Petites Pyrénées Couladère

The Main House

We are located just outside of the village of Couladère, Haute-Garonne, Midi-Pyrénées, France. Couladère is a small residential village with no shops or restaurants. The only amenity in the village is the Marie’s office. However, just a short walk away on the opposite side of the Garonne river is Cazères with all the amenities that one gets in a typical French town – 3 supermarkets, hardware stores, 12 hair dressers (so I’m informed), numerous restaurants, boulangeries and cafés. There is a small old town area with narrow streets and small shops. A street market is held here on Saturday mornings.

Above: the Pyrenees in Autumn, view from the house

Our house is situated on the edge of the Petites Pyrénées, here the wooded mountains are between 500-700 meters high. The quiet roads connecting the many picturesque villages make for excellent cycling at any time of year. Even in the winter the sun can make this a wonderful area for walking and there are spectacular views across to the main Pyrenean mountain range. Birds of prey (including eagles) are visible at close quarters while cycling or walking and at dusk we have often seen beavers and badgers on the banks of the Garonne river. The wild boars, wild cats and deer that live in the local forests are much less visible due to the French passion for hunting.

Above: the view from the garden overlooking Cazères town