gite@btinternet.com +33 (0)5 63 98 18 75
Gîte Wistéria - holiday cottage in the South of France Vacances dans le sud de la France
Out and About in Mazamet
To get a better look at our immediate area just click on the images for a slide show
Mazamet market - literally a 5 minute walk from the gite! You can buy all the freshest fruit and vegetables this area has to offer from small producers. There are butchers and charcuterie stalls as well as cheese and fish stalls - in fact everything you may need for a gourmet meal at home!
Each Tuesday this very well stocked cheese van comes to the street market in Mazamet. If you miss it here, it goes to all the surrounding towns and villages on the other days! Well stocked with seasonal cheeses from all over France, but especially from the southern farms and the small producers.
Spring in Mazamet-Aussillon
Mazamet market - literally a 5 minute walk from the gite! You can buy all the freshest fruit and vegetables this area has to offer from small producers. There are butchers and charcuterie stalls as well as cheese and fish stalls - in fact everything you may need for a gourmet meal at home!
Mazamet Town
Mazamet is a bustling cosmopolitan market town with a renowed history in the global wool and leather imort and export business.
At one time the fourth richest place per capita in France, Mazamet has many fine examples of late 19th and early 20th century mansion houses and commercial buildings built by the wool and leather magnates.
The gite is just 500 metres from the local produce street-market which is held every Tuesday and Saturday morning. In the winter months the Foie Gras duck market is held every Sunday morning. Enjoy an early morning croissant and coffee in one of the cafes on the tree-lined back streets!
Mountain hay field in early summer - the colours are amazing!
Tassle hyacinth (M.comosum) Mazamet
The 'welcome' cockle-shell sign for pilgrims on their way to Compostella in north west Spain. Pilgrims knew they could stay the night at houses with this sign.
Mountain hay field in early summer - the colours are amazing!
Local Activities
This area is superb for walking, cycling, fishing, golf (Mazamet) (Castres), horse-riding, skiing, river sports and caving.
The Montagne Noire National Park is home to much wild life which can be seen in its natural setting.
Local and national footpaths are very well maintained and maps with descriptions of the walks are available from bookshops and the tourist office. We are keen walkers so can make suggestions of walks for you to enjoy.
An early summer Montagne Noire bike race.
Trout fishing in the local Arnette river.
Hunting horns at a local vide-grenier (car-boot sale) held every Sunday morning at different villages and towns in the region.
An early summer Montagne Noire bike race.
Local events
Mazamet and the surrounding villages in the Commune offer a very wide range of sporting and cultural activities and exhibitions throughout the year.
Mazamet has a good theatre and cinema as well as an excellent public swimming pool (re-opens in Spring 2015 after refurbishment). There is another pool at Castres - The Archipel Centre which has an ice-rink and badminton and volley ball. There are lovely shaded areas for sitting on the grass outside and children's indoor and outdoor pools with slides and swirling currents - providing hours of fun!
Gite Wisteria - self-catering holiday in the South of France