Gateway to the Past....or the WC!
Written: Jan 19 '01 (Updated Jan 19 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Beautiful, perfect location, just what you would imagine a "French" hotel to be like!
Cons: Didn't stay here
The Bottom Line: It would be a great place to stay, and the best cassoulet place is right across the street!
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| TRAVELJAM's Full Review: Hotel de la Citi |
OK OK, don't quit reading, and don't bash me. I didn't get to stay here, but I did use the gorgeous bathrooms! And snuck a little tour on my way!
My all-time favorite place in France is Carcassonne--La Cité de Carcassonne, that is. The walled fortress city up above the 'modern' town. This is where Hôtel de la Cité is located.
Just imagine, you arrive in Carcassonne. You are escorted to La Cité, where you begin the vacation of a lifetime. You walk past the King Arthur-like carrousel, you cross a draw bridge, headed right into the 12th century.
You walk up the main cobblestone street, winding around midieval alleyways, where people who lived 800 years ago placed their very feet.
As you head towards the hotel, you pass by the well. You can only imagine the peasants dressed in rennaissance attire, carrying their water buckets to get the daily supply for thier families.
You head towards the monstrocity: the cathedral. And directly next to it, sits your home for the next few days, Hôtel de la Cité.
Beautiful stonework, ornate windows, and enough ivy coverage to make the perfect Kodak moment.
Across the way is a wonderful restaurant, apparently only open during the summer tourist season. Le Jardin L'Evêque. This is where we ate dinner, and because it had no W.C. of its own, I got directed to the Hotel.
Having my own pitcher of wine, (when in France...) I soon needed a toilette! I walked into the hotel, and immediately noticed the mosaic tilework all throughout the lobby. The lobby is done in cherry wood, deep winey velvets, and chandeliers. It looks something more 19th century than anything.
As I turn right to head down the stairs to the water closet, I notice a statue of a bear. Nice, a little frightening maybe. (kidding).
Down the stairs into the immaculate marble bathroom, I was impressed. After all, I had been in Europe for a few weeks, and bathrooms come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and suprises!
Leaving the hotel to go back to my table across the cobblestone path, I wondered what it would be like to be checking into a hotel as glamorous as this. To stay in Carcassonne, and do a little more imagining and a little more exploring. And feeling like Marie Antoinette in the process. It would be nice. ***sigh*** Although, I don't dwell on that for but a minute. After all, I am going back to my uncle's 250 year old farm house to stay. I don't think you can get any more "french" than that.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
TRAVELJAM
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Location: Pacific Northwest
Reviews written: 61
Trusted by: 49 members
About Me:
Love to travel and write about it!!!
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