Rue Caterine

Idyllic holiday cottages in the Languedoc, South of France

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do we need to bring towels? - No we provide indoor and pool towels for all the guests booked into the cottage.
• Is parking available outside the cottage? - Not directly outside, as the cottages are on a narrow street too small for cars. There is plenty of parking in the communal parking at the edge of the village a couple of minutes walk from your door.
• I can't find a booking form on your website, how do I make a booking? - Just email or call me with your address, and I will confirm availability with you, and post a booking form out to you at home.
• Could you tell me how much a particular week costs? - See our availability page, or email.
• I'd like to book for a month or longer is this possible? - Reduced rates are offered for stays by the month in the winter months (October to April). This is ideal for those on sabbatical, or similar projects. Please contact us to discuss your plans.
• Is there a stereo in the cottage? - Yes, there is a little stereo in each cottage. There is not a television, as guests seem to share our preference to holiday without its intrusion.

Enjoy Brissac through the changing seasons

Spring

Summer

Autumn

Winter

---

Spring

With the days getting warmer, and the fields full of spring flowers visiting the Languedoc in the spring is the ideal way to start your summer hiking early. With the added bonus of avoiding the summer crowds, you can visit the markets and local towns and villages, as well as enjoying the outdoors in more reasonable temperatures:

The joys of walking in the area in spring are well summed up by the visitors book entry from a couple who lived in No. 5 during spring 2004.

"What a wonderful place this is!! Physically beautiful, peaceful, gorgeous weather. Although much of our time was taken up with work, we had ample opportunity to explore the surrounding country, its culture and its people. The hill walking in the Causse du Larzac and the Cévennes is splendid. We particularly enjoyed walking in the valley of the Coudoulas around Aulas. The hike up to Prenticastails provides some spectacular views and the flowers in spring and early summer are gorgeous. We managed to photograph over fifty different species. Another great hike is along the Ravin des Arcs (about 15 mins drive from Brissac on the Montpellier road). The walk up to the Roc Blanc on the Montagne de la Serrane (above the castle) is very agreeable up to Notre Dame du Suc and on up to the ridge."

And a weeks stay in early May 2006:

"The wildlife is a major attraction for me and in the throws of spring has been stunning. It is great to see the landscape which we know in summer - parched and dry, green and coloured with wild flowers. The nightingales have been beautiful: singing at night and all day. Walking in the hills it is often possible to pick out 4 or 5 or more competing with their songs. The frogs were less tuneful but you get used to them at night suprisingly quickly.
For those who wish to know - there are three short toed eagles living around and about - one morning we saw one fly past with his breakfast - a long long snake. A good place to see them seems to be the walk up the Buèges valley near St Jean de Buèges where we saw them twice. They look a little like pale buzzards from a distance but have quite a distinctive sea-gull call the book describes as "mee-ok"! There are also black kites nesting aplenty outnumbering the buzzards and a pair of buzzards nesting in the château as well as the cliffs beside the castle at St Jean.

Lastly - surely the most beautiful European bird - bee eaters. We heard them many times, but they often fly very high and are difficult to spot. One evening driving on the D1 from St Mathieu de Treviers to Notre Dame de Londres we saw a small flock nesting on the telegraph wires beside the road - magical"

Lamb roasted with new potatoes

A simple meal to enjoy te first new fresh produce of the season.

Ingredients: Lamb chops, rosmary sprigs, new potatoes.
Put the lamb into a metal over tray, which can be used on the hob. Sprinkle with fresh rosemary sprigs, and drizzle a light olive oli over. Heat the tray and sear the chops on both sides on a high heat. If you don't have a dish which can go on the hob, do this part in a frying pan. Then put the lamb in the oven on approximately 180 degrees. Wash the potatoes and cut lager ones into half. Cover them with water in a saucepan, and put on the hob to boil. Prepare any other vegetable which looked good in the market.

---

Summer
Sunshine galore!
Summer in the south of France is well known - lazy days by the pool, beach or a local river swimming to cool down, or reading in the shade of a tree. Produce is plentiful and oh so fresh. When moved to do something there is a whole variety of options from canoeing the Herault, to visiting a local town, or historic place of interest, to going getting icecream from a street cafe and watching the world go by.

Brissac itself has its main annual event -in the Brissac festival; held on the last weekend of July it runs from Friday to Tuesday, with local traditional events such as competitive petanque, to an outdoor dance every night (which you can hear from your cottages until the small hours).

Deep Fried Courgette Balls

A recipe typical to the local area.

