Location: Carcassonne, Languedoc-Roussillon, France, Europe (400m from the Medieval Castle of Carcassonne)
Accommodations: Townhouse, 1 Bedroom + Convertible bed(s), 1.5 Baths (Sleeps 3-5)
Your perfect holiday home "en Pays Cathare"... sun, skiing, sports, culture, and over 2600 years of history. Mediterranean beaches, the Pyrenees, and the most beautiful scenery year round. Music festivals, gourmet cuisine, and the wines of Languedoc Roussillon.
Self-catering holiday cottage in the old town of Carcassonne. This little stone house was reconstructed in 1820 and renovated in 2005. Tucked away in a charming and tranquil old village square with trees and a fountain at the foot of "La Cité" yet only a few minutes walk from the River Aude, the Bastide St Louis, and all the facilities and attractions the medieval city of Carcassonne has to offer.
Sensitively restored to preserve the character of local construction methods the house has exposed beams and the original floor tiling characteristic of the area. It presents a cosy and comforting interior for all seasons.
There is no need to hire a car to enjoy the two cities of Carcassonne. All of the following are within a 15-minute stroll:
- La Cité, the medieval fortified citadel of Carcassonne is only 500 yards away and truly it is a fairy tale castle of epic proportions. La Cité is free to enter and inside you will find plenty of quality gift and craft workshops, restaurants, and cafés, plus the Chateau Comtal and the St Nazaire Cathedral with its fantastic stained glass windows. There are also guided tours and animated museums to bring the history of La Cité to life for you. During the summer months there is a full programme of musical entertainments including street musicians, an open-air theatre where the history of Carcassonne is re-enacted, and all the pageantry and excitement of medieval jousting displays.
- The ancient and picturesque rue Trivalle with its café’s, restaurants, antique and gift shops passes within 25 yards of Les Troubadours, connecting La Cité to the Bastide St Louis via the old bridge, the Pont Vieux.
- At the foot of the Trivalle is the river and the Pont Vieux with its beautiful stone arches and views of the Pyrenees, the Black Mountains, and of course La Cité itself.
- In the Roman built Bastide St Louis you can shop to your hearts content among the boutiques, antique shops, jewellers and parfumiers, chocolatier/patissiers, drapers, cookware and interiors shops, and of course the delicatessens stocking the speciality produce and vintage wines of the region. Place Carnot with its celebrated Neptune marble fountain and marvellous architecture is at the heart of the Bastide and is an excellent spot from which to base your shopping spree and it is to the many bars and cafés of Place Carnot that the Carcassonnais come to socialise and relax in the sun on market day.
- Carcassonne is proud of its green spaces and all along the river there are parks, gardens, play areas for children, and of course the wide tree lined banks. The river is home to a family of otters and a colony of herons.
- The Quai Bellevue makes a pleasant evening stroll especially if you stop for dinner at La Paicherrou restaurant where they cook over a wood fire and have live music and dancing in the garden.
On the Quai Paicherrou you will find tennis courts, a beautiful lido with sunbathing terraces and full lifeguard surveillance, and landscaped leisure areas for relaxing on the bank of the river.
- The gastronomic pleasures of the region are celebrated worldwide and Carcassonne has plenty of bistros and restaurants from which to choose. We can direct you to excellent local restaurants where you can explore Occitan cuisine.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Linens Provided: We also provide disposable dish cloths, washing up and cleaning materials. And who wants arrive to a place with no loo roll!
- Off Street Parking: There are 6 free public parking places on the square outside the house. There are also places in the quiet residential roads close by. You need not walk more than 100yds.
- Gas Fireplace: Actually an electric "living flame" convector heater which provides a cosy ambiance in the snug.
- Beds
- Double Bed: Standard UK double (140cm/4ft6inch wide) with head and foot board.
- Twin/Single Bed: 90cm/3ft) solid pine frame bed - suitable for adults and children.
- Convertible Bed: Easy action, pull out bed with good quality Bultex foam mattress (150cm wide), no head or foot board.
- Crib: Actually a travel cot with self contained mattress, conforms to European safety standards. Cotton fitted sheet, cotton flat sheet, and fleece blanket provided.
