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Located in an ideal position for those seeking great walks and cycling routes yet close enough to the amenities of Esperaza. The views and surroundings of the cottage are breathtaking-and the privacy of the pool and garden area are amazing. It is fair to say the website photos do not do the cottage justice especially the pool and garden area. The pool and decking area are a wonderful space to spend time and Olivier keeps the pool and garden in excellent condition. The cottage itself has been very sympathetically refurbished and provides every comfort and is very well equipped. Fabien has been a most responsive and helpful host.
Rosie G., Wiltshire (England) - Sept. 2024

A refaire sans hésitation !
Petite maison très agréable avec piscine privée prestations parfaites.
Charlène F., Doubs (France) - juillet 2024

We had a lovely week in this cottage. Very well equipped and good information provided in advance and in the house. We came by public transport which is quite possible, using buses and trains. Some lovely walks in the area and Carcassonne is easy to get to by bus and a fascinating city to explore. Good local markets as well.
Gerald C., Devon (England) - Sept. 2023

We spent a wonderful two weeks in the Railway Cottage and found it had everything we needed for a very relaxing holiday. The local villages were quite quiet (early September) so we self-catered most evenings and enjoyed eating outside on the back patio in the shade of the amazing fig tree (the figs were gorgeous!). Breakfast in the sun on the little patio at the front of the house was lovely too. The pool really made the holiday for us and we spent a lot of time just reading on the super-comfy loungers, dipping in and out of the pool to cool off when it got too hot. It’s a good sized pool, easily accessible and not too deep - but deep enough for jumping in and messing about on inflatables. The surrounding area is beautiful - stunning walks up into the vineyards behind the cottage and lots of pretty sleepy little villages within short driving distance. Nearby Quillan and Couiza have great cafes for lunch, and a bit further afield, Mirepoix is a beautiful medieval town, well worth a visit. Wild swimming at Rennes-les-Bains was great fun. Excellent prompt and helpful communication from Fabien. We’d definitely recommend this lovely cottage in a fabulous part of France.
Cerry P., West Yorkshire, (England) - Sept. 2022

A beautiful house in the most quiet and peaceful area. The house is well equipped with everything you could need, we were particularly impressed with the kitchen equipment, as they had all you could need and more (not something common in most rented houses). The garden was beautiful and the pool was an absolute delight, big enough to swim proper lengths in! The hosts were very responsive and accommodating. We would definitely stay again without hesitation!
Eleanor S., Leeds, - July 2022

Malgré le temps instable nous avons passé un moment impeccable. Le gîte est assez grand pour un groupe de quatre adultes : le grand jardin avec une petite terrasse, un living charmant, mais surtout une cuisine qui est fort bien équipée et dans laquelle nous nous sommes installés chaque soir. Pour les achats quotidiens: dans le village Couiza il y a une boulangerie (3 min en voiture) et il y a une petite épicerie (fruits-légumes-fromages) à 10 min de marche. Dans la région il y a plein de lieux à visiter comme p.e. Rennes le Château (visite au petit musée pour avoir une vue impressionante depuis la Tour Magdala!), le Pic de Bugarach (promenade fort recommandée) et le Château de Peyrepertuse. Si vous avez l’occasion d’aller dîner au Ducs de Joyeuse (un menu à 38€) allez-y : pour nous, c’était une soirée inoubliable avec de très bons plats dans une ambiance joyeuse. Et comme nous étions avec deux personnes végétariennes, nous avons été enchantés de savourer le cassoulet végétarien préparé par la ‘voisine’ du gîte: formidable!
Yvonne De R., (Pays-Bas) - août 2021

Lovely, quaint French cottage – much bigger than we expected. Beautiful very authentic décor. The cottage is fully equipped – it seemed they’d thought of everything! Huge outside space with a seated patio and a brilliant BBQ which we certainly made the most of. The supermarket is very accessible – just a short drive and had everything we needed. The area is surrounded by mesmerising scenery and vineyards perfect for an evening stroll or drive .The Sunday market in Esperaza is an absolute must – bustling with atmosphere and great market stalls. We also had a lovely meal at the L’Atelier Crêperie which is an easy walk away and we’d recommend. Quillan was a slightly busier town very close by with great atmosphere in the evening. Other local attractions are the chateau in Couiza, exquisite food (more pricey) and beautiful grounds. The hosts have lots of recommendations of other places to visit, coastal towns, market towns and cities are all a drive away but well worth a visit. We visited in July and had beautiful weather for two whole weeks. Overall we really enjoyed our stay, thank you for everything!
Alice W., East Yorkshire - Oct 2019

