Guidebook for Mazamet
Sightseeing
A beautiful little medieval village complete with a castle, perched high on the mountain above the gite overlooking terraced gardens. You can easily walk here if you don't mind a climb!
22 locals recommend
Hautpoul
A beautiful little medieval village complete with a castle, perched high on the mountain above the gite overlooking terraced gardens. You can easily walk here if you don't mind a climb!
This medieval village is tucked into the mountain side and has commanding views looking north of the Thore valley. You can walk to here along the road or through the woods behind the gite.
Aussillon Village
This medieval village is tucked into the mountain side and has commanding views looking north of the Thore valley. You can walk to here along the road or through the woods behind the gite.
Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area! A steep narrow road up here, but wow! - the views are incredible!
20 locals recommend
Pic de Nore
Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area! A steep narrow road up here, but wow! - the views are incredible!
A great example of a circular bastide town, still within its original walls. Good market on Fridays and en route to Toulouse, Soreze, and Revel.
Labruguière
A great example of a circular bastide town, still within its original walls. Good market on Fridays and en route to Toulouse, Soreze, and Revel.
Albi has good shopping, a truly remarkable recently restored cathedral, great restaurants and the Toulouse-Lautrec museum where you can see a large number of this famous artist's work.
313 locals recommend
Albi
Albi has good shopping, a truly remarkable recently restored cathedral, great restaurants and the Toulouse-Lautrec museum where you can see a large number of this famous artist's work.
If you are a history buff or just interested in castles - this is for you! If you're visiting around the 14th July, come and see the fireworks - they are spectacular!
302 locals recommend
Cité de Carcassonne
1 Rue Viollet le DucIf you are a history buff or just interested in castles - this is for you! If you're visiting around the 14th July, come and see the fireworks - they are spectacular!
This is another beautiful medieval village with great views over the Thore valley and south to the Montagne Noire.
There are great little shops and restaurants, as well as a renovated windmill and galleries. Great for an afternoon out with drinks/food/music at the Cafe Plum
62 locals recommend
Lautrec
This is another beautiful medieval village with great views over the Thore valley and south to the Montagne Noire.
There are great little shops and restaurants, as well as a renovated windmill and galleries. Great for an afternoon out with drinks/food/music at the Cafe Plum
Beautiful drive to Orlargues; medieval town on a hill (heard of that before perhaps!) good examples of medieval architecture and the mountains to the north are FABULOUS for walking. Can't recommend highly enough! Our favourite place.
41 locals recommend
Olargues
Beautiful drive to Orlargues; medieval town on a hill (heard of that before perhaps!) good examples of medieval architecture and the mountains to the north are FABULOUS for walking. Can't recommend highly enough! Our favourite place.
Entertainment & Activities
This is our nearest supervised swimming lake, just a 10 minute drive up the mountain from the gite. There are cafes and restaurants, showers etc and a good play area for children.
30 locals recommend
Base de Loisirs du Lac des Montagnès
This is our nearest supervised swimming lake, just a 10 minute drive up the mountain from the gite. There are cafes and restaurants, showers etc and a good play area for children.
This another swimming pool complex a competition pool and children's area with slides and water currents. It also has a nice grass area next to the outdoor pool for sunbathing.
10 locals recommend
L'Archipel
Avenue Georges PompidouThis another swimming pool complex a competition pool and children's area with slides and water currents. It also has a nice grass area next to the outdoor pool for sunbathing.
This 9 hole competition course is situated in the lovely Gourjade park on an island peninsular next to the river Agout.
11 locals recommend
Golf de Castres-Gourjade
This 9 hole competition course is situated in the lovely Gourjade park on an island peninsular next to the river Agout.
An 18 hole competition course - really beautiful views of the Montagne Noire National Park - 10 minutes from the gite.
7 locals recommend
Golf Mazamet La Barouge
665 Rte du Golf de la BarougeAn 18 hole competition course - really beautiful views of the Montagne Noire National Park - 10 minutes from the gite.
Another good swimming lake - with a small restaurant. This village is just under the Pic de Nore - our highest point on the Montagne Noire range. Great views of the Pyrenees and the Med!
14 locals recommend
Pradelles-Cabardès
Another good swimming lake - with a small restaurant. This village is just under the Pic de Nore - our highest point on the Montagne Noire range. Great views of the Pyrenees and the Med!
Equestrian Club De Bonnery
BonneryHorse-riding and trails
Food Scene
In the centre of Mazamet, this is good for a Plat de Jour lunch - frequented by many locals.
