Hotel de la Cite Carcassonne

An excellent Hotel with fantastic restaurant lovely rooms and excellent staff right in the old city so wonderful position.

Full of character. Previously the Bishops Palace and full of charm. We had a superior room with a garden view which was spacious and had a fabulous view (see picture). Stayed 6 nights but on the last 2 days the room was not serviced. We complained and found the reception staff not helpful. After further complaints we were sent an ice bucket with fruit juices and chocolates which was fine but did not address the problem of getting the room serviced. The Buffet Breakfast was superb in terms of selection and quality but let down in terms of getting a cup of coffee that has to be requested. Often I had to request multiple times and by the time it arrived you had finished breakfast. We ate once at the main restaurant (tasting menu) but not up to the standard of other tasting menus we have had elsewhere (on one course the meat was so tough we both had to leave it).

The walled city of Carcassonne has survived Romans, Visigoths and Crusaders. The first signs of settlement in this region have been dated to about 3500 BC . This UNESCO World Heritage Site is living history, complete with a castle to explore, medieval streets to roam and two ramparts, with 52 watchtowers, that surround it all. Once inside the fortification, your destination for luxury is Hôtel De La Cité, the city's only five-star hotel, which also hosts La Barbacane, its only Michelin-starred restaurant. It is right in the heart of the medieval city , built on site of the former episcopal palace, adjoined to the Saint-Nazaire Basilica. We were greeted at our arrival by Xavier Lablaude, the General Manager of this exquisite hotel and arranged for a private tour of the hotel with him for the next day. Our luxury Terrace Suite was the epitaph of elegance, refinement and class. Spacious and beautifully furnished with high ceilings, crown mouldings, antique carpet and majestic drapes. It has a separate bedroom and lounge and an incredible terrace with views of the Château and valley, gardens/remparts. The lounge has a sofa bed, loads of closet space and another terrace overlooking the castle. Quite lovely. Gorgeous marble bathroom, with heated towel rack and a window over the bathtub (perfection) Very nice products, Clarins shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, hand gel and body lotion. Fluffy towels , bathrobes and slippers. Excellent shower and separate toilet room. I especially loved the towel warmer and the open window! Our bedroom included a minibar, coffee machine, 48-inch Flat screen TV, Desk, King bed-with excellent linens and pillows. The Mini bar is included and refilled daily with Evian, Badoit, juice and pop. There was a very nice selection of coffee and tea’s….being Vegan a large Oat milk was delivered immediately. Gotta love great service. The furnishings are all relevant to the time, with beautiful windows with stained glass. Pure perfection. One cannot emphasize enough the splendour of “The Terrace”, it is simply AMAZING and the views incomparable. Chaise lounges with bright red pads, table and chairs for four. Incredible for sunrise or sunset or an afternoon pastry and Prosecco ….. A very privileged view of the world. Breakfast in La Barbican restaurant was very good. There was a nice selection of fresh juices, fruit, pastries and an offering of a hot breakfast menu as well. We did not make reservations for dinner in time so we missed our chance for dinner. My tour of the hotel with Xavier LaBlaude was fantastic so just a little about what I witnessed. The reception area and lounges are a blend of neo-Gothic décor and the Art Deco spirit of the 1920s. The Library bar is legendary and holds general ledgers filled with reservations going back several decades, think Winston Churchill, Audrey Hepburn, Princess Grace, Lenny Kravitz, Larry Hagman and the list goes on. The hotel sells luxury hats, a cool twist and acknowledgement of time passed, of refined luxury. The Spa-opens to the Pool. It is quite lovely with a large jaccuzi bath, a steam sauna and a few treatment rooms. Simplicity at it’s finest. Had we more time, I’d have loved to experience. The Pool- serene within the heart of the medieval city. Who would not enjoy such an exclusive view while luxuriating in the sun? Off the charts! There is also an an intimate garden where guests can relax and unwind. The hotel's gardens provide a peaceful experience of tranquillity.   Finishing with the delicious bakery, La Boulangerie de la Cité located opposite the hotel. Here you will find homemade bread and Viennese pastries, as well as pastries prepared using traditional and creative methods. You'll also find a host of local delicacies in the shop. With its terrace and garden, you can enjoy a moment of relaxation in the heart of the Cité on sunny days. We visited the bakery daily and we were never disappointed……so delicious.   This incredible hotel is perfection, from their amazing staff to all of the incredible amenities. This is a world class resort with the refined elegance of years passed. We’d return in a heart beat.

On a friend's recommendation, my wife and I included a stop in Carcassonne on a recent road trip. It was well worth the stop! We wanted to stay in the old city itself, and the Hotel de la Cité appealed to us based on its reviews and location. It's certainly a bit more expensive than staying in the new city, but being able to stroll out of your hotel straight into this amazing old city is worth the premium. The hotel and its rooms are old but comfortable. The view from our room (220) was great. The bathroom was on the small side, but featured a nice towel warmer. The room had a fridge, but no safe. Next to the lobby are a restaurant and a bar. We arrived hungry and thirsty in the mid-afternoon (when no restaurants are open), but got a charcuterie platter and some good hummus at the bar, accompanied by some excellent Aperol Spritzes. The restaurant featured a good breakfast buffet.

A beautiful, elegant, timeless and unpretentious hotel with World class views. I stayed in the most spectacular room overlooking the ramparts. It really felt like a privilege to stay here, right in the heart of Carcassonne. Cant wait to stay again.