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Just 17 kilometres north-west of Carcassonne, perched on a rocky outcrop between the Dure and Alzeau gorges stands Montolieu, village of books.
For the past 20 years, all year round, its second-hand and antiquarian bookshops have been welcoming visitors who are keen readers and book lovers.
The
Museum of Book Arts and Crafts is open throughout the year and offers a fascinating journey through the history of books, from the earliest writing and developments in writing media, right down to the invention of printing. |
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Entering Montolieu, the magic begins.In the 18th century, Montolieu, a picturesque medieval village perched on a rocky spur between the Dure and Alzeau gorges, and the surrounding villages experienced economic prosperity with the textile and paper industries. Many mills were fed by the sometimes capricious rivers that flowed down from the Black Mountain. The rural exodus of the 19th century signalled the decline of the paper industry, the royal cloth factory and the agricultural and wine-growing industries. In the 1980s, a man, Michel Braibant, a bookbinder in Carcassonne, dreamt of reviving deserted alleyways.
He conceives a crazy
project: to dedicate the village
to the world of publishing and
graphic arts. About 15
booksellers have been playing
the game since then. The
village, located 17 kilometres
north-west of Carcassonne,
welcomes every year several
thousand visitors, simple
curious, confirmed readers and
collectors. Animations
throughout the year and visits
allow you to discover the work
of the craftsmen: calligrapher,
bookbinder, engraver, as well as
the workshops for making books
or paper. A book museum retraces
the history of writing and
printing. A fine example of
reconversion and enhancement of
local heritage.
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Opening Musée des Arts et Métiers du Livre:
- 01 january to 31 march
- Monday - Tuesday -
Wednesday - Thursday -
Friday - Saturday -
14:00 to 17:00
- Sunday - 15:00 to 17:00
- 01 april to 10
november
- Monday - Tuesday -
Wednesday - Thursday -
Friday - 10:00 to 12:00 / 14:00 to 18:00
- Saturday -
14:00 to 18:00
- Sunday - 15:00 to 18:00
- 11 november to 31
december
- Monday - Tuesday -
Wednesday - Thursday -
Friday - Saturday -
14:00 to 17:00
- Sunday - 15:00 to 17:00
Equipments and Services: |
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* Parking
* Groups accepted
* Shop
* Pedagogical visits
* Group guided tours |
* Groups accepted
* Individual guided tours
* Unguided individual visits
* Disabled reception |
Montolieu, the famous book and graphical arts village
The Châteaux de Lastours
Le Moulin à Papier de Brousses
Itinerary around Montolieu |
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 "Les 2Moiselles" lets you discover the region in an original way at the wheel of our original Citroen 2CV cars. Travel through time with our legendary cars: the 2CV convertibles, all completely restored and with different colors, an adventure! We are based in Montolieu, 18km from Carcassonne. The cars can be picked up from us and they can also be delivered. We rent our cars for a day or several days with or without a road book and we can propose different circuits. Culture, gastronomy, history, sports etc. all themes are possible! We can also provide a nice picnic basket with local products...
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Les 2Moiselles - Montolieu |
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"Les 2Moiselles" lets you discover the region in an original way at the wheel of our original Citroen 2CV cars. Travel through time with our legendary cars: the 2CV convertibles, all completely restored and with different colors, an adventure! We are based in Montolieu, 18km from Carcassonne. The cars can be picked up from us and they can also be delivered. We rent our cars for a day or several days with or without a road book and we can propose different circuits. Culture, gastronomy, history, sports etc. all themes are possible! We can also provide a nice picnic basket with local products...
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Musée des Arts et
Métiers du Livre |
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Leisure - Museum |
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39 Rue de la Mairie
11170 MONTOLIEU |
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Phone +33 4.68.24.80.04
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montolieuvdlatelier@gmail.com
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www.montolieu-livre.fr |
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Basic rate (Unguided visit):
3.50 €
Adult full rate (Guided tour):
5.00 € |
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Service:
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The campsite provides an excellent base for touring the Aude in a picturesque setting at the foot of the "Mont des Oliviers". You can enjoy a tranquil, peaceful holiday or simply spend a couple of nights, as a stop over, relaxing as you travel through the famous wine region of the Languedoc. Situated 15km from the World Heritage City of Carcassonne, with its Medieval Castle and just 90 km from the "Pink" City of Toulouse, 80 km from the Mediterranean and 100 km from the Pyrenees, the campsite "Camping de Montolieu" offers 47 emplacements for Caravans, Tents and Motor homes as well as Mobile-Homes for rental...
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Les Anges au Plafond (literally: the Angels on the
Ceiling... when you visit us, you'll see why) offers both a Restaurant / Tea
Room and a Bed & Breakfast in a charming 19th century house in the heart of
Montolieu, Village du Livre (Booktown). We are recommended by the Guide du
Routard 2007/08 and by the Petit Fûté. Montolieu is located in the South of
France, in the 'Aude', 17 km North-West of Carcassonne, 1 hour East of Toulouse,
1 hour West of the Mediterannean sea...
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A Montolieu book town and Art village near Carcassonne ...
In an old linen factory, Apostrophe welcomes you in the great mansion:
Relaxation lounges, bar lounge, patio, terraces, gardens with trails for
exploring the history of the place but also ... a glass blower, the largest
bookstore Montolieu and the Book Workshop where children and adults learn to
make and print a book. An outstanding site full of history or to live and
relax...
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Casquette et Chapeau is a charming restaurant in the heart of Montolieu, le village du livre.
It is typical of many such restaurants in villages across France, looking unremarkable and unexciting until you sample what it has to offer. Situated in a small square opposite the church, the best tables for lunch are outside under the shade of the plane trees, but the interior is also airy and welcoming.
Service is as it should be, neither too fast nor too slow, and with just the right amount of attention.
Remarkably, for France, customers without a reservation were welcomed at 2.00pm without fuss, which makes this restaurant even more exceptional than most...
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In the heart of the charming village of Montolieu, a village of books and art, located in the Aude, Café du Commerce welcomes you in a simple and friendly atmosphere.
Depending on the season, you can have lunch on the terrace to taste our brasserie menu, our wood-fired grills or our home-made pizzas.
You can then stroll through the streets of this charming, quintessentially south-western village to discover bookstores, artist galleries, the Book Museum, the Cooperative - Cerès Franco collection and the beautiful view of the surrounding nature...
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Maison de Mallast is a beautiful old house in the center of Montolieu, the "book village", close to historic Carcassonne. Restaurant, bed & breakfast rooms and a gite with two bedrooms.
In the center of Montolieu, this restaurant offers different dining environments depending on the season. In good weather, guests can dine in the peaceful walled garden or on the terrace next to the charismatic 13th-century house. In winter, the comfortable dining room provides a warm environment for couples or groups. Choose from French or world cuisine, such as traditional duck breast, an exotic Asian curry or a popular British specialty. Children are welcome and vegetarians are also catered for. The wine list offers only wines from the Occitanie region...
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Cactuseraie
d'Escaïre Figue |
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Whether you're an experienced collector, a beginner or
just someone who is curious, you will find in the Aude region a place that is
quite unique. The setting is exceptional and here nature is still carefully
preserved. Here, growing in pots or directly in the ground is a cactus trail;
most of them are planted outside, throughout the year in flowerbeds. There are
about 2,000 varieties to discover. (Group tours available by prior arrangement.)
Sales of plants, garden design advice, etc. It's a unique chance to come and
explore a world of little-known shapes and colours...
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