Hotel de la Cite in Carcassonne
BRAND NEW HOTEL AND SPA
If there is any symptom that a city is more alive touristically than ever, it is the opening of new hotels. . However, the next level is to open a five-star boutique establishment in the most vibrant neighborhood and whose rooms are practically museum-like. With these credentials, La Cour des Consuls has come into the world, the new luxury embodied in 32 rooms that seek to embody the spirit of Carmes . This neighborhood, located between the homonymous market and the Garonne river , preserves the essence of Toulouse with its narrow alleys, its immense buildings and its pink color playing with the retina.
From the hand of the interior designer Chantal Peyrate , what was once an administrative building has been converted into a palace adapted to the 21st century . Its decoration manages to transmit exclusivity, preserving the disney spirit of fairy tales but without being archaic. That is, embroidered curtains, prohibitive paper on the walls and marble in the bathrooms but without overwhelming. A new ecosystem in which it is very difficult not to feel comfortable and whose zenith is in a spa with individualized treatments managed by the local cosmetics company Cake Grain and in some small meeting rooms where they can capitalize on the economic strength of this brand new metropolis that never tires of growing.
You'll have a hard time forgetting the luxury of La Cour des Consuls
FROM THE CAPITOLE TO THE MUSEUMS
Toulouse you have to walk it because that's what it's designed for . Its alleys mix the medieval layout with the little saturation of souvenir stalls, a winning formula with which to entertain the walk and reach the most unexpected corners. Nevertheless, this essence of town is erased at a stroke when stepping on its attractions indoors in which it demonstrates two realities: that it is a true capital where all the voices and currents south of the Loire converge and that in its economic boom there are also cultural benefits.
The first thing can be seen when strolling, like Marie Antoinette from the south, through the great halls of the capitol . The current city hall exhibits all its potential in the Hall of the Illustrious , a Versailles and ornate space full of frescoes and reliefs where the benefits of French values are narrated with grandiloquence and pomposity . At the same time, the artist Henri Martin allowed himself the luxury of making his own version of southern pride in a preliminary room where he commands realism ( with impressionist techniques ) and in which the theme is more costumbrista and in which the town is given importance.
The current town hall of the city of Toulusse: ma-ra-vi-lla
The economic strength has the first good news for culture in the Foundation Bemberg . In this museum you can enjoy, on the one hand, a mansion owned by the Assezat family, some cake magnates who amassed their fortune in the 16th century . On the other, from a fascinating private collection of the educated industrialist Georges Bemberg whose visit is a lesson in art history. However, Toulouse looks to the sky when he thinks about his future. Hence, the last great opening is that of Aeroscopy , the great Airbus mausoleum where you can enjoy first-hand historical aircraft and current ones that have marked the future of this macro company.
Dedicate time to every corner of the Bemberg Foundation
DINNER BY THE FIREPLACE
Back to the new home, The Court of Consuls it is uncovered as a space open to all of Toulouse. The fact that you can see its patio from the street without having to go through the always judicious reception is a plus for voyeurs who want to enjoy this new attraction. However, his great contribution to the daily life of the city is in the overwhelming restaurant Le Cénacle . The amazing space in which it is located is already a 'plus' where the impressive neoclassical fireplace presides over everything. To that we must add the mural on its main wall, a replica of a painting by Caravaggio that adds solemnity to the act of dining.
But the relevant thing happens on the tablecloth. Here, chef Jérôme Ryon sublimates the local cuisine and the most famous products of Toulouse and surroundings without too many artifices. The mixture of local ingredients and the most avant-garde techniques make his foie with violet cake or his cheek with prawn and mushroom foam begin to place him in the pool of Michelin Stars.
Star chef Jérôme Ryon brings his unique touch to Le Cénacle
THE CASSOULET AND FOLKLORE
The connection between both cities is not only a relationship of tourist convenience . The palate also unites them through a dish that in recent years has gained capital relevance in the vindication of local folklore. The Cassoulet It is a real marvel of a spoon, a stew of beans, white sausage and duck confit finished off with a touch of oven that gives it an irresistible crust. Far from being stagnant in the kitchen of the ancestors, this recipe has risen to become one of the most consistent reasons to visit the region.
While in Toulouse it is claimed in traditional and 'grandfather' restaurants as The Cave au Cassoulet either Le Colombier , in Carcassonne has become a matter of state, to such an extent that within the citadel is the seat of the Universal Academy of Cassoulet. This organization watches over the purity of this recipe in a somewhat traditional and folkloric way. Yes indeed, at least it has managed to consolidate a seal of quality for establishments where its essence is respected to the maximum. Within the walls, highlights the Brasserie le Donjon , a busy restaurant, modern in its forms but respectful in the kitchen, with a 100% local menu in which this dish enjoys an almost divine predominance thanks to the stubborn and effective work of its maître Eric Bivent.
Cassoulet, the best of each duck: its magret, its foie and its fat
WORLD HERITAGE ROOMS
**It is very difficult to write anything about Carcassonne that has not been written before **. The postcard remains the same, perhaps with less souvenir cutrismo and with more respect for its history and its legacy. However, there is a different way to enjoy it, a small parallel citadel designed for the most demanding traveler, for those who seek the total experience. The Hôtel de la Cité is already an entity that cannot be separated from this medieval paradise.
Since the old episcopal palace was converted more than a century ago into a luxury hotel , this establishment has welcomed the most illustrious visitors to the city. His arguments remain the same and remain overwhelming. On the one hand, there is the English style heritage of its decoration and its luxuries, a quality standard that is still valid and that translates into an international look, huge rooms but without forgetting the technological requirements of today . On the other, the restaurant The Barbacane that strikes a balance between the gastronomic avant-garde and the already classic demand for Starred recipes, since Michelin has been recommending them with a badge for nine years.
Unforgettable: the Hôtel de la Cité
To this we must add its main attraction: the fact of being inside the wall and sharing walls with the history of Carcasonne. A Siamese relationship that reaches visual orgasm when enjoying a sunset from the terrace overlooking the Count's Palace.
However, in recent years, the management of its new owners has given it a modern boost. Since the group Cite Hotels was made with this candy, being a five-star hotel and its location are not the only pillars of its management. In recent years, there has been a commitment to increase overnight stays with activities for families, different tourist tours such as the boat trip on the Canal du Midi or the latest opening: a spa led by the firm Cinq Mondes that drags the guest.
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Relax at the Hôtel de la Cité in Carcassonne
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