Puivert nestles in the foothills of the Pyrenees, 50 minutes from Carcassonne airport, and less than 90 minutes from both Perpignan and Toulouse. It is an historic village, with its own castle that featured in the Albigensian Crusade; a swimming/fishing lake, a local museum, gliding club and several high-quality restaurants. It boasts a local brassierie, BDQ Beer Co., a welcoming bar, serving locally-brewed craft ales for both Continental and British tastes, where locals and holidaymakers gather to chat and relax after long days in the sun.
The region is steeped in history and is the subject of author, Kate Mosse’s atmospheric Languedoc books, which feature the tragic and bloodthirsty story of the religious conflicts in the 13th to 16th centuries, interwoven with more modern themes of intrigue and espionage. Much of the most recent volume, The Burning Chambers, actually takes place in Puivert, particularly its ancient castle!
The legend of the Great Flood of Puivert in 1279 (or thereabouts!) is another fascinating episode in the tale of the local area known as “Le Quercorb”.
The Aude/Ariège region is charmingly rural, and is mainly known for its agriculture and wine production. Industry has been in decline since the 1970s and while tourism is helping to fill the gap, there is still plenty of room for expansion, before it becomes anywhere near as busy as its more well-known competitors, the Dordogne and Provence – hence the cost of living is less than in which is reflected in the prices of food and drink.