A lovely cottage in a quiet village location. Well equipped kitchen, comfortable beds and cosy lounge. A good sized sunny garden with comfy loungers. A great area for walking, canoeing, historic castles and towns ... cycling for the very fit as it's quite hilly. Spectacular landscape at the base of the Pyrenees, still very green even mid September. Owners have been helpful and prompt to respond to email.
Jacky T., England - Sept 2019

Le guide d'accueil est très bien conçu et contient toutes les informations nécessaires. Les chambres sont très fraîches grâce aux murs épais (maison ancienne rénovée) et équipées de ventilateurs au plafond ( nous les avons expérimentées durant la canicule). La terrasse est agréable et ombragée. La cuisine est dotée de tous les équipements nécessaires. L'environnement est reposant et très calme. Nous avons passé un séjour délicieux.
Sébastien C., Marne, France, juillet 2019

Nous avons passé une excellente semaine de visites dans la région. De nombreux sites sont facilement accessibles à partir du cottage, bien que Carcassonne-même en soit un peu éloigné. Le cottage est très agréable, cosy et très bien équipé. Environnement très calme tout en étant proche des magasins et des voies de circulation. Nous avons peu utilisé le jardin vu que nous étions en période de canicule et les ventilateurs dans les chambres ont été fort appréciés. Bref, ce fut un séjour bien sympathique. Recommandé!
Geneviève T., Belgique, juillet 2019

We loved our stay, the cottage is beautiful, well equipped and very cosy! The garden is lovely and we had a great time eating outside. We definitely recommend staying here, there's many beautiful villages surrounding the area and it is great for a peaceful countryside retreat.
Hannah H., England - June 2019

We've just returned from 2 weeks at The Railway Cottage. It was a new region of France for us and we really enjoyed it. The cottage is well placed for lots of lovely places to visit. Our main aim was to visit Carcassonne, which more than lived up to expectations. Other favourites were Mirepoix, Narbonne and Perpignan. The Sunday market in Esperaza is excellent, a good place to buy lunch to eat in the garden. Would also recommend L'Atelier Creperie in the same town, don't be put off by the exterior, it's very good. The Intermarche supermarket in Esperaza is good, if you want a larger choice and you're near Limoux the E Leclerc is worth a visit. Would definitely suggest buying your wine from Anne de Joyeuse just down the road though, very reasonable prices and delicious! We enjoyed the garden at the cottage, it was good to have the option of sun or shade. The kitchen is well equipped and the living room is cosy with a lovely outlook to the garden.
Geoff H., England - May 2019

This lovely cottage was perfect for a relaxing week away. Delightful garden with plenty of room to sit out and enjoy the sun. Quiet location but within easy reach of local shops. I would recommend this cottage.
Evelyn T., England - Sept 2018

We spent a sunny two weeks here at the end of August. It was fantastic! We arrived to pre-arranged welcome baskets with the most delicious food and wine and the cottage is gorgeous and very well- equipped. Most mornings started with a run around the hills and vineyards and a trip to the local Boulangerie and then pastries and coffee on the patio. We spent hours playing cards with the children in the evenings and generally enjoying the garden (with local wine and cheese, of course!!). This was a great base to explore the Cathar castles, and the new park and water park at St Betrands was amazing fun - we spent 3 or 4 afternoons there and the kids never got bored! The local market on Sunday is also great (with a great collection of musical instruments too!). We kept the driving to a minimum but visited lots of castles (Puilauren is well worth the visit), Carcassone, Couliere, and great caves a bit further afield too. Fabien was so helpful before and during our trip and that also helped to make our stay really enjoyable. I cannot recommend The Railway Cottage highly enough - for perfect peace, beauty, relaxation and fun adventures!!
Karen B., Sheffield - Aug 2018

Le Railway Cottage de Montazels est l'endroit parfait pour passer d'excellentes vacances en famille. Loin du bruit et de la cohue d'une endroit touristique classique, le Railway Cottage offre un lieu unique de verdure, de calme et de confort tout en gardant un caractère authentique. La maison est très bien équipée et dispose de tout le confort que l'on peut attendre avec le charme en plus d'un cadre naturel parfait. Point à signaler car assez rare, la literie est vraiment de qualité et tout l'équipement est entièrement fonctionnel.
Nous avons passé de très bons moments que ce soit sur la terrasse, au jardin ou même au coin du feu un soir où nous sommes rentrés trempés sous un orage. La situation géographique centrale d'une foule d'activités permettra de trouver le bonheur de chacun que ces aspirations soient culturelles, artistiques ou sportives. Nous conseillons tout de même l'usage d'un véhicule car la région est grande, les sites intéressants éloignés les uns des autres et les transports en communs assez rares. Points forts de la région : Carcassonne, le Canal du midi, Limoux et ses caveaux, Rennes-Le-Château, Narbonne, Toulouse, Cadaquès et la maison de Dali, le lac de Quillan, les activités du village d'Espéraza ...
L'accueil prévu par l'hôtesse locale est très agréable. Une excellente bouteille de vin, des fleurs fraîches et un bocal de confiture maison nous attendaient sur la table de la cuisine. Les propriétaires sont extrêmement réactifs au moindre petit souci ou à la plus petite demande que vous pouvez leur faire. Comme d'autres locataires l'ont également fait remarquer, il ne manque vraiment qu'une piscine pour que l'endroit soit proche du paradis ! En résumé, un endroit charmant, très bien entretenu et équipé. Une très belle région. Des propriétaires et gérants attentionnés et charmants. Un excellent rapport qualité prix ... A recommander !!
Fred S., Namur (Belgique) - juillet 2018

