Forgive us for the cumbersome title. Our guests simply call what we do a ‘Le Monastère Adventure’. They keep coming back every year and pass the good word on to others.
So what is a fresh-air cultural adventure at Le Monastère? It is fully-guided and fully-supported fresh air activities — such as bicycling, walking and hiking. It is also cultural, in all its facets: history, natural beauty, food, wine, experiencing the way of life of the southern French, festivals, architecture, art and observing unique events such as the Tour de France. Our contribution to your adventure is combining all these elements to provide you with the best cycling or walking-hiking vacation anywhere, but also an experience in which you will learn new things and gain an appreciation of a sophisticated and civilized culture.
A typical day at Le Monastère starts with a healthful and energizing breakfast, followed by a cycling or walking-hiking outing through the spectacular and infinitely varied Languedoc countryside. Chris Georgas decides on the day’s destination after a thorough early-morning investigation of the region’s weather to determine where the sun is going to be and which way the wind is going to blow. There is no fixed itinerary. We go for what is best in the region every day. One of the great advantages of being owner-operators is that we have the flexibility to change the itinerary depending on our guests’ interests, what is happening culturally in the region, and unexpected weather. Outings are chosen according to where the weather is best. A hot day is great for going to a Mediterranean beach. Journeys to the high Pyrenees depend on clear weather. If, as sometimes is the case, our guests have come as a group of friends to reserve the whole hotel, we can be extremely creative, emphasizing a particular theme or interest.
During the day, you can be on your own as much as you like, but your guide is never far away and is full of historical, geographical and cultural information to enrich your experience. The cycling routes have been carefully researched to allow you to almost entirely avoid auto traffic. You are encouraged to cycle at your own speed. A van, while mostly out of sight, is never far away for those who may not want to climb every (or any) hill, but who don’t want to miss out on the exhilaration of the long, gentle and scenic downhills. The keenest cyclists have unlimited access to challenging terrain. A good number of our guests even choose to accompany the cyclist outings as walkers, riding along in the vehicle (getting a super dose of background information from the driver) and walking ahead on the quiet country roads while the vehicle is stopped.
Each day has as its destination a special ‘cultural focus’ to balance the morning and early afternoon exercise. This may be a visit to a castle, museum or abbey or to an intriguing village or festival, or a swim in the sea. There is usually a place for you to have a relaxed lunch, and if not, the guests pack some sandwiches and beverages, which are carried in the van. Several days feature specially arranged wine tastings.
At the end of the afternoon, some guests are content to hop in the van for a relatively quick van ride back to Le Monastère on a major road, while the keenest cyclists opt to finish the loop back on quiet, small roads.
After showering and relaxing at the Inn, great food, wine and camaraderie with the other guests and our chefs and their families finish off the day.
Saturday: We drop off the previous week’s guests and greet our new guests at Toulouse airport in the morning. Initial discussion of interests, fitting of bicycles and orientation takes place at Le Monastère, and in and around the town of Limoux in the afternoon. For those interested, a short bike ride to a nearby village is arranged. An early evening welcoming buffet at the Inn and a good night’s rest follow. That night, your hosts gain an appreciation of everyone’s interests, and give you an idea of what is going on culturally in the region.
Sunday to Tuesday: Guided outings are arranged, including both wide-ranging adventures and visits closer to home. After breakfast, we set off to our cultural or historical focus for the day. Examples would be a trip to one of the great Cathar castles, an ancient abbey, an interesting medieval village holding a festival or fair, or a natural wonder such as the high Pyrenees or the Galamus Gorge. Your hosts have developed a broad inventory of special outings, some of which can be mixed and matched according to the collective personality of each group. On reaching our mid-day destination, we find a nice place to enjoy a light meal or perhaps a full menu du jour for those wishing more of a gourmet experience.
Later, we may enjoy a wine tasting, then return to Limoux to relax at the Inn, or if the spirit moves us, visit something else or do some more walking or cycling. On our return to Limoux, we shower, relax and later dine. Your hosts accompany you to the chosen restaurant, where a special delicacy of the region has been prepared. Sometimes they stay and eat with you, and sometimes they return to the Inn to prepare the next day’s activities. The restaurants are always top quality and as much wine as you wish is provided. You do not have to pay for any extras and there is no tipping.
Wednesday: This is a day on your own, except for breakfast, which we provide. Guests often take advantage of this day to visit Carcassonne, only a 30-minute train ride away. Others choose to get to know Limoux better, get a massage, lounge at the Inn and read a book, or set off on bike or on foot.
Thursday: This would be another wide-ranging outing as described for Sunday to Tuesday. You can expect a very special adventure.
Friday: Friday is market day in Limoux and a good chance to see the local population in action. Limoux is not a tourist town, so you get an authentic picture of everyday life in a small southern French town. Enjoy the various food, fabric, and flea markets all over town. In the afternoon, we take you out for one more adventure, or leave you to relax and pack for your Saturday departure.