The perfect venue and accommodation for courses in Languedoc, the south of France

La Maison Verte is a venue for residential courses of any variety, providing facilities and residential accommodation in the Languedoc region of southern France.

• 1830‘s wine-maker’s mansion
• Rehearsal room of 80m2
• Wine barn of 80m2
• Other, smaller spaces for meetings and workshops
• Accommodation for up to 30 people
• Large pool and beautiful gardens
• 5 minutes’ drive from Pézenas, 25 minutes from the beach, 5 airports within 90 minutes’ drive

The Course Venue

La Maison Verte provides ideal facilities in Languedoc, south France, for course organisers:

• Rehearsal room: we have a vast rehearsal room (80metres square), which is well sound-proofed with an acoustically tested ceiling.  It has a terracotta tiled floor, its own shower and toilets and a wall of windows providing beautiful views of the courtyard and pool.

• Wine Barn: our wine barn is also about 80 metres squared and can be used either as a semi-alfresco eating area or as an additional workshop space.
   
• Break-out spaces: we have a library, snug, large living room and at least two further spaces which can be used for small group work such as discussions, singing or as quiet spaces.
  

The Course Accommodation

Altogether La Maison Verte offers accommodation for up to 30 people - with 19 bedrooms available for residential course accommodation, varying between large double or twin ensuites through to simple single rooms arranged around shared bathroom facilities.  For large courses (over 20), the apartments are also available for courses to hire providing additional residential accommodation. There are other gites and B&Bs within walking distance should you require even more accommodation for larger parties.

In the Heart of the Real South of France

La Maison Verte is set in the hub of the working village of Roujan, in the beautiful Languedoc region of southern France. The property is only 5 minutes’ drive from the very popular town of Pézenas, 25 minutes from the beaches of the Mediterranean, and within 90 minutes‘ drive of 5 international airports. The village boasts two superb bakeries and a traditional French café, and the Saturday market at nearby Pézenas (once the capital of Languedoc) is one of the best markets in the region. All around, vineyards stretch as far as the eye can see, providing guests with superb walks, and of course, excellent wine-tasting opportunities!

Languedoc is a hidden treasure, growing in popularity all the time.  Between the mountains and the Mediterranean, it is rich in history, breath-takingly beautiful, blessed with superb weather and rejoicing in a burgeoning international reputation for the quality of its wine.  It is also served by at least 6 airports within two hours of La Maison Verte, the closest of which (Beziers/Cap d’Agde) is just half an hour away.

About the House

La Maison Verte was built in the 1830's, and started life as a wine producer's mansion.  Nothing much has changed, except now the gardens grow oleanders, irises, mimosa, tamarisk, lilac and almonds as well as vines.  The property  remains totally secluded, with a vast courtyard and an acre or so of fragrant and colourful gardens. The swimming pool is surrounded by mulberry, fig and almond trees, and pomegranates, oranges and lemons all thrive. It belongs to English singer Francis Steele, arts administrator Anne Roberts and their five-year-old daughter Eliza. They live there all year round, and are always on hand to give help, information or advice to enable guests to make the most of their stay.

Renaissance Music Singing Courses (Verte Musique)

Francis Steele and Anne Roberts also run singing courses for experienced consort singers and sight-readers in Renaissance music.  In 2010 they will be running two courses with some of the world’s finest tutors in this kind of music.  Francis Steele was the bass sound of The Tallis Scholars and The Sixteen for over 30 years, and now that he lives at La Maison Verte, he enjoys passing on his vast experience to keen amateur and semi-professional singers.  Have a look at the Verte Musique page on this website for 2010 information.  The name Verte Musique also acts as an umbrella title for other concerts promoted at La Maison Verte by some other groups.

A word from Anne and Fran

La Maison Verte is a rambling, shambling house high on quirkiness and low on mod cons.  The plumbing is old and eccentric and the crockery, like the decor and the bed-linen, doesn't match.  You'll need a jumper if it's cold and patience if it rains. You may have to share a bathroom, you may even have to share a bedroom. Some people have described this house as a youth hostel.  Others describe it as an enchanted castle.

To us, La Maison Verte is a place of dreams and projects and communal inspiration.  It is beautiful, breath-taking, hospitable and kind and our guests return again and again because their lives, they tell us, have been changed here.

Volunteering at La Maison Verte

We have a lovely garden and a huge house.  There's always work to be done, and mostly the sun shines.  If you would like to volunteer at La Maison Verte (gardening, painting, raking, plastering etc) we have accommodation you can use for free, and we'll feed you - in more ways than one!  Volunteer week dates for this year are:

18-24 April 2010                Gardening week (clearing, weeding, designing, planting)
24 April - 2 May 2010        Decorating week (doing up the main entrance hall) 

Contact us for details of this free working holiday.