Hotel Château de Palaja

The rooms were roomy and spotlessly clean, and the owners clearly care about every detail of the Château. Breakfast was lovely, as was the restaurant next door, and the pool is a welcome extra. It’s tucked away from the house and fully hidden while you swim, which is nice in one sense, though if something happened you’d be on your own. You’ll need a car, and watch out for the very narrow car park entrance. We had a lovely break in this peaceful village setting just outside Carcassonne.

Catherine and Eric know the local restaurants in Carcassonne and Trèbes well, and gave us some lovely recommendations. We were a family group of ten, and they were helpful before we arrived and throughout our stay. They’ve done a fabulous job renovating this charming chateau. Our family of two adults and two children stayed in the La Cité family suite. It was spacious, with a separate twin bedroom, a main room, a sitting area where the children could play games, and original beams. The large bathroom had a bath and shower, with a separate loo. It was unseasonably warm, so the air con was much appreciated. We had dinner at S Comme twice. The food was really lovely in a relaxed, pretty setting, and the chef was accommodating about our children, including one with special dietary requirements. One evening we also had excellent, very substantial platters and wine in the pretty garden. Breakfast was a delicious self-service spread: cereals, several breads including brioche and pain rustique, pastries, yogurt, ham, cheese, juice, and homemade jams. I’d highly recommend Chateau de Palaja for a holiday with a partner, family, or friends.

We loved having dinner and breakfast in the garden, and even fitted in a little pétanque. Catherine and Eric were thoughtful hosts, and the area has plenty to explore. It may be less visited, but there’s lots of history and variety here, so the place and especially the hotel are well worth your time. We came with our boys in summer 2024, and I can’t recommend the proprietors enough.

I especially liked having breakfast out on the lawn, and the pool was just right for cooling down. Cathy and Eric were fantastic hosts, always smiling and ready with destination ideas or answers to my questions. I spent a week here in August on a cycling holiday, hiring my bike from Evadeo in Carcassonne. The rooms were comfortable, spacious, and cool, and the building has loads of character. I was amazed that Cathy and Eric had done the whole renovation themselves.