The Retreat

A pretty old stone building located in the middle of Magical Assignan, within walking distance of a souvenir/coffee shop, 3 good restaurants (including a fantastic Thai restaurant) and a bar located at the hotel in the village. Enjoy a stylish experience at this centrally-located place. There are wine tasting tours available to book at Castigno Wine Cave; bicycle hire is available from the nearby hotel. Free car parking, with charging point for electric cars. The space At La Retraite, you will be renting an entire apartment, with a double bedroom, kitchen and living room, and a bathroom with freestanding bath and shower attachment. In the warmer months, the wooden shutters and windows are kept closed to keep the heat out and there are fans in the accommodation. With the thick stone walls as well, it does remain fairly cool as long as shutters and windows are kept closed. However, if you prefer air conditioning, then this apartment is not for you. If you want to enjoy your morning coffee al fresco, or enjoy a glass of wine in the evening, there are tables and chairs outside, where you can sit and enjoy a drink while watching the world go by! The property is located in the middle of the village, so it's within easy reach of what the village has to offer. There are 3 very good restaurants: La Petite Table, which offers a good menu and tables outside in the main square, as well as indoors; Maison Robert (which is situated just behind La Petite Table); and Le Thai de Castigno, which is a fabulous Thai restaurant with seating inside and outside in a stunning garden. All of these restaurants are extremely popular, so advance booking is advisable to avoid disappointment. If you wish to sample the local organic Castigno wines, you can book wine tasting and tours through the Castigno bureau (located next to the public car park). Further afield, we have Roquebrun which is approximately 25 minutes drive away. Roquebrun is situated on the river Orb, where there are beaches and good swimming areas. Also there is kayaking and water boarding available to hire. Some good restaurants too, and, of course, the famous Jardin Méditerranéen, which is well worth a visit! The nearest market town is Saint Chinian, which has a range of shops, bars and restaurants, and there are weekly markets held in the main square on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. There is so much more besides and there are plenty of swimming rivers nearby too if you just want a dip in the cool clear waters. But if a sandy seaside is what you prefer, the nearest Mediterranean beach is approximately 40 minutes drive from here.