Maison de vacances pour max. 7 personnes
Seix, Pyrénées françaises, (Ariège), France

A mountain paradise at the end of a winding lane-ideal for all outdoor activities.


Please note that owing to new French laws atraveo will collect from now onwards a " taxe de sejour" (city tax) from clients for our local French authorities. This property is currently awaiting classification; until such time as this is awarded the rate is 4.4% with a maximum ceiling amount of 2.53€ per night for eligible persons ( those over 16, younger people are exempt.) In practise, the tax actually works out at much less than this. At the moment we, as owners, are advised to put the maximum amount into our costings. If you are in any doublt about about how much this additional cost will be, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will clarify it for you, as it depends on the number of guests and how many people over 16 are obliged to pay.

This lovely stone property in the heart of the Parc Naturel Regional de l'Ariege, Midi-Pyrenées, offers wonderful views west with fabulous sunsets over the mountains. Situated in a tranquil hamlet at 800m above sea level, and not far from the Spanish border, it is superb for walking and all outdoor activities. It is also well placed for exploring the cultural and historical wealth of Ariege.
Leaving the Garbet valley (famous for its “Montreurs d`Ours”) between Oust and Ercé, you follow a lane which twists and turns among woods and flowers, always climbing, to its end - and there is Miramont, a little paradise on earth overlooking the Bassin d`Oust.  Nestling on the slopes beneath the proud ruins of Charlemagne's Chateau de Mirabat  it consists today of eleven attractively renovated barns and houses."Le Pichet" is at the entrance of this pretty hamlet. There is no through traffic except for the occasional car going to a couple of houses further up the hamlet. Almost all the houses are French- owned "maisons secondaires" - Miramont is a very friendly little community but this in no way impinges on the privacy of individual properties.
Please note that our photographs are continually being updated, and accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused, especially as sometimes this means that during the updating process the captions and the photographs do not correspond. Please ask if you require photos of any season/activity other than those shown- even with the generous allowance here there are some things we have not covered!

Originally a barn, le Pichet is built, like many others in the region, partly into the hillside, and adjoins “La Carrette”, the original farmhouse which we are now also lucky enough to own
We have lovingly restored “le Pichet” over many years to retain as many of its original stonework and features as possible - the "pas d'oiseaux" originally built for thatching purposes, and the beams of the old roof structure. It is tastefully and comfortably furnished, and hung with our own paintings and embroideries. Rodney is a professional sculptor, and his works (when not being exhibited elsewhere) provide the finishing personal touches. The ground floor consists of a comfortable dining room with a welcoming wood-burning stove, bathroom and well -equipped kitchen; a lovely oak staircase leads to the high-ceilinged lounge on the first floor (where the canapé gigogne can also be used as 2 single beds if wished.) On either side of this are situated the two delightful bedrooms- a chalet- style room with a double bed and a second larger room with one single and one double bed. The house benefits from superb light, particularly in the afternoons and evenings

The actual living space covers approximately 120m2.
Ground floor:
The dining-room / living area contains an oak table and seating for 7, wood burning stove, sofa, bibliotheque and television.
Kitchen: oven, microwave, fridge-freezer, washing machine, raclette, fondue and slow cooker.
Bathroom: wc, basin and bath (with shower attachment).
Upstairs:
A spacious, airy, high-ceilinged lounge (which can also serve as an extra bedroom should you wish) containing sofa, armchair, canapé gigogne (which converts to sleep 2) and a well stocked bookcase (both English and French). A large number of maps, walking-guides, and tourist information is at your disposal. The bedrooms are situated on either side of the lounge:
a charming, light, chalet-styled bedroom, with double bed , cupboards and shelving;
a second, larger bedroom with beamed ceiling, in calm colours of beige, white and pink. This contains one double bed and one single bed, wardrobe and shelving.

Letting options
We offer a reduced price option for 2-4 people by renting 1 bedroom only (the chalet) and upstairs lounge at certain times of the year(or occasionally during holiday periods if a last minute cancellation occurs). This is particularly good value for those who can take their holidays outside the main school holiday periods- (autumn and spring are in any case often the best periods for walking )or for-off-peak ski-ing at nearby Guzet. Please see special offers or do enquire for details.

