About us

Villa Horizons is our home. We are Philippe and Suzana.

Philippe's mother's family has been in Laroque-des-Albères for four generations: his great-great-grandfather kept beehives here, his great-grandfather grew vines. Safe to say we knew the area before living here. In 2021, after twenty years in Paris, we needed fresh air and decided to settle in Laroque.

Suzana was born in Brazil, lived in the United States, worked in England and has lived in France for twenty years. Hosting guests who don't speak French is not a problem for us, it's a habit.

We arranged this house as if it were our own, trying to have something for every kind of guest: the musical instruments get played, the library overflows (we gladly lend extra books beyond those in the villa), and the garden is designed for children and dogs to enjoy as much as the parents.

On site, a local concierge service handles welcome and cleaning, and we remain reachable for everything else.

What is left in the drawers

Four generations in Laroque leaves a paper trail. Here are three pieces from the archives of Philippe's mother's family, the Prats.

Vintage postcard, Pounet Pinous in front of his beehives at Laroque-des-Albères — "Pounet Pinous, the Bees' Friend, the biggest honey producer in Roussillon." Family lore has it that this is Philippe's great-great-grandfather, the one with the hives.

Old photograph of a village band with mandolin and violins — A village band: a mandolin, two violins and enough to keep time. One of Philippe's great-uncles is in the picture.

Envelope addressed to Monsieur Prats Pierre at Laroque-des-Albères, posted in Paris in February 1944 — A letter for Monsieur Prats Pierre, at Laroque-des-Albères, posted in Paris on 28 February 1944 at 11.45 am, from the avenue de Laumière office. This is the wartime correspondence between Philippe's grandfather and his wife, who had stayed in Paris, avenue Ambroise-Rendu. Two details worth a look: the 60 centime stamp carries Pétain's profile, and the address gives no street at all. The name and the village were enough.

What do we enjoy doing here?

Walk along the coastal path and find empty coves, even in August.
Picnic on the beach late in the day, once the crowd has gone: a drink with friends, a last swim in the final rays, and the sand to ourselves.
Book a boat and meet the dolphins and the regular fish of the underwater trail or Taillelauque beach at Cap l'Abeille.
Take the car super early and visit Sa Tuna or Palafrugell.
Lift weights at La Box Imperium in Saint-André.
Run in the mountains.
Try longe-côte, the local sea-wading workout.
Have a coffee or a drink in Collioure.
Drive the coastal road from Collioure to Port de la Selva, top down.
Discover new wineries.

Book your stay

Book directly online: real-time availability, secure payment, calendar synced across all platforms. On-site welcome is handled by Sud Séjour, our local concierge service, reachable for any question.

Book online Email Sud Séjour Call +33 6 16 06 63 73