AREA INFORMATION
The Razès is a rural area in the Aude département of Occitanie (formerly Languedoc Roussillon). It's about 90 km inland of the Mediterranean coast, 90 km north of the Pyrenees and just 25 minutes south of Carcassonne.
Buried in the heart of the Pays Cathare, the Razès are characterised by a beautiful, rolling landscape decorated with hills and dales, valleys and peaks, rivers and streams. There are vineyards, woods and old villages dotted throughout. Copses of oak and pine are dotted everywhere contributing to an ever-changing display of deciduous versus evergreen.
Local walks afford magnificent views of the Malepère Massif and the Corbières region to the east, the spectacular Pyrenees to the south and the Montagne Noire and the Minervois to the north.
Getting Here
Retreat prices include airport/train station transfers from Carcassonne, Bram or Castelnaudary (supplement for elsewhere) and ground transportation for tours.
Nearest Airports
Carcassonne (25 mins)
Toulouse and Béziers (1¼ hours)
Perpignan (1½ hours)
Nearest Train Stations
Bram & Carcassonne (25 mins)
Foix (1¼ hours)
Toulouse (1½ hours)
The Diverse Landscape
Natural Beauty & Biodiversity
In autumn, winter and early spring, deer and wild boar, hares and foxes cross the countryside and many types of birds of prey are often seen soaring overhead all year-round.
Butterflies and dragonflies abound, and the apparently random but abundant fruit and nut trees bordering the trails feed both them and us: apricot, apple, plum, cherry, walnut and almond to name but a few.
Wild orchids thrive in this area as do the wild thyme, sage, lavender, rosemary, chives and juniper. The scent of broom in spring fills the air wherever you walk.
We do not claim to be birdspotters ourselves but avid observers come back year after year because of the sheer variety of birdlife here.
Best Time of Year to Visit
Generally speaking, spring and autumn are the best seasons to visit the region as the weather is most commonly dry, warm and benign with virtually no other walkers on the trails. However, a certain amount of unpredictability in seasonal patterns has crept in bringing random bouts of rain throughout the year.
Mid-July through August are less peaceful on the roads and trails due to the school holidays. It can also be extremely hot and so bring your hat and make the most of the shaded forest walks during this months!
If you crave the quiet but like the heat, consider coming in May, June, early July, September and October.
Our winters are usually dry and can be warm with temperatures up to 25 degrees if it's sunny. The downside is a cloudy or windy day can fall to 5 or 10 degrees during a cold patch. Winters are good times to follow ½ day circuits since the temperatures can drop fast late afternoon. Winter is a great time to take a few days out to tour the Cathare castles or simply regenerate in this beautiful part of France.
