Château la Villatade

We visited Chateau La Villatade for week in July. We were looking to a little luxury which reviews suggested we might find there. This is an area of France we know extremely well, having holidayed here over numerous years in a wide range of accommodation. La Villatade is an excellent location for exploring Carcassonne and the delightful villages around with the property set in peaceful, undulating surroundings of vineyards and olive groves. As a couple, we booked La Suite des Promeneurs which is advertised for 2-4 people. However, on arrival were rather disappointed. The bed was comfortable with a good shower, but the interior was rather utilitarian and would be tight with 4 people. We had failed to realise that the 2 single beds were our only additional seating area so it was not quite as comfortable as we had anticipated. The ceramic hob was not at all responsive – Sophie came willingly to help a few times but she too did not find it easy to adjust. One big disappointment was that there was no buffet breakfast – which was high on our list of priorities when choosing our accommodation. ‘Buffet Breakfast’ is listed under ‘Additional Information’ on our contract but Sophie explained that it should have booked in advance. It is worth noting that some previous reviews are misleading in this respect. The boules area looked a bit jaded; also ‘on a farm, park and playground’ could be misleading for families planning a visit. The pool is as described - in a beautiful setting with shady trees around and is a natural spring, so of course there will be leaves, insects ( even a dead bird on the shallow step one morning) - but welcome after a hot day. However, once you have added in the cleaning charge for your gite and the local tax – all clearly stated – there are many alternatives this beautiful area offering better value for money. Chateau Villatade is perfectly acceptable accommodation but did not realise our hopes and expectations.

It was my consecutive summer holiday at the Chateau La Villatade. Again very memorable, so even my elder bother with his wife, who, with their travelling experience, tend to be pretty critical and choosy, also liked it enormously. A place that you can cut yourself off from the daily frenzy of city-life, enjoy a selection of the wines Richard is taking care of, enjoy the old Roman swimming pool, ... and a lot more. For the adventurers the Chateau is strategically placed to explore the region that has plenty to offer and with every stay we continue to discover many new places and/or tastes. Having had the insight with the previous owners, I am impressed how much Richard and Sophie have positively transformed the estate and given it a lot of vigor while maitaining the cosy atmosphere to compete without shy-off with Provence. My only regret is that I have not tasted enough of Sophie's cuisine which, as I read, is something of mouth-watering. Let us also not forget Max, the friendly Chateau dog :-)

We had the most incredible stay at Château La Villatade, there were 9 of us in total - 6 adults and 3 children and we stayed in Cote cour. The accommodation was the perfect size and well equipped. We loved the courtyard, sitting outside in the evening (once the kids were in bed!) with a glass of their Rose wine was just divine. The grounds were brilliant for the kids, they enjoyed exploring and hunting for Max (the most patient dog ever). We’d highly recommend having breakfast organised by the hosts - the bread and cheese was delicious. We’ll be back! Thanks for a great trip.

This could not have been a better location to spend a long weekend with friends and family, celebrating a notable birthday. Sophie was a superb host and Richard delivered a fascinating and enjoyable tour and wine tasting experience. Situated in a beautiful location, Chatean La Villatade is perfect for long walks and short drives to the amazing walled city of Carcassonne.. An oasis of calm and source of delicious wine, we will be back.