Late Autumn across the vineyards

At the end of November we took a few days out at our cottage to brace ourselves before the Festive Season.  As we were going so late in the season, we were not expecting too much of the weather, so we were pleasantly surprised that we were rewarded with almost a whole week of clear blue skies and warm sunshine.

So warm was the weather that we had lunch on the terrace in our

The Lake at St Denis

tee-shirts on several occasions.  In the afternoons we sometimes walked in the woods near the cottage, or up by the lake at St Denis, perhaps collecting walnuts or chestnuts, and savouring the stunning colours of the trees. The air was so clear, as it often is in this region in the autumn, that we had magnificent views to the Pyrenees, from just outside the village.

Late Autumn in front of a fire

The evenings were cool and crisp, with a hint of woodsmoke in the air, and it was so relaxing to come home after our walk to supper and a glass of wine, and to curl up with a good book in front of the fire.

We had heard much in praise of Mirepoix, and for one reason or another we had never visited.  As the weather was so kind, we thought we would make a day of it and meander through the byways and back roads to see the town for ourselves.

We paused in one of the many small villages and bought ourselves a picnic lunch, and stopped to eat where the fancy took us, and took time out to explore

Mirepoix is a fascinating town, steeped in Cathar history, and with its “galleried” medieval centre of colourful timber-framed shops and houses still intact.  The backdrop of the Pyrenees, already snow capped, set the scene to perfection.  In short, it was a day to remember and an excursion I shall be keen to repeat.