We spent two very enjoyable weeks in this cottage. It is small , but very convenient for the two us us. The accommodation was clean, with a bright spacious lounge and good kitchen, equipped with all we needed. Everything worked as intended. The area was new to us but we found it easy to get around and saw lots of nice country and all the tourist stuff we wanted. It was very quiet but there are convenient shops, markets and wine outlets. the garden is smaller than some, but is sunny and well laid out. We did not meet the owners but spoke to them by phone and e-mail and found them attentive, helpful and friendly. We would thoroughly recommend this property.
Iain W., Somerset, June 2018

Fabien’s place is a lovely authentic old railway cottage. The amenities are good, and the fireplace works really well, especially if you can buy some bigger logs at the local wood seller. The cottage is well situated to explore the lovely Aude Valley, and it is less than an hour from Carcassonne, which is apparently one of the most visited places in France. Recommended.
Val S., NSW, Australia - Dec 2017

Nous avons passé 5 jours fin octobre dans cet adorable cottage. Il est très bien situé, au calme tout en étant proche des commodités (supermarché, boulangerie). La météo étant très clémente, nous avons pu profiter du jardin et de la terrasse pour déjeuner, et même pour dîner. L'intérieur du cottage est très agréable, les pièces sont lumineuses et nous n'avons absolument rien à redire sur la propreté. La cuisine dispose de tous les équipements nécessaires pour pouvoir se cuisiner de bons petits plats avec les produits locaux. Les hôtes sont très gentils, à l'écoute et plein de délicates attentions. Quelques semaines avant notre arrivée, nous avons reçu un pdf explicatif contenant toutes les informations nécessaires pour une arrivée et une installation sans encombres. La clé étant disponible dans un coffre à l'entrée, nous avons pu arriver assez tard le premier jour sans nous soucier de "déranger" quelqu'un pour récupérer la clé. C'est très appréciable... La région de la vallée de l'Aude est magnifique à l'automne et nous avons pu la découvrir avec plaisir. Nous recommandons vraiment ce lieu reposant et chaleureux. Un grand merci à Fabien et Ben de nous avoir permis de passer de très bonnes vacances dans leur joli cottage.
Alexa G., France, - oct 2017

Ideal place to relax and explore the beautiful surroundings. Beautiful comfortable cottage in beautiful surroundings. The Cottage is in the foothills of the Pyrenees. In the surrounding area, the peaks rise up to about 1000m. It’s an ideal area for cycling, walking, or discovering the various sights (Rennes-les-Bains, Rennes-le-Château, Gorges de Galamus, Carcassonne, etc.). Sport lovers will be in heaven, as there is great cycling, mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, rafting, swimming, etc. In short, there’s loads to do! If you’d rather relax in the garden of the cottage and enjoy the sun, that’s no problem, as sun loungers are available and if it gets too hot, then you always cool down in the cottage itself.
The cottage has a well-equipped kitchen, two bedrooms, a large bathroom, lounge, terraces and enclosed garden with parking for your car. Bed and bath linen is provided and on request you can even have a welcome basket: the "panier maison" made by neighbour Josiane was definitely worth it! Delicious local dishes, ideal after a long drive as you don’t need to search for a restaurant etc. right away. A car is recommended if you want to explore the area. We really enjoyed it here. Recommended!
Dirk D., East Flanders, Belgium - Sept 2017

Situated next to a disused railway line adds to its quirkiness and tranquility, whilst sitting either in the secluded garden or at the al fresco dining with a chilled white and a bowl of local olives. The garden extends way back from the fig tree to the plum trees and the hammock and is entirely surrounded by a tall hedge for privacy. The cottage itself is spotlessly clean and maintained by a lovely local couple. Clean linen and towels are provided, all the white goods work well and a supply of comestibles is left and added to by the occupants (including ourselves, Pastis, breadflour, canned goods and wine we couldn't fit in the cars for our return trip). The cottage is a little out of town and you will need transport but it is a marvelous base for reaching out into the foothills of the Pyrenees. Rennes les Chateau is a few minutes drive away and can be seen from the garden, a fascinating place. Alet les Bains is about 6 k towards Limoux and is an unspoilt medieval village with half timbered homes and a pleasing lack of tourist tut. Limoux centre ville is a lovely square with a choice of eating or cafe seating/people watching. Carcassonne is a 25 minute drive and contains all the jousting tourist could want, busy and understandably famous. The service provided by Fabien and Ben is outstanding and a fine example for other owners to follow, thanks, thanks and thanks again for allowing us to use your home. A wonderful holiday and we would love to go again.
Jeff B., Lincolnshire - July 2017

