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chambres d’hôtes des arts

Residence Midi

Gorges d'Heric

Beautiful gorge! Perfect for taking a dip on a hot day. Various hiking routes available to choose from, including a smooth and easily accessible path directly next to the river.

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gorges d'heric

Lac des Montagnes

Nice natural lake close to the residency where you can swim, dine and stroll.

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lac des montagnes

Restaurant le Grand Balcon

Decent french cuisine for a good prince. Walking distance from the residency.

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Restaurant de Bonnerie

Our favourite, make sure to skip lunch before you eat here! Very cosy French restaurant with a great selection of wines and stunning menu. Make sure to reserve before you go. Medium priced, no vegetarian options.

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Restaurant Mets et Plaisirs

Upscale dining experience, recommended for the French cuisine lovers. Pick the 7 course menu if you feel adventurous, otherwise go a la carte. Great selection of wines and original dishes. Great value for money as well.

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mets et plaisirs

Winebar Au Cep't Secret

Best place to discover wines. Very friendly hosts, make sure to grab some tapas when you get hungry. But be warned: dangerously delicious.

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Chinese Restaurant Wa Fong

Try the homemade dumpllings! Requests for a doggy bag accepted over here. No vegetarian options available unfortunately.

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Restaurant Delicious Pizza

Great pizza place, don’t let the name fool you. In the summer they have a nice garden in the back. Vegetarian options available.

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Restaurant Soleil Vanille

Great food from the island & French department ‘la Reunion’.

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Terrasses d'Hautpoul

You can directly hike up the mountain from Residence Midi to reach this ‘bar’. It offers a spectacular view over the surrounding region and is a great place to take a break.

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terrasses hautpoul

Saveurs de l'Autan

Little gourmet grocery store. Also serves vegetarian lunch.

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aux saveurs

Restaurant l'Etable a Roussette

Good French restaurant with great outdoor seating area in summer. Reservation required, very popular with the locals! Don’t expect vegetarian options.

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Market

Every tuesday and saturday morning there is an outdoor market in the center of Mazamet. Great place to buy fresh produce from the region, including fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy. On sunday the market moves indoors, right around the corner, into la Halle. Depending on the weather the market is ‘open’ until approx 13:00.

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mazamet market

la Halle

Multi purpose space, used primarily for concerts and markets. In summer, every monday night there is a ‘marche des producteurs’, where local farmers and entrepeneurs offer their goods, delicacies and inventions.

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Crèmerie du centre

Gourmet store focussing on dairy products, mostly cheese and milk. Great selection of wines as well.

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cremerie du centre

Boutique du Vin 'VinoPhil'

Get your wine here! The owner hand picks the best ones from the region.

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Our Bakery

Delicious bread and pastries just around the corner. We go here every day to get our loverly croissants et baguettes.

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Our Butcher

If you’re into meat: get your selection over here. Just around the corner from us, Boucherie de la Montagne Noire is where we score our animals.

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Chocolat Castagné

Best home made chocolate of the village.

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chocolat

Supermarket Leaderprice

Relatively cheap supermarket. Great for everything but fresh produce: not recommended for meat and vegetables. Get those on the market. Good selection of beers.

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Supermarket E.Leclerc

Biggest supermarket in town. Bit of a drive but worth it if you need to stack up.

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Lac de Pradelles-Cabardès

Cosy lake higher up in the mountain. Great place for a swim and stroll in the summer. The restaurant only accepts cash! Less crowded than lac des montagnes.

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Pic de Nore

Highest point of the Montagne Noire. You can walk up here from the residency or drive halfway and take it from there. Great in summer to escape the heat.

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pic de nore

Châteaux de Lastours

The Châteaux de Lastours are four Cathar castles in the French commune of Lastours. The four castles are on a rocky spur above the village of Lastours, isolated by the deep valleys of the Orbeil and Grésilhou rivers. 

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chateaux lastours

Minerve

One of the most beautiful villages in France, north from Carcasonne. Historically, the village has been the capital of the Minervois wine region. The main bridge leading into the village is closed to all passenger vehicles not owned by residents of Minerve. Rather touristic in summer.

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minerve village

Cité de Carcasonne

The citadel, known as the Cité de Carcassonne, is a medieval fortress dating back to the Gallo-Roman period and restored in 1853. It was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1997. Best visited outside of tourist season.

