Every month, I introduce you to an interesting woman living in Languedoc. Curious as I am, I like to find out why she lives in this beautiful region, what she does for a living, and some of her Languedoc favourites. This month, the hands-on Anjo Schuiling invited me for a cup of tea (and delicious pastries from her local boulangerie) while talking about the new adventure she and her husband took on. Leaving Holland for France in 2023, they opened their Domain La Monèze Basse in Limoux for guests.
Introduction
Originally from Drente, a province in the east of the Netherlands, I grew up in a small village. I quickly realised that if you wanted something different from most of the villagers, you had to spread your wings. I took this lesson with me throughout my life, and it may well have been the driving force behind my French adventure.
After several detours—studying Indonesian language and culture, studying social history, working as a waitress in Switzerland for a year—I decided to do a one-year course to become an application programmer. Even though I had never seen a computer before, I really enjoyed it. And it led me to complete a degree in Business Informatics eventually. And that’s how I got into IT, something I still do on a project basis.
First Time Visiting the Region
My husband Bart and I always had the idea that we wanted to move abroad at some point. As a result, when we were on holiday, we always looked at the possibility of whether a place could be somewhere nice to live. Due to the pandemic, our work situation changed to working from home. I was fine with this, but Bart had more difficulty adjusting. It made us realise that if we wanted to move abroad, we had to do it now. We also wanted to avoid saying to ourselves later, ‘If only we had…’.
From that moment on, we decided to actively devote a holiday to looking for a B&B-type business to take over. We didn’t have a specific region in mind, but we did want it to be within driving distance of the Netherlands. Since I was still working, Bart made a list of possible projects and did all the research. To reinforce our research, we booked an overnight stay at each B&B we were going to visit.
The house we eventually chose was also on the list. Surprisingly, because it was over budget and had a lot of land to maintain. But as soon as we stepped over the threshold, it felt right. The surroundings were beautiful, Limoux (1 &2) was a charming town, and the layout of the house was perfect.
Settling in Languedoc
We eventually made an offer on Domaine La Monèze Basse (3), which was accepted. By the autumn of 2023, we became the proud owners of our French bed and breakfast. However, there was still some work to be done. The house was laid out differently when we bought it, suited to the family who lived there with their parents. In November 2023, we started renovating the B&B rooms, and in February 2024, we were able to welcome our first guests. In January of this year, we also renovated the fourth gîte, and 2025 was the first year we were operating at full capacity.
Domaine La Monèze Basse
Domaine La Monèze Basse is a beautiful old estate surrounded by a large garden in a quiet location on the outskirts of Limoux. It is a wonderful place to relax and read books in the garden, the park or by the pool. But there is also plenty to do in the beautiful surrounding area, such as cycling, hiking, canoeing and golfing. You can also indulge in culture and history, as we are located in the heart of Cathar country. Good food and wine tasting are naturally on the holiday agenda.
Our estate consists of four gîtes and three bed and breakfast rooms and can accommodate up to 24 people. We have chosen not to have a fixed changeover day in the summer. This allows our guests to avoid the busy Black Saturday on the roads. Upon arrival, a glass of Blanquette de Limoux will be waiting for you. And for our B&B guests, we prepare a delicious breakfast every morning.
Living in the South of France
Actually, I’m not a Francophile at all. But when Bart and I started our search for a house and spent a week in the Aude department, I was sold. We explored the area, visited towns, and strolled through Limoux, of course, to see if the Aude suited us. I am very sensitive to the atmosphere. And I liked this region.
Bart and I have lived in many places. What you can never know in advance is whether you will easily connect with other people. If you go to live somewhere where you don’t speak the language, you will never make really good friends. This is very important to me. Fortunately, I found the people here friendly and patient, and although Bart speaks better French, I also managed to make contact.
Best Languedoc Wine
If you live in Limoux, you have to mention Blanquette or Cremant. I can’t really name a favourite, but I’m more fond of Cremant, because I don’t particularly like the Mauzac grape, apparently. A great festival celebrating the Limoux appellation is the annual Toques et Clochers. Every year, a village in the Limoux and Saint-Hilaire area hosts this festival to raise money. This money is then used to restore the local church or another building. The festival is sponsored by the Sieur d’Arques cooperative, which also releases a special Chardonnay-based wine during the festival.
Favourite Restaurant
We love going to Taverne Bachus (4), our neighbours behind us, because of the ambience. They serve a lot of meat and food in general, which is difficult if you’re a vegetarian like me. But it’s a great place with a diverse French cuisine (and some vegetarian options). The interior is decorated with all kinds of brocante finds. It’s always full, and the atmosphere is fabulous.
Perfect Day Out in Languedoc
What I miss most in the Limoux area is water. Therefore, for my perfect day, I would definitely seek out a lake or river for a refreshing dip. Or maybe visit that little square on the Canal du Midi in Trèbes, which looks so charming to me from a distance. So, another option is to be on the water, rent a boat and moor in the little harbour of Trèbes. A picnic on the boat or dinner at the restaurant Le Moulin de Trèbes (5) would be the ideal ending to the day.
