The Garden & the Cave
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The Garden
When we opened our home in March 2017 our guests could enjoy a restful time in our delightful sheltered garden alongside the river Dure. All of this changed in October 2018 when Montolieu and the Montagne Noire suffered the worst flooding ever seen in the Aude. All of our trees and the entire garden were swept away. Water entered our basement to a depth of 3 meters. On the bridge adjoining Maison de Textile, there is a flood mark from 1891 - the previous highest water level recorded on the river Dure. The floods of 2018 exceeded this mark by 2 meters. With the help of the local Mairie and our wonderful neighbours, the basement and Cave were cleared of debris and mud. Derek has worked hard to reshape the garden with a rockery, potted plants and paved areas for guests to enjoy. The flood of 2018 was so violent that several of the barrages upstream that controlled the flow of water, were destroyed. In December 2019 and May 2020 heavy thunderstorms caused a large amount of water to flow unimpeded down the river again causing more flooding in Montolieu. The garden was further damaged but thankfully no water entered the house. We are now down to the bedrock of the original bank built in the 1750s when Maison de Textile was a factory. The stones were set to allow the water to flow to the river unimpeded. Working with what nature has left us, we are currently completing new patio areas and rockery paths that will hopefully withstand future flooding. Our guests this summer can sit in the garden and enjoy the sounds of the Dure as it idles by at its low summer level. As the French say……” Malgré tout on continue” ...and that is what we do at Maison de Textile. |
The Cave
Maison de Textile’s cave or basement is unique in the village. The ceiling is 5 meters high, with stone arches, niches and basins that remind us of its history. It is through the cave that you access the garden and river. Discovering the cave and its rich past was a gift to us and we decided to share it with the village. In 2017 we undertook renovations to transform the cave into a cultural space we named: Le Club de la Soie. The Club offers local residents music, dance, art exhibitions, and other events including film evenings in the Spring and Autumn. For our guests, the cave offers a cool quiet area where you can relax on comfortable sofas, offering a place of respite from the heat of summer. |
