Le Domaine de la Vitarelle

We’ve tried glamping before, and it can be hard to find a good, real version of it in France. This place is a gem, and I already miss it. It’s small and family run, with a focus on nature and personal contact, plus enough comfort. The owners live and work there, and I’ve never met hosts so generous. The restaurant is simple, but the food is good quality and homemade by the owner. There’s an excellent selection of local wine, and I got to discover the canardes. Thanks for the rosé! Prices are very affordable too. We came as a family with two kids, ages 5 and 14 months, and our Labrador, looking for nature, comfort, and terroir. We found all of that and more. No cars keep things quiet and wild. Our large cabin was well maintained, built with quality materials, and had really nice bedding. It was made for doing nothing: waking at 11 each day, hearing only the forest, and having lazy days. There were very few insects, and we didn’t even use repellent, but you should expect to see some since it’s their home. The pool is good, and there’s pétanque and ping pong. There aren’t loads of activities, which suited us perfectly. I took the Wednesday evening yoga class, which was so relaxing, and the whole family was more than happy with the music activity too. People may experience things differently, but it helps to know what to expect.

We had the best time on our first glamping trip as a family, and it’s a place we’ll remember and hope to visit again. Our cabin worked perfectly for three adults and one child, with enough privacy even though the neighbors were only meters away. It’s a lovely bit of nature and a great escape from a busy life. We enjoyed family time at the restaurant, with homemade dinner from the owners, good wine, other organic drinks, and ice cream. There’s also a big pool and a playground for the kids.

We stumbled across this place while searching near Carcassonne, and the photos really impressed us. The wooden cabins are separate and private, with everything inside: a kitchen, flushing toilet, shower, big towels, and a comfortable bed. We didn’t have much time on our European trip, but still chose to spend two wonderful nights here. The owners were very kind and helpful. It’s a family place with a relaxing setting and a medium-sized pool. We loved it.

The location is nice, but our cabin was old and falling apart. There was no lock, so we had to take our belongings with us whenever we went out. The mirror wasn’t hanging on the wall, and we had to move it so the kids wouldn’t knock it over. The cabin wasn’t properly insulated, and bugs came in through the wall. The pool was okay, but the bar had no shade unless you went inside, where there was no air conditioning. The fridge wasn’t set cold enough, and there was no thermometer to check the temperature. When we complained and said they should at least give guests a heads up, the blond girl got very upset. She called me a child and said I should have known the fridge needed to be on full power, since they turn it down when there are no guests. I said food poisoning is dangerous and that a warning wasn’t too much to ask. Another owner joined the conversation and just went “puff.” Their attitude felt very defensive and disrespectful. My worst comment was that food poisoning would be trouble for them too. We paid 30 euros to have a small cabin cleaned. Since we were upset, we put the bedsheets in a pile, left the breakfast dishes, and didn’t sweep. When the blond girl saw that, she came after my husband, saying cleaning didn’t include any of those things. She followed him, saying, “your wife is crazy and get out of my property, you are never welcome again.” I also work with clients, and I’ve never called anyone a child or crazy, or gone hysterical with them, even when I disagree. They even emailed us to make sure we’d got the message, calling us pigs and telling us never to come back. I wonder why she thinks I’d want to return.