La Bastide De Negra

The owner's dog was a lovely comfort, since we'd had to leave our own dog at home. And if you ask nicely, the owner might play guitar with you. He’s very good and has great taste in music. We stayed at La Bastide de negra the night before picking up a canal boat at the locaboat base in negra on Saturday. After the long trip down from Paris, we realized we'd failed to plan dinner. The owner kindly invited us to join the other guests, and we had a fabulous cassoulet, delicious dessert, and such good company and conversation. We arrived late in the afternoon and were greeted so warmly. Our room was spotless, peaceful, and extremely comfortable, and breakfast the next morning was just as delicious. We couldn’t have asked for a more welcoming, enjoyable stay. I highly recommend La Bastide de negra for anyone starting or ending a canal trip at negra, or simply looking for a lovely place to stay along the canal.

We spent the evening outside with a bottle of wine and an impromptu picnic, since little was open on Sunday. The garden was lovely, though the red squirrels weren't appreciated by the owner's dog. In the morning, breakfast on the sunny terrace was plentiful, with cold meats, cheese, pastries, and bread. Our small apartment at La Bastide De Negra Chambre D'hôtes was clean and comfortable. It had a separate bedroom, a spacious bathroom with a huge walk-in shower, and a large open-plan living area with glass doors and windows facing the garden. My French isn't great, but we got by with the very friendly owner. The property sits beside the Canal du Midi and Écluse de Négra in a tiny rural hamlet by one of the locks. It was lovely to explore the lock, walk along the canal, and take in the scenery.

We had a nice room in a lovely setting close to the canal, with a great pool and good food. The hostess cooked dinner for us, which we enjoyed. It’s family run, and no one was there when we first arrived, so we came back 45 minutes later and a family member helped us.

The garden was superb and very well looked after, and the pool area was a pleasure at any time of day. Our room felt cozy, with comfortable bedding, and the canal is less than a minute away. We had a wonderful stay at Patricia and her partner’s place. They’re charming and welcoming, and we highly recommend it.