© MAISON LAURENT; BRYLLIANT IMAGES; TOM WHEATLEY; SHIGETOSHI YAMAUCHI (MARIMO IMAGES)
À LA MAISON
THE MIDAS TOUCH Anthony and Rachel Pinwill have transformed a run-down maison de maître in Aude into one of the top chambres d’hôtes in France, as Nina Bjordal discovers
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n the small, ancient village of Pieusse in south-west France, between vineyards and green hills in the countryside, is a bed and breakfast named Maison Laurent. Surrounded by blooming sunflowers, the once old and worn stone house is now transformed
into a luxury bed and breakfast. First featured in Living France in August 2011, it is owned by 55-year-old Anthony Pinwill and his wife Rachel, 53, both from Yealand Conyers, Lancashire, and there’s no doubt that they have turned rocks into gold. After countless impressive guest reviews, they recently received TripAdvisor’s Traveller’s Choice Award 2014 for the number one chambres d’hôtes in France. “Initially it was a shock as we never expected it. It is something we are very proud to have achieved and we feel privileged to have won the award,” says Rachel. She adds that they never aimed at being ‘all things to all men’, but to create the best possible experience for their intended guests. “We also feel satisfied that our website truly reflects our property. This is echoed in the positive feedback from our guests – they simply booked the right place for their tastes and requirements.” However, the pathway to their success has been challenging at times as was the decision to take the big step across the Channel. Before ending up in Pieusse, Anthony was a self-employed travel agent, while Rachel worked as a personal assistant in a bank. “We were overworked and over-stressed, wondering what life was all about. Rachel was longing to escape the office work, and I wanted to follow my dream of cooking professionally and running my own bed and breakfast abroad,” says Anthony. And so they did. After spending their holidays travelling around France, the couple fell in love with its beauty and
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October 2014 Living France 57
À LA MAISON
culture, and decided to settle. The small village of Pieusse is
“Once we were open for business in July 2010, our new
known for its white and beige stone houses with terracotta
life began. We were now working at home, together, which
rooftops. The ancient village is surrounded by green
was one of our primary reasons for making the move
vineyards in the world’s largest wine-producing area and
abroad,” Rachel says.
boasts more than 300 days of sun a year. Wide rivers flow
The bed and breakfast is a nice mix of a hotel and a
past green willows, which stretch down to the riverbank in
house, and their dog Bella and the secluded garden help
the summer heat. After months of investigation, this
make their guests feel at home. “Our greatest priority is first
peaceful landscape became the base for their new bed and
of all to make our guests feel relaxed and comfortable,” says
breakfast as they felt it had great tourism potential.
Anthony, who also emphasises that they soon became
“We wanted to be close to the market town of Limoux,
familiar with the greater benefits of living in France. “We
which has the Mediterranean Sea as its closest neighbour.
now have the good weather, the seasonal food, great
We felt this would be the perfect spot. It is close to the
markets, excellent wine and a whole different culture.” But the biggest change for them has been the time they are able to spend together. Their previous life involved them working office hours and only seeing each other in the evenings, on Sundays and for the holidays. Now, they are together almost 24 hours a day. “We both had to learn to be more tolerant of our different ways of doing things, and to adjust to more shared responsibility and decision-making. But our hours are now
These pages: the many aspects of life at Maison Laurent in south-west France
fortified town of Carcassonne and the Canal du Midi, which
much more flexible and definitely seasonal. Since the move,
are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as well as the
we have come to understand that despite the hard work and
mountain ranges and the coast. We were looking for a
long hours, this type of business has many rewards,”
maison de maître, which is the typical French village house
Anthony says.
with four symmetrical storeys, high ceilings and iron balconies,” says Anthony.
They now enjoy the sense of community and the relaxed environment they moved into. “France has
Nearly two years of hard work later, they were finally
beautiful countryside, a slower pace of life and a better
ready to live their dream. They bought the house in Pieusse
climate. It also has a better work and lifestyle balance.
in November 2008, and started the renovation. Their aim
There is a real patriotism and love of tradition, which is
was to create a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere for
reflected in the great food and wine of the country,” says
guests, but with all the modern facilities such as en-suite
food-enthusiast Anthony.
bathrooms, air-conditioning and a swimming pool. Tiled
In the town of Limoux, which is within walking distance
bathrooms with baths placed in the centre of the room and
of the village of Pieusse, the cafés are filled with locals and
beautifully decorated bedrooms are some of the elements
tourists enjoying their lunches in the shade. Local farmers
that make their ‘rural resort’ a perfect romantic getaway.
offer wide varieties of vegetables, home-made jam,
58 Living France October 2014
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© MAISON LAURENT; BRYLLIANT IMAGES; TOM WHEATLEY; SHIGETOSHI YAMAUCHI (MARIMO IMAGES)
The ancient village is surrounded by green vineyards and boasts more than 300 days of sun a year
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October 2014 Living France 59