Hostel

Sidsmums Travellers Retreat

Carcassonne, FranceView map9.44km from city centre

Free WiFi
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About

If you are looking for a peaceful stay in the beautiful countryside then Sidsmums is the place for you. Sidsmums is a family run backpackers situated in the tiny, unique medieval village of Preixan just 10kms outside the famous Cite of Carcassonne. A 1€ bus service connects Carcassonne and Preixan supplemented with a 1€ train to nearby village. We welcome guests who are looking to relax, read, walk, cycle or meet up with other like minded people. We provide a fully equipped kitchen for you to cater for yourself, a lounge, sunny garden and veranda terrace to relax and full information on the surrounding region if you want to get out there and explore. We have a selection of FREE to use bikes to explore the Cathar Aude region

HOSTELWORLD OVERALL RATING 9.8 Superb (340 reviews)
AUGUST 2013 '100% I have stayed in many hostels all over the world, and this was by far my favourite. At Sidsmums i was able to stop and breathe. And never before have I been so warmly welcomed. Tracy and Peter are so incredibly passionate about making sure this is a wonderful experience for all. Tracy kindly picked me up and dropped me off at the train station when I needed. Peter also saved the day and picked me (and my bike) up when I got lost. I was really sad to say goodbye and cant wait to return some day x ' AUSTRALIA

28th Apr 2017 10.0
The room, facilities, location -- everything was just as expected. But Peter and Tracy went above and beyond to make sure that we had a great stay. From going out of their way to get us to the hostel the first night (since we arrived late and the buses had stopped), to saving us when we were stranded in the rain (without even having to ask) -- they're special people who love what they do, it's a beautiful place, and I wholeheartedly recommend Sidsmums for your stay in the Carcassonne area.

30th May 2017 10.0
Best hostel stay I've had in Europe! Peter and Tracy are caring hosts who know the surrounding area very well, recommended some great things to do and made sure that I was well equipped with the bus/train information to get around. The location is beautiful and the facilities are top-notch. A stay at Sidsmums feels like staying with old friends. I'd visit again in a heartbeat.

House Rules

Check In

14:00 - 23:00

Check Out

until 10:00

Credit Cards Accepted
No Curfew
Pet Friendly
Taxes Not Included

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Facilities

Free Parking
Free City Maps
Free WiFi
Free Internet Access
Bicycle Parking
Airport Transfers
Luggage Storage
Parking

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Location

11 Chemin de la Croix d'Achille, Preixan, Carcassonne, France

9.4km from city centre

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About Carcassonne

7.9Very Good(42 Reviews)

Activities

8.5

Eating out

8.4

Shopping

7.0

Chilling out

8.0

Transport

6.9

Sightseeing

9.2

Culture

9.2

Nightlife

5.7

Value for Money

8.1

About Carcassonne

Carcassonne has a reputation as France's fairytale town. The Cité Médiévale, Carcassonne's walled hilltop fortress, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with 52 towers dotted along its restored ramparts. Behind them, there are twisting stone lanes full of quirky buildings dating back over 600 years. There are also plenty of vineyards near the city where you can go for a wine tasting.

Many hostels in Carcassonne have an outdoor space where you can have dinner or simply hang out. One hostel even shares its courtyard with a 13th-century castle. If you come in summer, find a Carcassonne hostel with a garden pool to cool off in or laze in an indoor Jacuzzi. Ask your hostel if they have bikes: some lend them out free of charge. Then, to find your way, download a map using the free Wi-Fi or pick up a free city map.

Carcassonne is divided into La Cité Médiévale (the hilltop fortress) and La Ville Basse (lower Carcassonne). At the centre of La Cité is the Château Comtal, a medieval castle open for visits. To avoid crowds, save your visit for the evening when quiet streets add to the romance. Across the River Aude, La Ville Basse is also a bustling place. Rue de Verdun is the central street where you can pick up pastries and hunt for antiques. Just outside Carcassonne is the Montagne Noire mountain range, where ancient villages teeter above gorges while rivers rumble below.

The sights of Carcassonne are best seen by simply wandering. You can fill up on café and croissants in Place Carnot in La Ville Basse. On Saturdays, the square transforms into a food market showcasing the fresh produce of this fertile region. If you'd like to explore beyond the city, you can cycle down the Canal du Midi. Once you leave town, the banks turn green and trees provide plenty of shade. A 20-minute drive away, you'll find the atmospheric hilltop Châteaux de Lastours, four ancient Cathar castles, just above a small village.

Carcassonne Airport is an 11-minute drive out of town, although Toulouse Airport (an hour away by bus) has more international flights. If you're travelling from within France, Gare de Carcassonne, the train station, connects to most major cities and is an 8-minute walk from Place Carnot. The city itself is very compact so you can explore by foot, and in summer a novelty train links the Ville Basse with the Cité Médiévale.