Stay 
Children of the Château de la Hille Museum
approx. 2 km
A memorial museum opened on 23 June 2007 in the village library, recalling the Jewish children who found refuge here between 1941 and 1945. It is not housed in the château.
Château de la Hille: a night in a charming gîte in the Ariège
The Château de la Hille, in Montégut-Plantaurel in the Ariège, is a former lordship of the Foix country that became well known during the Second World War: from 1941 to 1944 the Swiss Red Cross sheltered about a hundred refugee children here, most of them Jewish. Today guests can stay in a charming gîte with a pool, at the foot of the Pyrenees.
At a glance
- Location
- Montégut-Plantaurel, northern Ariège (Occitanie), in the Plantaurel massif and the Pyrénées Ariégeoises regional nature park
- Accommodation
- Charming gîte at the Château de la Hille, presented by Expedia as a château for families; fitted kitchen, several bathrooms, indoor and outdoor pools
- Highlights
- Indoor and outdoor pools, garden, barbecue, fireplace, table tennis, books and games, free Wi-Fi, on-site parking
- Guest rating
- 10/10 from 20 reviews on Expedia (as of 14 Oct 2026)
- Check-in & check-out
- Check-in from 4 pm · check-out at 10 am
- Good to know
- No pets · upper floors reached by stairs only · designated smoking areas · Saint-Jean-de-Verges station about 13 minutes by car
Staying at the Château de la Hille: a charming gîte with a pool
To stay at the Château de la Hille is to sleep in a charming gîte set in a house steeped in history, deep in the Ariège countryside. According to Wikipedia, the château is now used for tourist accommodation. The Expedia listing places it among the châteaux suited to families and highlights its garden, indoor pool and outdoor pool.
The accommodation works like a holiday house: a fitted kitchen with island, oven, hob, dishwasher, microwave and fridge, a separate dining area, a living room with fireplace and four bathrooms with showers. Wi-Fi is free in the rooms, and the house has books, games and a table-tennis table.
Outside, a garden with a barbecue invites alfresco meals. Laundry can be washed and dried on site, and parking is provided. The upper floors can only be reached by stairs, something to keep in mind for guests with reduced mobility.
Photos of Château de la Hille
The history of the Château de la Hille
- after 1600 – The lordship of L'Isle (la Hille) and Montégut passes to the Barbazan, a branch of the Rochechouart-Faudoas family, through Jean-Louis's marriage to Marguerite de Roquefort d'Arignac.
- 1941 – The Swiss Red Cross (Swiss Aid to Children) sets up a colony for refugee children at the Château de la Hille, most of them stateless Jewish children who had come from Belgium via Seyre in the Haute-Garonne.
- 26 Aug 1942 – The gendarmerie arrests the forty children over 15, who are interned at the Le Vernet camp; they are freed thanks to the intervention of the Swiss director of the home and the delegate of Swiss Aid to Children, and return to La Hille on 2 September.
- 1942–1944 – The older children are helped across the border into Spain or Switzerland, others find shelter on farms in the area; about a dozen join the Resistance.
- 1945 – The colony closes. Of the hundred or so children taken in, about ninety survive the war.
- September 2000 – A memorial to the children of La Hille is unveiled and a commemorative plaque is placed at the entrance to the property.
- 2007 – The Children of the Château de la Hille Museum opens on 23 June, in the village library.
The children of La Hille are now recognised as a significant episode in the rescue of Jewish children in France: three people involved in the rescue, including the Swiss director of the home, have been recognised as Righteous Among the Nations. A memorial stele near the château recalls this history.
The museum, created by the commune of Montégut-Plantaurel, stands in the village, about 1.5 km from the château, and not in the château itself. It can be visited during a stay.
Facilities and services at the Château de la Hille
The details below come from the Expedia listing (as of 14 Oct 2026); they may change, so check the details when you book.
Accommodation
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms
- Four bathrooms with showers
- Hairdryer and television
- Fireplace and central heating
- Bed linen provided
Kitchen & dining
- Fitted kitchen with central island
- Oven, hob, microwave, fridge
- Dishwasher, blender, kettle and toaster
- Dining table and separate dining area
- Barbecue
Leisure & outdoors
- Indoor pool
- Outdoor pool
- Garden
- Table tennis
- Books and games
Service
- On-site parking
- Laundry, dryer, iron and ironing board
- Internet access in some public areas
- Upper floors reached by stairs only
Where the Château de la Hille is: between the Plantaurel and the Ariège Pyrenees
The Château de la Hille stands in the commune of Montégut-Plantaurel, in northern Ariège, in the Pyrenean foothills. It lies about 1.5 km north-west of the village, on the way to Pailhès. The commune is part of the Pyrénées Ariégeoises regional nature park, some 15 km as the crow flies from Foix.
A car is the most practical way to get around: according to Expedia, it is about 13 minutes to Saint-Jean-de-Verges station and 73 minutes to Toulouse-Blagnac airport. Among nearby sights the listing names the Saint-Martin animal park, Lac de Mondély, the Mas-d'Azil cave, the Château de Foix, the Niaux cave and the Château de Montségur.
