Le relais de l'Alaric, quiet rooms full of art in Moux
Le relais de l'Alaric is a small country hotel in Moux, in the Corbières, in Occitania. It offers tastefully decorated rooms, a garden, a pool in season and a hostess who is a painter. I recommend it to couples and walkers looking for calm.
Written by Valeria Romano
Published .
Updated
Mapiola is a travel blog: this is not the official website of Le relais de l'Alaric.
Where Le relais de l'Alaric is and how to get there
Le relais de l'Alaric is at 4 Chemin des Clauzes, in Moux, a village in the Corbières in Occitania. Guests talk about a setting in full countryside, absolute calm and a place far from urban bustle.
A car is almost essential, and the private car park is free. Another practical point: one guest mentions there is little mobile signal on site, so it is best to sort out what you need before you go. The hotel's description lists Carcassonne airport, the Abbaye de Fontfroide and the Réserve Africaine de Sigean as day trips by car.
What the rooms are like
The rooms at Le relais de l'Alaric in Moux are described as clean, spacious and tastefully decorated. Several guests highlight the colourful atmosphere, with a pink room that comes up in reviews and bamboo bedding judged very comfortable.
According to the hotel, you can expect the following:
- a private bathroom with shower and free toiletries;
- a shared lounge and free wifi;
- a well-kept garden and a terrace;
- an outdoor pool in season;
- a sauna.
The house is decorated with paintings by the owner, which gives it real personality. It is not a standard hotel, and that is exactly what people come for.
The house, the pool and the artist hostess
What comes up most in the reviews is Françoise, the owner. Guests describe her as warm, attentive and fascinating to talk to, and point out that she is also a talented painter. Her canvases fill the house, and each room reflects her artistic inspirations.
One guest talks about a haven of peace and a pool that is ideal for cooling off after a day of exploring. Another describes a week of wellbeing in complete calm.
At Le relais de l'Alaric you get the feeling of being received at someone's home more than at a hotel. If you like that, it is a plus, and if you prefer the anonymity of a big establishment, it may feel too intimate.
Breakfast
Breakfast is continental and served on site. Several guests find it generous, with bread, fresh croissants and, above all, homemade jams that are mentioned more than once, some with real enthusiasm. One review talks about local produce or things made in-house by the owner.
Not everyone is as delighted, though. Two more critical reviews find it too light, one for getting a single croissant between two on the second day, the other for having to chase the owner for coffee. The positive reviews are more numerous, but if you have a good appetite, mention it when you book.
What guests say
Google rates it 4.2 from 143 reviews. The compliments repeat from one guest to the next, and they include the following.
- a warm welcome and fascinating conversations;
- clean, quiet rooms decorated with care;
- a peaceful place, ideal for unwinding;
- good value for money, according to one guest;
- breakfasts with homemade jam.
One guest recalls being welcomed by the owner's son, who looked after them very well, which shows that the attention is shared across the family.
What to know before booking
These are the points to check, because they do exist. One guest advises telling the hotel in advance that cards are not accepted, so you can have cash for the tourist tax. Another found that tax high for two nights.
Two harsher reviews mention a cold welcome, no air conditioning and a shower that is not very clean. These are isolated voices against a very positive majority, but if you come in peak summer, the heat can matter.
Finally, the mobile signal is weak and the place is isolated. That is the price of the calm.
Who it suits and what to do around Moux
I would pick Le relais de l'Alaric for a stay for two, a quiet break or a week of walks in the Corbières. It suits people who enjoy art, conversation and silence, and less those who want classic hotel service.
Around Moux, the hotel's description suggests the Abbaye de Fontfroide and the Réserve Africaine de Sigean, both easy day trips by car, and the nearby hills for walking. After a walk, the seasonal pool and the terrace do the rest. If it is full, look at Maison De L'Orb in Béziers, Le Refuge Gourmand in Puivert or Domaine de Las Planques in Vaudreuille.
In short, Le relais de l'Alaric in Moux will appeal to anyone looking for an artist's home in the countryside, without frills and with plenty of human warmth.
Passionate about travel and about the kind of places that turn a getaway into something unforgettable. I love writing about hotels, country houses and charming hideaways, helping every traveller find the perfect place to rest and feel at home.
