The very finest things about Le Muret are the well kept and spacy grounds,

the lovely flower garden around the pool, the interesting trees planted in the

rear meadow, and - incomparably - the long views over undulating hills, woods and fields. All these will entice us to return. We loved the remoteness

too. Our only company were cows, buzzards, swifts, skylarks, redstarts,

shrike, hoopoes, cuckoos, heron, golden orioles, butterflies, and an

occasional visiting cat of great charm. The district is lovely: roads are

empty, woods thick and dappled, villages unspoiled and ancient, the food

fine and the wine good - and all this with barely a tourist in sight. (How

different from the Dordogne and Lot!) Albi, Cordes and Najac are

world-class gems. The little Auberge de l'Occitane at Monesties provided

good honest lunches at 13 Euros.

Our weather in the last week of May was too cool to use the pool. But

warmth improved as the week passed. Initially, thanks to its thick walls,

the house was colder inside than outside. The heating thermostat carried

fearsome notices not to touch it; but luckily Dom's advice, by phone, saved

us from the chill. The house is old, interesting and externally handsome as

well as spacious (we were four adults and didn't use the attic). The two

bathrooms are capacious and efficient (apart from annoyingly falling toilet seats).

The furniture matches the house's simplicity, and all is clean and well

maintained. The kitchen is exceptionally well equipped.

All in all, Le Muret is a lovely place. We recommend it wholeheartedly and

hope to be back.