Guests say
Guests are enamoured with Chateau Chemin Vert, praising its luxurious and opulent rooms, beautiful gardens, and inviting pool. The property offers a blend of old-world charm and modern comforts, nestled in the picturesque village of Chalabre. The friendly hosts and locals, along with the property's proximity to amenities and attractions, contribute to an exceptional stay that many eagerly wish to repeat.
There is no specific mention of cleanliness in the reviews, so it is not possible to provide an accurate score for this category.
The location is highly praised for being in the heart of Chalabre, a charming village with friendly locals and within walking distance to amenities. Its proximity to various activities and attractions, including markets, restaurants, and historical sites, makes it an ideal spot for guests.
Guests rave about the comfort of the chateau, highlighting the luxurious beds, spacious rooms, and the mix of luxury and homeliness. The peaceful and relaxing environment contributes to a comfortable and indulgent experience.
The chateau's facilities receive high acclaim, with mentions of a well-kept garden, terrace, swimming pool, and various indoor spaces for relaxation and events. The presence of a gym and the option to hire a private chef for special meals further enhance the guest experience.
While the reviews indicate excellent hospitality and mention special experiences like wine tasting lunches, there is no specific reference to gifts or additional thoughtful touches that would warrant a score in this category. It should be noted that such experiences are subject to availability and are not guaranteed.
About this property
As featured in Mansion Magazine!
Stay in a historic château in the heart of a bastide village with distant views of the Pyrenees. Château Chemin Vert offers charm, character and even a swimming pool near some of southern France’s most beautiful towns and countryside in the enchanting region of Languedoc.
The spirit of this grand château is felt throughout with elegant furnishings and so many historic features from the panelled walls and carved fireplace in the splendid living room to ornate ceilings and rich fabrics in the four main bedrooms. Recent renovations also add a touch of contemporary style such as in the bright orangerie with its dining table and two new family suites sleeping up to four guests each. Other modern amenities include Wi-Fi, satellite TV and a gym.
Doors from the library, grand salon and orangerie lead out to a large terrace and barbecue designed for al-fresco dining or just a quiet aperitif as you gaze out to the houses and hills beyond. Wander through the vast gardens, see what vegetables may be growing or which fruits are in season and follow the gently sloping lawns to the 12m long swimming pool with its pool terrace perfect for sunbathing. Play pétanque on the excellent court with village views beyond the walled garden. It’s quite unique to have such a spacious garden, pool and high standard of pétanque pitch within historic village château.
Every morning you can wander into the local bastide village to pick up freshly baked bread and pastries. Explore the lanes leading from the main arcaded square with its plane trees, pretty fountains and delightful Saturday morning market. Enjoy the cafes and restaurants before returning home to your own château in minutes. You may even be fortunate enough to visit when festivities take over the village and the ambience is especially wonderful.
Visit other picturesque market villages and towns, swim or canoe in the nearby lake, cycle or hike on one of the many stunning trails and discover the fascinating Cathar history of this region. Being in the foothills of the Pyrenees, even skiing is possible in winter months or enjoy beautiful walks through the magnificent mountains so near. This is also a great location for visiting the great city of Carcassonne, a UNESCO World Heritage site, just under and hour away.
Whether it’s the enchanting villages and towns, brilliant landscapes or captivating history, you can experience so much of the Languedoc region at Château Chemin Vert, right from your very doorstep.
Château Chemin Vert is located in a bastide village in the Aude department of southern France, near the border with Ariège, around 50km south-west of Carcassonne.
Public car parking is just a minute’s walk away and you will find the entrance of the château just off the narrow pavement on one of the village roads. Stairs will take you up to the main floor which leads to the gardens and terraces.
The village itself is full of charm and has many festivities taking place throughout the spring, summer and autumn from medieval music festivals to the occasional Vide Grenier (flea market). You’ll find a boulangerie, chacuterie, pharmacy and a few cafes and restaurants, as well as a small supermarket just on the village’s edge. There are also tennis courts just outside the village. The Saturday morning market is one of the prettiest in the region.
There are some wonderful walking and cycling routes across the region including Le Chemin Vert, an old railway line which is now a path linking Mirepoix and Lavelanet and can be joined around 500m away.
The Lac de Montbel is just a ten-minute drive away, a great place for watersports including kayaks, canoes and pedalos, or you can go fishing, bird-watching or simply go for a swim from one of the lakeside beaches. It takes around four hours to walk around the whole lake, passing through forests and admiring the beautiful landscapes around you. You may even be able to see the snow-capped Pyrenees at certain times of year.
This region also offers a wealth of fascinating history such as the Cathar ruins in Montsegur, Lapradelle-Puilaurens and the incredible Château de Queribus. You can also visit Neolithic caves in Niaux and Lombrives, both around an hour away.
If you are travelling during the winter then you will find skiing around Les Monts d'Olmes, one hour by car, or at other times of year it’s a great place for walking and also popular with cyclists.
Not forgetting so many wonderful old villages and towns across the Aude and Ariège regions, many with weekly markets where you can pick up some amazing local produce. Mirepoix has a particularly great Monday morning market, probably the best in the area, and Limoux has a market all day on a Friday. The owners will give you a list of the local markets when you arrive.
