Large and Airy Medieval Stone Merchant's House
Sleeps 10/12 + Victorian Cot (5 Bedrooms)

 
The Pool                                                                        Combret from the River

Combret from the West                                                         The Kitchen         

Porte Rouge, a superb merchants house high in Combret, a hidden secret in this beautiful part of France. A medieval village nestling in rolling hills with stories to tell of days long gone by in the chequered history of the Midi Pyrenees. The secret within a secret is Porte Rouge. Open the red gates and you are home with your own walled courtyard and romantic pool. The house with ancient beams and large airy rooms has superb views of the lovely countryside

Combret is a very small village in the department of Aveyron, the kitchen of France, midway between Montpellier and Toulouse and dates back to the 11th Century. The village is perched on a spur in a bend of the meandering rive Rance which is a tributary to the Tarn. The countryside around Combret is completely unspoilt, hilly and partly wooded.

The villagers are very friendly and welcomed us when we bought Porte Rouge in 1989. There are about 80 houses in Combret but in the winter there are only about 42 people living in the village. In summer, the younger members of the families return with their children from nearby towns for their holidays. Most of the local farmers are hunters. Flocks of sheep roam the hilly countryside with their shepherds and are milked twice a day for the production of the world famous Roquefort cheese.

At the Auberge, which is a short stroll from our house one may eat and drink either on the terrace on the square, surrounded by the beautiful countryside, or in the restaurant or bar which are comfortable and friendly. You will need to book. (Tel: 0033 (0)565 976010). Mention my name.

A Secret within a Secret 

The Lounge East Bedroom