Château Les Carrasses

Château Les Carrasses is a 19th Century wine domaine in the Languedoc, South of France, extensively restored as a luxury self-catering estate, comprising a unique collection of luxurious self-catering residences, on site restaurant, winery and first class hotel facilities.

Discover the authenticity and charm of a 19th Century estate, surrounded by vines, with spectacular views and spacious grounds. The atmosphere of a private club – great service, but relaxed, friendly and laid back.

Discover our 11 elegant suites and apartments in the Château, blending modern comforts with original features or for more space and independence 19 luxury self-catering properties carved from the original estate outbuildings, sleeping up to 8 people. Fully equipped, terraces and gardens, many with private pools.

A Mediterranean restaurant and laid back salon bar and terraces with endless vineyard views. Large heated pool with oversized loungers, bar service and spectacular views.

A Masterclay tennis court, boules and BBQ area, 25 acres of gardens and park surrounded by 150 acres of scrubland and vineyards, crisscrossed with trails perfect for exploring on foot or by complimentary bicycle.

CHÂTEAU SUITES & APARTMENTS

In the enchanting Château, 11 elegant fully equipped suites and apartments for 2 to 4 people, offering a view over the vineyards or the château courtyard.
These suites and apartments are spread over the three floors of the château, accessible only by a staircase (not suitable for people with reduced mobility).

LE GRAND SALON
A sophisticated spacious apartment with splendid views over the terrace, main pool and surrounding countryside from the living room’s panoramic windows.

Equipped with two bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and a very large kitchen/living/dining area with many period features. The main bedroom has a roll-top bateau bathtub in the room and separate shower.

LES COMBLES
Apartment with exposed beams, featuring a kitchen/living/dining area with stunning views and contemporary décor. Both double bedrooms each have a bathroom with shower, one of which is in the Château’s turret. Located on the 2nd floor of the Château. Please note: there is no lift in the Château.

LA MANSARDE
One-bedroom apartment with en-suite bathroom, open living/kitchen/dining area with fully equipped kitchen and with breath-taking views of the surrounding countryside.

The sofa-bed can accommodate up to two additional people – 120€/week for 1 person or 140€/week for 2 people. Located on the 3rd floor of the Château.

LES SUITES DU CHÂTEAU
Studio apartments with double bed, living area, fully equipped kitchen and separate bathroom. Located on the 1st or 2nd floors of the Château.

LUXURY SELF-CATERING

19 luxury self-catering properties carved from the original estate outbuildings blend modern comforts with original features, sleeping up to 8 people, available to rent year round. Sleeping from 2 to 8 our self-catering properties are spacious, ranging in size from 35 to 150m².

All have outside spaces – either a large terrace or terrace and garden with outdoor dining area, barbecues and oversized sun loungers. Many have private heated swimming pools (heated from the end of May to end of September).

LES MAISONS DE LA CAVE
Villas on three levels with three en-suite bedrooms, a living room with sofa-bed on the mezzanine which can accommodate up to 2 additional people – 120€/week for 1 person or 140€/week for 2 people, and a large kitchen/living /dining area on the ground floor.

Outside is a large south-facing terrace with dining area, barbecue and sun loungers, and a private pool, all with splendid views over the Château’s park and vineyards beyond.

LES FORGES
Villas with 3 en-suite bedrooms, one of which is on the ground floor. From the kitchen/living room/dining room on the ground floor, large French windows open onto the west facing terrace with dining area, barbecue and large garden, with sun loungers and a private pool.

LA GRANGE
Villa with two bedrooms on the first floor offering beautiful views of the olive grove and vineyards, and a large kitchen/living/dining area on the ground floor. Outside is a lovely west-facing terrace with dining area with barbecue, sun loungers and a garden with pool.

EDMOND BAVOIS, VIBRANT CONTEMPORARY CUISINE!

