phlarris

Greetings,

We are a family of 3 adults thinking of spending some time in the summer in southwest France (Aude region) exploring the Cathar castles.

Can anyone help us out with suggestions for locations to stay. We are looking for a characterful self-catering 2-bedroom property/gîte/villa with a pool, ideally close to a village/town with amenities.

Any suggestions gratefully received. Many thanks in advance.

jpie

Here are a couple of suggestions to get you started:

Check out this tour company-not so much to sign up for a tour but to look at their itineraries and timelines. This will give you an idea of how long to plan and good places to stay

https://www.catharcountry.info/Week.html

They also have great info in terms of the history reading lists etc.

Here is a trip report that describes visiting some of the castles if you haven't seen it:

Trip Report: Lovely Languedoc, Cathar Castles, and pitches for two great hotels and a fantastic restaurant

We know the area quite well since my French husband was born in that region, but to be honest we almost always stay in Toulouse or Carcassonne (the nearby village not the citadel which is quite touristy IMO) when we are in the region since we aren't there necessarily to make a castle trips. So I have only visited one or two at a time. I have a cousin who is interested in a dedicated castle trip though so I would be interested in hearing follow up from you if you do make the trip. Hopefully we will all start to be able to plan some travel again if not in 2021 then 2022!

Christina

I can't help you with a specific property, but I liked Narbonne for a town. It is almost on the coast, so there is that, depends how far you plan to go. But it does have a train station which you could use to visit, say, Carcassonne.

Of course Carcassonne is about in the middle of the Aude department, so maybe you could find something in its surroundings. It does have a train station, of course. It's not a village, that's for sure, it's a city, but neither is Narbonne (they are both about 50K population). For something smaller, maybe look around Limoux?

https://joinusinfrance.com/episode/a...-in-occitanie/

Try the French gites website for rentals.
https://www.gites-de-france.com

StuDudley

We stayed in a gite for 2 weeks a few years ago just outside of Carcassonne in the countryside near Trebes. But it seems that the Gite is no longer available. If you consult the Gites-de-France web site you can find others.
https://www.gites-de-france.com/fr/s...39&travelers=2

Here is my wife's Shutterfly book she made for the trip - which also included the Gorges du Tarn for 2 weeks.
https://stududley.shutterfly.com/51
Click "Full Screen"

Attached is a 30 page itinerary for the Languedoc, which includes the Carcassonne/Cathars area.

Stu Dudley