Here are a few of the things that we enjoyed seeing and experiencing.  This is neither a full nor required list; it’s just a few things that are thoroughly enjoyable. 

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• Reviere Souterraine de Labouiche – underground river in Pyrenees foothills.  On D1 North of Foix – you need to come off N20 (on from A66) before Foix.  It’s about an hour’s trek underground in a big boat.  You can see it online – we would advise calling them to book your place before you set off. (45mins drive)

 

• Reserve Africaine de Sigean – really huge and amazing wildlife safari park plus Zoo.  About 1hour 15 to get there.  Off the A9 on the way to Perpignan.  Basically you need to get back on to the main A61 motorway and turn right on motorway to Spain and its down there.

 

• Carcassonne – like Disney but real is how my son described it.  12th century fortified city.  It was actually fully renovated by the dictator Napoleon over 200 years ago.  Lovely place to go to.  Loads of restaurants in the city.  About 50mins drive to the castle.

 

• Karting Club Pays d’Olmes – on D625 on way to Lavelanet (15min drive).  Seriously  good  go-karting.  It took me about 1min 20 to get round I think.  Sadly for me some of my mates sons that are still teenagers beat me.  I blame it on their lack of experience in life.  It still hurts.  We have never booked it up; we just turn up and usually we are on within 5mins or so.  Sometimes you have to wait for a few mins and you get some very basic instructions but it’s pretty easy to pick it up and great fun for those that have never raced before.  The 270cc (mid-range) gets up over 50 mph so it good enough for me.  It costs about €15 for a go, which is 10 laps.  The secret is never apply the brakes on a bend!  In fact the best thing is to keep your foot flat on the throttle the whole time and go for it.

 

• Canyoning – A bloke called Mael does it; he’s brilliant – there should be a leaflet in the house.  Various options but absolutely ideal time of year – tail end of snow run off.  I can get the details for you.  A mate of mine usually organises it for me and others.  Best in group of about 6 to 8.  About €60 each is my best guess for a fairly large group.  He will provide the wetsuit and all the safety equipment.  Bring grippy old trainers and a packed lunch. (most of a day)

 

• White Water rafting: This is a great day out.  You need to be able to swim.  It’s more fun than demanding.  You are given all the kit, wet suits, etc., so no need to take anything.  They have kindly offered a price of €25 per person if you say you are from La Prade versus the normal €30 cost.  The address is 3, Quartier de la Condamine, 11500, Belvianes et Cavirac.  It just the other side of Quillan; about a 45 min drive.  (rodeoraft@gmail.com)

 

• Mirepoix market – Mondays only.  It takes place from early to about lunch time.  Get all the wine, olives, cheese, cured sausages and lots more besides.  Go there for breakfast and do a bit of mingling and don’t forget to haggle for non-food stuffs. (5mins drive)

 

• Lac Montbel – At Regate (near Leran) you can hire boats.  There is a small café there which serves lunch.  Fun time (20mins drive)
   

• Leran Friday BBQ - just off the road to Lavalanet and before Lac Montbel is a small village called Leran.  Every Friday in July and August from about 6pm the village becomes an outdoor restaurant.  Bring your own cutlery and crockery and they do the rest.  On both sides of the main street are food and drink vendors and at the bottom of the road is the stage for the band and famous BBQ and frites stall.  For those that live in the area, its the opportunity for fun and catching up on all the local gossip and for tourists, its just a fun night out.

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• Tennis – the courts are just off main road on outskirts of Mirepoix on the road to La Prade.  I think it’s about €12/hour.  (5mins drive)

 

• Limoux – it’s a small place but has lovely delicatessens – and the wine.  Sieur d’Arques – invented sparkling wines – a full 150 years before the chaps in Champagne copied them.  Avenue de Mauzac.  When you approach Limoux you will need to turn sharp left back on yourself and it’s just there. Takes about 25mins but the blanquette de Limoux is really great.  In fact all the wines are great there – they used to be good but apparently good is no longer good enough!  There are several other good degustations as well.   

 

• Dinner at Gayda winery is a great way to spend an evening; they do a fantastic tasting menu and the wine is top notch.  This is between La Prade and Limoux.  See online for details and you will need to book.

 

• Montsegur – this quite a stunning castle ruin atop a 1400m high mountain.  It is famous as the last refuge of the Cathars.  The pope at the time ordered a crusade against the Cathars.  I guess today, they would be called Baptists or Methodists.  They were Low Church Protestants that opposed the might of the Catholic Church in favour of a simpler more communal existence.  The stuff of heresy.  Simon de Beaufort – the father of the Simon De Beaufort that led the first English civil war – led the campaign to eradicate the Cathar movement.  The final battle was at Montsegur and took nearly a year because the French were unable to surmount the cliffs without excessive loss of life.  Eventually, and this is explained at the site, they did overpower the castle – and what were left of the poor occupants were burned alive. Still the views from the top are simply breath-taking and the view from the road of the castle is really impressive.

 

• Walking – there are wonderful walks from the house.  The three we would recommend are:

 

1. Cazals des Bayles - From the house walk straight up the hill to the north along a telegraph wire.  At the top turn left and walk along the top of the hills.  Keep going and eventually you come to a path/small road that leads to Cazals des Bayles.  Walk through this and down the hill and eventually at the end of the road turn left and then left again up the gravel driveway that leads back to La Prade.
    

2. The lone tree walk.  At the top of the hills to the south above Caudeval is a small tree set on its own.  From La Prade, turn left along the farm track.  It will take you over a river.  Follow it until you reach the A626 at Caudeval.  Follow the main road about 50 yards to the left and then turn right up the hill into Caudeval.  Then basically walk up the hill; there is a track you can follow from the top of the village.  Eventually you will get to the top and to the lone tree.  Just fractionally beyond that you get the most amazing views of a vast swathe of the Pyrenees mountains.  It is a wonderful place for a picnic.  If it’s hot – take lots and lots of water and the hill is demanding. You can return down the track to Caudeval or if you are still not sated, then carry on the path and it will turn right along the ridge of the hill all the way to Cazal des Faures.  Then carry on walking around the hill to Moulin Neuf.  Take the path that goes alongside a long wood pile around the back of oulin Neuf is the quickest way back to La Prade. 
    

3. Round the back to Seignalens – this is a somewhat harder walk to define.  Basically walk up the road to Seignalens.  After the brook take a right down a track that leads towards the big round grass hill you can see to the East of La Prade.  Go up there and then further on to the next hill.  You will find tracks and take these.  Eventually there is a sign that the road enters a private residence and keep walking to the left away from this private land.  The path is of varying qualities but eventually you will come across a pathway with signs to Seignalens.  From there would can walk back down the hill by road to La Prade.  I would suggest a picnic at the top of one of the hills you will encounter.  The walk is a couple of hours.  There is a small cenotaph in Seignalens.  There are 20 plus names on it and it looks like there are fewer houses than men that died in WWI fighting for their country.  I am always moved when I see this commemoration to their sacrifice.
    

4. If you prefer a flat walk, then just leave La Prade and turn left.  When you cross over the concrete bridge the road will turn to the right towards Caudeval.  About 400m from the road is a track to the right; take this.  The track will come out at a small house called Picharello by the red bridge to La Prade.  Turn right over the bridge and back home.  It’s about a 45min round walk.
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There are many other things to see and do – a bison farm, a butterfly sanctuary, the many degustations (perhaps more for the adults this one).  But it would not be possible to do everything as well as recharge the batteries and relaxing by the pool.  We are happy to give more guidance on anything you want to do and see – please call me for more details +44 7770 496 238.