L'Ancien Hotel

Description

This former hotel, cafe and restaurant has been lovingly converted into a spacious and comfortable home. Its 300 years of history are evident in the walls and the signs of l'Ancien Hotel's past as a much-loved village café (a huge kitchen table; copper pots used for cooking on the hearth). The airy and large rooms are cool in summer and warm in winter. There is a huge woodburning stove in the kitchen and a smaller woodburner in the living room. There is no garden, but there is a small balcony to the front of the house for an evening apéritif; and a table and chairs on the extremely quiet street behind (it is common pratice for villagers to socialise on the street in summer!). If the outdoors is what appeals to you, just open the door and keep going, Rivel, a beautiful tiny village, sits in the foothills of the Pyrenées, amongst green hills and forests. There are walks galore, as well as two delightful swimming lakes within 5 kilometres: the beautiful Lac Montbel, a green-blue reservoir where no motorized craft are allowed; and the smaller Lac de Puivert, ideal for children. A short walk up the hill from the house is the thousand-year old chapel of Sainte Cécile, the only survivor of the old Cathar village of Pendels that was sacked by the French army and driven down to the banks of the Riveilhou river, where it is today. From Rivel, travel to Mirepoix for its historic Monday market amongst ancient timbered colonnades; or to Carcassonne to visit its walled city; or to the Pyrenées, only a 40-minute drive away. For shops, Chalabre is only 5K away and easily reached by foot, bike or car. There you'll find two bakeries, two lively cafés, a bank, a butcher and a wonderful locally run little Carrefour with local cheeses and greengrocery. L'Ancien Hotel belongs to an author and is full of books that you are welcome to read. In fact, the author came to Rivel to write a book, and was so delighted with the village and its surroundings, she bought the house. You will be happy here.