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The wonder begins when the fortified village takes shape on the heights of the valley dominated by the distant peaks of the Pyrenees. The untamed beauty of the ancient Cathar country emerges like an apparition. When the Benedictines founded their abbey here, they chose the right place for it. Severe and religious by nature, it has become gentler over the centuries. Transformed into a home, it is surrounded by a magnificent garden and adorned with wood panelling, precious fabrics and paintings by masters. The abbey, now a château, welcomes its guests with refinement, but a stroll through the old cloisters is enough to understand that it has also preserved the simplicity of its origins. It is an unsettling mix that will charm even the most sensitive of souls.
.There are places that take you to higher places and inspire you at first sight. We discovered the Ariège department and its treasures during a trip to France. We fell in love with the area and decided to start looking for a house to turn into a guest house. When Peter discovered this Benedictine abbey, it was love at first sight. I was in South Africa at the time and I came to France to discuss the possibility of buying it. And so, in 2005 we both made our dream come true by becoming the owners of the abbey-château of Camon.
The building has retained the cloisters from its religious past, which are still to be found in the heart of the building, as well as a 16th century spiral staircase, wide corridors and stone sculptures. Inside, a number of features date back to the 18th century, including a series of lounges and large windows opening out onto the south-facing terrace overlooking the grounds. One of the lounges is listed and covered with paintings from the Boucher school depicting the four seasons. In the monks' oratory, there are glimpses of 16th-century frescoes.
The château of Camon, which looks like a seigniorial fortress, has had a long monastic past and is a subtle blend of history and architecture. This privileged location, on the borders of the Aude and Ariège departments, was chosen for the construction of a Benedictine abbey and according to legend was placed under the protection of Notre-Dame by Charlemagne in 778 on his return from a campaign against the Saracens. We can only say with certainty that the abbey existed in the 10th century, with the first recorded document confirming its presence dated 923 - a donation from King Raoul, Charlemagne's grandson, to the abbey. It was converted into a private château over the centuries, the most outstanding features of which are those from the 16th and 18th centuries.
We promise a holiday that will take you back in history! Overlooking a landscape of valleys and with a magnificent view of the Pyrenees, the abbey-château invites you to recharge your batteries and take a break away from everyday life in tranquillity. Our restaurant, set in the romantic cloister garden, the monks' kitchen or by the open fire, offers a daily menu with five seasonal dishes prepared by Thomas Sleigh, our head chef. A stay with us is also an opportunity to discover the fortified village of Camon, nicknamed the "village of a hundred rosebushes".
Ariège and Aude are among the most beautiful wild country landscapes in France. Take a leap eight centuries back in time along the mythical Cathar trail GR®367, one of the most emblematic hiking routes in the Pyrenees. Covering 250 km from Port-la-Nouvelle to Foix, the route winds its way through lagoons, scrublands and rocky ridges to end at the famous “Citadels of Vertigo"! The Chemin des Bonshommes GR®107, like the Cathare trail, is an essential, emblematic route in the Pyrenees and Occitania. Discover the landscapes of the Pays de Foix and the Cathar Pyrenees on foot, on horseback or on mountain bike. Lac de Montbel is an oasis of freshness in the heart of a rugged mountain landscape. Mirepoix, a medieval town with a cathedral and 14th-century "Couverts". Both are 10 minutes from the château of Camon.
155 € - 215 € per night
All rooms face south towards the Pyrenees and have en suite facilities.
ref 870491
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