignan and Carcassonne are all about 1 hour by car.) All around Mirepeisset are many interesting foodie destinations many of which welcome visitors for guided tours, tastings and demonstrations. There are two old olive presses which are still active, and an award-winning, exquisitely located, goatscheese farm where you can see the goats being milked and cheeses being made. There are also a passionate beekeeper nearby where you can taste 12 completely unique honeys, a traditional artisan baker who might let you try your hand at making bread, and several Michelin-starred restaurants where one can still have a three-course lunch for under 30 euros... The area is scattered with many dedicated winemakers that still make their wines by hand, and Narbonne's covered foodmarket rivals the Boqueria in Barcelona. An hour's drive will get you to quaint fishing villages, the winery of the famous Noilly Prat Vermouth (indispensable for making a risotto or beurre blanc), the salt pans of Gruissan and the oysterbeds of Bouzigues... And in winter, the ski resorts are a mere one and a half hours away. On the artistic side there is also plenty to keep you busy: one of the world's most renowned patchwork museums can be found in Salleles, a village next to Mirepeisset, and there are impressive modern art galleries in Bages near Narbonne and in Lezignan... Narbonne's ultra modern theatre offers a daily changing list of events ranging from classic and experimental plays to concerts by artists from all around the world.