- Entertainment
- CD Player
- Music Library
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen: Fully fitted kitchen with fridge (inc. freezer compartment), electric convection oven and electric hob. Microwave oven. Filter coffee maker, electric kettle, electric toaster.
- Cooking Utensils Provided: All the essentials you would expect to find including the bottle opener!
- Refrigerator
- Microwave
- Outdoor Features
- Deck/Patio: Garden table and chairs are provided for dining in the courtyard immediately in front of the house, which being in a corner is sheltered and private enough. Please note however, that whilst it is attractive and very quiet, the square is actually a public space and you may find yourself sharing the wider area along with local residents enjoying the village dance and other social events that take place during the warmer months. We will always inform you if an event is known to be scheduled during your visit.
- Communications
- WiFi (Wireless Internet)
- Other Amenities
- Off street in a quiet traffic free square
- Suitability
- No Pets Allowed
- Kid Friendly
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities (on site and nearby)
- Golf
- Tennis
- Theme Park (Amusement Park)
- Zoo/Wildlife Park
- Shopping
- Sightseeing
- Restaurants
- Rafting
- Kayaking
- Sailing
- Boating
- Parasailing
- Jet Skiing
- Shelling
- Swimming
- Windsurfing
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Cross Country Skiing
- Downhill/Alpine Skiing
- Snowboarding
- Sledding/Tubing
- Wildlife Viewing
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Hunting
- Rock Climbing
- Spelunking
- Fitness Center/Gym
- Antiquing
- Cinemas/Movie Theaters
- Live Theatre
- Museums
- Horseback Riding
- Other Activities
- 400m from Unesco world heritage site La Cité de Carcassonne. 1km from Unesco world heritage site, Canal de Midi. Bathing lake resort and tree top adventure Parc with high wires and tyroleans 5kms (shuttle bus service).
Rate Details (In Euros)
Nov - Mar (exc Xmas) .. €70/night .. €400/week.
Apr - Jun & Oct, Xmas .. €85/night .. €500/week.
Jul - Sep .. €100/night .. €600/week.
Prices caluclated in €. Payment in £ accepted subject to exch rate.
Minimum stay value 3 nights.
25% deposit secures your reservation. Balance payment not less than 8 weeks
before holiday start date. Security Deposit of 200€ on arrival.
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Owner's Profile
Owner Description
Year Purchased: 2003
Amanda and Andy moved to Carcassonne in the South of France from the UK in September 2003. UK "workculture refugees" they took a sabbatical - otherwise known as a giant leap into the unknown! - hoping to build a more wholesome lifestyle for themselves and their kids Fen and Kelsey (then aged 9 and 7). "Build" was the operative word and it took 2 and a half years of hands on labour by day and intensive research by night to restore "Les Troubadours", an 18th century townhouse beneath the ramparts of the now famous medieval citadel of Carcassonne. 5 years later on and the family have indeed found the home and lifestyle of their dreams. Amanda now welcomes guests to Les Troubadours with the passion of the liberated, while Andy uses the family home as base for his career in finance. Fen and Kelsey, now 15 and 13 are french/english bilingual have blossomed into fine young Europeans and can demonstrate an impressive array of sporting and musical talents thanks to the amazing environment in which they live.
Why the Owner Chose Carcassonne
Carcassonne is actually our main home. We chose the South of France, and Carcassonne in particular, for its mediteranean culture and its extraordinarily beautiful and varied landscape. Carcassonne itself, despite having city status and being Prefecture town for our department, is actually a small community of only 50k resident population. It retains a strong sense of community founded on the Occitan heritage and traditions which have survived centuries of invasion and retreat. Colourful, magical, and rapidly becoming the cultural beacon of the south, Carcassonne is truly a beautiful place to be.
