Hegs

Generally the drive up is pretty good in good weather. Looking over the side of some of the roads isn't a little hairy, especially Montsegur and Queribus. If you're worried about the drive, approach Montsegur from the Montferrand side and Queribus/Peyrepeteuse from the Bugarach side. For the walk, from hardest to easiest, to the entrance gate. Montsegur: 45 minute walk from car park, very steep at times, off season can be foggy/snowy. Shops and cafe in Montsegur village below. Queribus: 20 minutes from TOP car park (take the road till you can't go any further), moderate slope, steep inside the castle, it's exposed so difficult when wet or windy. Shop at bottom. Puilarens: 10-15 mins from car park, steep but cool, sheltered climb.  Shop at bottom. Generally not very busy. Peyrepeteuse: 10-15 mins rolling up and down walk through woods and round a ridge to first entrance. Can be difficult when wet but not too hard otherwise. Walk up to second castle inside the first is pretty steep and slippery when wet. Lower parts pretty sheltered. All have their own character, but I'd recommend Peyrepeteuse as a good one to try first as it is architecturally the most interesting.

Regarding the venue, for actually seeing and hearing a group it is the best large venue I have ever been too (handles 9000). It's like 120 degrees of an ampitheatre, there really are no bad seats as far as I could tell. The sound quality was excellent. The bars were a little disappointing, if you imagine the beer tent at a large UK festival you'll get the idea. Have fun!

Hi, we went to the Zenith to see Depeche Mode a few months back. We stayed overnight at the Holiday Inn in Place Wilson which can be very good value for money and there is a great brasserie below. We took the metro down to Patte d'Oie from Place Capitol which was only a few minutes, then maybe a 10 minute walk. It was an odd evening all round. For a start, everyone seems to have driven to the Zenith, the place is almost totally soundproof so we weren't sure we got right up close that the concert was still on. It must have started really early as we got there at 8pm and the support were on their last song! Even stranger, there was no rush to the bar at the changeover, and worst of all was the inappropriate dancing which still sends shivers down my spine... I think the concert ended about 10:30 pm and the tube was still running and there were lots of buses about so I don't think you'll have a problem.

I went to a local cafe for lunch last week in a town south of Carcassonne, the place was literally crammed to the doors, we got the last table whereas usually it is only 40% full this time of year. There is also the impact of the Dan Brown book and movie this year too - though not explicit the whole story is somewhat derived the story of Rennes le Chateau (see current court case) as all the "Secret of the Da Vinci Code" books make clear. Then the Tour de France has a stage end in Carcassonne on 14th July for the annual fireworks over the old cite, we tried to get a hotel room but within hours of the announcement everywhere was full! If that wasn't enough the local wine has developed a really strong following in the last couple of years US following a deal between Ernst and Gallio and the local co-operatives (labelled as Red Bicyclette) It's unfortunate that most people will just go stay in Carcassonne itself without going to see the surrounding towns, gorges, caves, countryside and "Cathar" castles which are just superb!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4485840.stm is a pretty good explanation of what appears to be happening. The overall warming effect in inland central and southern France is minimal, it is northern France, UK and Benelux/Scandinavia most at risk here.

It's the coldest Dec since we've been here (4 years). I've never seen a long period before with average nighttime temperature below zero before Xmas. In practise the house seems warmer than last year with a new roof,  the house is relatively dry and heating working working well.

For installation of ground drainage. PM me here please!

Can't read Private messages. None of the links on that line (Active, Unanswered) etc are clickable, nothing happens when you hover over them. IE works just fine.      

Well, I declared the cassoulet, had my bags searched, and they said it was OK, they knew what it was :-) Even the cassoule made it through without shattering this time. One happy boss and Mrs boss. I asked if I should declare it in future and they said yes.

I'll take the rest through anyway but declare it. The worst they can do is confiscate it. Min $100 max $1000 fine for non-declaration!

We've literally just eaten one of the cans I was going to take (gulp!). It was a Walter Spanghero and it was good, the sausage especially was great. Usually I eat the Maison du Cassoulet brand (I have three of those to take, one is just duck not confit of duck) and on balance I think I prefer that by just by a little. I haven't tried many other varieties but eat it a lot in restaurants. Any recommendations?

Does anyone, by any chance, know what my chances are of getting canned cassoulet through US Customs? Last time I didn't even declare it, now with bird flu they might be taking it a bit more seriously

Cool, it's a date!

There have been special trains going from Limoux every year, going up to Carcassonne at 8pm and back at 1 am. Don't know if the bus extension runs though.

It's going to be one hell of a blast that night ;-) We tried to book with the same result, and we're only 30 mins away. Current plan is to park 10-15kms away then cycle into town!