PROLOGUE - How to Arrive in Style

FLYING

The easiest (and usually the cheapest) way to get to Montolieu is to fly by Ryanair to Carcassonne, and then hire a car or get a taxi for the remaining 10 miles (20 minutes) journey. There are a number of car-hire options at the airport (eg Hertz, Thrifty, Europcar, etc). We can also sometimes arrange a local friend to collect you from the airport (please ask us for further details).

The great thing about Montolieu is that it's not necessary to have a car once you're there. The village has everything - a very well-stocked supermarket, Post Office, tabac, wine shop, boulangerie, patisserie, craft-gift shop, and delicatessen - as well as an abundance of bars, restaurants, art galleries and bookshops. There's a meat-van that comes Thursday mornings, and the supermarket now does roast chicken and chips for takeaway on Sundays. So, no need for a car.

Flight journey time from London Stansted is around 90 minutes, and you can also fly from a number of other UK and EU airports, also served by Ryanair. Nearby airports also include Toulouse, Béziers and Perpignan.

Toulouse Airport, about 75 minutes away (BA, Easyjet) may also be a worthwhile option if you're coming from other destinations not flying direct into Carcassonne.

DRIVING

From the UK, you can take the Eurotunnel to Calais, or the ferry from Dover-Calais, or Newhaven-Dieppe. It is possible to drive from Northern France to Montolieu in one very long day (from Calais it's 660 miles, or 590 miles from Dieppe) - but we'd suggest you take in at least one overnight stop, and enjoy the journey through central France.

It is also possible to take the ferry from Portsmouth-Bilbao in Northern Spain, and then drive east from there, through Toulouse (330 miles). 

If taking your car, there's no worry about parking - there are many spaces dotted around the village, the nearest one being literally 30 seconds from The Writer's Retreat - and they're all free, even in July and August.

TRAIN

It's also possible to go by train from London Kings Cross to Carcassonne, via Paris and Montpellier. Journey time is around 10 hours.