La Cardabela is located on the edge of the lovely village of Margon in the Languedoc – Roussillon region of South-west France. Typical of the Languedoc Region, Margon is a village of around 400 inhabitants, many of whom are still occupied in some capacity in the production of the local wines.

Although the effect of modernisation is bringing Languedoc-Roussillon more into line with the rest of France, the area still strikes the visitor as being distinctly different. Medieval fantasies exist everywhere in the shape of small towns, walled cities and ruined fortresses bearing the memory of past bloody religious battles.

Indeed, the region has more recently received considerable attention following the release of the novel The daVinci Code much of whose action and plot centres around the area.

Margon like many villages founded in the middle ages village is built on the ‘circulade’ principle with the fortress and church taking centre stage and surrounded by the protecting houses and village walls parts of which survive to this day.

The Château de Margon (photo right), owned and occupied since 1714 by the family of the current Count and Countess, is one of the prettiest, authentic medieval chateaux in the area and gracefully dominates the village from all approaches.