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Les Carrasses Review
In the heart of the Languedoc countryside, just an hour from Perpignan and 20 mins drive from Beziers airport, Chateau Les Carrasses is a beautifully restored 19th century estate, providing a luxurious family friendly holiday experience.
By Mumsnet HQ | Last updated Jul 15, 2021
The verdict: 9/10
All in all, Les Carrasses is a pretty perfect family destination for a week of summer sun and relaxation – serene, friendly, easy to get to and ideal for exploring the beautiful Languedoc.
Accommodation: 10/10
The Chateau offers a choice of hotel and self-catered accommodation. There are 22 luxury self-catering villas which sleep 2-8 people, and 10 of them also have their own private pool. The decor is comfortable and stylish – lots of Farrow and Ball shades and soft French bedspreads. Super comfy beds and some of the softest, and whitest towels I’ve ever encountered. The kitchens are very well-stocked, and the local supermarket is a short drive away, so cooking for yourself is easy. And the villas also have barbecues. The hotel will deliver fresh bread to your villa each morning, by arrangement.
Food: 9/10
The hotel restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu is limited but delicious, making full use of local seasonal produce. Our favourite dishes were the lamb shoulder with white aubergine and rump steak carpaccio with a special mention for the chips which were crispy and delicious and frankly some of the best I’ve tasted. There’s also a daytime Terrace menu for light snacks.
The children's menu was equally excellent listing all the usual suspects – nuggets, spag bol and fillet of fish – but of significantly higher quality than mine are used to at home.
The estate produces its own wines on site which are excellent and great value. A glass of delicate, pale rose at €4.50 would be top value in the local pub and doubly so when served in an ultra-fine crystal glass, on a wide terrace overlooking the very stretch of green vineyards from whence it came.
We went in July and so breakfast, lunch and dinner were all served al fresco on the lower terrace which overlooks the infinity pool and the magnificent Languedoc countryside beyond.
Service and facilities: 10/10
The most exceptional thing about Les Carrasses, aside from the beauty of the buildings and the wonderful infinity pool, is the service. Staff dressed in white polo shirts, chinos and a willing smile padded about the estate and were always on hand to share a joke with the kids or fetch an all-important sundowner.
On-site facilities are many – aside from the concrete-lined infinity pool, there's a clay tennis court, two boules courts and a beach volleyball court. Bikes can be borrowed free of charge – they have a wide selection of adult and children's bikes to suit all sizes and ages. There's also a large barbecue station with tables and chairs for those staying in the hotel.
If you want a break, there’s a kids club which is in operation during July and August for children aged 4-12 offering fun activities like puppet making. Even better, while the kids are being entertained, reception can organise for an in-room massage, if that’s your thing, or just hang out by the beautiful pool and listen to the cicadas.
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Surrounding area: 9/10
Many of the Languedoc's broad sandy beaches are within an hour’s drive. We visited Vias Plage, the closest beach to Beziers, France (just 15 km) – a long stretch of golden sand with shallow waters ideal for kids. If you head that way, then the beach bar Chiringuito is well worth a visit – it’s open from 8am to 1am in high season, serves some excellent Mojitos and has a simple but good menu. You can also hire sun loungers with parasols and hang out on their deck, but it’s popular so make sure to book ahead.
Les Carrasses is also part of a wider group of hotels – including the Château St Pierre de Serjac and the Chateau Capitoul which will open in June 2021 and is aimed at families with older children offering a range of activities including biking, mountain climbing, walking and water sports.