The lovely west-facing garden is an idyllic place to relax and enjoy the view, and offers stunning sunsets over the mountains. Planted with roses, honeysuckle and clematis, it is a magical spot in all seasons; you are most welcome to use its abundant herbs in your cooking, and help yourselves to raspberries, rhubarb and salad when available. There is a shaded paved area ideal for preparing and enjoying your barbecue. Miramont has communal parking.

Please note that the garden is not enclosed, but Miramont, being at the end of the lane has very little traffic and children can play in security in the woods and meadow nearby. Neither can we boast a manicured lawn, this is a mountain hamlet and winter frosts and a few moles mean that the surface is inevitably a little uneven.

Woodburning fire, lovely views. There is also reduced price outside main holiday periods if you only need one bedroom which is ideal for couples- please do ask for prices as they arenot mentioned here.

The Haut Couserans is a geographically small area at the southern end of Ariege, bordering on Spain. Ariege itself is part of the huge administrative region of Midi Pyrenees which stretches far from here to the department of Lot in the North, and which is far too diverse to describe in its entirety here. Miramont means “look up”, and from our garden you do, for your eye is irresistably drawn to the ridge on which stand the proud ruins of Charlemagne';s Chateau de Mirabat. This itself means "look below ,and again you do, from its heights to the valleys far below down which came the invaders.......

With its majestic peaks soaring to the Spanish border (some of the wildest, most remote and unspoilt scenery of the Pyrenees) , and the gentler beauty of its lower wooded valleys and pastures, the Haut-Couserans of the Ariege- Pyrenees remains arguably one of France's best-kept secrets- a little-discovered, unspoilt gem tucked far away from the stresses of modern-day life. These 18 valleys converging on St Girons have a rich and varied heritage of which the locals are fiercely and justly proud. , and here you will find Miramont, a tiny hamlet nestling on the slopes overlooking the beautiful Garbet Valley. Despite its unspoilt nature, the area is nevertheless very accessible from Toulouse, Lourdes and Carcassonne airports; and at 20k from St Girons it is within easy reach of the major road networks linking with the wealth of historic and cultural diversity of the department of Ariege and the wider Midi Pyrenees in general.Miramont is ideally placed for you to explore wherever your fancy takes you, whether this be in the form of the superb outdoor activities available, or a more leisurely excursions around sites of historical and cultural interest.
Within the immediate vicinity- the valleys of the Garbet, Ustou and Salat- are the starting points of a tremendous number of beautiful walks (see further information), as well as canoe/kayak/rafting, fishing, riding, ski-ing at Guzet and an Accrobranch Tree Adventure Park. For cyclists, we are in the middle of some of “le Tour'”s most challenging cols; but there are many gentler routes, as well as beautiful mountain biking trails, and a recently opened descent park at Guzet. You can relax afterwards in the Centre de Bien- Etre in the local spa town of Aulus-les Bains.
Slightly further afield, in the Bethmale Valley (famed for its lake, clog-dancers and cheeses); and in the Haut -Ariege above Foix you can enjoy canyoning, climbing and waterskiing. St Girons houses le Musée du Chemin de la Liiberté; Medieval Foix, with its impressive chateau fort, the Grottes de Niaux/Lombrives with their prehistoric paintings, the underground River of Labouiche, (a boat ride through amazing stalactite and stalagmite formations), the Grotte du Mas d'Azil and the talc mines at Trimoulins are within easy reach and the Observatory of the Pic du Midi de Bigorre, now open to the public via a stunning cable car journey) is within 2 hours drive.
-Walking is superb whatever your level, (we are close to the GR10, GR pays, and numerous walks to the Spanish border)and for those interested in the abundant and beautiful flowers and wildlife of the Ariege or its history, we can put you in touch with local specialists (we have several books on the subjects) -Cycling/VTT - although this area provides some of the most challenging climbs of the Tour de France, it is also possible to find gentler routes along the valley bottoms- but you cannot get very far before encountering a hill!
-Mountain biking is becoming increasingly popular, with a number of new trails being opened up both in the Couserans and in the neighbouring area of Volvestre (about 30mins drive from St Girons) and a new descent park at Guzet. (This latter has been highly recommended by all our 2019 clients). Karting is also available and proving hugely popular at Guzet.
-Riding-there is an excellent Centre Equestre nearby, catering for beginners to dressage level, as well as wonderful hacking.
-Watersports canoei/kayal/rafting in the Salat above Seix.
-Lake and river angling in the Garbet, Ustou Arac and Salat valleys; and the Lacs de Bethmale and de L'Hers. Permits are very reasonable and can be bought online or at the local office de tourisme.
-Skiing at the family-oriented resort of Guzet-Neige., the prettiest in the Pyrenees. Do not be taken in by it';s relatively small size- its 40k of pistes contains a huge variety from the beginners secteur at Prat Mataou to the challenging blacks ( the most difficult in the Pyrenees) of the Freychet sector. There is a huge amount of off-piste, and a good snow park. Prices are reasonable compared to the Alps, we have an excellent ESF (with small class sizes) - and very few queues!
-"Golf de l"Ariege" is about 1h drive away.
-Geology /culture/history and astronomy. You can take a boat trip through some phenomenal underground caverns at the Riviere Souterraine de Labouiche near Foix. Beautiful Gallo-Roman St Lizier adjoining St Girons is a UNESCO site, while medieval Foix and its chateau is 1hr away. Numerous Cathar castles, the world-famous Grottes de Lombrives/Niaux and Tarascon's park of prehistoric art are all within a 2h radius, as are the Observatory of the Pic du Midi de Bigorre (now accessible by cable car), Lourdes, Carcassonne and of course Toulouse, "La ville rose".
It is impossible to do justice to this beautiful area, its changing seasons, and the wealth of activities and attractions it offers, within the photographs provided; so please do contact us if you would like further ones, whether of different activities, different seasons, or"Le Pichet" itself and its immediate surroundings.
Locally he characterful and pretty villages of Oust and Seix have small but well-stocked supermarkets, excellent butchers' and bakers', and a good selection of restaurants specialising in regional cuisine among which the "Restaurant/Bar du Garbet" in Oust is outstanding. You may also like to visit the charming Jardin du Curé and Chateau in Seix, the Musée des Colporteurs, and the Gallo -Roman church of Vic d'Oust. Seix has a small market on Wednesdays.
St.Girons, with a large selection of shops, supermarkets and restaurants, and a gloriously colourful Saturday market, is 20k away. Medieval Foix has another delightful market on Fridays, and Toulouse, Carcassonne and Lourdes are all within 2h drive. For further shopping opportunities, Andorra is 3h away
The region excels in local cheeses and meats- in summer you can visit cheese-making demonstrations in the beautiful Bethmale valley, and in the Salat Valley children can enjoy watching donkeys being milked to produce the soap"lait d"anesse" Donkey hire is also available above Seix, and several local centres offer days or longer periods on horseback in the mountains.

