📍 1 Rue de la Place, 11380 Labastide-Esparbairenque, France
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By Public Transport
La Muse is located in the heart of the village of Labastide-Esparbairenque, in the Aude department. The nearest town, Carcassonne, is served by a train station and an airport.
SNCF offers regular connections with Narbonne and Toulouse, which are TGV stations. There are also direct trains from Lyon, Bordeaux and Marseille. A train station–airport–Cité de Carcassonne shuttle is available for €6.
The airport is mainly served by Ryanair, with direct flights from London Stansted, Cork, Dublin, East Midlands, Manchester, Edinburgh and Brussels-Charleroi. Toulouse-Blagnac (1h30) is the largest international airport in the region. Barcelona El Prat is a three-hour drive away.
From Carcassonne train station (35 minutes), a taxi to La Muse costs approximately €65. We also offer a paid shuttle service on arrival and departure days as well as for weekly shopping. There is no regular bus serving Labastide.
By Car
The village is isolated, so a car is the best option if you want to explore the region independently. The last stretch of road to Labastide is winding and narrow but perfectly passable. Parking is available in the village centre.
Directions: Highway A61 between Carcassonne and Narbonne, exit 23 Carcassonne-Ouest, follow Mazamet, then Conques-sur-Orbiel, Lastours and finally Labastide-Esparbairenque.
- Paris: 820km
- Brussels: 1120km
- Luxembourg: 950km
- Geneva: 575km
- Bordeaux: 380km
- Lyon: 430km
- Lille: 1030km
- Marseille: 300km
Yes! We offer a paid shuttle service to and from Carcassonne train station and also Carcassonne Airport on arrival and departure days. The shuttle will depart on Mondays between 3:00pm and 4:30pm. There are many trains that arrive on Mondays in Carcassonne close to 3:30pm; depending on your train or flight, we will arrange to pick you up. Your driver will also take you to the Carrefour superstore and local boulangerie so you can stock up on everything you need for the week.
Transportation fees are payable on the day of travel in cash or credit card in the amount of €100. Please let us know in advance if you need the shuttle so we can arrange it for you.
If you arrive on an earlier flight, we recommend taking the shuttle from the airport to Carcassonne train station. Just across the street you’ll find Saquettebyfred Carcassonne: Le Bristol, a brasserie where you can leave your luggage securely for a small fee — so you can explore hands-free!
From there we highly recommend visiting La Cité de Carcassonne, the breathtaking medieval walled city that inspired Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. It’s one of the most remarkable sights in the south of France and the perfect way to begin your stay.
Yes, we recommend the following local taxi services:
Taxi Conques – Villalier Service — +33 (0)4 68 72 24 16
Allo Taxi Carcassonne — Operating 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Reach them at +33 (0)4 68 71 50 50 or visit taxi-carcassonne.fr
If you don’t come to the grocery store, the grocery store will come to you!
— Proverb of the Montagne Noire
There is no permanent trade in Labastide-Esparbairenque, but merchants come to the village regularly. On Wednesdays a well-stocked grocer’s truck arrives, including a fine selection of cheeses. Thursday is the butcher’s day. Fridays belong to the baker. The vans announce their arrival by honking — one of the highlights of village social life not to be missed!
The nearest restaurant, Sire de Cabaret, is in Roquefère, 5 minutes by car or 20 minutes by foot. Mas-Cabardès is 10 minutes away with a grocery store open mornings and evenings.
Lastours, 15 minutes away by car, has a bakery, grocery, post office and three restaurants including the Michelin-starred Le Puits du Trésor. The village of Lastours is famous for its Cathar Castles which are open to the public.
We welcome each group of guests with a complimentary dinner on the first evening — a wonderful opportunity to connect with your fellow guests and with us, your hosts.
For the remainder of the week, each guest is responsible for their own meals and beverages. We do it this way to keep costs minimal, allow maximum freedom to organize your day as you wish, and to honor all dietary needs and restrictions. We’ve also found that this approach naturally fosters one of the most magical aspects of life at La Muse — guests tend to cook together, share meals on the outdoor terrace, and linger long into the evening over conversation and star-gazing under the vast skies of the Montagne Noire.