Of course, a visit to the magnificent city of Carcassonne, a unesco World Heritage site, is a must. See the fascinating castle and the beautiful historic town with its idyllic cafes, shops and restaurants or take some time exploring the Canal du Midi by taking a trip on a boat for a lovely day out.
Accommodation
1) 12-person price = 5 bedrooms (1-5)
2) 16-person price = 6 bedrooms (1-6)
Château Interiors
Ground Floor
- Living room with doors leading to terrace
- Second living area
- Library/study with door leading to terrace
- Gym/massage room
- Orangerie with dining table and doors leading to terrace
- Fully-equipped kitchen & Butler's pantry with washing machine and refrigerators.
Lower Ground Floor
- Entrance (from the village street)
First Floor
- Bedroom One: Master bedroom with super king-size bed and bathroom with walk-in shower and separate WC. Door from the bathroom leading to a terrace
- Bedroom Two: Double bedroom with super king-size double/twin bed and en suite bathroom with shower, small bath and WC
- Bedroom Three: Double bedroom with super king-size double/twin bed and en suite bathroom with shower, bath and WC
- Bedroom Four: Double bedroom with super king-size bed and bathroom with walk-in shower and WC. The bathroom accessed by hallway that can be closed by doors (not accessed directly from bedroom)
Separate Wing (accessed via three steps from the entrance hallway to Bedroom Four, or can be via a separate staircase from the main entrance)
- Bedroom Five: Family suite with small double bedroom with queen bed and bedroom with with double bed and sitting area. En suite bathroom with shower and WC
Bedroom six is accessed through a hidden door from the mid-level of the staircase, located next to the guest laundry room - included in the 16-person price only
- Bedroom Six: Double bedroom with with king size bed separate and small twin bedroom. En suite bathroom with shower and separate WC
Outside Grounds
- Swimming pool (12mx6m, depth: 2m) with safety alarm, open approximately June to end-September
- Terrace for al-fresco dining
- Barbecue
- Pétanque court (international standard)
- Vegetable garden and fruit trees
- Enclosed gardens (sloping or terraced in parts)
Facilities
- Wi-Fi
- Heating
- Smart TV
- Games
- Gym
- Pétanque
- Hairdryers
Reviews (21)
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C.
We had the most blissful, idyllic holiday at Chateau Chemin Vert and feel so grateful to our wonderful hosts for their vision and hard work in curating and sharing their historic paradise. An easy drive from Toulouse, the Château is situated in the middle of a charming medieval village where the local patisserie and Carrefour etc are just a short stroll away. Stepping over the threshold into the Château transported us to a magical secluded palace of soaring ceilings, breathtaking traditional architectural details and yet all the 21t century comforts of incredibly comfortable beds and en-suites. We enjoyed picture perfect lunches (sourced from local markets) on the terrace, afternoons spent wandering in the gardens or lounging at the pool followed by crazy, competitive pétanque games (fueled by local wine) in the late afternoon just before dinner. Day trips to Carcassonne, Montségur and Mirepoix were an easy drive through bucolic scenery and short strolls around the village and surrounds were also perfect. To say our holiday exceeded our expectations would be an understatement….planning a return visit as soon as possible!!
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Greg
We just returned from our third trip to Chateau Chemin Vert. My wife and I were joined by four friends from across the globe and had yet another truly magical stay. To say that the chateau has everything one could need to be comfortable is an understatement. The spacious, elegant rooms are luxurious but at the same time allow us to feel truly at home, comfortable, and at peace. Somehow the property manages to be both grand and yet unpretentious simultaneously. That´s a rare find. In addition, lush grounds provide a tranquil escape to enjoy a day at the pool, a game of boules, or navel gazing amongst the flora and fauna in the peaceful silence on the edge of the village. For the third time we also hired a private chef to prepare a special meal in situ and we are still talking about how delicious it was. In addition to being luxurious, the chateau is also perfectly located for easy day trips by car. On this trip we basked in the history of Alet-les-Bains (one of towns Nostradamus lived), collected mouthwatering treats at the Mirepoix market for a terrace picnic, and took a trip back in time to the caves of Niaux. We are already planning our stay for 2025. My wife has had the extreme good fortune to have stayed over 40 days in the uber exclusive Four Seasons George V in Paris and hands down prefers Chateau Chemin Vert.
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Julie
We wanted an authentic experience of French village life and our stay at Chateau Chemin Vert delivered that in abundance. The accommodation is luxurious, cosy, elegant and warm. Huge bedrooms, very comfy beds, fluffy towels, large, beautifully designed ensuite bathrooms and a sweeping staircase down to the Grande Salon, blue room, library, l’orangerie and gym. What more could you ask for? Many hours were spent on the terrace by the barbecue or sunning ourselves with drinks by the fresh, blue pool. We enjoyed local activities, hiking to the top of Montségur, the ruined Cathar castle to see magnificent views, local restaurants, walking the Voie Verte, picking local fruit. Communication with the staff was excellent, no request was too much, and everything went according to plan. The locals were friendly, welcoming and very tolerant of our poor French. Highly recommend this accommodation and locale.