Le Tresor

London meets Languedoc at this hip hideaway in the hills south of Carcassonne

From the outside, Le Trésor has quintessentially southern French good looks; a triple-storied maison de maître with green shuttered windows looking out onto the sleepy village square of Sonnac-sur-l'Hers. But once you step inside Will and Tilly's occitan bolthole, languid Languedoc takes second seat to spare, urbane chic, with a decorative accent which is resolutely Noughties.

The house's original features - an elegant bannistered staircase, pannelling and marble fireplaces - are still in place, but they have been pepped up with a racy cocktail of contemporary prints and fabrics, jazzy chandeliers, angular lamps and whirly art. But if the decorative attitude is edgy, that of your hosts is engagingly laid-back and you're encouraged to treat Le Trésor as you would your own home. Grab a glass of rouge from the honesty bar, slip on a CD and slump into one of the battered leather armchairs: this is boutique B&B where R&R comes guaranteed.

Highs

• Rooms and food are exceptionally good value
• You couldn't hope to meet more friendly, more helpful hosts: nothing is too much trouble for Will and Tilly
• Sonnac is well off the tourist trail yet is an easy drive from some of Languedoc's prettiest villages
• Le Trésor is ideal for families with young kids

Lows

• There's little to see or do in this workaday little village - but that's half the attraction, and the surrounding hills are beautiful, with views of distant Pyrenees
• Expect to hear passing traffic as well as the comings and goings of the other guests
• Some of the spare, rough-cut furnishing balances a fine line between interesting-looking and piecemeal