Should you wish to dine out, there is a local restaurant in the neighbouring village accessible on foot within 20 minutes.
Absolutely — the kitchen at La Muse is fully equipped for self-catering. You’ll find:
- Nespresso machine, French press and coffee pot
- Two full-size fridges and one freezer
- A selection of spices, oils and pantry staples
- Complete cookware including pots, pans and utensils
- Paper products and all kitchen essentials
The kitchen is a shared and convivial space — some of the best exchanges at La Muse happen over a shared meal!
We provide sheets and bath towels, as well as toilet paper, paper towels and laundry products.
Yes, if you come in the summer, don’t forget your swimsuit and beach towel — Lake Pradelles is very refreshing and there are lovely spots along the river to sunbathe or take a dip. Lake Pradelles is a 15-minute drive or a partially shaded 1 hour 30 minute hike from La Muse — guests wishing to visit can organize transportation by car with your hosts or informally with other guests.
The surrounding Montagne Noire offers hiking trails for every level — from gentle woodland strolls to more challenging mountain routes of varying lengths. Simply let your La Muse hosts know what kind of walk you are craving and we will point you in the right direction. We recommend bringing sturdy hiking shoes, a hat and SPF, as trails range from fully exposed sun to cool shaded forest paths.
We also have outdoor yoga mats and accessories available for use on the terrace, in the library, in your room or out in nature!
Labastide-Esparbairenque is a village built on a mountainside — it goes up or down everywhere, and La Muse is no different. The house is very old and all rooms are on the first or second floor, accessible only by stairs.
It would be difficult for guests in wheelchairs, but please don’t hesitate to contact us and we will do our best to find a tailor-made solution.
For a medical emergency, we recommend the Clinique Montréal or the Centre Hospitalier de Carcassonne, both approximately 30 minutes by car.
Several general practitioners are located in Conques-sur-Orbiel, Villegailhenc and Villemoustassaou (20 minutes in the direction of Carcassonne). The nearest pharmacy is also in Conques.
We have a first aid kit at La Muse. If you have special health or travel needs, please let us know and we will make sure everything is in place for your stay.
Sorry, but no!
Yes, you are welcome to bring one guest to share your room. We ask that all guests of La Muse introduce themselves with a brief note about their creative practice or what draws them to the retreat — this helps us foster the spirit of community that makes La Muse what it is.
Please note that an additional fee of €210 per week applies for guests. If your stay coincides with a workshop week, your guest is also warmly invited to participate, with a workshop fee of €300. The total guest fee for a workshop week is therefore €510, of which 50% is due as part of your deposit.
Your hosts at La Muse are bilingual and are happy to assist you in both French and English. Workshops are primarily hosted in English, however nearly all of our workshop facilitators speak multiple languages and are able to accommodate French-only or English-only speaking guests.
Yes! La Muse offers a range of add-on wellness services to complement your creative retreat.
Yoga, Pilates & Somatic Movement
Kelly Berry is our resident yoga, Pilates and somatic coach for the summer.
- Group sessions: €15 per person per class (with a minimum of four participants).
- Private sessions: €100–€250 per session depending on treatment and duration.
Massage, Bodywork & Reiki
Available through practitioners who collaborate with La Muse, with rates ranging from €100–€250 per session, tailored to each guest.
While services can be arranged upon arrival, availability on preferred dates and times cannot be guaranteed. We strongly recommend booking in advance to ensure your preferred sessions are accommodated.
Submit a reservation request through our reservation page. We will get back to you within two business days to confirm availability or suggest an alternative.
Once your selection is confirmed we will send you an invoice and a payment link. Upon receipt of payment you will receive a transaction confirmation email — and you’re booked!
A 50% deposit is required to hold your reservation. The remaining balance is due one month prior to your arrival date.
Accepted Payment Methods
- Bank transfer, via Wise or Revolut for example (no fee)
- Credit card (3% transaction fee applies)
- PayPal (4% transaction fee applies)
Transportation fees are payable on the day of travel in cash or credit card in the amount of €100.
Reservations are non-refundable within 30 days of arrival. We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect your booking.
If you are unable to join us, we are happy to offer the option of transferring your room reservation to a friend in your place — just let us know in advance.