The Unique Benefits of this Townhouse
From Carcassonne we are priviledged to enjoy both mountain and seascape within easy reach. Our landscape encompasses every type of outdoor leisure activity from rambling to extreme sports, and of course we have the climate to go with it. Here in the town we enjoy year round cultural and musical entertainment, all within a compact and easily walkable environment:
Les Troubadours itself is located in a surprisingly quiet and tranquil little square where you'll sleep easy all year round. Just a few steps however, will take you out onto the Trivalle and right into the heart of all that Carcassonne has to offer. Come Bastille day (14 July) and you can get a rooftop view of our incredible annual firework display culminating in "L'embrasure" - the burning of La Cité. Be here on the first Sunday in September and you'll be spot on for the annual Trivalle Fete, "vide grenier" (loft sale) by day and village dinner and dance by evening. The week before christmas could have you iceskating in Place Carnot - with the help of roasted chestnuts and plentiful mulled wine of course - and joining the townsfolk on the river banks to watch the Christmas Story, a spectacle of music and fireworks, sent up over the 13 arches of our stunning old stone bridge. The mad mad month of May is often the scene of "Lance Beret" and other traditional Occitan games taking place in the rue Trivalle just 50 yards away. As unpredictable as they are crazy, they have to be seen to be believed! And then of course there is the very bizarre water jousting tournament, not to mention the Spanish festival at the end of August, and the music festival in June when you'll find organ recitals in all the churches and a jazz, folk or rock band tucked into every street corner of La Cité.
Property Photos
- La Cité de Carcassonne - Carcassonne, Languedoc-Roussillon, France Vacation Townhouse
- Les Troubadours Carcassonne France - Carcassonne, Languedoc-Roussillon, France Vacation Townhouse
- Historic home in medieval carcassonne - Carcassonne, Languedoc-Roussillon, France Vacation Townhouse
- Family bedroom Carcassonne
- Cosy and warm all year round in Carcassonne
Guest Comments (21)
First (10) of (21). View all comments
Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #96369
There have been 10395 visitors to this page since the counter was last reset in 2006.
This listing was first published here in 2006.
Date last modified - June 26, 2009
Positive Rating
Ralph & Lesley Christie , Edinburgh
Positive Rating
Just to say how much we enjoyed our few days in Les Troubadours and indeed Carcassonne. I am now fascinated and intrigued by anything Cathar so am sure we will be back again. Anyway thanks for all your help, taxi-ing etc. and hope you have a very good season.
Positive Rating
Thanks again for your suggestions and hospitality and for helping to make our trip such a relaxed one. We loved Les Troubadours, the trip to the gorge and all the other helpful suggestions. All the best and we will be keeping Carcassonne and Les Troubadours in mind for other short breaks.
Positive Rating
We certainly enjoyed our recent stay with you at Les Troubadours. The property has good proportions (very comfortable) and is well maintained. The location is excellent for both exploring the City by foot and indeed further afield by hire car. The Aude region is both varied and very beautiful. Many thanks for your sightseeing suggestions and kind assistance with the local car hire, (which proved to be really good value) and the airport. We would certainly recommend a stay at Les Troubadours and hope to see you again in the future.
Positive Rating
"We had a great time at Les Troubadours and will certainly recommend it to friends. It had everything we needed and so close to the old city (as well as bread shop and cafes) - an ideal base from which to explore Carcassonne. Your pick up and drop off service to the airport was very much appreciated."
Positive Rating
"Many thanks, once again, for helping to make our short break in Carcassonne so memorable (and easy, from a practical point of view). The house is lovely and had everything we wished for. We have already started recommending Les Troubadours to anyone who will listen to us."
Positive Rating
"Thank you once again for your wonderful hospitality and your very kind chauffeuring. We hope to come back to Carcassonne again and would certainly love to stay at Les Troubadours when we do and will recommend you to anyone we hear of considering a trip there."
Positive Rating
Richard and Janet Comber , Prestbury, Cheshire
Positive Rating
"Thank you Amanda for all your help, be it chauffering, directions and even nursing!, which made our stay in Carcassonne so enjoyable. Your gite is perfectly located, so peaceful yet convenient for so many activities - sightseeing, walking by the canal or river, cycling, skiing, concerts and just enjoying a coffee in the market square. Carcassonne and your gite are perfect for a memorable holiday."
Positive Rating
david urquhart , Kirriemuir, angus, Scotland