Perched on the top of a hill are the imposing buildings of an old fortified farm with panoramic views capturing the whole Minervois landscape. At the bottom of the hill, the Canal du Midi, with its locks, gently meanders through the charming countryside characterised by its olive trees and vineyards.
In the middle ages, le Viala was a fortified abbey which, because of its position, was able to survey and control the two valleys whose main Roman roads lead from Beziers to Carcassonne and from Narbonne to Toulouse. The abbey later became a farm and vineyard, which prospered until the 19th century.
It was abandoned in 1940 and fell into ruin. We are an artist couple who started putting life back in to the old stones in 1994, and have turned le Viala into our home and workshops.
The main south-facing part of the building has been transformed into a charming and totally independent gite, with several adjoining terraces, a shaded pergola, a big swimming pool in a closed Mediterranean-style courtyard and big garden areas for children to play in.
We are convinced that this is an ideal spot for holidays. The views and the piace of our region will make you feel totally removed from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, yet we are only 2 minutes from our local village Paraza and within easy driving distance of big cities such as Toulouse, Montpellier or Barcelona.
Surrounding villages bear witness to many historical influences, including both Roman and medieval. A visit to the unique walled city of Carcassonne is a must, as is a visit to Minerve with its dramatic historical background. There are wonderful interesting places to discover... and the Mediterranean is only 30 km away!
We hope we have aroused your curiousity!
Contact us for further information and we look forward to seeing you soon.

Practical information and general conditions :
Our "gite" is unique in that it has been created to cater for several big families at a time, with accommodation for 16 guests or more.
There are 7 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms and a very big livingroom and dining area (10m x 8m) with fully equipped kitchen (dishwasher, oven, washing-machine....).
Domestic pets are permitted (please mention same when booking), but must be kept under owner's control at all times. Owners will be responsible for any damage caused by the pet(s).
As for shopping, there are lots of' possibilities. Nearby villages have delightful fruit and vegetable markets and there is a big supermarket only 10 km away. In the nearest village Paraza (1km), there is a bakery, a butchery and a grocery, and a nice café in summertime.
The "gite" is equipped with bed linen and towels. A weekly change of linen and final cleaning are included in the full rental price but residents are expected to leave the gite in the same condition as found on arrival. Extra cleaning during the week can be arranged on request. A supplement is required for this service.
In the winter there is an efficient heating system in the house and a cosy fireplace in the livingroom. The heating and the logs for the fire are included in the price.
The swimmingpool will be open for all residents at Le Viala between June 1st and September 30th. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Price 2010, by week :
July, August : 3800 €
June, September : 3000 €
Christmas, Easter : 2500 €
Rest of the year : 2200 €
For the week- end (2 nights) : 880 €.
Other price, please consult us.

Pour nous situer précisément et voir notre environnement

Coordonnées GPS :
Latitude : 43.258800
Longitude : 2.816700

DOMAINE du VIALA
Thalia Reventlow et Régis Cogranne
11200 Paraza - France
04 68 43 24 48
00 33 468 432 448
lodge@domaine-du-viala.fr