42 Rue Victor Hugo

Eating

Although you can stay on a room-only or self-catering basis, we'd recommend making a long weekend of your visit, and booking an Indulgent Package. This includes all breakfasts (fresh seasonal fruit, yoghurt, freshly baked patisseries, bread and homemade jam, coffee and tea), dinner on one night, and cocktails and canapés on the night of your arrival.

Formally served in the hosts' apartment, the 4-course dinner is a real treat. It's a fab opportunity to get dressed up for a romantic soirée without having to leave the house. The meal starts with canapés and aperitifs in the salon - think foie gras with fig, or white bean purée with roasted red peppers, washed down with the house bellini (freshly squeezed peaches with blanquette de limoux). Then you adjourn to the dining room for the full works: starter (perhaps a tomato tartlet in summer or a pumpkin soup in autumn), main course (duck confit with Peter's own pommes pierre, or perch fillets in Noilly Prat sauce), local cheeses, and dessert (perhaps amaretto-roasted peaches with vanilla ice cream, or chocolate fondant with chantilly). Throughout you can expect fresh, locally sourced meat, fruit, vegetables and wine. Additional dinners can be arranged, although Peter and Debrah will obviously need advance notice.

If you want to self cater, the well-equipped kitchenettes in the Apartment and Mezzanine come loaded with treats (fruit, snacks, biscuits), for you to help yourself to at any time, as well as cooking essentials (electric hob, fridge freezer, microwave, pans, utensils, condiments etc).

There are lots of great restaurants and eateries in the Cité for lunch, most of which claim to serve "the best cassoulet in town". This is Carcassonnes's hearty signature dish: a mix of sausage, pork and duck served in a hotpot of haricot beans. Alternatively you can buy sandwich ingredients and make lunch in your kitchenette.

A good dinner option is Le Petit Couvert (18 rue de l'Aigle d'Or). The menu soir includes a wide range of starters (salads, seafood, charcuterie), a fish or meat dish, dessert, and a quart (250ml) of local wine.