Discussion
A couple of mates & I used to do the Tour de France finale in Paris most years but more recently we’ve been picking other European cities for an annual 2/3 night trip to break that routine. The destination is usually based around flight prices & timings due to our work/family commitments.
Anyway, Carcassonne is this year’s destination for 3 nights in October. Any recommendations or must do/see things in and around the city for a few 30/40 odd year old blokes who like good food & drink? We won’t have a car but happy to travel a bit on the train (or bus) if required. Toulouse & Narbonne/Beziers on the coast also look to be within striking distance if worthwhile?
Any pointers would be greatly appreciated. Cheers.
Anyway, Carcassonne is this year’s destination for 3 nights in October. Any recommendations or must do/see things in and around the city for a few 30/40 odd year old blokes who like good food & drink? We won’t have a car but happy to travel a bit on the train (or bus) if required. Toulouse & Narbonne/Beziers on the coast also look to be within striking distance if worthwhile?
Any pointers would be greatly appreciated. Cheers.
Carcassonne is a lovely place, but you might want to be a bit careful where you stay.
We stayed in a flat overlooking the main market square. We were quite prepared for the hubbub of people shopping for food & drink from the stalls, and the evening chatter from the bars & restaurants.
What we were not prepared for was the square having a stage set up, with bloody great amps and music going until midnight. The plates in the cupboards were rattling, to give you an idea. The entertainment ended after a couple of days - the next night, a night club to the rear of our flat kicked off. We went to the airport and threw the rest of our spending money at Ryanair to come home early.
An unusual situation, no doubt - but looking up a calendar of local events may be worthwhile.
We stayed in a flat overlooking the main market square. We were quite prepared for the hubbub of people shopping for food & drink from the stalls, and the evening chatter from the bars & restaurants.
What we were not prepared for was the square having a stage set up, with bloody great amps and music going until midnight. The plates in the cupboards were rattling, to give you an idea. The entertainment ended after a couple of days - the next night, a night club to the rear of our flat kicked off. We went to the airport and threw the rest of our spending money at Ryanair to come home early.
An unusual situation, no doubt - but looking up a calendar of local events may be worthwhile.
We were there a couple of years back when it was really hot and found Carcassone an unbearable tourist-trap. A day trip if you're in the region, at best.
Luckily we broke the trip up by staying at a lovely village about 45 minutes away (can't remember the name of it
) and Toulouse which we really enjoyed, a place that seemed to have a really nice vibe about it.
We stayed at the Ibis Style which was in a great location in the centre of town.
Luckily we broke the trip up by staying at a lovely village about 45 minutes away (can't remember the name of it
) and Toulouse which we really enjoyed, a place that seemed to have a really nice vibe about it. We stayed at the Ibis Style which was in a great location in the centre of town.
Lotusgone said:
Carcassonne is a lovely place, but you might want to be a bit careful where you stay.
We stayed in a flat overlooking the main market square. We were quite prepared for the hubbub of people shopping for food & drink from the stalls, and the evening chatter from the bars & restaurants.
What we were not prepared for was the square having a stage set up, with bloody great amps and music going until midnight. The plates in the cupboards were rattling, to give you an idea. The entertainment ended after a couple of days - the next night, a night club to the rear of our flat kicked off. We went to the airport and threw the rest of our spending money at Ryanair to come home early.
An unusual situation, no doubt - but looking up a calendar of local events may be worthwhile.
We are staying near Pont Vieux so just outside the medieval city walls. The hotel has fabulous & recent reviews so I'm pretty confident we'll be ok in that regard. Thanks for the advice though. We stayed in a flat overlooking the main market square. We were quite prepared for the hubbub of people shopping for food & drink from the stalls, and the evening chatter from the bars & restaurants.
What we were not prepared for was the square having a stage set up, with bloody great amps and music going until midnight. The plates in the cupboards were rattling, to give you an idea. The entertainment ended after a couple of days - the next night, a night club to the rear of our flat kicked off. We went to the airport and threw the rest of our spending money at Ryanair to come home early.
An unusual situation, no doubt - but looking up a calendar of local events may be worthwhile.
We went for bastille day a couple of years back. Wonderful 3 -4 days. Stayed im a small apartment by a pool just outside the old city up the hill a bit. Pool was a god send.