After stints honing his skills as a young chef in Australia and Scotland, Edmond returned to Europe where he rose through the ranks in renowned establishments such as the Relais de la Magdeleine and Le Pré du Moulin, before taking the reins at La Maison du Prussien in Neuchatel where he was identified as a rising star by the Gault et Millau guide.

Curious and creative, Edmond joined Les Carrasses in 2021, determined to apply his brand of stylish, vibrant cuisine to the extraordinary and every expanding array of amazing local produce to be found in our region.

In 2020 the restaurant at Château Les Carrasses was awarded 2 Toques and a score of 14/20 in the notable Gault & Millau restaurant guide.

Located only 5 minutes from the Canal du Midi at Capestang and 20 minutes from Narbonne and Béziers the restaurant is open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week from early April to mid-September. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays in low season.

THE TERRACES

The lower terrace is a beautiful spot for outdoor dining with views across the pool and the vines to the Pyrenees beyond. The terrace bar (summer season, weather dependent) serves wines and classic cocktails on the terrace or by the pool.

The upper terrace is an outdoor lounge with a relaxed atmosphere and comfortable couches and is nicely shaded in the late afternoon. In July and August live music is organised on the restaurant terrace every Friday and Sunday evening.

THE WINERY AND BARS

Our winery bar is an ideal place for private parties and functions as well as for special events and sporting events. From September to May musical evenings are organised on the second Friday of the month with a tapas menu in a friendly atmosphere.

The terrace bar (summer season, depending on the weather) serves cocktails, craft beers and local wines on the terrace or by the swimming pool.

The salon bar is open all year round with a wide selection of cocktails, local craft beers and wines – a quintessential tour of Languedoc wine-making – from the secret gems to the Grands Crus.

With a magnificent setting and easy access, five minutes from Capestang and twenty minutes from Narbonne and Béziers, the château’s restaurant, winery and terraces offers a setting for all kinds of events: private parties, business lunches, seminars, family celebrations, team-building events.

BREAKFAST

To start the day we offer you a sumptuous continental breakfast: Hot drinks, freshly squeezed fruit juice, fresh fruit, cold meats, eggs, pancakes, cakes, pies, pastries, breads, dairy products, cereals, cheeses, jams and butter, dried fruit and compotes, low-fat products.

TAKE-AWAY & DELIVERY SERVICE

All self-catering accommodation includes a modern fully equipped kitchen and all amenities for home cooking including a Weber BBQ. Each morning our chef and his team bake delicious pastries and bread which can be ordered the evening before and collected from reception.

For those of you who would prefer not to cook, our restaurant can also deliver fresh meals to your accommodation. A wide choice is available : our legendary bbq packs, picnics, pizzas, traditional family dishes, but also a selection of dishes from the Terrace menu and our à la carte menu.

To accompany your meal a selection of wines, craft beers and soft drinks is available at cellar door prices.

BESPOKE EVENTS

Whether you’re looking for an unique intimate venue or an alternative location for a major conference, Château Les Carrasses is a great proposition for your event.

Stylish flexible spaces for parties, exhibitions, launches & conferences, from 60m² to 150m². Fully equipped with latest audio-visual equipment, multiform lighting & high speed internet. Our dedicated team will assist you in choosing a tailor-made event, whether professional or private.

WEDDINGS

Les Carrasses is a perfect venue for a stylish Mediterranean wedding. Chic and laid back or old-school French glamour, Les Carrasses provides a picture-perfect romantic backdrop – an elegant Château on beautiful grounds surrounded by rolling vineyards and gorgeous Mediterranean countryside.

Accommodating up to 124 people, the Château provides an intimate setting for your special day or weekend where you will relish the time together with your guests. Let us take care of the smallest details from organising a barbecue, a cocktail party, the wedding reception and a post wedding day brunch.

Our team of experts dedicated exclusively to the planning of your big day are surrounded by the best photographers & stylists, florists, bands & DJs, hair, makeup and other professional suppliers in order to make your dream wedding come true!

