Pretty towns around Carcassone
Jan 28th, 2007, 11:07 AM
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Pretty towns around Carcassone
We have three nights in Carcassone and are looking for suggestions for places to visit and things to do around area. We are thinking for renting a car for a day or two and getting out into the surrounding area.
Jan 28th, 2007, 11:23 AM
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There are loads of possibilities, but one loop I like to take that takes a good day or two is Carcassonne to Castelnaudary to St-Férreol to Revel to Castres, then down through the mountains in the southern portion of the Par Régional du Haut Langedoc.
Feb 12th, 2007, 10:43 AM
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Just a question about your loop from Carcassonne to Castelnaudary to St-Férreol to Revel to Castres, then down through the mountains in the southern portion of the Par Régional du Haut Langedoc. We need to begin and end in Carcassonne, so where would you suggest we spend the night along the way? It sounds like a two day adventure.
MB
MB
Feb 12th, 2007, 01:21 PM
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Hi mb,
Plot the route at www.mappy.com.
Change "express" to "without toll".
It's "Castelnaudray".
Plot the route at www.mappy.com.
Change "express" to "without toll".
It's "Castelnaudray".
Feb 13th, 2007, 04:27 PM
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Just a question, why do you suggest only one night in Carcassonne? Too many tourists? Overpriced?
Anyone have any suggestions about cute places to stay in this area. We have three nights and would like to do a hub and spoke. We could stay in one spot but venture out every day for a excursion to a cute little town, explore a little, have lunch and then head back to our home base for dinner?
Any suggestions?
MB
Anyone have any suggestions about cute places to stay in this area. We have three nights and would like to do a hub and spoke. We could stay in one spot but venture out every day for a excursion to a cute little town, explore a little, have lunch and then head back to our home base for dinner?
Any suggestions?
MB
Feb 13th, 2007, 05:05 PM
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I stayed in a lovely B and B Chateau Quarante in Quarante and did day trips-very well situated. I did day trips. By the way, Chateau Quarante also does cooking classes (which I did not take). The hostesss was a superb cook so I actually had breakfast and dinner at the guesthouse.
Feb 13th, 2007, 06:44 PM
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Sorry, ira, but it is indeed Castelnaudary.
I definitely wouldn't spend three nights in Carcassonne! No way! I mean, it's a marvel but a kind of "manufactured" one, and once you've seen it I'd hightail it out of town. If you do the loop I suggest, I'd stay in St-Férréol. Never done it myself, but always wanted to. There's a beautiful lake there and some lovely hotels alongside it.
I definitely wouldn't spend three nights in Carcassonne! No way! I mean, it's a marvel but a kind of "manufactured" one, and once you've seen it I'd hightail it out of town. If you do the loop I suggest, I'd stay in St-Férréol. Never done it myself, but always wanted to. There's a beautiful lake there and some lovely hotels alongside it.
Feb 13th, 2007, 07:17 PM
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I recommend the hilltop Cathar castles such as Puilarens, Peyreperteuse, Queribus, Montsegur, Roquefixade, Puivert, or Lastours. These are spectacular sights, in lovely surroundings.
http://www.languedoc-france.info/120717_puilaurens.htm
Carcassonne itself was a Cathar stronghold. I agree with others that a day is enough in Carcassonne (because there's not that much to see there, and it's full of tour groups). There's an earlier thread here:
http://fodors.com/forums/pgMessages....mp;tid=1201067
The Gorge de Galamus is pretty impressive, as are the three towers of the castle in Foix. There are prehistoric cave paintings in the Grotte de Niaux (it was closed when I was there so I have no first-hand experience).
http://www.languedoc-france.info/120717_puilaurens.htm
Carcassonne itself was a Cathar stronghold. I agree with others that a day is enough in Carcassonne (because there's not that much to see there, and it's full of tour groups). There's an earlier thread here:
http://fodors.com/forums/pgMessages....mp;tid=1201067
The Gorge de Galamus is pretty impressive, as are the three towers of the castle in Foix. There are prehistoric cave paintings in the Grotte de Niaux (it was closed when I was there so I have no first-hand experience).
Feb 14th, 2007, 04:37 AM
#12
3 nights in C
Its a new medievel delight ( i normaly get told off on fodor for claiming it is a fake) with loads of souvenir shops so a night will be enough (a couple of nice restaurants). Last time I was there I stayed in the new town in Hotel Gare (by the station) amazingly falling down a real fin de siecle disaster and even that had me bored in a night (despite falling ceilings!)
I like Beziers but I think the guys above have it right with Casteln----- however you spell it as a good night's stay if you chose a quiet canal side hotel
Its a new medievel delight ( i normaly get told off on fodor for claiming it is a fake) with loads of souvenir shops so a night will be enough (a couple of nice restaurants). Last time I was there I stayed in the new town in Hotel Gare (by the station) amazingly falling down a real fin de siecle disaster and even that had me bored in a night (despite falling ceilings!)
