Château & Village Castigno, Languedoc-Roussillon

Tucked away in the rolling hills of Languedoc-Roussillon, Château & Village Castigno is a hotel within a village, or a village within a hotel depending on your perspective, where, over time this sleepy centuries-old hamlet has slowly been transformed into creative outlets for a passionate community of chefs, artists and designers. Spend your days floating between the tapas bar in the picturesque town square, the bewitching gardens of the Michelin-worthy La Table restaurant, browsing in the art gallery, or striking out with a picnic basket for a lazy afternoon amidst the vines.

Location

Château & Village Castigno is a perfect base for exploring this under-the-radar part of southern France and makes for a serene stop on a ‘coast-to-coast’ road trip – midway between Toulouse and Avignon, an hour’s drive from the medieval citadel of Carcassonne, and 40 minutes from the Mediterranean.

Your Room

From a vast house built for sharing to a family home, a romantic artist’s loft and 3 individual rooms, there’s a perfect spot for everyone size here. Dotted throughout the village, all are bathed in wine-fuelled reds, purples and pinks with a sultry and bewitching design featuring unique artworks and ornaments collected by the owners on their travels. Each room has a balcony or terrace, perfect for soaking up that golden sunlight, whilst the six-bedroom Maison d’Amis and two-bedroom Villa Rouge each have their own private swimming pools.

Why We Like It

We love the immersion in peaceful village life – park the car, hide the keys, walk everywhere.  Rise early to await the opening of the local boulangerie van or sleep in and let the Castigno chefs deliver a full breakfast spread to you. On market day, borrow one of their fleet of Vespas for a ride into nearby Saint Chinian to stock up on gourmet fare. Then, at harvest time try your hand at grape picking or sign up for a workshop with one of the artisans-in-residence. In the afternoons, the swimming pool beckons while by night there are wines to be sampled over long conversations by the light of the moon.