Dates and local events
Most attractions for children open at Easter through until the Toussaint holidays in late October/early November; and summer is obviously the season for festivities.

-TRANSHUMANCE (the movement of animals to the high pastures) takes place on 3 consecutive weekends during late May/early June in 3 separate valleys- Massat, Biros/Bethmale and Salat.. You can follow on foot, by car, bike or on horseback, and will be warmly welcomed - but please note that this is part of the agricultural life of the area, not a spectacle put on specifically for tourists.
THE TOUR DE FRANCE passes close by every year during early July and we are placed right in the middle of some of its most notable Cols. This week usually gets booked up very early each year.
AUTREFOIS LE COUSERANS- a display of traditional agricultural customs- is a particularly joyous weekend festival in St Girons; The town also hosts "Le Festival de la Musique et des Danses" and "St Girons en fete", which ends with a truly remarkable display of fireworks; St Lizier is the setting for "Les Nuits Gallo-Romains"; and Foix the week-long festival-cum-son-et lumiere "Il y etait une fois...."
During summer, everywhere villages are"en fete";Marchés Nocturnes abound; even small communities such as Oust and Seix put on wonderful displays of fireworks. There is a superb series of concerts in the beautiful Cathedral of St Lizier; and for those willing to travel further, the Cathedral of St Bertrand de Comminges.
PUNJADA- an annual shared French/Spanish picnic at the Port de Salau on on the Spanish border - the views, and the festive atmosphere once there, are worth the 3 hour walk up to the col!

Autumn is a time of superb visibility, fabulous colours, balmy temperatures and gentle valley mists-ideal for walking, cycling and VTT.
In winter, sporting activities are dominated by ski-ing at Guzet Neige. This family-orientated resort, known as the prettiest in the Pyrenees, contains a huge variety within its 40k of pistes- from the beginners area at Prat Matou through to the blacks on the Freychet secteur- the most difficult blacks in the Pyrenees. The off- piste is also excellent, there is a very good snow park, and a first-class ESF.