PRIVATE EVENTS

Château Les Carrasses provides an idyllic backdrop to celebrate your special event; birthday, christening, engagement or baby-shower. Our professional team will work with you to offer you our hospitality experience in order to create your perfect party.

We have a multitude of possibilities and large selection of activities that we can adapt according to your wishes. Our team is at your disposal to organise a memorable occasion.

LEISURE GROUPS

An exceptional place for creating unique events; wellness retreats, cycling training camps, luxury car rallies or food and wine tours to name just a few.
Les Carrasses has spacious and modular accommodation that can accommodate up to 124 people in twin rooms and 62 people in singles, all close to your event.

Our Chef and his team will design a menu according to your groups needs. Eat in the restaurant, on the panoramic terrace or why not hire a private chef to cook in the comfort of your own villa.

For an even more intimate event, privatize one of our stylish event spaces which fuse traditional character, natural materials and a contemporary use of space and light; The Salle des Chais, La Galerie or one of our private villas.

PHOTO SHOOTS AND FILMING

Varied locations & styles, Indoor & outdoor, Superb light, Photographers, models, stylists and full team of professionals available.

WINES & VINEYARDS

We want our estates and their vineyards to be a perfect expression of this diversity and for our wines to reflect the personality of each terroir, with respect for nature and authenticity. Diversity also holds the promise of pure flavours, those of our wines.

Finally, diversity is cultivated in the rebirth of heritage and people, through wine tourism projects and social responsibility.

VIGNOBLES BONFILS, WINES BASED ON 150 YEARS OF HISTORY

Creativity and the quest for excellence are passed on from generation to generation. In the 19th century during the exile of Joseph Bonfils, Honorine Dorveaux, his future wife, launched the farm with numerous vineyards. She then planted relentlessly, without knowing that she was growing the Bonfils’ legacy.

A visionary, Jean-Michel Bonfils introduced new techniques for working the vines and the cellar in Languedoc Roussillon. He plants Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in Languedoc Roussillon, grape varieties still little known in the region.

The last twenty years have been marked by the work of Laurent and Jérôme Bonfils, who have made a major contribution to making Languedoc Roussillon a land of elite wines.

Today Laurent Bonfils, who has taken over the management of the company, with his winemaking expertise, has set himself the mission of nurturing the singularity of the wines of each estate.

OUR ECO-COMMITMENTS

We implement sustainable cultivation methods capable of producing quality wines. The Bonfils family has selected the most beautiful terroirs of Languedoc Roussillon. Passionate about wine, they have shaped the most promising lands.

They have parcelled out the terroir, favoured the hillsides and chosen the best exposures. Their legacy is much more than a vineyard, it is a resistant buttress, a preserved peninsula and many other sites where nature expresses itself and offers exceptional wines.

THE WORLD’S MOST EXCITING WINE REGION

Make the most of your stay to discover the wines of Languedoc. The Château invites you to discover our different vintages from our vineyards. Our team regularly proposes wine related activities.

Château Les Carrasses is a perfect base to discover the diversity, experimentation and sheer verve of the Languedoc – the world’s most exciting wine region.

There are literally hundreds of wineries within easy range – St Chinian is on our doorstep while Faugeres, the Corbieres, the Minervois, Picpoul de Pinet, La Clape and the Terrasses du Larzac are all just a short drive.

HISTORY OF THE ESTATE

Château Les Carrasses was built in 1886 by the de-Zelicourt family, a noble family from Toulouse. They commissioned renowned Bordeaux architect Louis-Michel Garros to construct a modern estate on their lands in the commune of Quarante.

Garros responded in typical eclectic style with Les Carrasses, which emerged as an important estate, producing around 700,000 litres of mostly red wine per year.

The turn of the century proved to be the highpoint, with overproduction and cheap imports of wine from Algeria soon causing prices to collapse. A clean water supply, two world wars, changing tastes and the emergence of New World wines brought waves of competitive pressure to bear on the industry.

Les Carrasses, like many others, gradually declined into stately moribundity, continuing to produce as it always had, but selling into an indifferent market, which oversaw its gradual decline.