Ingredients: 2 medium courgettes, 1 or 2 cloves garlic, chopped fine, 2 medium eggs, 2 heaped tablespoons flour, a good pinch of Herbes de Provence, salt & pepper, Saucepan with oil for deep frying

Wash the courgettes, then grate them using a grater with large holes. Leave in a sieve or colander to drain for several hours, occasionally pressing the courgettes with a spoon to extract more liquid. The resulting liquid, used fresh, can add a delicious hint of courgette to a soup or other dish. If several hours are not available, you may also place the grated courgettes in a clean tea towel and sqeeeeeze to extract not more than ¾ of the liquid.

Mix the other ingredients in a bowl, add the courgettes and mix well. While the oil heats, form the courgette mixture into little balls 1 to 2 centimetres in diameter.

When the oil is hot, fry the balls, turning frequently so they darken evenly and cook right through, about 7 to 10 minutes per batch. Drain on a paper towel. Either serve immediately as they come out of the pot, which is much the best option, or allow to cool and serve cold.

---

Autumn
The summer crowds thin out, leaving continued good weather. The grapes are being harvested, and its mushroom season in the fields. Good hiking can lead to harvesting some of the ingredients for your dinner that evening.

Wild Mushroom Pasta

If you're not confident of your mushroom identification ability, please use mushrooms bought at market - there will be plenty of choice available.

Ingredients: Selection of wild mushrooms, Onion, Garlic, Pine nuts, Double cream, Pasta, Olive oil. Flat leafed parsely

Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions. Chop an onion into cubes, and fry, gently in olive oil, until it is translucent, but not yet turning brown. Towards the end throw in some garlic cloves (peeled and crushed into small pieces). Empty into a separate dish. Toss some pint nuts into the frying pan and toast lightly on both sides. Add to the dish with the onions and garlic.

Roughly chop the mushrooms, removing any dirt into even sized pieces (chunky is best), then fry gently in the pan, stirring occasionally, to ensure they cook evenly. These will take several minutes to cook down.

Meanwhile, check on the pasta. When cooked remove from heat and drain. Return to the pan. When the mushrooms have cooked pour in a reasonable amount of thick cream (double works better than single), and add the onions, garlic and pine nuts back to the pan. Stir to mix, then pour over the pasta. Ensure the creamy mushroom sauce thoroughly coats the pasta and put into a serving dish. Sprinkle over some finely chopped flat leaf parsley and serve.

This can be eaten on its own, or as an accompaniment to roast chicken breasts, with a little salad on the side. There are endless variations to try out if you feel like getting creative in your kitchen.

Vines and wines
The other great joy of the autumn harvest is the vines. The colours across the fields are changing to hues of russets and golds. The pickers are in the fields, and you can visit the vinyards for a tasting and to purchase wine 'En Primeur' - come back next year to pick it up, or get them to send it home to you once it has been bottled in the Spring. There are some fantastic vineyards in the area - several hitting the International Press. So designate a driver, and make a tour (not forgetting to buy some bottles so you driver can have a tase at the end of the day - safely sat on the balcony watching the sun set over the hills).

---

Winter  
A great place to go to relax for a short break, or longer. Take that stack of books you've been meaning to read, and snuggle around the wood burning stove, or enjoy having the time to cook as you always mean to with food fresh from the market, bought earlier that day.

Although the weather is less clement, the qualiy of light is still good, and for those of you living in constantly warm and sunny climes, the windy, wet and chilly weather can be a treat in itself. Bracing walks in the quiet countryside, with a cozy home to retreat to - have a mug of hot mulled wine or steaming chocolate.

---

---

Links

Links to pages of friends and acquaintances which might be of interest.

• Woodworking courses in Gorniès, whilst staying in Brissac - Atelier de la Vis
• Hire a car and help preserve the chateau - Auto Europe
• With many thanks for a lot of the great photo's on this site - Stephen G Wilson Graphic Design

Booklet: Brissac and its Medieval Seigneurs

The remote hill village of Brissac in the Languedoc region of Southern France, once the heartland of the troubadour civilization, is dominated by a castle dating to the eleventh century. (Not to be confused with the younger and far grander Château de Brissac in the Loire Valley, home of the thirteenth Duc de Brissac — this is just a coincidence of names.) The family which built the Brissac Castle in Languedoc, cousins of the Emperor Charlemagne, founded one of the chief cities of the South of France. Throughout the Middle Ages they were to play a leading role in the turbulent history of the region. This 36-page booklet surveys the mediaeval history of Brissac and its masters (and mistresses), from its links with the Holy Grail legend, to the wars over Cathar heresy which led to the downfall of the Languedoc as an independent civilization, and beyond.

Copies of this booklet can be purchased for £5.00 (plus p&p) direct. Use the contact details on the 'Contact Us' page. We also give a copy free to people who book a week or more in our cottages.

