Holiday rentals and lettings in Carcassonne

That is the most common question, right? Accommodations inside or nearby the walls are a unique experience. A few yards from your doorstep, La Cité’s main access is the perfect spot to wander the streets in the early morning when tourists are still making their way up for the day. An area with lots of cafés and little restaurants close to the cute little shops. If that is too busy, and want to stay away from the medieval part, modern lettings and self-catering accommodations can be found in the city centre, where all the activity happens around the main square or by the river.

Great holiday rentals facing the ramparts of the old city. Enjoy morning views of the walls from your terrace and through the large windows. Stay in decorated properties with the most exclusive fine art and antiques and some others with a more contemporary style. Chic holiday rentals and designer decor with lovely gardens to enjoy during spring or summer time and have a nice BBQ washed down with a nice AOC Languedoc wine.

This medieval town in south France is famous because of its citadel, known as the Cité de Carcassonne, that was listed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Enter the citadel through its imposing Narbone Gate. At the heart of La Cité you can find a castle within a castle named Château Comtal. There is a bunch of medieval houses and cute little shops and restaurants to enjoy a full day wandering the winding cobbled streets and later on, when the sun sets, the late night atmosphere is magical. Believe it or not, there are 200 residents within the walls who experience it every night. What a privilege!

This is a medieval fantasy village with a laidback life. Peaceful mornings around the walls to enjoy breakfast is an option but the main city has also a main square plenty of delicious cafés to sample a fantastic croissant with the best coffee. Lunch and dinner is the time to enjoy exquisite Michelin-standard restaurants like La Barbacane or A Quatre Temps brasserie with creative cuisine in a privileged setting and featuring the best local wines the sommelier will recommend you. Do not miss the confit, the true cassolette and duck products!

Without a doubt, Carcassonne is a must for the wine-savvy traveller. Excellent wine states like Minervois or Malpère together with its proximity to Canal du Midi makes of this town an essential wine break. Enjoy a half day walking tour combined with wine and chocolate at Cocoa and grapes or a visit to a local estate such as Domaine Gayda, where you can taste their award-winning Vin de Pays d’Oc. The wine experts will guide you on every step, making your senses shake with every drop. But if you really want an unforgettable experience, the food and wine expert, Emma Kershaw, offers a guided “wine and tapas” tour at her own place in Coustouge, just a 45 min drive from Carcassonne. Do not miss the chance of a personalised tour and take a Languedoc AOCS Wine-tasting tour.

The city walls around the citadel have two outer walls and 52 towers and barbicans. The houses, the streets and the atmosphere makes you get a mental image of medieval life. These walls are always illuminated at night, making it look like Disneyland and on July 14th, they depict the burning of the citadel. A curiosity about this walls is that, in times of siege, this fortress was the first one using hoardings, providing protection to defenders on the wall. Nowadays, together with Mont Saint-Michel, this is the most visited monument in France. To go deeper into its history do not doubt and book a guided tour and know all the secrets behind the walls.

The Canal du Midi goes along for several miles following the city. A rental bike is the best option to explore the beautiful flora of the area. Plenty of fishing rods and patient fishing enthusiasts sitting and chatting on the bank, welcome visitors with a smile on their faces. Enjoy a two hour ride on your bike at your own pace. Stop and take your camera for beatiful pics!

Saint-Michel the Carcassonne is the cathedral that suffered and was destroyed but rebuilt afterwards. Built as a parish church at the beginning, it became a cathedral in the 19th century. A gothic facade with a relatively simplicity but is the interior of this cathedral what fascinates all visitors. The stained glass windows are one of the main highlights. It is also the seat of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Carcassonne and Narbonne. Some famous personalities are also buried there.

Eating well in Carcassonne is a fact. You cannot fail. Really good eateries are a great choice for your meals but if you want to try your cooking skills, wander around the local markets and find the best local produce every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The stalls are laden with wild mushrooms, walnuts and ducks and geese, together with all kinds of fresh vegetables and delicious products.

A short 20 minute ride by bus or car from the city, there is a beautiful lake with three small beaches. The benches around the lake provide perfect spots for your family picnic with the kids. The lake has activities for everybody to choose, from pedalos that you can hire and enjoy a tour by yourself in the water to a mini-golf where to practice your best shot. Enjoy the French summer by the calm waters and recharge your batteries surrounded by nature.

Carcassonne is a great base to explore the surrounding towns and cities. Narbonne is just a short drive from the city and offers a fabulous day out. Lots of museums amongst the cobbled streets of this old city, old houses where you will also see the layers of time on the walls and tunnels and caves of l’Horreum to visit and explore. And finally, to round off your trip why not eat or shop at Les Halles, Narbonne Market.