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, I would like you to meet the energetic Micky Lindelauf. She moved to France 18 years ago with her husband and two small daughters to start a bed and breakfast in a former wine estate. Now, the girls have grown up, and she and Roger started a new project: Unique Boutique Houses.
Introduction
Before moving to France, I lived in the Netherlands with my husband, Roger, and our two daughters, then 4 and 6 years old. We both had busy jobs and worked long hours. I worked as a manager in childcare, responsible for ten locations. Roger refurbished antique furniture and made his own designer pieces. One day, Roger came home from a party with a picture of a gorgeous house in the South of France. And that very moment planted the seed for our French adventure.
First Time Visiting the Region
We couldn’t get the picture of the dream house out of our heads, so we went to France to view it. Although we had seen a lot of France, we had never been to the Languedoc region. And we loved it from the very start. It had a different vibe than the Côte d’Azur, more down-to-earth with less bling bling. However, this part of France also benefits from a Mediterranean climate with many hours of sunshine. It very much appealed to us, and we began our search with a list of requirements.
Settling in Languedoc
In the end, we didn’t buy the house from the picture. However, the idea was rooted, and we asked ourselves if it would be possible for us to start a bed and breakfast in France. After all, I loved cooking and taking care of people, Roger knew his way around tools, and we both enjoyed renovating and interior design. It was enough for us to start a new life in the South of France near Narbonne (1). It took us 1.5 years to find our dream house and another 1.5 years to obtain all the necessary permissions. We opened our Domaine in 2007 and ran it with great pleasure for 17 years.
As if we weren’t busy enough running the Bed & Breakfast, Roger and I converted a former wine cellar. This became LOFT – powered by Lieu -, a holiday home in Villedaigne accommodating 8 to 12 people. After the girls had flown the nest, Roger and I decided to put the first property up for sale. And in 2022, we decided to extend the loft with a beautiful manor house in Bize-Minervois (2): the MANOIR. Here, we can accommodate 6 to 15 people over 400 m² of living space. Clearly, we weren’t done with transforming houses into inspirational and luxurious holiday homes.
Unique Boutique Houses
We wanted to create your perfect getaway in the South of France. Therefore, after having sold the first property, we merged LOFT and MANOIR into a new business. Unique Boutique Houses (3 & 4) is where we now combine our love for welcoming people, decoration, vintage, and travel. Each house has its own character and story to tell, preserving traditional details styled with quirky additions. We love the sometimes thin line between art and kitsch! I suppose you have to visit one of our places to truly understand our vibe.
Both LOFT and MANOIR offer contemporary luxury and modern comfort, of course, with ample space for everyone to relax in their own way. You can retreat to your own room, play a game in one of the cosy living rooms, or chill by the pool. The beautiful surroundings also invite you to explore. Whether you like historic towns like Narbonne and Carcassonne (5) or prefer wild swimming at some great spots, it’s all here. Paired with delicious food and fantastic wine, our holiday homes have all the ingredients to provide you with a great vacation. You could say that we have found our place in the South of France, although you never know if we might undertake another project some day… Stay tuned on our website and social media for our daily life and updates.
Living in the South of France
I haven’t regretted a second since we moved to this region, now 18 years ago. It was quite a big step to pick up the family and start a new life. However, both Roger and I have a down-to-earth and realistic mindset. If one of us had been homesick and wanted to return to the Netherlands, we would have simply done so. You always have a choice in life, and our choice to move to the South of France luckily turned out for the better. I believe you adapt to the country in which you live. And together with my family, I can take on the whole world.
Best Languedoc Wine
The wines of Château Fabre (6), run by the Fabre family for over 14 generations, are my ultimate favourite. Not only because they taste fantastic but also because this lovely family always welcomes our guests with a wonderful wine tasting and a tour of their wine estate.
I also enjoy visiting winemaker Jeff Carrel and his team in Narbonne. I especially appreciate his Chardonnay, called Morrillon Blanc, which is my favourite white wine.
Favourite Restaurant
The chefs, father Gilles and daughter Marion, of the restaurant La Luciole in Luc-sur-Orbieu, are cooking the stars from the sky, as we would say in Dutch. In the summer, it’s lovely to sit outside on the square and enjoy the delicious treats served by mother Hélène.
As I’m more focused on Narbonne, I also enjoy visiting Le Petit Péché, located at the foot of the cathedral in the heart of town. They’re open year-round and cook around the world with high-quality seasonal ingredients.
Perfect Day Out in Languedoc
Of course, the sun is shining. Together with Roger, we would go on a motorbike tour, him driving and me at the back, and throw a picnic in the motor bag. Or we would take our bikes, something I absolutely enjoy doing as well. Whatever mood I’m in that day, we would drive landwards or in the direction of the sea. I’m a big fan of eating out, from a simple meal to a gastronomic experience at a Michelin-starred restaurant. As long as the food and the atmosphere are on point, I’m happy. So, my perfect day definitely includes going to a restaurant. And maybe visiting a vide grenier on the way, to find some more fun objects for our houses.