Le Grand Balcon
1 Rue des CasernesIn the centre of Mazamet, this is good for a Plat de Jour lunch - frequented by many locals.
Le Panda d'Or
Avenue de la RichardeChinese buffet style eating - plentiful food and very friendly. Easy parking
Wa Fong
35 Av. Jean MermozTraditional Chinese meals.
Logis Hôtel le Boulevard
24 Bd SoultA very traditional French restaurant just down the road from the gite.
This is an amazing place - fantastic food (rather a lot of it!!) wonderful service with roaming peacocks in the grounds. Beautiful for very special meals. Be sure to make a reservation!
Restaurant de Bonnery
BonneryThis is an amazing place - fantastic food (rather a lot of it!!) wonderful service with roaming peacocks in the grounds. Beautiful for very special meals. Be sure to make a reservation!
LE CHOUPA
Lakeside eating - lovely for that post- swim drink!
An excellent restaurant - do ask them to suggest a wine with your meals - they have a very good selection! Be sure to make a reservation.
9 locals recommend
Hôtel Restaurant Mets et Plaisirs - À Mazamet
7 Av. Albert RouvièreAn excellent restaurant - do ask them to suggest a wine with your meals - they have a very good selection! Be sure to make a reservation.
A good brasserie with meat cooked on a vine-wood fire in the restaurant.
Has a nice courtyard for hot evenings ....
L'Étable à Roussette
Les AlbertsA good brasserie with meat cooked on a vine-wood fire in the restaurant.
Has a nice courtyard for hot evenings ....
Great place for well priced traditional French cuisine. Varied set menus - excellent value and good wine.
Tables outside as well overlooking the main village square and the traditional lime trees. Well worth a visit - good for lunchtime too!
Hostellerie d'Oc
13 Av. Charles TailhadesGreat place for well priced traditional French cuisine. Varied set menus - excellent value and good wine.
Tables outside as well overlooking the main village square and the traditional lime trees. Well worth a visit - good for lunchtime too!
Great food and good tea - they do events and live music too. Scrabble, English conversation, Poetry, Comedians etc - always something different happening.
VERY comfy seating - sort of place you can take a book and stay all day!
Champs du Sud
3 Rue BeaujeuGreat food and good tea - they do events and live music too. Scrabble, English conversation, Poetry, Comedians etc - always something different happening.
VERY comfy seating - sort of place you can take a book and stay all day!
Lovely people, great Pizzas, good local wine and excellent alternatives to pasta and pizza ie salmon, duck etc. Nice outdoor eating for the summer and cosy inside in the winter. Good takeaway service too.
Delicious Pizza
55 Rue Edouard BarbeyLovely people, great Pizzas, good local wine and excellent alternatives to pasta and pizza ie salmon, duck etc. Nice outdoor eating for the summer and cosy inside in the winter. Good takeaway service too.
Our local Sri Lankan restaurant - very friendly people, great food both for takeaway and eating in. A 5 minute drive from the gite or a 20 minute walk across town (interesting if you are fascinated by the Mazametian architecture and history).
Always book - it's the polite thing to do and avoids disappointments!
Chez Madhavy
32 Avenue de ToulouseOur local Sri Lankan restaurant - very friendly people, great food both for takeaway and eating in. A 5 minute drive from the gite or a 20 minute walk across town (interesting if you are fascinated by the Mazametian architecture and history).
Always book - it's the polite thing to do and avoids disappointments!
Essentials
Auchan MAZAMET AUSSILLON
Route De CastresOne of the three supermarkets in Mazamet.
A convenient 24/7 fuel stop too.
Lidl
10 D612One of smaller supermarkets in Mazamet
Intermarché Super
2 All. des AuquesOne of the three supermarkets in Mazamet.
A convenient 24/7 fuel stop too.
E.Leclerc Hyper Mazamet
Cheap petrol here - large grocery store and cafe
La Vie Claire
1 Av. du Maréchal JuinVery good BIO shop here in Mazamet
Biocoop La Chartreuse
2 Rue Henry le ChâtelierGood BIO shop
Biocoop
2 Rue d'ArianeIf you're coming in from Toulouse - it's worth stopping here for supplies.
So.bio Castres
215 Av. Albert 1erBest BIO shop in Castres
Bio Azur Albi
273 Rue du RocIf you're in Albi .......
Getting Around
Trains to/from Castres - Toulouse.
We've had guests traveling from Britain to here by train ..... another option for you!
Gare De Mazamet
Avenue Charles SabatiéTrains to/from Castres - Toulouse.
We've had guests traveling from Britain to here by train ..... another option for you!
You will need to hire a car if you come in to this airport. Other public transport is rather slim on the ground.
74 locals recommend
Carcassonne Airport
Route de MontréalYou will need to hire a car if you come in to this airport. Other public transport is rather slim on the ground.
You will need to hire a car from here as buses will take a while to reach Mazamet.
