Villa Lavande   -   Cucugnan   -   France

Cucugnan

Cucugnan is without doubt one of the most beautiful and picturesque villages in all of France - once visited, never forgotten (and why we bought a house here).

The village is steeped in history dating back to before 951a.c and everywhere you look you can find clues of it's medieval past. It has managed to embrace tourism without spoiling the delicate dynamics of village life.

The villages dominant feature, Omer's Windmill, dates back to before 1692 and was restored in 2003 to full working order. You can still buy bread and cakes from the village bakery situated underneath the windmill made with Omer's freshly ground flour - just follow the aroma of freshly baked bread wafting through the narrow village streets.

The view from the windmill is truly spectacular (and the perfect place to eat one of the delicious fresh cream cakes from the bakery).

The village has three excellent restaurants, a bar, shops and houses the regions tourist information office. There is also a mini theatre (The Achille Mir) that shows a twenty minute film of the tales of Achille Mir every thirty minutes.

Although there is no grocery shop as such in the village, food vans selling the very best, fresh local produce are in the village every day.

The Aude & Pyrenees Orientale

The Aude and Pyrenees Orientale region is part of Languedoc Roussillon and is dubbed "the unspoilt Provence"; and when you visit the region you will see why. Mile after mile of rolling vinyard and beautiful mountain terrain makes driving through the region (on mostly deserted roads) an inspirational and unforgettable experience.

There is so much to do in the area for the whole family. From beautiful sandy beaches, to exploring medieval castles, to swimming in local waterfalls and freshwater lakes. There are also great shopping areas of Perpignan and Narbonne just a 40 minute drive away.

Nearby Tautavel (25 minutes) is the home of a prehistoric museum, where one of the earliest cave dwellers was discovered. There is also a wildlife park that offers an excellent day out for the whole family.

If wine is your thing then look no further, go to the Mont Tauch shop in the nearby village of Paziols (15 minutes) for fantastic Fitou wine. Visit the Mont Tauch website and learn more about Fitou wine and Corbieres wine.

The area boasts some of the best restaurants you will find in the Languedoc - there is even a 2 Star Michelin restaurant within 30 minutes drive of the village.

And all of this within a 45 minute drive of Villa Lavande ! There is an area guide at the villa (that we will email you when you book) so you can plan your perfect holiday in advance.