Despite the economic challenges the Château remained in the de-Zelicourt family until 2008 when it was sold to Karl O’Hanlon and Anita Forte, who were looking for an estate to transform into a rural retreat.

The transformation of the Château and the outbuildings took three years, when production was moved to the modern facility at nearby Domaine de Cibadies, with the current incarnation of the estate opening its doors to visitors in 2011.

TASTINGS & WORKSHOPS

We hold regular tastings and events with the people behind the wines, giving visitors an insider’s view of Languedoc winemaking. Events are held throughout the year and are available on demand for groups of 4 or more.

Our wines and other wines from our different estates can be enjoyed in the restaurant, or purchased from the Salon to be drunk in your accommodation, purchases will be added to your final bill, payable on check-out.

WINE TRAILS

Discover the vineyards surrounding Château Les Carrasses on foot or by bike. Maps our available at reception and the trails are signposted in French and English with both trails starting at the wine cellar.

During summer weekly guided walks are organized to learn to recognise the grape varieties that are at the origin of our wines followed by a tasting back at the cellar. Out of season please enquire at the time of booking to check the availability of our guide.

UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES

Our concierge team are on hand throughout your stay to unlock the hidden gems of the Languedoc. From wine tastings, a bike ride amongst the vines, a walk along the Canal du Midi or tasting local Bouzigues oysters, we’ll help you find an activity that will make your stay in the Languedoc extra special.

With its extensive grounds, a secret forest and its hectares of vines, Château Les Carrasses is a magnificent estate that can be explored at leisure on foot or with the bikes available free of charge to residents.

To the west of the estate is a large barbecue area with tables, chairs and all the necessary equipment for easy cooking. A tennis court and petanque court are available all day long with equipment is available at the reception.

In the main courtyard is a beautiful conservatory, La Serre, rumoured to have been designed by Gustave Eiffel. Equipped with comfortable armchairs and a library, it is an ideal place to relax.

The majestic infinity swimming pool, heated from April to October (20m long) is surrounded by a vast terrace decked with sun beds and parasols with a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside.

As a wine tourism destination in the Languedoc, wine tastings and events will be hosted by the wine makers. More information is available on our page dedicated to wine tourism.

Stretching lazily along the Med from the Cote d’Azur to Spain, the Languedoc retains all the timeless charm of the authentic South of France.

The worlds largest vineyard and the sunniest place in France, our region is a panaché of vibrant fishing villages, endless beaches, rolling vineyards and cypress fringed olive groves, medieval castles perched on snow capped mountains, thriving market towns and forgotten hamlets.

Our estates are pefectly positioned to enjoy the unrivalled diversity of leisure options: laze on the beach or enjoy every imaginable water sport. Explore historic cities – Roman, Medieval and Renaissance – with internationally recognized cultural attractions.

While away the days hiking or on horseback, fishing or hunting. Wander antique markets to rival those anywhere in Europe. Discover superb cuisine and world-class local wines in simple bistros and Michelin starred gastronomic restaurants.

FAMILY HOLIDAYS

Since we opened Château Les Carrasses in 2011, we have been welcoming families to our estates which provide a fantastic no compromise holiday for the whole family.

Our formula blends five star hotel facilities and service with luxury fully equipped self-catering properties for small or large families with catering adapted for children. A specialised concierge service for family activities, kids club and babysitting.

A huge communal heated pool, complimentary bikes, tennis court, large grounds and gardens and plenty of trees to climb! We look forward to welcoming you for your family holiday in the Languedoc, South of France.

Enjoy an unforgettable family holiday, kids are welcome in the laid back, relaxed atmosphere of Les Carrasses.

As a family destination in the South of France, we are convinced that the formula for a successful family holiday is simple: if children have fun and make friends, parents can find what they need most: relaxation and rest.

Website: www.lescarrasses.com

Rooms: 30

Price: from 165 EUR per night