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cité de carcasonne

Olargues Village

It is rated as one of the most beautiful villages in France. Olargues is a good example of a French Medieval town. It was occupied by the Romans, the Vandals and the Visigoths. 

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olargues

Hautpoul

A medieval village hugging the mountains around Mazamet. It takes approx 30 mins to reach by foot from the residency, a lovely little hike up the wooded hills.

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residence midi hautpoul

Maison du Bois et du Jouet

Perfect place to visit with children or start your hike up to Hautpoul. Offers nice picnic options along the trail.

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maison du bois et jouet

Roquefère

Tiny medieval settlement on the alternative route to Carcasonne. Lush and quiet, including a lovely restaurant with outdoor seating area and option for walks.

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roquefère

Cabrespine

One of the most thrilling routes down to Carcasonne leads past this medieval village. Beautifully tucked away, a real treasure to stroll through. Along the village, next to the D112, starts a great hiking trail.

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cabrespine village

Les Gorges de Colombières

Similar to Gorge d’Heric but less touristy. Great hiking options all around. Don’t forget to bring your bathing suit, great place to take a dip in the crystal clear water.

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gorges colombieres

Toulouse

The inner city of Toulouse is stunning and a good option for a day trip. If you’re into music, art, literature and fine cuisine, Toulouse is the place to be. Pretty much everything is in walking distance from each other. How to get there? Hop on a direct train in Mazamet and you’re there in 1.5 hour.

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toulouse

Brassac

Port to the Sidobre national park and a nice place to spend some time while you’re there. The Sidobre national park features some impressive rock formations and lovely hiking trails.

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Brassac

Beziers

Close to the mediterranean sea, this city dating back to roman times is worth visiting for it’s cultural and historical significance alone. The drive up to Beziers is lovely and will set you back approx 1 hour. Alternatively you can take a bus.

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beziers

Gaillac

Gaillac gained much recognition due to the wines that bear the town’s name. Make sure to attend some of the tastings when you’re there and say hi to Jean-Baptiste from us. 

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gaillac

Albi

Worth a day trip. This medieval town has an historic area that covers over 63 hecatares, including one of the most impressive cathedrals in southern france. Also worth visiting is the park that runs along the river, perfect for an afternoon stroll.

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albi

Les Escaunelles

One of our favorite walking trails. Lush forests and great views. Takes approx 3 hours to complete and you won’t meet a single soul.

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roquerlan

Cubserviès

A beautiful waterfall next to a quaint little village. Plenty of walk options available.

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residence midi cubservies

Musée du Catharisme de Mazamet

Learn about the Cathar history, beliefs and rituals during the Crusade and the Inquisition. The visit includes soundtracks, videos and reconstitutions. 

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Lac de la Raviège

Large lake with clear water. Perfect for a swim in summer.

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Lac de la Raviège

Tour du lac de Vésoles

Beautiful and easy 7km hike around a lake up in the mountains. Wide views and calm.

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Lac de Vesoles

Auberge de Ferrals les Montagnes

Cosy restaurant with great (yet simple) food in a beautiful setting. No vegetarian options available, mostly BBQ.

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Ferrals les Montagnes

Sentier des Merveilles

Hiking area with large and impressive granite rock formations.

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sidobre 

Gouffre Géant de Cabrespine

Cave system with suspended walkways & option for a boat tour of the underground river. Can be touristic.

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Gouffre Geant Cabrespine

Gorges du Banquet

Beautiful gorge close to Mazamet. Ideal for canyoning or climbing.

Gorges du Banquet

residence midi mazamet overview

browse the map to visit the hand picked highlights of the region

Mazamet

Not your typical French “belle ville”.  It has an industrial character due to its past. In the 18th and 19th Century Mazamet formed the world centre of the wool industry. Up to this day you can see relicts of this glorious past everywhere, including our residency.  Mazamet is only 45 minutes from UNESCO world heritage sites of Albi, Carcassonne and Canal du midi.

residence midi hautpoul overview
residence midi the attic

Climate

The climate is another of its attractions. It’s a mixture of Mediterranean and Atlantic, but it’s drier than Aquitaine to the west and doesn’t have the stifling heat of Languedoc, Provence and the Riviera further south. Summers are long and sunny, winters short and mild. Daytime temperatures range from 10 degrees in winter to 30+ in summer, with plenty of sun and the occasional shower.