Ecologisch gebouwd vakantiehuis aan de voet van de Pyreneeën

Les Trois Petits Cochons (indeed: the three little pigs) is a piece of land the size of half a football field on the outskirts of the lovely village of Belloc. This is where we started building our own house and 2 holiday gites from 2016. We built the gites ourselves from A to Z. In the layout of the site, we have ensured that each straw cottage has as much privacy as possible. This has worked out well due to the size of the site and the lack of direct neighbours.

From the summer of 2019 we will rent out our first gite and from the summer of 2022 we will also rent out the second one. The original holiday homes fit perfectly into the unspoilt landscape. No wonder when you consider that most of the ecological building materials come from the immediate surroundings: wood from the Pyrenees, straw bales from the surrounding grain fields, sand from the nearby river l'Hers and clay from our own soil. The walls are made of loam and straw bales, which ensures a pleasant indoor climate: cool in summer and pleasantly warm in winter. This ecological way of building is not only friendly to the environment, but also very pleasant for the residents. The 'breathing' walls guarantee a healthy and pleasant indoor climate in both summer and winter. The earthen stucco offers plenty of space for creative details. We are happy to tell you more about this friendly way of building.

WHY DO YOU CHOOSE THIS PLACE?
Whether you are looking for a haven of nature or a base for beautiful walks and rugged cycling tours, this is the perfect rental property. There are so many walks to choose from, right from the front door. Also, the GR07 runs close by.
From the cottage, for example, you descend to the river where you can not only swim, but also rock climb at different levels. This is the area to spot animals -from foxes to otters. In the spring months, you will find many rare wild orchids here, and in the autumn, there is a lot of searching for mushrooms. This area is popular among cyclists. It is not without reason that this area is a regular guest in the Tour de France circuit. This region is perfect for excursions, like to Foix or Toulouse or to one of the many castles or caves.

IMMEDIATE VICINITY
Besides the peace and quiet, you are also in no time in the beautiful medieval town of Mirepoix (13km), where the Monday morning market is a real experience full of local products. For your bread you can go to Les Halles in Léran (4 km). In this market hall you can buy fresh bread daily and - depending on the day - also other local products (vegetables, meat, eggs, fish). In the neighbourhood are several restaurants that we can recommend. For the larger groceries there are several supermarkets in both Mirepoix and Laroque d'Olmes. Every Friday morning there is a large market in Lavelanet (13 km).

MIREPOIX
A medieval bastide with half-timbered houses, whose centre has remained almost unchanged since the beginning of the 14th century, is very popular with tourists. The town hosts a morning market on Mondays where you can buy (and often taste) local produce directly from the producers. Mirepoix is also home to supermarkets, gift shops, pharmacies, kiosks, bars and many restaurants. The town hosts a number of festivals and events. Visit the local Office de Tourisme website for more information.

LAC MONTBEL
If you want a 'beach day' you can go to sandy beach of Lac Montbel (4km) with pedalos, kayaks, canoes and surfboards or lac Puivert (20min). At both locations you will also find an eating establishment. The beautiful Lac Montbel is only a 5-minute drive away and has a sandy beach, restaurant, plenty of shade and a lifeguard in July and August. It is an ideal place for a summer swim and afterwards enjoy a drink at the terrace where live music is regularly played during the summer months. You can also walk around the lake (around 16km). On the side of Montbel there is a second beach (pebbles) with a bar and a beautiful view. At both places, pedal boats are for rent. The lake is home to an organic trout farm and the local sailing club. Just 20 minutes away is another beautiful lake Lac Puivert. It is very popular with families with small children and has a playground and a café.

25 REASONS TO COME HERE:
Nature lovers:
- The Pyrenees
- Animal watching (deer, wild boar, fox, birds of prey, otters), mushrooms (autumn), wild orchids (spring)
- Hundreds of kilometres of marked footpaths and cycle/mountain bike trails.

Culture and history lovers:
- Cathar country: discover the history of the Cathars.
- Dozens of castles including Montsegur which you can see from your cottage (and further a.o. Camon, Lagarde, Foix, Rochefixade, Usson and Miglos).
- Beautiful medieval towns like Mirepoix, Carcassonne (largest walled fortress in Europe), Foix, St. Gironne and Toulouse.
- Caves of Niaux and Mas d'Azil (+ unknown cave of Bedeilhac and grotte-de-la-vache.

Sports enthusiasts:
- Endless hiking, horse riding and mountain biking routes.
- Winter sports in Mont d'Olmes, Ax-les-Thermes and Andorra (winter months). In the summer months these are beautiful hiking areas.
- Climbing courses at all levels within walking distance (10 minutes)
- Mountain climbing, fishing, canoeing, pedal boats, supping, paragliding or horse riding are also possible. The Tour de France is a regular visitor to our province.

RELAXING
- Lac de Montbel (4 km) and at 20 minutes Lac de Puivert.
- Vide greniers/ brocante: in the summer months there is a flea market every weekend.
- Thermal baths/ spas: Ax-les-Thermes, Aulus-les-Bains and Ussat-les-Bains.
- Village fairs and festivals in summer: Fête du roses, International Festival des arts de la Marionnette, Medieval festival in chateau Lagarde.
- Relax on the private terrace with a book and a glass of wine and enjoy the sunset over the Pyrenees (never bored).
- Possibility to fish at several spots (trout, catfish, pike, perch, carp, bream and tench)

FAMILY HOLIDAYS
- A lake 4 kilometres away with a tree trail (Akrobranch), crayfish fishing, a pizza bar, surfing, pedalos and a sandy beach.
- Go on a wonderful journey to the heart of the primeval times in the Park of Prehistory (Tarascon-sur-Ariège).
- Our holiday home has toys, books and games for young and old.
- Discover the country from the water: canoe on the river Touyre.
- Butterfly park, a butterfly farm in a magical spot in the heart of Ariège nature (500 plant species and 300 butterflies (65 species).
- Maison des loups: see how wolves live in this 6-hectare park near Orlu.
- Take a trip to prehistory (13 000 B.C.). In the Niaux Cave you can admire a series of high-quality murals. They mainly depict prehistoric fauna from the region, such as bison, horses, deer and ibex. These murals belong to the few publicly open heritage items from this period. (booking) and a visit to the Parc de la Préhistoire.

Day trips:
- Andorra or Mediterranean Sea at 1,5 hours drive.
- The castle of Foix
- The Sunday morning market of st Girons, the hippy enclave.
- The largest walled cite of Carcassonne is well worth a visit.
Saint-Lizier, located south of Toulouse and named one of the most beautiful villages of France, is known for its rich history and historical heritage. You will find the Saint-Lizier cathedral, dating back to the eleventh century. This cathedral houses an octagonal bell tower and impressive Romanesque frescos. In the little square next to the cathedral, you can also find a historical pharmacy, which was built in the 18th century. There is also a Romanesque monastery, where you can admire the beautiful columns of the cloister. In addition, Saint-Lizier used to be the seat of a bishopric, so you can visit the old palace of the bishops at the top of this village. This building, dating from the 17th century, is now a museum of art and tradition.
Toulouse:
The 'Ville rose' Visit this beautiful and atmospheric city, the fourth largest in France. Characteristic architecture, churches, nice streets and terraces! Mirepoix: Beautiful medieval town at the foot of the Pyrenees

Château de Lordat: At an altitude of 965m, this castle dominates the Ariège valley. Once one of the oldest and largest feudal castles in the county of Foix, it now houses around 30 species of birds of prey (eagles, vultures, owls, hawks,). The visitor can come and discover them, and also take part in a show, "the Aigles-de-Lordat".