Five-Star Carcassonne, Châteaux & Vineyards

Gathering at London St Pancras, we meet our Tour Manager and fellow travellers ready to board the Eurostar to Paris. Travelling in Standard Premier Class, we enjoy a light meal at our seats on the way to the French capital. We continue by high-speed rail in First Class, travelling south through the heart of the picturesque French countryside to Toulouse. The Occitan capital is known as 'La Ville Rose' due to the proliferation of pink-hued buildings in its historic centre.

On arrival at Toulouse Matabiau station this evening, we board a coach for an efficient transfer to our delightful destination, Carcassonne. Our hotel for the next six nights is the elegant five-star Hotel du Roi & Spa by Sowell, on the banks of the River Aude. We stay in deluxe rooms with private terraces, offering outstanding views of the medieval walled city. Besides its stunning location, the hotel has excellent facilities including a peaceful spa and swimming pool. On arrival tonight, we get to know each other over a three-course dinner in our hotel restaurant.

• Dinner
• Eurostar light meal

After breakfast at our elegant hotel, we explore the fabulous walled city of Carcassonne on a guided tour. Unsurprisingly - with its beautifully restored slate roofs, pointed towers and fortified walls - this medieval citadel is listed as a World Heritage site. Crossing the ancient bridge over the former moat feels like stepping back in time to romantic medieval France. Our tour includes entrance to Château Comtal, the hilltop castle within the walls, which houses a fascinating museum.

Our tour concludes at lunchtime, and the rest of your day is free. You could continue exploring the citadel, visit the Gothic Basilique Saint-Nazaire with its exquisite stained-glass windows or walk along the ramparts for views of the surrounding countryside. There are also restaurants set in a shady square within the citadel walls. Just across the Pont Vieux is the newer part of town where our hotel is based. There you'll find attractive squares, an arts museum, independent boutiques, cafés and restaurants. A stroll along the Canal du Midi is another lovely way to soak up the atmosphere of this spellbinding city.

• Breakfast

Once an important Roman port, we travel by coach to ancient Narbonne after breakfast. On a tour of this charming city, we discover a main square overlooked by a spectacular but unfinished Gothic cathedral before we enter Les Halles. This historic indoor food market is a feast for the senses as stalls abound with fine produce, including locally grown olives, tapenade, cured meats and cheeses.

We move on to view the Robine Canal, lined with pretty promenades, and an exposed section of the Via Domitia Roman Road, then see the grand courtyards of the Archbishop's Palace. After our tour you are free to explore independently - one option is to visit the fascinating cathedral or relax in its peaceful and shady cloister.

Back at our hotel in Carcassonne this evening, we sit down to enjoy a traditional cassoulet dinner, a hearty stew of pork and duck cooked with haricot beans.

• Breakfast, Dinner

The spectacular Châteaux de Lastours is our destination after breakfast. The Cathars were a religious sect who flourished in the areas around Carcassonne between the 12th and 14th centuries. Challenging the authority of the Catholic Church, their beliefs blended Christianity and eastern religions. Our first stop is Belvedere viewpoint where we admire stunning panoramas of four Cathar fortresses, set among an evocative landscape of rocky hills and valleys.

These historic castles were a place of refuge for the Cathars during the religious persecutions of the 13th century. From here we can either follow one of the marked routes up to the ruined castles or, as the terrain along the path is uneven, enjoy a slide show in English on the history of the Cathar castles. There is also a café, an ideal place to appreciate this special viewing spot of the castles.

After free time, we make our way to a traditional auberge in the scenic Minervois wine region and enjoy a delicious four-course lunch accompanied by local wine. The evening is free in Carcassonne for you to dine independently.

• Breakfast, Lunch

A journey into the Pyrenean foothills awaits after breakfast as a coach takes us to historic Mirepoix for the town's celebrated weekly market. With the impressive cathedral in its centre, the wonderfully preserved market square is lined by colourful half-timbered medieval houses. It is here we encounter the captivating aromas, the sound of lively trading and local performers evoking a sense of medieval times.

You're free to explore the market at your own pace and to sample fresh, regional produce or purchase homemade crafts and local wine. While you're exploring the town, you may like to visit the Gothic-style Cathedral of Saint Maurice, the former Bishop's Palace, and the Porte d'Aval - the only remaining part of Mirepoix's original 14th-century fortifications.

During our return journey to Carcassonne, we take the scenic route into picturesque French countryside, travelling through the charming villages of Chalabre, Puivert, Nébias, Quillan and Limoux, passing forested hills and ruined castles set in verdant woodland. Back in Carcassonne this evening, you can dine independently on fine French cuisine or local specialities at a restaurant of your choosing.

• Breakfast

After a leisurely breakfast at our hotel, we are taken by coach to the noble Château de Pennautier, 15 minutes' drive away. Built in the 17th century, this golden-hued stately home is set within beautiful French-style gardens, and its trailing vines have been cultivated by ten generations of the Lorgeril family.

On arrival, we are given a guided tour of the castle, the King's chamber, and grounds, before we enjoy a highlight of our holiday. Stepping into the château's wine cellar, we are taken on a guided tour of the production room and savour a tasting of the château's wines. This is followed by a delicious three-course lunch served in a rustic restaurant converted from a former sheepfold. Our meal is accompanied by pairings produced in the château's vineyards.

We return to our hotel mid-afternoon and our afternoon and evening is at leisure to enjoy the sights of Carcassonne's walled city as dusk descends or perhaps to revisit a favourite restaurant.

• Breakfast, Lunch

Leaving our five-star Carcassonne hotel after breakfast, we transfer to Toulouse by coach and continue by First Class train to Paris. As the changing scenery rolls past our windows, there's time to reflect on our time embracing the charms of medieval France. From our luxurious base close to the enchanting fortress of Carcassonne we have viewed breathtaking castles with histories shrouded in mystery, enjoyed tours of Narbonne and Mirepoix's celebrated market, savoured lunch and a wine tasting at a gorgeous château and visited some of this beautiful area's most attractive towns and villages.

In Paris, we join the Eurostar service to London, travelling in Standard Premier Class with a light meal served at our seats. Arriving back at St Pancras, we say a fond farewell to our Tour Manager, fellow travellers and new friends, with whom we have shared these incredible memories.

• Breakfast
• Eurostar light meal