Everything is walkable , old and new city. Sat by the river for picnics with bread cheese meat and wine, explored the old city, ate ih the old city several times outside. Casulet etc. Ate and drank in the new city too.
Great atmosphere on bastille day with lots of alfresco dining. Then picnic and fireworks.
All an easy short taxi from the airport.
Going again next year.
Everything is walkable , old and new city. Sat by the river for picnics with bread cheese meat and wine, explored the old city, ate ih the old city several times outside. Casulet etc. Ate and drank in the new city too.
Great atmosphere on bastille day with lots of alfresco dining. Then picnic and fireworks.
All an easy short taxi from the airport.
Going again next year.
My wifes family are from that area. You could head South.
If you go the Belveze du Razes on Route you could look up the owner Guillaume. He is an interesting petrol head and makes very good wine.
https://www.chateaubelveze.com/
You could follow the D118 on the bus to Rennes-le-Château and have a look for the Holy Grail. I had a look once but couldn't find it. A couple of the restaurants might be open if you are lucky (Jardin de Marie).
Limoux is quite a nice market town with some good restaurants too. Le Matador for example.
If you feel more adventurous you can look for some of the Knights Templar and Cathar castles towards Quillan. That is worth the effort.
A car would be a bit better, the train might work. Very Scenic.
If you go the Belveze du Razes on Route you could look up the owner Guillaume. He is an interesting petrol head and makes very good wine.
https://www.chateaubelveze.com/
You could follow the D118 on the bus to Rennes-le-Château and have a look for the Holy Grail. I had a look once but couldn't find it. A couple of the restaurants might be open if you are lucky (Jardin de Marie).
Limoux is quite a nice market town with some good restaurants too. Le Matador for example.
If you feel more adventurous you can look for some of the Knights Templar and Cathar castles towards Quillan. That is worth the effort.
A car would be a bit better, the train might work. Very Scenic.
We were there in June this year and had a lovely week - it's possibly our favourite French city now.
When you go to the old city, get there as soon as you can - the tourist coaches start to arrive at about 10am and by 11:30, the place is heaving. If you intend to eat, try to get your table sorted not long after 11 because by 12:00, the queues are huge (although we were there mid-season, may not be too bad at the moment).
Just outside the walls is a bus stop where you can get the little road-train which does a tour of the new city, we saw it but managed to miss it on three occasions. I would, however, hop on it at the old city and take a trip up to the Port of Carcassone at the 'top' of the new city and walk back through the streets from there. There are canal trips from the port which take you through the locks and up the canal from where there is an excellent vista of the old city, we found it a pleasant way to spend an hour or so.
I can recommend Le Longchamp on Place Carnot to eat - we ate there several times and everything was excellent.
Enjoy!
When you go to the old city, get there as soon as you can - the tourist coaches start to arrive at about 10am and by 11:30, the place is heaving. If you intend to eat, try to get your table sorted not long after 11 because by 12:00, the queues are huge (although we were there mid-season, may not be too bad at the moment).
Just outside the walls is a bus stop where you can get the little road-train which does a tour of the new city, we saw it but managed to miss it on three occasions. I would, however, hop on it at the old city and take a trip up to the Port of Carcassone at the 'top' of the new city and walk back through the streets from there. There are canal trips from the port which take you through the locks and up the canal from where there is an excellent vista of the old city, we found it a pleasant way to spend an hour or so.
I can recommend Le Longchamp on Place Carnot to eat - we ate there several times and everything was excellent.
Enjoy!
Me too - just rebooked for Bastille day (4 days - Ryanair flights ) 2025.
Interestingly, when we were there in 2019 it was never particularly busy (Bastille Day again) - no queues that I recall. We DID have to book dinner tables to eat in the castle outdoors. I've just googled and it seems UK kids are still at school. Perhaps that's it.
Waiting for the fireworks (avec Pique Nique)
Interestingly, when we were there in 2019 it was never particularly busy (Bastille Day again) - no queues that I recall. We DID have to book dinner tables to eat in the castle outdoors. I've just googled and it seems UK kids are still at school. Perhaps that's it.
Waiting for the fireworks (avec Pique Nique)
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff