<- Click an option from the menu in the left column for more info

Bourg de Mat is situated in the Barguillère valley at little over 500 metres altitude in the foothills of the French Pyrenees. In the hamlet of La Mouline we are approximately 8 kilometres west of Foix, the capital of the department the Ariège.

The house was built around 1950 on the remains of an ancient farm. The name Bourg de Mat can probably be explained as follows: Bourg is a central point amongst surrounding hamlets. Mat is probably originating from the Latin word 'mattus', which means water/humidity. Opposite Bourg de Mat lies - probably since the 12th century - a water mill. Right next to our land is a very old source, which was used in ancient times by the occupants of La Mouline for water supplies.

Although Bourg de Mat was rebuilt in the 1950's, this has been done according to old principles but with - for that time - modern insights and techniques. As a result, the house has large windows and spacious rooms with high ceilings. Even so it radiates an atmosphere of quality and craftmanship. The large natural stones of the old bourg were re-used in the reconstruction. An estimated 300 cubic metres of this material has been used in the walls of Bourg de Mat. The owner of the rebuilt bourg also owned the water mill across the road, which was in use as a sawmill. Because of this there was no lack of nice wood for construction, and that shows by the large number of walnut doors, oak floors and ceilings as well as the enormous chestnut beams used in the roof construction.

We work in our guesthouse in a way that respects the old-fashioned quality and the craftsmanship that Bourg de Mat breathes.
We would like to share this with you during your stay with us.

Graham & Christine Lynch