Five-Star Carcassonne, Châteaux & Vineyards

We meet at London St Pancras and board the Eurostar to Paris. Travelling in style in Standard Premier Class, drinks and a light lunch are served at our seats. We continue by First Class rail to the city of Toulouse, travelling south through the heart of the French countryside. Arriving in the evening, we board a coach to our delightful destination, Carcassonne. Our hotel here is the elegant 5-Star Hotel du Roi & Spa by Sowell, on the banks of the River Aude, where we stay in Deluxe rooms with private terraces, offering outstanding views of the medieval walled city. Besides its stunning location, the hotel has excellent facilities including a peaceful spa and swimming pool. On arrival this evening, we enjoy a three-course dinner in our hotel restaurant.

• Dinner
• Eurostar light meal

This morning we explore the fabulous walled city of Carcassonne on a guided tour. Unsurprisingly - with its beautifully-restored slate roofs, pointed towers and fortified walls - this medieval citadel is listed as a World Heritage site. Entering the ancient bridge across the former moat feels like stepping back in time to romantic medieval France. Our tour includes entrance to Château Comtal, the hilltop castle within the walls, which houses a fascinating museum.

After our tour, from lunchtime, the rest of your day is free. You could choose to continue exploring the citadel, maybe visit the Gothic Basilique Saint Nazaire with its exquisite stained glass windows, or walk along the ramparts for views of the surrounding countryside. There are also a few restaurants set in a shady square within the citadel walls. Just across the Pont Vieux, ten minutes' walk away, is the newer part of town where our hotel is based. There you'll find lively squares, an arts museum, independent boutiques, cafés and restaurants. A stroll along the banks of the Canal du Midi is another lovely way to soak up the atmosphere of this historic city.

**Please Note: On 19/09/2024 departures - Day 2 and Day 3 have been swapped around.

• Breakfast

Today's excursion takes us to Narbonne, whose main square is overlooked by a spectacular, yet unfinished, Gothic cathedral. We set out on a guided walking tour of the Robine Canal, lined with pretty promenades, and an exposed section of the Via Domitia Roman Road. Next, we see the grand courtyards of the Archbishop's Palace before moving on to Les Halles market. This historic indoor food market is a feast for the senses, and we enjoy a private tasting experience, visiting different stalls and tasting the region's excellent cured meats and cheeses. We also sample other specialties, such as locally-grown olives, tapenade and some delicious Muscat wine. After our tour you are free to explore independently - one option is to visit the fascinating cathedral, or relax in its peaceful and shady cloister. Back at our hotel this evening, we continue our gastronomic adventure with a traditional cassoulet dinner, a dish of pork and duck cooked with haricot beans.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today we explore the historic Châteaux de Lastours area, set in the heart of the Cathar countryside. Our first stop is the Belvedere viewpoint where we have a stunning panoramic view of four Cathar fortresses, set among rocky hills and valleys. These historic castles were once a place of refuge for the Cathars during the religious persecutions of the 13th century. From here we can either follow one of the marked routes up to the ruined castles or, as the terrain along the path is uneven, enjoy a slide show in English on the history of the Cathar Castles. There's a café at the site which is an ideal place to appreciate this special viewing spot of the castles. After free time to admire the views or explore the châteaux themselves, we make our way to a traditional auberge in the scenic Minervois wine region, where we enjoy a delicious four-course lunch accompanied by locally-produced wine.

• Breakfast, Lunch

Today a coach takes us to historic Mirepoix for the town's celebrated weekly market. Entering the wonderfully-preserved market square, Place des Couverts - which is bordered by half-timbered houses from the 13th to 15th century - the aromas, and the sound of lively trading and local performers evoke a sense of medieval times. Here you're free to explore at your own pace and to sample fresh, regional produce or purchase home-made crafts and local wine. While you're exploring the town, you may like to visit the Gothic-style Cathedral of Saint Maurice, the former Bishop's Palace, and the Porte d'Aval - the only remains of Mirepoix's original 14th-century fortifications. On our return journey to Carcassonne we take the scenic route into picturesque French countryside, travelling through the charming villages of Chalare, Puivert, Nebias, Quillan and Limoux, passing forested hills and ruined castles set in verdant woodland.

• Breakfast

After a leisurely breakfast at our hotel, we are taken by coach for a wine tasting and farewell meal in the grounds of Château de Pennautier, 15 minutes' drive away. Built in the 17th century, this golden-hued stately home is set within beautiful French-style gardens, and its trailing vines have been cultivated by ten generations of the Lorgeril family. On arrival we are given a guided tour of the castle, the King's chamber, and grounds. Our wine tasting and guided tour of the production room takes place in the château's wine cellar followed by a delicious three-course lunch served in a rustic restaurant converted from a former sheepfold. Our meal is accompanied by pairings produced in the château's vineyards. We return to our hotel mid-afternoon and our afternoon and evening is at leisure to enjoy the sights of Carcassonne or perhaps to revisit a favourite restaurant.

• Breakfast, Lunch

After our last breakfast in our lovely Carcassonne hotel, we transfer to Toulouse by coach, and continue by First Class train to Paris. As the changing scenery rolls past our windows, there's time to reflect on our holiday experiences in medieval France. In Paris, we join the Eurostar service to London St Pancras where our journey ends.

• Breakfast
• Eurostar light meal