After that last beyond dreamy post celebrating the French countryside, I learned we are all longing for the lushness of summer to arrive and dreaming of a trip to the South of France!

Have you ever vacationed in that inspiring countryside? Provence immediately comes to mind, but there are beautiful destinations beyond Provence on my radar now. Ready to hear about a lovely vacation rental with palatial, classic French decor, at an equally lovely price point!?!

Welcome to a luxurious 1600’s French apartment rental known as La Suite Barbès in Carcassonne, France. Today, we’ll tour the interiors and also dig deeper with the owner who renovated the high quality historical apartment. It recently received four stars in an official inspection based on its interiors and façade.

There are actually two renovated luxurious French apartments (here’s the other possibility) to consider for a stay in Carcassonne from the author of  the beyond lovely blog Taste of France, who just happens to be a reader of Hello Lovely. Oui, oui, madame. I bow to you gracious Hello Lovely followers whom I treasure and shall never take for granted…and yesindeedy, I’m referring to YOU! (My fingers just typed “shall” so is the palatial mood rubbing off? Because mama will be trèssssssss heureux after spending time recently with her way-less-than-dignified beach bum daughter!)

P.S. Speaking of beach bums, while on that road-trip getaway, my sister Jo received her DNA/genetic results, and I checked my own ancestry report only to discover an update with more accurate information about my ethnicity. Are we at all surprised to learn I am 41% French/Belgian/Swiss and 32% Irish/Scottish/Welsh? Isn’t it fascinating to discover more about our roots which may explain all sorts of mysterious longings?

Back to all things classic French decor! Versailles-style furnishings and formal decor inspire thoughts of Marie Antoinette and Ritz Paris (4-figures minimum for a night’s stay, anyone?) so what a thrill to discover a palatial apartment with a friendly price point ($121 at the time of this posting)!

Let’s travel to France to explore a charming vacation rental with classic French decor, La Suite Barbès

Photos/Source: unless otherwise noted, Taste of France

Luxurious French Apartment {Let’s Stay Here!}

Where is this vacation rental apartment known as La Suite Barbès?

In the city of Carcassonne. This grand palatial French apartment, now available to rent on Airbnb is a floor above street level, a block from Place Carnot in the heart of the Bastide Saint Louis, near la Cité.

Is the luxurious French apartment La Suite Barbès right for your needs?

If you will be traveling to the area, it’s a terrific value at $121 per night (this includes taxes, so no extra fees!). It is perfect for a couple seeking elegance and authenticity as it is decorated with antiques and Versailles-style carved decorations. With 1,033 square feet (96m2), the beautiful apartment includes a fully equipped kitchen, a spacious living room (with balcony!!), a huge bedroom (377 square feet/35 m2!!) with balcony, and a bright bathroom with Italian shower.

Highlights of La Suite Barbès

Huge antique mirrors above the marble fireplaces echo the elaborately carved boiseries that top the chimneys. The space is generous; even the WC is big. This is the dream destination for those who want to experience the life of French elegance and grace, steeped in history while enjoying all the modern conveniences, such as an induction stovetop. The apartment also boasts a private entrance and a washing machine.

I don’t know about you, but I am ready to pack my bags to head to this palatial French apartment rent!al Let’s tour more of the interiors, and then meet the owner, renovator, and blogger at one of the planet’s best blogs, Taste of France.

I’m ready to book my stay here…how about you? In the mean time, we can experience French living in Carcassonne through the lens of Taste of France, where we are treated to authentic glimpses and tastes of beauty and mystery.

Hello Lovely Interview With Taste of France

HL: I’m a huge fan of Taste of France and am always stirred by your stories and photos. What can you tell me about this particular photo posted on your blog (above) which takes my breath away and ignites my imagination?

TOF: As for the photo, it’s a little refuge or boat house along the Canal du Midi that I pass numerous times a week. There’s a fabulous view of la Cité de Carcassonne just across from it. It doesn’t seem to be inhabited, at least not in the 15 years that I’ve known it. It’s covered with vines that turn a blazing color in the fall. I don’t know who Odette might have been to have had such a cute little house named after her. However, it always makes me think of Odette de Crécy, a major character in “In Search of Lost Time,” by Marcel Proust. Catherine Deneuve played her in the movie based on the book. It took me three years to read all the tomes of “In Search of Lost Time.” It was like savoring a very high-quality chocolate–so rich and dense you had to take the time for it. Which is very French indeed.

HL: For those of us who may be traveling to the South of France for the first time, where should we stay?

TOF: If I were traveling here for the first time, I would stay in Carcassonne, not in a village. Villages are pretty small, and the list of things to do is ticked off rather quickly. They are adorable, and worth wandering around, but many don’t have any restaurants or cafés, and most have only one or two. So you’d get bored pretty quickly. 

HL: How did you find these beautiful apartments in Carcassonne?

TOF: We looked for over a year for apartments to turn into AirBnB rentals. We wanted something in the “new” town (which dates to 1260; the “old” town dates to 900 or so). We wanted a beautiful building; there are many places that have low ceilings or little natural light. We got not only high, high ceilings, but also original tile floors and incredible decorative moldings.

HL: How did you arrive at the decor plan?

TOF: We chose to decorate with antiques, because (1) that’s what we do in our home and (2) other AirBnBs tend to be furnished with the same Ikea furniture—whether around France or around the world. We want a visitor to walk in and know that they are in France. We want them to feel like they’re in a palace, but without the intrusion of staff. We want them to feel like they’re staying in a home, a place that they could imagine as their own home.

HL: Tell us about the renovations of your apartments.

TOF: The renovations took a year and were supervised by the Bâtiments de France, which are the French historical protection authorities. So we couldn’t just renovate at will. We were told where we were allowed to put bathrooms and kitchens, and even the color of the shutters. I see that not everybody follows the rules, but even our windows were custom-made to match the old ones. On the AirBnB listings, I see plenty of cheap fake-wood floors and dropped ceilings for more easily running electricity lines in buildings with solid stone walls. The city has a hard time policing the people who do renovations themselves and don’t get a building permit.

HL: What did you learn about yourself as a result of the renovation process?

TOF: What I learned during the renovation was a new respect for the French. I always have been a francophile, since I first read Madeline as a little girl. But the care, precision and craftsmanship of the local artisans astounded me. One hears so many horror stories about contractors, but these guys were such professionals, and true artists, full of passion for their work. I have seen the same kind of perfectionism in so many areas, from winemaking to cheesemaking and more. But a painter of walls gives his subjects as much care and precision as a painter of canvases. It was impressive.

HL: Thank you so much for being our guest, offering your properties for rent, and inspiring us not only with your beautiful blog, but with your gracious spirit of hospitality and authenticity–it is oh so rare and lovely.

What an honor to get to know Taste of France better and entertain the idea of staying in one of their properties in Carcassonne!

Here is the listing on Airbnb should you decide to book a stay here!

and here is Taste of France’s other vacation rental to consider.

I have yet to travel to the South of France…anyone care to join me?

Care to tour a 12th Century Villa?

I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.

Peace to you right where you are.

-michele

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