we are Samira and Jim Racine, the new owners of L’Orée de la Cité, the gîtes near the medieval Cité of Carcassonne. We are an Anglo-French couple, and settled in Carcassonne last summer, after many years in Asia and the Middle East. Jim is a master bronze sculptor, with his studio in the stone barn and his original artwork in the houses and grounds.
We live in the guardian’s house near the estate entrance, while the guest accommodation remains private, overlooking the gardens and pool. The past few months we have been busy welcoming guests, renovating our home, and refurbishing the holiday houses and grounds.
Since taking over, we have made both holiday houses far more comfortable and welcoming, with luxurious bedding and new furniture and soft furnishings. We’ve created cosy reading areas with soft lighting, and super-fast broadband has been installed. The terraces and grounds have been planted with flowering shrubs and climbers. The pétanque court has been re-sanded and swinging chairs and hammocks now hang in the shade of the mature trees, with fairy lights for the evenings.
The pool area now has palm trees and new sun loungers, and will be further upgraded this autumn. The entrance to the estate has been transformed, with centuries-old olive trees, lavender, and wildflowers beneath the ancient Linden and Cyprus trees.
L’Orée de la Cité sits at the foot of the medieval Citadel of Carcassonne, a short walk from restaurants and bars. The charming bastide town of Carcassonne is also nearby, with its fantastic Christmas markets and food festivals. The vineyards and the Aude River can be reached directly on foot, offering walks with beautiful views of the Pyrenees, the Black Mountains, and the Citadel.