Booking Conditions

1. 1 Formation of Contract
1. 1.1 Please make contact with us before making a booking to confirm availability. A provisional booking may be made via phone or email.
2. 1.2 A binding contract will be made between the person who has signed the contract (you) and the owner (we).
3. 1.3 The contract will be binding when we confirm in writing receipt of the signed booking form and a non refundable 10% deposit.
4. 1.4 For bookings made within eight weeks of the holiday the full remittance is required to form a binding contract.
5. 1.5 If the booking form and deposit is not received within a week (or a longer pre agreed time if you are based outside the UK) the provisional booking will no longer be valid, and the dates readvertised.
2. 2 Authority to Sign
1. 2.1 The person who signs the booking form certifies that he or she is authorised to agree the Booking Conditions on behalf of all persons included on the booking form, including any substituted or added at a later date.
2. 2.2 This person must be a member of the party occupying the property and must be aged 21 years or over. Booking will not be accepted from parties of young people under the age of 21 years, hen or stag groups.
3. 2.3 We reserve the right to refuse a booking without giving any reason.
3. 3 Payment
1. 3.1 The balance including the security deposit must be paid eight weeks prior to the starting date of the holiday.
2. 3.2 Failure to pay the balance on time will constitute a cancellation.
4. 4 Price
1. 4.1 The prices are given in pounds sterling and are for weekly periods.
2. 4.2 The houses are let fully furnished and equipped. The price for the property includes linen, towels, and reasonable gas, electricity and water usage.
3. 4.3 Prices are subject to change without notice, but will remain fixed once a booking has been made.
5. 5 Security Deposit
1. 5.1 A security deposit of £125 per cottage is required to cover the cost in the event of any damages, breakages or loss caused by you or as a result of your actions.
2. 5.2 If a satisfactory final report is received we will return your security deposit within one calendar month, or advise you of any reasonable delay.
3. 5.3 Some damages may not be immediately obvious to the owner / caretaker upon your departure. The owner reserves the right to calculate damage noted in the property after your departure.
4. 5.4 Should any or all of your security deposit be retained by the owner an itemised receipt will be sent upon completion of the rectification of the issue.
5. 5.5 You are liable for the full value of damage, breakage or loss caused by yourselves and we reserve the right to claim compensation for any costs over and above £125.
6. 6 Alterations / Cancellations by us
1. 6.1 In this unlikely event, we will inform you as soon as possible, and, if requested we will try and arrange an alternative accommodation of a similar type and standard in the area.
2. 6.2 If no alternative accommodation is available or acceptable, we will refund all monies paid and shall be under no other liability.
7. 7 Cancellation by you
1. 7.1 Any cancellation by you (for whatever reason), must be in writing, on paper or by email. The effective date of cancellation is the date we receive the written notification.
2. 7.2 Cancellation charges are as follows:
1. 7.2.1 More than 8 weeks prior to arrival date 10% deposit
2. 7.2.2 Within 8 weeks of arrival date 25%
3. 7.2.3 Within 4 weeks of arrival date 50%
4. 7.2.4 Within 2 weeks of arrival date 80%
5. 7.2.5 Less than 3 days 100%
6. 7.3 If you secure a third party (acceptable to us), who will fulfil your booking commitment, we may waive your cancellation charges. However we must be informed at least a week in advance, and receive a new, signed booking form prior to the stay. The keys will not be released to anyone other than the party leader on the signed booking form we hold at the start of the holiday.
8. 8 Your responsibilities
1. 8.1 You must keep the property and all furniture, fittings, effects, facilities, equipment and grounds in the same condition as you found them the start of the holiday. If you move items of furniture or fittings - especially from one cottage to another - then you must ensure they are replaced in their original positions before departure.
2. 8.2 The property owners reserve the right to make deductions from the security deposit for any unreasonable extra cleaning.
9. 9 Number of people using the property
1. 9.1 Only those named on the booking form may stay in the property without prior written agreement.
2. 9.2 The maximum number of people stated, including infants, may not be exceeded.
3. 9.3 We reserve the right to terminate hire without prior notice and without refund if numbers are exceeded.
10. 10 Access
1. 10.1 We reserve the right for ourselves or our representative to be allowed reasonable access to the property to carry out urgent maintenance and / or inspection.
11. 11 Behaviour
1. 11.1 The person signing the booking form is responsible for the appropriate behaviour of all members of the party.
2. 11.2 Smoking is not permitted in either property. Evidence of smoking will incur an excess cleaning charge.
3. 11.3 In the unlikely case of extreme and unreasonable behaviour by any member of the party, we or our representatives may use their absolute discretion to ask you and the full party to vacate the property. Unused days would be refunded on a pro rata basis.
12. 12Linen
