Grillou is in the pays known as the Séronais in the heart of the Parc Naturel Régional, 30 minutes from the historic town of Foix and 15 minutes from St Girons, the capital of the Couserans. We’re just 3 kilometres from our nearest village, Rimont, at an altitude of 500 metres, which means we avoid much of the more capricious high mountain weather as well as the mists that can linger in the valleys. There are no streetlights anywhere near Grillou (no streets!) and the air is pure and unpolluted, so our night skies are breathtaking, with the Milky Way clearly visible to the naked eye.

We’ve lived here since 2007, during which time we’ve slowly restored the house to create just the kind of peaceful, laid back retreat that we’d love to find ourselves staying at. That means lots of space for everyone, beautifully designed guest rooms finished with natural paints and washes, good showers and beds, a mixture of reclaimed and contemporary furniture, lots of books and music, and plenty of places outside to read, talk, or just be, in sun or in shade. We’ve kept the spirit of the house along with all the original features, but have opened it up to let in light, colour, joy and comfort.