Maison de Mallast offers a unique chambres d’hôtes (B&B) holiday experience for your stay in a medieval village near Carcassonne. We offer a warm welcome, comfortable rooms and a beautiful garden, in the centre of Montolieu, the 'village of books', with all its amenities within just a few steps. Our house dates back to the 12th century extending from the ancient presbytery next door. It was built on the original foundations of Chateau de Mallast, the fortress which protected the village and its inhabitants from the 6th to 12th centuries. Part of the walls and one of the original gatehouses are still present in our garden! Another part of the house dates back to the 18th century and provides the amazing terrace attached to one of our guest rooms, with views over to the Pyrenees. We provide a generous French breakfast, eaten on our garden view terrace or in the dining room where once a French president dined! Steps lined with ancient wisteria lead down to the beautiful garden, where there are lovely sunny and shady places to sit and relax! Our pizzeria restaurant gives you the opportunity eat a delicious freshly cooked meal without leaving the premises, and to sample wonderful regional produce and wine.

For Lindsay - who harboured an unfulfilled yearning to become an archaeologist as a child - the medieval history of the region, with tales of the Cathar crusaders and beauty of the ancient buildings and landscapes, were the pull to bring her to live in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France. Finding a historic house in Montolieu, built on the site of a fortified castle, was a dream come true. She loves photographing buildings, plants and trees and conversing with the locals over a cold glass of local wine, in order to improve her French language skills. For John, it was, in no particular order, the wine, the sunshine, the lifestyle, a means to learn a new language, the wine and the opportunity to become part of a small yet vibrant village community. Oh, and not forgetting the wine, having heard that the area is the biggest wine producing region in France! A former occasional amateur triathlete, he enjoys cycling and swimming in lakes when there’s time. John loves to cook and has been chef-patron of our restaurant since 2017, and in 2023 trained with a world-champion pizza maker to gain the skills of a pizzaiolo so that we could open as a pizzeria, serving delicious Napolitan-style pizzas.

Montolieu is a ancient fortified village is positioned on a rocky promontory between two picturesque river gorges. Few small villages offer so many amenities! In Montolieu, there is always something going on. At every corner you’ll find an interesting bookshop, artist studio, a fabulous view, or an interesting scene or building to photograph. The house is within minutes walking distance of several restaurants, more than 15 bookshops and numerous artists’ studios. There is a grocery, boulangerie, post office, a wine shop, museum focusing on the history of typography and bookmaking, a tourist information office and a fantastic public outdoor swimming pool (July & August). The village's many little lanes and ancient houses are great to explore and photograph. Don’t miss the superb viewpoints at Place Espérou and from the St Denis bridge! - in a charming, tranquil village but with plenty of life! Or simply use the house as a base to explore the medieval city of Carcassonne, go wine tasting, take a boat ride on the Canal du Midi or visit the ancient sites of ruined Cathar castles. Go for a swim at one of the lakes, or visit the beaches within 1 hour from Montolieu.