57 locals recommend
Béziers Cap d'Agde Airport
RD612You will need to hire a car from here as buses will take a while to reach Mazamet.
Good local small airport - flights to Spain, Paris, Lyon. Expanding, so do look up other destinations .....
Only 15 mins from the gite
12 locals recommend
AIRPORT CASTRES MAZAMET
595 Le CausseGood local small airport - flights to Spain, Paris, Lyon. Expanding, so do look up other destinations .....
Only 15 mins from the gite
Toulouse-Blagnac Airport
If all else fails ie Toulouse, Carcassonne, Beziers, Castres airports, you can try Rodez - 2hrs from us!
20 locals recommend
Rodez-Marcillac Airport
Route DecazevilleIf all else fails ie Toulouse, Carcassonne, Beziers, Castres airports, you can try Rodez - 2hrs from us!
Train station of Castres
108 Av. Albert 1erCastres Railway station
Drinks & Nightlife
Really worth looking at their schedule of artists. They invite some world-class musicians, artistes, performers and poets to their cafe/bar/restaurant/bookshop.
Set in a lovely courtyard, this is a great place to hang out - night or day.
Lautrec is a beautiful medieval village ....
17 locals recommend
Café Plùm
12 Rue de LengouzyReally worth looking at their schedule of artists. They invite some world-class musicians, artistes, performers and poets to their cafe/bar/restaurant/bookshop.
Set in a lovely courtyard, this is a great place to hang out - night or day.
Lautrec is a beautiful medieval village ....
There are many bars and street cafes to visit at night - just take a look when you're there ....
66 locals recommend
Castres
There are many bars and street cafes to visit at night - just take a look when you're there ....
There are several bars and cafes in the town centre, some of which have live music.
19 locals recommend
Mazamet
There are several bars and cafes in the town centre, some of which have live music.
Parks & Nature
These are some of our favourite areas to walk in, we hope you enjoy them too!
a good 7 km walk through pastures and woodland on ancient stone paved tracks and forestry trails. We can show you on a map or you can get a sheet from the Tourist Office in Mazamet
Roquerlan
a good 7 km walk through pastures and woodland on ancient stone paved tracks and forestry trails. We can show you on a map or you can get a sheet from the Tourist Office in Mazamet
There's a lovely walk up the top of Hautpoul and along the high ridge above the village and the Arnette valley to St. Pierre de Plo church (Labrespy) and back round past the medieval look out point for Hautpoul and the three ancient spring points made into wells. Great views again - very steep climb.
Labrespy
There's a lovely walk up the top of Hautpoul and along the high ridge above the village and the Arnette valley to St. Pierre de Plo church (Labrespy) and back round past the medieval look out point for Hautpoul and the three ancient spring points made into wells. Great views again - very steep climb.
One of the good caves around here with excellent stalagmites and stalactites - this one with an enormous gallery and a viewing bridge. Well worth a visit.
85 locals recommend
Gouffre de Cabrespine
La CrestoOne of the good caves around here with excellent stalagmites and stalactites - this one with an enormous gallery and a viewing bridge. Well worth a visit.
One of the good caves around here with excellent stalagmites and stalactites - this one with multiple galleries, water and a stunning crystal conglomerate at the end. Well worth a visit.
60 locals recommend
Grotte de Limousis
One of the good caves around here with excellent stalagmites and stalactites - this one with multiple galleries, water and a stunning crystal conglomerate at the end. Well worth a visit.
This area has many hiking trails up into Le Caroux. Our local bookshop has guides to this area, and if you are a serious hiker/rock climber, this is very special.
Take a picnic and drive the mountain roads for an idea of this beautiful countryside
14 locals recommend
Colombières-sur-Orb
This area has many hiking trails up into Le Caroux. Our local bookshop has guides to this area, and if you are a serious hiker/rock climber, this is very special.
Take a picnic and drive the mountain roads for an idea of this beautiful countryside
A short walk from the gite along the Arnette river and up through the forest on the old Visigoth track, brings you to the Passerelle - bridging the Arnette valley to the medieval village of Hautpoul. It is very high and well worth the climb, but not something for those with vertigo.
The Passerelle route saves a steep descent and additional climb when you are going out beyond Hautpoul to Labasprey or the Lac des Montagnes. Beautiful scenery, especially in the evening or very early morning.
38 locals recommend
La Passerelle de Mazamet
95 Rue de la ResseA short walk from the gite along the Arnette river and up through the forest on the old Visigoth track, brings you to the Passerelle - bridging the Arnette valley to the medieval village of Hautpoul. It is very high and well worth the climb, but not something for those with vertigo.
The Passerelle route saves a steep descent and additional climb when you are going out beyond Hautpoul to Labasprey or the Lac des Montagnes. Beautiful scenery, especially in the evening or very early morning.