A Walk up the Gorges d’Héric

Gorges d’Héric – Nature’s wonder Under an hour’s drive from Mazamet, this stunning natural gorge provides a great place for a stroll as well as sightseeing in the nearby villages of Olargues and Roquebrun.   Cascades, natural rock pools for swimming, flora and fauna, the Gorges d’Héric has it all. Situated near the small village ….

Exploring the depths of the Montagne Noire

Caving around Mazamet We all picture SW France for its beautiful scenery, vineyards, mountains and medieval villages… but dig a little deeper on your next visit for an amazing underground experience. Dotted around France are some wonderful natural caves and our region of the Country is no exception with some awe-inspiring wonders just a short ….

Les Grands Buffets in Narbonne – France on a plate

Treat your tastebuds in the largest restaurant in France   Imagine walking into a royal dining hall. In front of you, a chef slicing eight legs of ham; to your left, a massive pile of macarons; in the distance, a mountain of prawns and lobsters. Watch out! A waitress just ran past you carrying an ….

Scenic route from Toulouse

There is much to discover on this scenic route from Toulouse Toulouse is the main hub from which you will likely start your journey to Mazamet, whether it is from the Blagnac airport or from the Matabiau TGV station. Or maybe you are a local who wishes to venture into the Tarn for a few ….

In Search of Nomadism

In Search of Nomadism – An interview with Mathieu Rosa One of the most rewarding aspects of running La Villa de Mazamet is the stories of guests from different walks of life who visit. We recently hosted Mathieu Rosa and his brother Charly, who were visiting Mazamet on business. Mathieu is the owner and manager ….

Quiz: Gaillac Wines

Test your knowledge of the wines of Gaillac After reading our post on Gaillac wines last month, you must be an expert on one of the most famous AOCs in the Tarn. If not, it’s not too late to brush up! Pick your brain with these five questions. 1. In the 14th century, what were ….

The Wines of our Region – Gaillac

This month, we take you to the Gaillac wine region, where rolling countryside meets vineyards and sunflower fields.     An ancestral wine region The AOC of Gaillac is one of the oldest wine regions of the ancient region of Gaul (an area of Western Europe that stretched from Italy to Spain and as far ….

A Day in Castres

Mazamet’s larger neighbour Castres is less than 20km away. Well worth a visit when staying at La Villa! A bit of background Built around the banks of the river Agout, the area now known as Castres was inhabited as early as the Bronze Age (1000BCE), as evidenced by the discovery of a large necropolis along ….

Lautrec… a quintessential French village

  Like many small towns and villages, its fortunes ebb and flow. The medieval village of Lautrec, just 30 mins (35 km) from Mazamet, seems to be on the up with a number of new eateries and boutique shops opening in recent years. The village, one the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, was once ….

The Lac des Montagnès

Fancy a cooling dip, a leisurely walk, or a long lazy lunch?   Lac des Montagnès is a beautiful reservoir located just 10 mins outside of the town, at an altitude of nearly 750m, and one of the must-dos in Mazamet this summer. With restaurants, mini golf, tree-top adventure park Lac’Cro Parc, aquatic park Aqua ….

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