This year we’re lucky enough to have the Tour de France on our doorstep again – 10 years since I wrote this post about the Tour passing my front door!
As one of the most popular events in the sporting calendar and the increasing numbers of cyclists travelling from around the globe, with the event also coinciding with school holiday season across Europe, it can be tricky to find somewhere to stay.
To help budding Tour de France fans out, here are our top picks from our properties in locations that put you close to the action on the Stages 16, from Gruissan to Nîmes which passes through Beziers, Pezenas, and other popular towns and villages in Occitanie! If you want to get close to the teams, to check out their kit and get some snaps or maybe even some selfies, you should definitely plan spend the day in Gruissan where the riders have their rest day.
*All prices are subject to change. Check the individual villa pages for current prices.
For groups
If you’re planning a trip with friends and/or extended family here are two properties that are ideal for Tour de France fans!
Domaine Saint Hilarion, Pézenas
Located near Pézenas, an exceptionally charming town about one-third on the route of the 16th Etape of the 2024 Tour de France. The tour is set to pass through this lovely town between 2pm and 3pm on 16/07/2024.
Nestled among vineyards, this luxurious manor house, once the home of Napoleon’s celebrated general Baron Hilaire Reynaud, offers a perfect blend of history and modern comfort. The property features a bastide built in 1780 and an Art Deco wing from 1934, both meticulously renovated to house six or seven boutique hotel-style bedrooms, each with en-suite bathrooms and high-end amenities.
The outdoor space includes terraces, a heated infinity pool, and a 2-hectare park ideal for strolls or family fun. Wine enthusiasts can indulge in tours of the vineyard and winery, sample exquisite wines, and explore 175 acres of surrounding land, complete with biking trails.
Guests: 14 Bedrooms: 7 Bathrooms: 7
Prices*: £4,751 – £8,024
Visited by: Juliana
Maison Lautrec, Coursan
Located near Coursan, almost on the route near the beginning where the tour is set to pass between 1pm and 2pm.
This beautifully restored 18th-century house, once owned by the Toulouse Lautrec family, seamlessly blends original features with modern décor and is part of a former wine domaine. Located on a working wine estate, it offers tranquility and privacy within its gated grounds. The garden features a flat lawn, gravel paths, a pool with a retractable cover and mosaic lining, and a sunken seating area perfect for dining or relaxing.
The open-plan living area boasts a new kitchen with modern appliances, dining for ten, and a cozy TV space, all connected to the terrace and pool via sliding patio doors for seamless indoor-outdoor living. The first floor includes five bedrooms, three with en-suite bathrooms, and two sharing a family bathroom.
Guests: 10 Bedrooms: 5 Bathrooms: 4
Prices*: £2,639 – £3,379
Visited by: Caroline
For families
Here we’re sharing two properties that we think are perfect for cycling-mad families who want to get close to the Tour action but also make the most of their holiday to the South of France.
La Grange at Chateau Capitale, Gruissan
This luxurious Chateau domain in Gruissan where the 16th stage of the Tour de France 2024 will start around 1pm – an excellent basis to not only see all the hubbub of the start but also glimpse the riders during the rest day the day before.
Perched on a hilltop surrounded by vineyards and overlooking a tranquil Mediterranean lagoon, Château Capitale is a magnificent estate set in 200 acres of unspoiled countryside in Languedoc, South of France. This luxury sanctuary near Gruissan offers a unique blend of traditional holiday options: the facilities of a luxury spa hotel, the practicality of villa rental, the authenticity of a working wine estate, and the attentive service of a private club.
Guests can choose between stylish rooms in the 19th-century Château, transformed into a four-star boutique hotel with eight elegant rooms and suites, a prestige spa, and fine dining, or the independence of 44 contemporary luxury self-catering villas in the hameau.
Guests: 4 Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 2
Prices*: £2,454 – £6,297
Visited by: Caroline
Villa Marie, Hérault
Located in Campagnan nearing the halfway mark of the 16th stage of the 2024 Tour de France, where the tour is set to pass around 3pm on the 16th of July 2024.
This beautiful and spacious Bastide offers a serene retreat in the Hérault valley, between Pézénas and Clermont-l’Hérault. The south-facing property features high-quality furnishings and equipment, a 1200 m² fully fenced garden with trees and flowers, and a private pool with an alarm and exterior shower.
The ground floor includes a large living room, kitchen, double bedroom, bathroom, and toilet, while the first floor comprises two double bedrooms (one with a baby bed), a twin bedroom, a bedroom with bunk beds, a bathroom, a shower room, and a toilet.
Guests: 10 Bedrooms: 5 Bathrooms: 3
Prices*: £1,900 – £2,851
Visited by: Juliana
For couples
Here are two of our smaller properties that are perfect for couples who love cycling and want the best of both worlds: a cosy retreat in the French countryside and easy access watch to the Tour de France!
Orchard House at Mas de Bonheur, Treviers
Near de Col de Fambetou, around two-thirds of the way in of the 16th étape of the 2024 Tour de France which is set to pass here around 4pm.
Le Mas de Bonheur is a charming holiday village featuring seven independent houses and a swimming pool nestled within 3 hectares of nature, just 30 minutes from Montpellier. Ideal for a weekend escape, this tranquil haven offers comfort and serenity in a picturesque setting.
Among the accommodations is The Orchard House, a cozy retreat with a shaded veranda, a living room with a fitted kitchen, a bedroom, and a mini bathroom, all surrounded by beautiful rose bushes. The village combines private gardens with communal spaces perfect for large gatherings
Guests: 2 Bedrooms: 1 Bathrooms: 1
Prices*: £488 – £621
Visited by: Caroline
Les Adorables Volets Verts, Pezenas
A charming apartment with a rooftop terrace in the town of Pézenas, at around one-third of the route, where the tour is planned to pass between 2pm and 3pm.
This beautifully restored village house in the heart of Pézenas offers a light and airy retreat with tasteful furnishings, ideal for a couple. Just steps from a variety of restaurants, cafes, shops, and the bustling Saturday market.
This 1-bedroom, 2-bathroom house features an open-plan kitchen, a comfortable lounge with TV and WiFi, and a double bedroom with high ceilings. The rooftop terrace provides total privacy for sunbathing, with stunning views over the rooftops of Pézenas.
Guests: 2 Bedrooms: 1 Bathrooms: 1
Prices*: £426 – £498
Visited by: Sander
Getting here
There are flights from the UK to the following South of France airports within an hour or two of the properties shown on this page:
- Carcassonne
- Beziers
- Montpellier
- Perpignan
Alternatively, you can travel by train, taking the Eurostar to Paris Gare de Lyon then continuing on a direct train to Beziers, or drive. For more details on our getting here page.
Find villa in one of our other popular locations
Cote d’Azur – Languedoc / Occitanie – Provence
image credit – PierreG_09, Flickr
