Experience an encounter with the Cathars who challenged the Pope in the 13th century. The castles where they found refuge during the crusade against the Cathars are places with real soul and give rise to powerful emotions
REMARKABLE HERITAGE
In Occitania you can explore a remarkable heritage left behind by the mighty feudal lords. They include Gaston Phébus, the Counts of Toulouse, the Counts of Armagnac…
Occitania was independent from the kingdom of France until the 13th century and played a key role during the Hundred Years War (1337-1453): many castles were built to face neighbouring Aquitaine, which was then ruled by the English.
In our castles and châteaux, you can also savour all the elegance of the Renaissance and the grandeur of the 18th century.
NEAR TOULOUSE
Several finely built castles, such as Merville, Caumont, Laréole, Mauriac will take you back in time, from the Middle Ages to the age of the Enlightenment. The château de Merville has the biggest boxwood maze in Europe (6 km). Here you can lose yourself and enjoy trails with puzzles and games!
Some of the castles are located in incredible locations, such as the Penne and Bruniquel castles in the Aveyron Gorges.
OUR FAVOURITE
As a child, the painter Toulouse-Lautrec spent his summers at the Château du Bosc, between Albi and Rodez. You can sense his presence through the drawings, graffiti or personal belongings he left there.
Chateau de Saint-Martory is the perfect castle rental for holidays and family reunions. Nested in the Garonne river valley, at the footstep of the Pyrenees mountains, this french chateau offers a unique lifestyle experience in one of the most beautiful regions of France.