To live in close contact with nature which had not yet been spoiled by the needs and desires of human beings, this was the reason why a few years ago we decided to buy this wonderful piece of land in Graissessac, in the Haute Vallée de l'Orb. And right from our fresh start here we felt that we would like to be able to share the power and peace of this special place with others, while striving to keep the human footprint on the land to a minimum. And so it has become a place where people can find a deeper calmness within themselves and experience the profoundly healing properties of nature.

In following our dream we began building an extension onto our small house that belongs to the property along with constructing stone and wooden platforms that would support two yurts. The locations were carefully selected in relation to their energetic qualities and to their impact on the land. The large yurt is 8 metres in diameter and can accommodate up to four people. It rests at the junction of two creeks. The small yurt sits on a hillside at the edge of a forest. It is 5.25 metres in diameter and has room for two people. Around both yurts you will find hidden places to enjoy the beauty of the nature and to relax in sun or shadow. Shower facilities, compost toilet and a summer-kitchen provide the necessary comfort and allow for self-catering and independence.

Our organic garden provides us with much of the vegetables and fruits consumed, and the wilderness here generously gives us the gift of a variety of herbs, nuts and berries. Vegetarians for many years, Monika, a writer, and Jim, a musician, enjoy cooking and offer once or twice a week a simple and thoughtfully prepared evening meal. Some of our culinary inspiration has come from The Tassajara Recipe Book by Edward Espe Brown, who served for many years as head cook at the Tassajara Zen Monastery in Northern California. But we had been influenced also by the French way to compose and combine meals and by our German and American mothers. Our wines in stock are carefully selected, many of which are from the region including the great wines from nearby Faugères.

Our village is located in the mountains of the Parc Naturel du Haute Languedoc, a protected region which offers innumerable hiking possibilities in a diverse landscape with a great variety of fauna and flora. Cooling streams and wild ravines allows one to stay refreshed on the hot Mediterranean summer days.

In the nearby villages of Villemagne l'Argentière and St. Gervais sur Mare you can find well preserved examples of medieval architecture, the later being very near the pilgrimage path to Saint Jacques de Compostelle. The next biggest town, Bédarieux, offers not only lively markets each Monday, but also interesting cultural events like concerts, expositions, etc. The next bigger cities are Montpellier (140km) and Beziers (70km). The Mediterranean Sea is only about an hour from our village, making for an easy day trip to the beach.