Olonzac is not one of the prettiest villages in the area but has a supermarket ,some restaurants and a rather grotty bar. It is a good base to visit the area. The house was clean and comfortable and well equipped. Parking was very nearby and we had no problems finding a space. The host was very helpful and provided lots of information and was easily accessible. There is a large double bedroom on the first floor and a another bedroom on the second floor which is advertised as a double but isn’t really. It has a double bed but there is no room to get in and out the bed at the side. The roof terrace is small but plenty of room for two people. Four people may be a bit tight. Our main problem was with the kitchen being downstairs and the terrace upstairs on the second floor.To access it you had to negotiate a spiral staircase which we both found a bit difficult especially if you wanted to take food and drink up stairs with you. We ate once on the terrace but decided it was too much of a hassle so just ate downstairs in the kitchen. It wasn’t easy to get suitcases up and down either.

We had a fabulous 2 weeks in a wonderful place! The house is perfect, the weather was gorgeous and the countryside stunning. Olonzac suited us perfectly, with its own bustling markets, and a central location for exploring the surrounding region. Thank you very much for the service and hospitality, all the facilities were super and we will be back next year.

“Le Petit Castel”………..Represents to us the heart and soul of Rural France……..We have been back so many times and will continue to do so…….Just some of the reasons WHY. It is the perfect place to experience the lifestyle of a small town/village with all the facilities and attractions of beautiful France. Located near the canal Du Midi and an easy drive to the larger Towns like Narbonne, Bezier etc., and not far to drive across the border into Spain. The south of France has so much to offer. The important aspects for us ……….Firstly with accommodation……….located in the middle of the town ………The “Le Petit Castel” set up over 3 Floors with the top floor a great place to sit outside and overlook the village whilst experiencing local products not the least of which the high quality and very cheap local wines. The facility offers all the features you need presented in a clean an attractive manner…a Kitchen with all the equipment needed for preparing the local produce.. Two separate Bedrooms and a good sized bathroom and most importantly a laundry with everything needed to make travelling enjoyable and lots more ….an easy walk to all the facilities along the cobbled streets to the main street where you can experience a wide selection of Food offerings……….all of which for us were of exceptional quality. The people operating these eateries were extremely friendly making the experience for us all the more notable. The local market every Tuesday is not to be missed…………not only the experience of trying to decide what to buy from all the local food on offer but engaging with the vendors as part of the experience. The market also offers much more than just food………..including Clothes, linen ,shoes and more……………. A truly memorable event………..and once a week. By the fact that we have now been back and as I said will continue …………to the “Le Petit Castel” on more than 5 occasions should speak for itself…………… One more important issue for us was the host Derek who always made us feel welcome each time we visited. It was and is like coming home for us..... There is no where we have frequented more around the world. Very Highly recommended.

Such a great experience choosing this cosy rental property. The owner has been nothing but most communicative and genuine person to deal with, he helped us with everything from restaurant tips to kayaking routes recommendations in nearby national parks. Le Petit Castel house is super clean, cosy, well equipped and feels like home the second you step in (not to mention the welcome package including food and bottle of wine, thanks for that!). The open terrace overlooking rooftops of the charming Olonzac town was probably our favourite spot - true French experience - breakfast, lunch and dinner. Every Tuesday a buzzing market takes place just around the corner offering anything from gourmaine foods and wine to fresh veggies, fashion and gifts. Lovely cafés and restaurants few steps from the door. Can highly recommend this gorgeous place to couples, families or groups of friends of all ages. Merci beaucoup Derek! Can't wait to come back again!

Easy and fast communication, Derek (the owner) is friendly guy. When we got to the apartment, vine and some pasta was waiting for us as a welcome gift (nice surprise). You have all the basic stuff you need in the kitchen (salt, sugar, oven, stove, microwave, washing machine etc...) and bathroom. All the rooms looks exactly like on the pictures (maybe better :) And having dinner on the beautiful terrace, with local vine and a sunset is magical. Once in a week there is a market just next to the apartment. With a rental car you can visit amazing places such as: Historical city Narbonne, amazing Peyrepertuse castle from 11th century or national parks ideal for hiking, canoeing, kayaking or just for a nice walk. I can also recommend you delicious cheeses, salami and off course variety of amazing vine.