1. 12.1 Linen (including towels) is included in the price. This includes blue pool towels, which are intended for outdoor use in the pool area only.
2. 12.2 Linen is changed once a week.
3. 12.3 When cot hire is requested this includes a flat sheet, a cot mattress sheet and a blanket in colder weather. This does not include any towels.
13. 13 Swimming Pool
1. 13.1 The swimming pool is unheated and so is not open all year. Rental in low season will not have pool usage, and mid season will be weather dependent - please check.
2. 13.2 Access to the pool is through a gate from the street. The person who signs the booking form is responsible for ensuring this gate is kept locked at all times. As well as providing security this ensures compliance with the French swimming pool laws introduced to protect children under 6 which carry a maximum penalty of €45,000 for non compliance. If a fine is caused by any member of your party, you will be expected to pay it in a timely manner.
14. 14 Social Events and Functions
1. 14.1 Rental prices are quoted for a private rental of the property. If you are intending to organise a private function (e.g. a party, wedding, or other gathering) at the property you must seek prior permission from us.
2. 14.2 The property must not be used for any commercial purposes.
15. 15 Security and valuables
1. 15.1 Valuables left at the property are left at your own risk. The property owners are not responsible for their loss, and we advice you to take appropriate holiday insurance.
2. 15.2 You must keep all external doors to the property locked at all times, including to the outside spaces.
3. 15.3 Loss and theft to our property caused by you leaving the property unlocked will be your responsibility and the value of objects removed will be kept from your security deposit.
16. 16 Arrival and Departure
1. 16.1 You must not arrive before 5pm on the start day of your holiday.
2. 16.2 You must vacate the property by 9.30am on the day of departure.
17. 17 Travel
1. 17.1 The booking party is responsible for arranging transport to and from the property.
2. 17.2 Cars must be left in public parking areas, and we are not responsible for any loss or damage sustained.
3. 17.3 You are responsible for all travel documentation required by all members of the party (e.g. passports, driving licences, vehicle registration documents, green card, insurance, E111 etc.).
18 Information
1. 18.1 While we make every effort to ensure that descriptions are accurate, we do not accept responsibility for errors contained therein or the results thereof. In signing that you accept these conditions you accept any minor differences between the photographs / texts used and the actual property that may arise.
2. 18.2 The owners reserve the right to make modifications to the property specification that are considered necessary in light of operating requirements. In the interest of continual improvement the owners reserve the right to alter furniture, fittings, amenities, facilities, or any part of any activities, either advertised or previously available, without prior notice.
18. 19 Pets
1. 19.1 Pets are not allowed. Children are.
19. 20 Complaints
1. 20.1 In the event that you are disappointed with any aspect of your holiday accommodation, please contact the caretaker in the first instance, who will try to solve the issue. Where this is not possible or satisfactory you should contact us in the UK.
2. 20.2 Please do not wait until the end of your holiday to make a complaint, as this does not give us the chance to resolve it.
3. 20.3 If the problem was not resolved to your reasonable satisfaction, you should put your comments to us in writing within 7 days of your return.
20. 21 Liability of the Property Owners
1. 21.1 We are not responsible for any loss, theft, injury or death except in case of proven negligence on their part.
2. 21.2 We are not responsible for any loss, breach or delay due to any cause beyond our reasonable control including, though not limited to acts of God, explosion, tempest, fire or accident, war or threat of war, civil disturbances, acts, restrictions, regulations, bye-laws, or measures of any kind on the part of the government or local authority, strikes, lock-outs, or other industrial actions or disputes or adverse weather conditions. In any case we shall be entitled to treat the contract as discharged.
3. 21.3 In the event of discharge of our liability shall be limited to the return of the sums paid to us in respect to the unused portion of the holiday calculated on a pro rata daily basis, less an administrative charge of £25 to cover our reasonable expenses.
4. 21.4 We cannot be held responsible for the breakdown of mechanical equipment such as pumps, boilers, swimming pool filtration systems, nor for the failure of public utilities such as water, gas and electricity.
5. 21.5 We cannot be held responsible for noise or disturbance originating beyond the boundaries of the property or which is beyond our control.
6. 21.6 We cannot accept responsibility for events out of our control such as bad weather, delays caused by carrier companies, breakdown of domestic equipment.
7. 21.7 Local wildlife is included in the price and is not optional. This includes small scorpions found in the region.
21. 22 Law
1. 22.1 All contractual obligations arising out of these conditions are subject to the laws of England, within the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.

© Rue Caterine 2002-2009. e-mail: verasampson@ruecaterine.com