That’s a question guests often ask before booking a stay with us and, in no particular order, these are our top 10 right on the doorsteps of Mazamet:
Montagne Noire
Mazamet’s wonderful backdrop is the stunning Montagne Noire range which, despite its name, is an oasis of green for most of the year with its deciduous trees and pine forests. Dotted with lakes, medieval villages and even vineyards and with a peak of 1,211 metres (Pic du Nore) the Montagne Noire is a year-round playground of cyclists, walkers & nature lovers alike.
Lac de Montagnès
7km from Mazamet sits the Lac de Montagnes, a peaceful setting with great facilities including a small sandy beach, pedalo and canoe hire, mini-golf, snack bar and restaurant. In the summer months a twice-daily free shuttle bus runs from just 200 metres from La Villa to the lake and guests are welcome to take towels and a cool bag to enjoy a picnic of items bought at the morning market.
Hautpoul
Origins of the town of Mazamet started with this unique medieval village which clings to a steep-sided valley in the Montagne Noire, just 5 km from Mazamet. Over 800 years of history, some of it very bloody during the 13th century siege by Simon de Montfort, a visit during your stay is a must to marvel at how the houses, castle and ramparts would have been built. Today the medieval gardens have been restored; there is an annual re-enactment weekend and a twice-annual night time candlelit walk organised by the office of tourism.
You can take a 90-minute walk from La Villa to Hautpoul via the stunning Passerelle – Mazamet’s remarkable suspension footbridge over the gorge – as long as you have a head for heights. Reward yourself at the top with a coffee or lunch at Aux Terrasses d’Hautpoul, which enjoys spectacular views over the valley.
If medieval history is of interest, visit the Cathar Museum in Mazamet and commence your tour in Hautpoul of some of the amazing fortified villages and chateaux which make up the Cathar trail in the region.
Markets
Every week of the year there are at least three markets taking place in the centre of Mazamet (Tuesday, Saturday & Sunday) – the large Saturday market fills the streets close to the mayor’s office with fresh, seasonal produce, most of which is produced & grown within just a few kilometres of the town. In the winter, from early November until late March, a Marché du Foie Gras takes place each Sunday and during July & August a wonderful Marché de Producteurs sees 15 or more local vendors sell food ready to eat (both hot & cold) with local wines, beers and desserts for visitors and locals alike to enjoy on a table to accommodate more than 200 people – a great spectacle and a great atmosphere too.
Golf
One of France’s top 20 golf courses, La Barouge, is a short 5 min drive from La Villa. This 18 hole course is beautifully maintained with a unique 18th green where you need to chip across the road! Guests at La Villa receive a 15€ discount on the normal green fees too and lunch can be enjoyed at the restaurant with far-reaching views over the fairways towards the Montagne Noire.
Albi
Just 45 mins to the north of Mazamet and La Villa sits the UNESCO World Heritage city of Albi with its awe-inspiring red brick gothic cathedral, the largest in the world of this style and dating to the 13th century. Adjacent to the cathedral, the largest collection of Toulouse Lautrec’s paintings outside of Paris are housed in a designated museum.
A boat trip on the River Tarn, a stroll through the chic shops & boutiques, and a lazy lunch on the plaza in front of the cathedral make Albi one of the most popular day trips for guests staying at La Villa.
Carcassonne
The same distance to the south of Mazamet as Albi is to the north, Carcassonne is another UNESCO World Heritage Site, specifically “La Cité”, the largest inhabited medieval walled city in Europe. As the second most visited attraction in France after the Eiffel Tower, expect crowds in the peak summer months – but taking our advice of arriving early in the day or after the tour buses leave late afternoon, a visit to Carcassonne, combined with the Canal du Midi which runs through the city, is a must.
Walking
The choice of walks from the doorsteps of La Villa to a day out in the Montagne Noire or the Haut Languedoc National Parc are endless.
In the centre of town, enjoy two heritage walks that tell the story of Mazamet’s historical wool industry and world-wide importance for wool import; take a walk to Hautpoul or the Lac de Montagnes – or ask us about various walking circuits from 5km to 55km (a great source of walking information is Mazamet’s office of tourism website)
Cycling
If cycling’s your thing, you have certainly come to the right place! Be it a gentle cycle along the Voie Verte (a 65km cycle path on the former railway line which brought the wool into Mazamet) – to the training route of local Tour de France cycle legend Laurent Jalabert, the roads around Mazamet are a cyclist’s dream. You can download & print a variety of cycle routes from the informative website of our office of tourism. Read more in our dedicated post: Planning a cycle trip for 2026? Look no further than Mazamet!
CrossFit & Hyrox
Hornets Factory Mazamet is the functional fitness gym we train at ourselves, and a great option for guests who want to keep up their training during their stay. Drop-in CrossFit WOD sessions are €15 and open gym access is €8 – welcoming to all levels from complete beginners to seasoned athletes. The gym also runs Hyrox-specific training, making it a popular stop for competitors passing through the region. Located just a short drive from La Villa at 7 rue de l’Abattoir, with free parking and showers on site.
For more information on things to see and do, visit our website’s informative section on our Local Area
