Fairy tale watermill
Review Submitted: July 6, 2009
Date of Stay: June 2009
Le Moulin is a completely wonderful place for a holiday. The house is so picturesque, like something out of a fairy tale. It is quite rustic and ramshackle outside, half covered in creeper entwined with flaky shutters, while inside it is comfortable and equipped with everything you need when it is warm and in case the weather changes. The pool and surrounding deck is fabulous; perfect temperature, clean and inviting water, and the sunbeds are really comfortable. The terrace at the side, from which you can see the lively stream, is beautiful, surrounded by trees with a view across the surrounding field and onwards. There is complete peace and privacy, with just the sounds of the birds and the stream, and all sorts of colourful butterflies gently wafting by.
It is hard to leave Le Moulin at all, but there are lots of historic and thriving places nearby to visit. Najac and its castle is really pretty, and while the walk up to the castle through the medieval streets is steeply uphill, the view from the top across the Aveyron valley is absolutely breathtaking. Cordes is also lovely, with a great little market with lots of crafty things as well as food on Saturday morning. Villefranche is perfect for food shopping, with a huge and really enjoyable market on Thursday morning. The town is packed then but you can park for free, and there is usually lots of room, next to the station. It is a very attractive and solid town, with really pretty river, and the market square is overlooked by a great cafe. The supermarket on the outskirts has all the essentials. All these are about half an hour drive. Albi is about an hour, and the cathedral is worth seeing because of its size and historic importance, although not beautiful. The Toulouse Lautrec museum next door to the cathedral has some remarkable paintings that demonstrate why the artist has always been so popular, really touching portraits of his mother as well as as the more well known portraits of Paris nightllife.
It was hard to be away from Le Moulin for too long. A morning visit, to gather provisions or see some sights, then back to the poolside or shady terrace to enjoy the trees, sunshine, birds and butterflies. It is so rare to find such a lovely house, that is so comfortable and has such good facilities, in such beautiful and unspoiled countryside but near enough to interesting places with good markets. Completely idyllic.
Diane and Nigel
Brighton
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