Mercure Carcassonne La Cite Hotel

Climbing ivy and lanterns on the hotel's stone exterior are attractive, as are geraniums and blue-painted shutters that feel true to the property's farmhouse origins. Much like the rooms, there's a mid-range chain feel to the lobby, but it's bright and a wooden tripod displaying the region's map welcomes guests near the 24-hour front desk. A more cozy space is the wood-floored lounge with a fireplace, ochre-colored sofas, and forest-effect wallpaper. Figuring out why most guests prefer the garden is a no-brainer. A stone terrace with wooden patio furniture amidst lush plants and flowers feels worlds apart from the lackluster entrance. Since the Mercure Carcassonne Porte de la Cite is a bit removed from the historic town center, the atmosphere is quiet and laid-back. Most guests are couples on vacation.

Trees line the hotel's tranquil street, a six-minute walk from Narbonnaise gate -- the entry point for Carcassonne's citadel. Chateau Comtal is an eight-minute walk and it's three minutes farther for the 10th-century Basilique Saint Nazaire. Lovely to wander, the citadel streets are particularly beautiful at sunset. Cross-river walks of 25 minutes lead to the new town's Carnot square; shops, restaurants, and cafes here are quintessentially French, though there are also several in the historic area. The Beaux Arts Museum is an 18-minute walk. Carcassonne train station is a half-hour walk (or 10-minute drive). An airport shuttle stops a two-minute walk from the hotel and Carcassonne Airport is a 15-minute drive. Allow an hour by car from Castres-Mazamet Airport.

Modern, carpeted rooms are well-presented, albeit generic, with a mix of blonde-wood furniture, pops of plum from chair fabrics, and soft-lit lamps with stainless-steel touches. Windows can be small, but floral-print drapes around them are pretty. However, the 18-square-meter (194-square-feet) Standard Rooms feel cramped, particularly with the inclusion of desks. All rooms have flat-screen TVs, tea- and coffee-making facilities, phones, safes, and AC (although it reportedly can be weak), but entry-level rooms lack fridges. Standard Rooms have views of either the parking lot or garden, while higher-category rooms have nicer vistas of the pool or citadel -- which is attractively lit at night. Some ground-floor rooms have patio doors opening up onto the garden. Larger Privilege and Prestige Rooms mean more place, as well as minibars, Nespresso Machines, and iPod docks. Both these categories also come with slippers and robes. Compact, modern bathrooms continue the plum palette and have stall showers, hairdryers, and limited bulk toiletries.

The on-site restaurant, La Vicomte, serves cassoulet dishes that offer a taste of the region, as well as a buffet breakfast of eggs, sausages, and cooked tomatoes, plus a continental spread alongside tea, coffee, and juice. Note that some guests have complained of breakfast being a bit chaotic, and across the board gets mixed reviews. Meals can be eaten on the garden's pretty terraces. The bar serves alcoholic beverages until late. Open in summer, the outdoor pool is a pleasant spot for cooling off and sunbeds around it are good for catching some rays, although they're limited. Three meeting rooms can hold 30 to 90 people. Parking is free and Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.