Toulouse. Welcome to Domaine de Mailhol
The domain of Mailhol, in Gaillac-Toulza, says on its grounds two large lodgings surrounded by an immense park, out of sight. A timeless address, at the gates of Ariège and its artists’ village, Carla-Bayle.
Former property of the Marquis Henri d’Orgeix who also owned Loubens Castle in Lauragais, Mailhol Castle and its vast estate have belonged to the same family for two centuries. Bertrand Dumesnil, grandson of the Marquis, opened it in July 2019 to passing visitors by converting part of its decor into lodges. In the castle, built at the end of the 18th century and which has preserved beautiful architectural elements, the space is organized on three levels and can accommodate a total of people. From the ground floor with living room, dining room and kitchen opening onto the terrace, a period staircase gives access to the floors and the six bedrooms of the gîte, including the “Empire” bedrooms, opulent and bright and ” Paule “with its plunging view of the park and the swimming pool. “When you arrive in the courtyard, after having passed the large wrought iron gate, you already feel out of time. We did not think of space in the spirit of a hotel. On the contrary, we kept a house side. family with old furniture, photos on the walls “, explains Bertrand Dumesnil.
A second gîte has been set up in part of the outbuildings of the Mailhol estate, built in 1860 for agricultural purposes. This outbuilding, completely renovated in a more contemporary style, has five bedrooms, one of which has been designed for people with reduced mobility. The two accommodations, rented together or separately, give access to the swimming pool, to a wellness area with sauna and jacuzzi and of course to the park and its hundred-year-old trees. It is at their foot that the Calers stream passes. The stream crosses the property and marks the border with Ariège. From the Mailhol estate, you can continue the foray into this department by heading south towards Carla-Bayle.
From Carla-Bayle to Cintegabelle
This picturesque hilltop village, surrounded by ramparts, owes its name to the 17th century thinker Pierre Bayle, forerunner of the philosophy of the Enlightenment. Today it is home to many artists and art galleries who take advantage of its location overlooking the Lèze and Arize valleys and its breathtaking view of the Pyrenees. Back in Haute-Garonne, you can reach Cintegabelle, at the confluence of the Hers Vif and the Ariège. The city, like the entire Lauragais region, experienced a real golden age in the 16th century thanks to the pastel trade. It counted up to twenty-two mills and sheltered in its surroundings the residences of rich merchants, like the castle Lagarde or the manor of Bouissou. In the village, an interactive route takes visitors of all ages to discover its alleys, viewpoints and historic places. It passes in particular by the Church of the Nativity of Mary, in the pure southern Gothic style and crosses the “barri d’en haut”, a district where craftsmen, workers and small traders lived. This is where the oldest house in the village stands. The lintel of the door is still adorned with a scallop and an inscription referring to the pilgrims of Compostela. A Calvary, built on the site of an ancient defense castle, leads to the top of the village where a post-revolutionary mill was restored in 2003 under the aegis of the Bâtiments de France.