What a great find! Really enjoyed our stay here. The house is in a good location in the town - close to bars and restaurants, and we could always find parking close by. The kitchen is well equipped and has all the basics you need for a holiday (washing up liquid, salt, sugar etc), as well as a welcome pack with wine - what more could anyone need?! The house is spacious, clean and comfortable and the roof terrace is a real sun trap. There are fans in the bedrooms for those hot nights, a hairdryer, a washing machine, and even a couple of beach towels and beach mats - everything you need for a great holiday.

The house is in a quiet rural village some three quarters of an hour by car from the city of Narbonne. It is well presented with good amenities. The area is surrounded by vineyards, wineries and has good access to the nearby mountains and the Mediterranean. Some people may find the quiet location not to their liking but it was exactly what we were looking for. The small spiral staircase would be daunting for some. We enjoyed it so much we hope to return in the bearish future.

We were very impressed with the service we received. The booking process was simple and easy and the house was everything we expected. We felt right at home at the Petit Castel. We enjoyed many walks around Olonzac and appreciated all it's amenities close by. Renting a car is a must if you want to visit the sights. Parking was not an issue, we always had a spot very close to the house. We made many day trips in the surrounding area all within 30 minutes to 1 hour drive. We definitely recommend visiting Carcassonne, Minerve, the Chateaux Lastours and Narbonne. We also enjoyed driving to Gruissan and Narbonne Plage and seeing the Mediterranean sea, the views were spectacular. The Tuesday market in Olonzac is also a must. It starts a few steps outside our front door and goes through the streets of Olonzac. A good place to stock up on vegetables, cheeses, sausages etc. All in all it was a very enjoyable experience and we want to thank Derek, Ross and Veronika for their kindness and great hospitality.

Bonjour Derek I have finally got to the computer to compose an email to you. Usually after a busy day I just collapse. Initially we spent two weeks in Montpellier which was a great introduction to le Midi. We stayed in the Old Quarter, then visited Nimes and the Pont du Gard: those Roman towns are the best examples of Roman architecture which I have ever seen. Ahurissant! We had an eventful trip down to Olonzac last Saturday as "il pleuvait aux cordes" (excuse the spelling and grammar). Larry (my husband) locked the keys in the car at the G20 supermarket on the route d'Oupia about 45 minutes before the supermarche closed. They stayed open for us which was wonderful. The car mechanic who arrived did not have an electronic opening device - however, he managed with the old flattened coathanger device....and we were off. Le Petit Castel is everything...and more...that I had hoped for. Il est super bon....très très très fort....charmant totalement! The location in the middle of Olonzac is very convenient. We are very comfortable and relaxed here; we have internet access and satellite TV and all the :mod cons". Thank you for the welcoming hamper and the fantastic information folder which has helped us plan some of our trips. We have spent time just simply walking around Olonzac which has been lovely. The school is so quiet (they must drug their children!) and we said "Hello" to the two white swans and the ducks in the parc. We attended the Tuesday markets and bought diabolically good saucisson pistache, couscous, fresh fruits and a cyclamen plant for the lovely G20 staff. The tomatoes we also bought were so sweet and so tasty - I have not tasted anything so good in years! Then we drove to Minerve. What can I say? The whole town is breathtaking! Just the sheer geographical location...at the junction of the two rivers in that deep gorge.....and the steepness and degree of preservation of the village...were all most impressive. We attended the Musée Hurepel and learnt about the extermination of the Cathars. Then we had a very interesting talk to the monsieur who runs it. Apart from walking around and seeing all the different historical remains, we then had a few words in my very bad French to the 92 year old lady who lives opposite the Hurepel and who knows the history of the town inside out. The countryside around Olonzac is so green and peaceful and lovely...ah - it is good for the soul! The French people, both in Paris and in the Midi, have been wonderful....very polite....very helpful....very tolerant of my lack of French and my accent. I give Le Petit Castel , as well as France itself, 6 stars that is, 6 out of 5 ! We are going to Homps today for a brief cruise on the Canal du Midi and again "il fait beau". Will write again. Regards. Anne Maree Thomas; 5 October 2012

This is a great place to stay. It is modern with all appliances that we needed. A real bonus for us was the free Wi Fi and the two TV's with English speaking channels. The village offers places to eat and a supermarket which are not all that common. The weekly market is large and only 30 meters away. The roof top terrace was great place for our evening meal. The place is convenient to many historical villages most being within an hours drive away and a boat ride on the Canal du Midi was excellent and a must do. The local wine was excellent and cheap. The Aussie owners were helpful and we hope to stay longer next time..