For Carcassone I have two very different recommendations - we’ve stayed at both.
One inside the old town is a Hotel de la Cite with an upscale restaurant.
The other is just down the hillside and a short walk to the old town - Franck Putelat is a Michelin 2* chef and he has a few rooms - very nice, large and modern - with an amazing breakfast. https://franckputelat.com/hotel-le-parc/
Highly recommend a visit to Abbaye Fontfroide. Also day trips to Montsegur, Lagrasse, and Rennes-Les-Chateau.
The Parc national des Calanques is stunningly beautiful and great for walking/hiking: The Calanques of Marseille | Marseille Tourism
Might have already been mentioned, but rustic and very rural Aveyron endeared itself to us when we went about 6 years ago.
Based in Rodez (great museums and cool old town) and Aubrac, day-driving the pretty towns of Belcastel, Laguiole, Conques, among many others, was one pleasant, tourist-free, week in the area. The wines are great in their own rights.
Thanks! Yes, we are definitely doing the Calanques. We decided on 5 nights in Avignon as a base from where we will do a few day trips, 3 days/2 nights in Carcassonne and then 2 nights in Cassis.
Need to figure out now how to work a few winery visits into the trip but otherwise starting to come together.
Thanks for the input thus far.
Lori hit a major point with rooms at Michelin star restaurants. They are comfortable, wonderful and reasonably priced. And the breakfasts!!!
From Avignon, if you would like a visit and tasting at Domaine du Pegau in Chateauneuf, please let me know.
To or from Carcassonne, a detour south through Roussillon could offer some wonderful food and wines. The back road drive from Roussillon to Carcassonne takes you through the Gorges de Galamus, truly stunning (the road does not accommodate vehicles over minivan size).
We did this drive 15 years ago. Spectacular!
Definitely take Dan up on this. My visit with Laurence in 2019 was both educational and very cool. She really explained in detail the house style while walking through the various areas of the winery, as well as, more discussion in the tasting room. Walking among the vines in CdP is stunning, though I think all the fruit will be picked by Oct.
I would also consider tasting in Gigondas and maybe a hike along the Dentelles. We did this and really enjoyed it. Make sure to get a good trail map.
Also headed to Provence in October. Other than Pegau, any recommendations on other CDP wineries to visit?
Hello,
Happy to set up a tour and tasting at Pegau for you. However that’s my only CdP connection. If interested, please PM me with potential dates.
Dan Kravitz
Vieux Telegraphe.
If anyone is staying in Avignon, you must go to Restaurant Pollen for dinner. It’s one Michelin and absolutely fantastic in every respect. Very inventive but not over the top with tons of ingredients and sauces and distractions. Just well executed haute cuisine and a very nice wine list. 5 courses of 2 starters, two mains, one dessert was €120 and wine pairing was €50 or 60 I believe. My wife has some photos on her phone that I can upload at some point.
Long time ago but Beaucadtel had a very nice tour. But that was last century, so dates ingo.
Hey Rich, I am glad you enjoyed your experience. I am planning a trip this year and definitely plan on having dinner at Pollen. How did you find the wine pairings?
These were all the wines that were poured during the tasting I believe. My main takeaway is that they picked wines that really worked well with the dishes which for me is the main thing with wine pairings. The pours were also pretty good and they would sometimes top you up a little if the wine goes for 2 courses and your glass is a bit light.