We had a lovely week at The Railway Cottage. It is well equipped and has plenty of character. The cottage is located a 5 minute drive or 20 minute walk from Esperaza which has plenty of facilities including a good small supermarket, a few boulangerie and cafes. The Sunday market was worth a visit for fresh provisions and Intermarche is very close. And try the Malbec from Anne de Joyeuse, delicious. It was very peaceful relaxing on the terrace, listening to the birds and spotting the very infrequent trains. The garden is crying out for a pool but that may be a consideration for the future. There is a good circular walk up Chemin de Brimort if you like to get in a bit of a daily walk and there are possibilities for longer ones. The whole area is beautiful and changes as you head south towards the mountains. There is plenty to do in the area locally or a little further afield. If you have kids definitely visit the Dinosaur Musee as it is much bigger and more impressive than expected. A most enjoyable stay and relaxed place to be.
Helen R., Surrey - June 2017

Stayed at this cottage for 1 week. Before arriving the owners sent an information pack which was incredibly useful and meant when we arrived at the cottage we could settle in easily and comfortably. The cottage itself was spotlessly clean - each room felt warm and comforting. The location of the cottage was great as it was in a more secluded area (very peaceful) but within walking distance of bars, restaurants and shops. Within the cottage was an info pack which contained leaflets of things to do within the surrounding areas which meant that each day we were spoiled for choice with activities! One evening we were slightly cold so asked the owners about heating and the next day the property manager had put radiators within the bedrooms! Great location, lovely owners, warm and welcoming property- would definitely recommend any of my friends to stay here!
Elley S., Yorkshire - Oct 2016

Une maison très agréable où il ne manque que la piscine. L'aude offre des paysages magnifiques (les terres rouges ou Nebias) et les chateaux cathares de Peyretpertuse et de Puivert proposent des expériences époustouflantes. Sans oublier des centaines de chemins de randonnée, pour tous les goûts ! Courrez vois Rennes le château que l'on aperçoit depuis la partie supérieure du jardin où il fait bon musarder et regarder les étoiles filantes.
Patrick M. - juillet 2016

Magical place to really relax. This was my first time to the Aude valley, and found it one of the best places in France. The garden, with its distant view of Rennes-le-Château, the mountains and trees, is just a perfect spot to sit and do absolutely nothing but stare into the horizon. The local people are lovely and friendly, the shops are a short walk away in Espéraza, and there is a marvellous winery just a 10-minute ramble up the road where you can buy amazing Rosé and Merlot by the litre, or even some excellent bubbly for 10€. The best thing is the 1€ train or bus, that will take you up and down the valley to other must see places like Alet-les-Bains, or Limoux, and Carcassonne. The cottage itself is very cool even in high heat, the kitchen is well equipped, so you don't have to worry about buying all the basics when you get there, and the lounge is large and airy. Wifi is a big plus, but after a few days you will not even bother checking your emails !
Kathryn W., Leeds - July 2016

Lovely, comfortable cottage located in a beautiful part of France. The cottage has everything required for an enjoyable stay. The garden is large and well equipped with dining table, chairs, sun loungers and BBQ and several fruit trees. We had many meals al fresco and enjoyed the garden hugely. It is fully enclosed so therefore ideal for children. The region is beautiful, with some lovely historic towns and villages within driving distance and fantastic lake and many rivers in which you are able to swim. Highly recommended.
Liz F., Valencia - June 2016

La maison est très confortable, le quartier est très calme et idéal pour se reposer : on y dort très bien et c'est tellement agréable le réveil avec le chant des oiseaux. A deux pas de l'Aude, très belle région et la visite des châteaux Cathares fera de votre séjour un moment inoubliable.
Jean-Marc A., Paris - mai 2016

La maison est claire et chaleureuse, idéale pour s'y reposer et y séjourner avec une famille de 4 personnes, la terrasse avec vue sur le jardin est idéale pour l'apéritif ou un barbecue entre amis. On peut aller au village à pied pour faire quelques courses ou le marché très animé et bien achalandé. La région est très jolie avec de belles ballades à faire !
Mado. B. Eure-et-Loir - avril 2016