For a first meal or some shopping, Expedia lists places 5 and 8 minutes away by car. Golfers will find the Golf Club de l'Ariège in the area.
Distances (as the crow flies from the Château de la Hille)
| Montégut-Plantaurel (village) | approx. 1.5 km |
| Children of the Château de la Hille Museum | approx. 2 km |
| Pigailh Cave (Aigues-Juntes) | approx. 3 km |
| Château de Pailhès | approx. 3 km |
| Lac de Mondély | approx. 3.5 km |
| Gabre Protestant church | approx. 4 km |
| Mas-d'Azil Cave | approx. 9 km |
| Pamiers | approx. 13 km |
| Château de Foix | approx. 17 km |
Distances calculated as the crow flies; driving times to the station and airport are taken from the Expedia listing.
Things to see around the Château de la Hille
Château de Pailhès
approx. 3 km
A medieval château towering over the village from a rocky promontory, at the crossroads of the roads from Foix to Lézat and from Pamiers to Saint-Girons. Listed as a historic monument since 1997.
Lac de Mondély
approx. 3.5 km
A reservoir lake fed by the Lèze river in the Plantaurel massif. Expedia lists it among the natural sights near the gîte, within about 15 km.
Mas-d'Azil Cave
approx. 9 km
A prehistoric cave carved by the Arize river and crossed by a road, one of the few caves in the world you can drive through. It gave its name to the Azilian culture.
Pamiers
approx. 13 km
A sub-prefecture of the Ariège and the most populous town in the département. Its old town, ringed by canals, has many buildings in Toulouse brick.
Château de Foix
approx. 17 km
A 12th-century fortress perched on a rock above the Ariège préfecture, listed as a historic monument since 1840. It houses the departmental museum.
Tours & activities near Château de la Hille
Experiences in the region that you can book online with Viator:
Toulouse Food & History Tour with a Chef (in English)
Ever embarked on a food tour where your guide is a trained chef who doesn't just buy premade food from vendors but preps and plates some regional …
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Carcassonne During World War 2
We will visit buildings, memorials, statues, and places that have a link back to World War 2 and I will share my love of the subject, bringing the …
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Explore Toulouse Wine Bars with a Local Wine Expert
VISIT OUR WEBSITE for a full list of our tours! Kick your evening off in style with this fun and intimate wine bar tour that celebrates the tradition …
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Unusual guided tour Toulouse in the Age of Enlightenment
Discover the Saint Etienne district of Toulouse by immersing yourself in the refinement of the 18th century during an unusual guided tour led by Mme …
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Private guided tour of the city of Carcassonne
This guided tour is private you will not be mixed with other travelers. The tour adapts to your pace. You will experience an immersion in the history …
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Take off your clothes and let yourself be drawn!
Being drawn is a unique and rich experience. Naked, draped or even dressed, whatever you want! It's a moment for yourself. You just need to be …
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Toulouse Electric Bike Tour: City Center & Garonne
Discover Toulouse differently on the handlebars of one of our top of the line electric bikes. A playful adventure dotted with little extras that only …
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Languedoc Vineyard Tour
We provide unique and very personal half day tours of some of the best wine producers in the Languedoc. Tours are for 2 to 6 people maximum and are …
View details ›Some descriptions are machine-translated.
Who is the Château de la Hille for?
Families and groups of friends
A spacious gîte with kitchen, pool, garden and table tennis: a comfortable base for a stay with several people.
Travellers drawn to remembrance
The Children's Museum, the stele and the memorial recall the story of the children sheltered at the château in 1941–1945.
Nature lovers
A regional nature park, Lac de Mondély, caves and the Pyrenees close by: plenty to hike and explore.
Self-catering stays
A fitted kitchen, barbecue, laundry and on-site parking let you stay at your own pace, with Toulouse 73 minutes away by car.
Good to know before booking the Château de la Hille
- Check-in is from 4 pm and check-out at 10 am.
- Pets are not allowed.
- The upper floors can only be reached by stairs. For special accessibility needs, contact the property via the booking confirmation.
- There are designated smoking areas; smoking elsewhere is not provided for.
- Parking is available on site.
- The Children of the Château de la Hille Museum is in the village, not at the château.
Find available dates at Château de la Hille
Frequently asked questions
Can you stay overnight at the Château de la Hille?
Yes. The château welcomes guests in a charming gîte that can be booked via Expedia. The listing mentions an indoor pool and an outdoor pool.
Are pets allowed?
No. According to Expedia, pets are not allowed.
Is there a swimming pool?
Yes, the listing mentions an indoor pool and an outdoor pool.
What are the check-in and check-out times?
Check-in is from 4 pm and check-out is at 10 am.
Is there parking at the château?
Yes, parking is available on site.
What is there to see near the Château de la Hille?
The Children's Museum is in the village, about 2 km away; the Château de Pailhès and Lac de Mondély are 3 or 4 km away, the Mas-d'Azil cave about ten kilometres, Pamiers about 12 or 13 km and Foix about 17 km.
Photos of the gîte, guest reviews and available dates are all in the Château de la Hille listing on Expedia.
Fancy a night in a history-steeped château in the Ariège? Check availability and current prices for the Château de la Hille on Expedia.
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