Mr & Mrs Smith

42 rue Victor Hugo

Languedoc-Roussillon , France

Nothing as crass as a neon sign denotes you’ve arrived at this boutique guesthouse. Just follow your nose, through the centre of the ville basse, to number 42, and hopefully Peter will be there to let you in. With only two suites and one bedroom, it feels more as though you’ve come to stay with urbane ex-pats who’ve swapped glamorous lives in advertising for relaxed bon vivant in Carcassonne. Your mini-kitchen will be stocked with enough goodies for you to feel loved, but if you’re smart you’ll take Peter up on an offer of supper. His season- and market-led meat and fish creations are homecooked and delicious. Slate bathrooms and Smeg-kitted mini-kitchens add gusto, with Farrow & Ball shades injecting a little city-slickness to this 18th-century townhouse.

Need to know

• Rates information £110–£130 a night, from £545 a week.
• Ideal for Couples.
• Sleeps Two in each apartment.
• Property style Original features such as parquet flooring, moulded ceilings, carved wooden doors and marble fireplaces have been brought to life in this centuries-old townhouse.
• Grounds There’s no outdoor space, but you’re a walk from the banks of the Canal du Midi.
• Minimum hire Three nights.
• Children Suitable for a couple with a young baby, or older children, but otherwise this is a pad for grown-ups.
• Booking process A 15 per cent deposit is taken on booking. The full balance is payable one month before arrival.
• Also No smoking, no pets.

Floor plan

• There are two stylish self-contained apartments and one huge bedroom within this one-floored property in a charming hôtel particulier.
• Bedrooms

  In the Apartment Suite, the bedroom is accessed through grand double doors and has a 400-thread-count-clad king-size bed with duck-down duvet.
  The Mezzanine Studio Suite also has a super king-size bed on an upper level. They both have power showers, fluffy towels and bathrobes.

• Kitchen The stylish open-plan kitchenettes include a fridge, ceramic hob and microwave grill.
• Living room As well as the stylish and spacious shared sitting room, the main room in the Apartment Suite is huge, with an original parquet floor and carved marble fireplace. Two enormous windows open out over the street. In the Mezzanine Studio Suite, the open-plan kitchen and living space are downstairs.
• Dining room There is a big dining room table in the communal dining room in the main apartment area which is where Peter lives.
• Gardens There is no outdoor space attached to the property as you are in the centre of Carcassonne.
• Private parking There’s no on-site parking available, but you can leave your car on the surrounding streets or in the car park 200m away. An underground car park is available after a five-minute drive.