Fodor's Expert Review Domaine d'Auriac

Minutes away from Carcassonne, this seriously elegant 19th-century manor has one of the best restaurants in the region, and the entire building oozes grace and old-world charm; rooms vary in size, with the largest of them offering views over a magnificent park and vineyards. Next to a terrace planted with mulberry trees, a Michelin-starred chef prepares superlative regional cuisine, which is served in a Provençal-style salon festooned with copper pots. Here you can savor truffled pigeon, John Dory in blueberry wine, and game dishes (in season), accompanied by rare regional vintages. If you need a break from formality, dine in the casual Bistrot D'Auriac—or take advantage of the year-round golf.