Where to stay in Occitania, from Gard farmhouses to mountain inns

Where to stay in Occitania by area

Occitania is vast and varied, with mountains, vineyards, the sea and the valleys of the Lot. My eleven places spread across four main areas. Choose the area that matches what you want to see, then look at the type of house.

The Lot and the Dordogne valley

• L'Arrivée, in Autoire. A chalet-style guesthouse with wooden bedrooms, a generous breakfast and plenty of calm. It suits couples and drivers who want to explore Rocamadour and Padirac.
• Domaine de Py, in Loubressac. A hotel with a restaurant, a large panoramic terrace with a pool, well-liked seasonal cooking and free parking. Ideal for anyone touring the Dordogne valley by car.

Pyrenees, Corbières and Catalonia

• L'auberge la Moraine, in Garin. A large gîte in the Luchon area, near Peyragudes, with a glazed communal room and a south-facing terrace looking onto the mountains. It suits mainly groups and simple stays, but opinions are divided on the state of the building.
• Le Refuge Gourmand, in Puivert. First and foremost a family restaurant, with a terrace and views of the Cathar castles. The information I have does not mention bedrooms, so I recommend it as a stop for a good meal, not as accommodation, unless the establishment confirms otherwise.
• Le relais de l'Alaric, in Moux. A small country hotel in the Corbières, with tastefully decorated rooms, a garden, a seasonal pool and a hostess who paints. I recommend it to couples and walkers looking for calm.
• Hôtel restaurant traiteur Mas Del Gall, in Castelnou. A hotel with a restaurant and catering service, spacious rooms, carefully prepared food and a room that can be hired privately for celebrations. It suits couples, groups and family meals.

Languedoc, the Camargue and the Gard

• La fricassée chez Marie Jo, in Aigues-Mortes. An unusual place to stay, with simple cabins in a tree-planted garden and pitches for motorhomes. I recommend it to lovers of calm and authenticity, not to anyone expecting hotel comforts.
• Les Chambres de Montplaisir, in Marsillargues. Guesthouse rooms in a farmhouse among the orchards, with a pool, a jacuzzi and homemade breakfast. A quiet base for the Camargue, for couples looking to rest.
• Maison De L'Orb, in Béziers. A guesthouse on the banks of the Orb, with a garden and spacious rooms. Reviews praise the view, the breakfast and the welcome, with a few reservations.
• Le Mas Jasmin, in Rochefort-du-Gard. A guesthouse not far from Avignon, with a garden, a pool, a spa, a sauna and a tennis court. It suits couples, friends and families, provided you are happy to share a house with the hosts.

Around Toulouse

• Domaine de Las Planques, in Vaudreuille. A guesthouse estate with a large wooded park, a seasonal pool and several function rooms. It appeals mainly to couples planning a wedding or a party, less to anyone looking for a discreet address.

What kinds of accommodation you'll find in Occitania

Here the guesthouse reigns, often in a farmhouse, an estate or a house with character. A few country hotels follow, along with more unusual options such as the cabins in Aigues-Mortes. It is a region where you sleep among local people, with the garden and the pool.

Several places are also designed for celebrations and weddings, such as Las Planques and the Mas Del Gall. This is worth knowing if you are looking for quiet on a summer Saturday. For groups, La Moraine offers space and a mountain view, without claiming great comfort.

Which place to choose for your trip

For a romantic escape I lean towards the farmhouses and small country hotels. For a party or a weekend with friends, the estates with function rooms. For the mountains, the gîte in Garin is the only option on my list.

When to go to Occitania

The warm season is the easiest for enjoying the pools, the terraces and the roads of the Lot. Spring and autumn are my preference, as the villages are calmer and the light softer. In winter, the mountains take over around Luchon.

Many pools are only open in season, as at Mas Jasmin or Las Planques. If the pool matters to you, check before you book. Summer weekends are also the time for weddings at the estates.

How to get around the region

In this region the car remains almost essential. The villages of the Lot, the Corbières and the Camargue farmhouses are spread out, and little can be done on foot from where you stay. Plan on a vehicle to move from one place to the next.

The coast and the towns of Languedoc, such as Béziers or Aigues-Mortes, lend themselves better to walking once you are there. In the Lot, Domaine de Py offers free parking, which makes things simpler. In the mountains, allow for slower valley roads than you might expect.

What I would check before booking

A few places need reading between the lines. These are not deal-breakers, but details to know so you are not disappointed.

Le Refuge Gourmand is a restaurant rather than accommodation I have been able to confirm. La Moraine divides opinion over the state of the building, and La fricassée chez Marie Jo stays simple. For Montplaisir, Le Mas Jasmin and Las Planques, remember that you are staying with the hosts, with the atmosphere of a home rather than an anonymous hotel.