I like Beziers but I think the guys above have it right with Casteln----- however you spell it as a good night's stay if you chose a quiet canal side hotel
Feb 14th, 2007, 05:00 AM
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Hi mbw220
>... why do you suggest only one night in Carcassonne? Too many tourists? Overpriced?<
Yes,
Yes,
Also, it is a reconstruction undertaken under the super4vision of (I think) Violet Le Duc, who redid a number of ancient villages, towns and castles to comply with what he thought they should have looked like.
From my report:
Carcassone and the Hotel Montmorency (http://www.lemontmorency.com/carcassonne/hotel.html) on the N113 - a scenic, well-marked road that brought us to the door of the hotel.
The Montmorency has its own parking - a major plus and is about a blk from the entrance to the Old City. They put us up in the Annex, across the street, in a little, bitty, teeny, weeny room on the 1st flooor (one flight up) that was just heavenly. We had no complaints because it was 32 C in Carcassone and the room had AC.
We waited until the sun went down before we went up to the Old City. Carcassone has been a tourist destination for a long, long time. This is not necessarily bad. The Pl Marcou is a large outdoor dining room. The trees are strategically lighted, each restaurant has its own tables, everything goes smoothly despite the crowds.
After dinner we toured the town before returning to the hotel. Much nicer after all of the shops have closed. Some streets could be quite dark and very medieval. Overall, it was a pleasant visit
Please Note, Viollet-le-Duc was the architect of the "restoration" of Carcassone. The purist will easily note the incongruities.
>... why do you suggest only one night in Carcassonne? Too many tourists? Overpriced?<
Yes,
Yes,
Also, it is a reconstruction undertaken under the super4vision of (I think) Violet Le Duc, who redid a number of ancient villages, towns and castles to comply with what he thought they should have looked like.
From my report:
Carcassone and the Hotel Montmorency (http://www.lemontmorency.com/carcassonne/hotel.html) on the N113 - a scenic, well-marked road that brought us to the door of the hotel.
The Montmorency has its own parking - a major plus and is about a blk from the entrance to the Old City. They put us up in the Annex, across the street, in a little, bitty, teeny, weeny room on the 1st flooor (one flight up) that was just heavenly. We had no complaints because it was 32 C in Carcassone and the room had AC.
We waited until the sun went down before we went up to the Old City. Carcassone has been a tourist destination for a long, long time. This is not necessarily bad. The Pl Marcou is a large outdoor dining room. The trees are strategically lighted, each restaurant has its own tables, everything goes smoothly despite the crowds.
After dinner we toured the town before returning to the hotel. Much nicer after all of the shops have closed. Some streets could be quite dark and very medieval. Overall, it was a pleasant visit
Please Note, Viollet-le-Duc was the architect of the "restoration" of Carcassone. The purist will easily note the incongruities.
Feb 14th, 2007, 07:27 PM
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Thanks for all your suggestions. We are spending two nights in Collioure and then have three nights before we head to Paris. I was thinking of making a quick stop in Carcassonne, rather than staying there for three nights, maybe spend the afternoon, rent a car and drive to Cordes sur Ciel. Cordes would be my home base and take day trips to Rocamadour, St Cirq Lapopie, Belcastle, Najac, Conques, Villefrance de Rouergue. I'm know we can't visit all of them, but would it be possible to see a few in a day and head back to Cordes?
MB
MB
Feb 15th, 2007, 06:21 AM
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Hi mbw,
May I suggest heading from Carcaassone to Conques by way of St. Chely du Tarn and overnighting at the Moulin de Cambelong?
See www.moulindecambelong.com
The Gorges du Tarn are spectacular. You also pass the Millau Bridge.
See the route at www.viamichelin.com.
See my trip report for details:
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34676645
Photos at http://tinyurl.com/sjch4
May I suggest heading from Carcaassone to Conques by way of St. Chely du Tarn and overnighting at the Moulin de Cambelong?
See www.moulindecambelong.com
The Gorges du Tarn are spectacular. You also pass the Millau Bridge.
See the route at www.viamichelin.com.
See my trip report for details:
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34676645
Photos at http://tinyurl.com/sjch4
Feb 15th, 2007, 06:25 AM
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You really aren't going to be able to traverse that terrain doing a "day trip" to Rocamadour from Cordes. It's slow going. The others on your list might be do-able. Personally, I'd skip St-Cirq-Lapopie, one of the most overrated towns on the planet, IMHO. Villefranche-sur-Rouergue, on the other hand, is a beautiful "undiscovered" gem.
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