Natuurlijk 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 cottages from 2016. From A to Z, we built the gites and our house ourselves. When laying out the grounds, we made sure that each straw house had as much privacy as possible. This worked out well due to the size of the property and the lack of direct neighbours.

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 area: 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 months. 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 plasterwork offers plenty of room for creative details. The owner will be happy to tell you more about this friendly way of building.

WHY CHOOSE THIS PLACE?
Whether you're looking for a refuge in nature or a base for beautiful walks and brisk bike rides, this is the perfect rental home. There are so many walks to choose from, right from the front door. Also, the GR07 runs nearby.
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 autumn there is a big search for mushrooms. This area is popular with cyclists. Not for nothing is this area a regular guest on the Tour de France route. This region is perfect for excursions, such as to Foix or Toulouse or to one of the many castles or caves.

DIRECT SURROUNDINGS
Besides 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). There are several restaurants nearby that we can recommend. For 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 early 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. You will also find supermarkets, gift shops, pharmacies, kiosks, bars and many restaurants in Mirepoix. The city 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' then head to sandy beach at Lac Montbel (4 km) with pedalos, kayaks, canoes and surfboards or lac Puivert (20min). At both locations, you'll also find an eatery. The beautiful Lac Montbel just a 5-minute drive away 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 then enjoy a drink at the terrace where live music can be heard regularly in the summer months. You can also walk around the lake (around 16km). On the Montbel side there is a second beach (pebbles) with a bar and great views. Pedalos can be hired at both places. The lake is home to an organic trout farm and the local sailing club. Just a 20-minute drive 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 spotting (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 gîte (and further including 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 (+ more 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, wonderful hiking areas.
- Climbing walls at all levels within walking distance (10 minutes)
- Rock climbing, fishing, canoeing, pedalos, supping, paragliding or horse riding are also among the possibilities. 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 you have a flea market every weekend in the area.
- Thermal baths/spas: Ax-les-Thermes, Aulus-les-Bains and Ussat-les-Bains.
- Village fairs and festivals in the summer months: Fête du roses, International Festival des arts de la Marionnette, Medieval feast at chateau Lagarde.
- Relax on the private terrace with a book and a glass of wine and enjoy the sunset over the Pyrenees (never get bored).
- Possibility of fishing on 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 wondrous journey to the heart of prehistoric times at 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: canoeing on the River Touyre.
- Butterfly park, a butterfly farm in a magical place in the heart of Ariègue nature (500 plant species and 300 butterflies (65 species).
- Maison des loups: see how wolves live at this 6-hectare park near Orlu.
- Take a trip to prehistoric times (13 000 BC). Indeed, in the Cave of Niaux you can go and admire a series of murals of excellent quality. They consist mainly of depictions of prehistoric fauna from the region, such as bison, horses, deer and ibex. These murals are among the few publicly opened patrimony from this era. (reserve) and visit the Parc de la Préhistoire.

Day trips:
- Andorra or Mediterranean Sea a 1.5-hour drive away.
- 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 in France, is known for its rich history and historical heritage. For instance, you will find the Saint-Lizier cathedral, dating back to the 11th century. This cathedral houses an octagonal bell tower and impressive Romanesque frescoes. In the little square next to the cathedral, you can also find a historic pharmacy 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 bishops' palace 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 atmospheric city, the fourth largest in France. Characterful architecture, churches, quaint streets and cosy terraces! Mirepoix: Beautiful medieval town at the foot of the Pyrenees

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