The Chateau 
 
You approach through iron gates, along a sweeping, gravel drive through mature trees - which are home to red squirrels, woodpeckers and even eagles. It's full name may be 'Chateau de Dournes' but, in truth, Dournes is an 18th century ‘Maison de Maitre’. We have recently refurbished it, finishing it to a high standard and equipping it with a mix of modern and antique furniture.  
 
Our ground floor accommodation comprises a lounge (that seats 8), a Chinese sitting room, a chandeliered dining room that seats 12, a study, the Games Room (with its full size snooker table, table football table and TV), a fully equipped kitchen and utility room and a WC. Up the curved stone staircase, there are 5 bedrooms on the first floor. The master double has a separate dressing room and bathroom as well as its own sun terrace. The second double is also ensuite. The other 3 bedrooms - a twin and two singles - share another bathroom and 2 WCs. 
 
The remaining 3 beds (1 twin, 1 single) are in their own, separate ‘caretaker’s’ apartment which is adjacent to the chateau. This has its own entrance, lounge, kitchen and bathroom and is rented free with the Chateau. We find it ideal for teenagers or visiting grandparents! 
 
The Farmhouse 
 
Our farmhouse is also ivy-clad and the locals say it has the best views of any property in the nearbourhood - over several miles of farmland towards the hilltop village of Puylaurens.  It is fronted by an orchard (plums, apples, pears) and woodland. Like the chateau, we've recently refurbished it, equipping it with modern furniture. 
 
Ground floor accommodation comprises a lounge, a large and fully equipped kitchen and breakfast area and a WC. There are 3 bedrooms on the first floor, one double and two twin, as well as a bathroom (bath, shower and WC). 
 
Rent Separately or Together? It's Your Choice! 
 
Whilst the farmhouse shares its location and certain facilities (the pool, washing and tumble dryer machines) with our chateau, it is separated from the chateau by 50m of woodland so the two properties are very separate from one another. Indeed, we’ve let our 18 year old son stay in the farmhouse with his friends and, in the chateau, we never heard their all night antics! 
 
However, to ensure maximum privacy and exclusive use of all our facilities, please note that we offer those renting the Chateau the option of also renting the farm ‘unoccupied’ at half the going rate. But why not holiday with friends and take both houses? We find that this is when Dournes really comes alive! 
 
When to Go? 
 
Obviously, we think you'll enjoy the long, warm summer days at Dournes. However, if you fancy a real 'escape' during the winter, sat in front of the log fire in our kitchen, the chateau is the place for you (both properties have central heating).  
 
Eating Out and Other Food Matters 
 
Probably the first thing to say is that you might not want to eat out once you've eaten out in our gardens, under the trees and watched the star-studded sky appear above you (both properties have their own BBQs)! We think the meat here is wonderful - especially the lamb and veal. There's a free-range pork farm within 2km and Revel has a butcher's outlet for the local farmers whose range and quality is better than anything we've found in the UK. The Saturday fresh food market in Revel is spectacular to see - photos of it have featured in at least one French cook book we know of - never mind fun to shop at! Revel also has several supermarkets: our nearest hypermarket is 20 minutes drive away at Castres. 
 
However, it would be a shame not to also step out and taste the local cuisine. There's plenty of restaurants for all tastes and ages within 20 minutes drive (the nearest is less than 5 minutes away) - everything from a pizzeria to a michellin-starred restaurant! The local dish is cassoulet: Castelnaudry, 20km away, claims the title of the 'World Capital' of this sausage, pork, duck and bean stew. But the foie gras is also like butter and our kids love Aligot (a cheesy, garlic-flavoured mased potato). The local wine, Gaillac, is, like most south-west French appellations, at its best as red and rose.