Area of Aude, Corbières, Languedoc

Department - Aude (11) - The heart of the Cathare world. With Carcassonne as the capital. An area with rich historical importance, located between the sea and mountains

Feuilla houses the largest collection of Cactus plants in Europe

Local Markets

Port Leucate 

The village of Feuilla  

France Languedoc

France Departments

Village of Lagrasse

Canal du Midi

Places To Visit

The Beaches:

• Peyriac-de-Mer a fishing village on the bank of the lagoon. Drive slowly, and admire the view. Part of the lagoon has been declared a nature reserve, and this is a good place for spotting flamingos, herons, storks, and other maritime birds. The smaller Etang de Doul, near Peyriac, has the notable feature of being 43% salt ... comparable to the Dead Sea! Swimming, or rather floating, in it is an interesting experience. A delightful road from Peyriac-de-Mer takes you along the narrow strip of land between the shore and the salt marshes to:
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• Bages is a picturesque fishing village on a steep rocky outcrop overlooking the Etang de Bages with its transient population of pink flamingos and other waterfowl. There is no longer much commercial fishing here, but it is increasingly popular with holidaymakers.
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• Sigean the kingdom of pink flamingos, egretrs and seagulls, the Bages and Sigean lake covers an area of 13,600 acres. A natural expanse of water trapped between dunes and marshes, the sea and the plain. This is the home of the popular Réserve Africaine (safari park), founded in 1974. Absolutely unmissable if you have children, its 300 hectares (660 acres) next to the lagoon are home to more than 3000 animals, reptiles and birds of about 160 different species, most but not all from the African plains.
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• Port-la-Nouvelle is a popular resort with miles of sandy beaches, lots of entertainments during the summer. However as it’s also an industrial port you have to first go past some rather unsightly refinery buildings before getting to the beach. Once there however the beach is lovely. Great for kids. Explore the beaches around Sigean (2.5km from lagoon), Bages and Peyriac-de-Mer.
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• Gruissan  a village, port and beach rolled into one. The port is only recently built but is lively and friendly. Along the beach there are some strange chalets on piles used for location shots for the odd French film. Great for sun-bathing or wind-surfing on either the lake or sea. Nice sandy beach with little cafes on the beach and nearby.
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• La Franqui to the north of Cap Leucate, protected from the wind by that rare event on this coast, a cliff, and shaded by pinewoods, is La Franqui, a small bathing resort 4 km from Leucate village. This is the oldest resort on this part of the coast, and the beach is lined with splendid thirties villas adorned with balconies, their large windows looking out over the sea. From the headland above La Franqui there are stunning views over the coast and the Mediterranean itself; it is a popular spot for walking and mountain biking, particularly in spring when the limestone outcrops are covered with flowers. It is also about the only place on the coast where you can go hang-gliding.
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• Narbonne Plage  a little resort at the foot of the Montaggne de la Clapoe on a strip of sand only 500m wide. Seafront of no particular interest but at one end of the resort there is a small 600 berth marina. There is also a nearby water amusement part Aquajet, which is fine but nothing special. More suited to younger children than adventurous teenagers or adults!

Nearby main towns:

• Perpignan is first and foremost a Catalan city. Nestling between mountain and sea, the economic cultural capital of Rousillon. The city was born of the meeting between Mediterranean civilizations and is today strongly influenced by Barcelona, capital of the new Catalonia. Its boisterous students, sunny, palm –lined squares and good food and wine make it a great place to visit.
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• Carcassonne the city’s drawbridges, machicolations and 52 towers can be visited on foot, by train or in an open carriage. It was this fortified city that provided Walt Disney with the inspiration for the castle in his version of The Sleeping Beauty. Carcassonne is world famous and unique in terms of its architectural heritage. The lower town, with its lovely 13th-C bastion is also worthy of a visit.
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• Narbonne pleasant to wander around the town with its historic remains, in the shade of the plane trees, through narrow winding streets, along the bank of the Canal de la Robin. Also has a great indoor market open daily full of fresh local produce and great smells. Local Corbières wine en vrac. Also a superb Olympic sized swimming pool (50m long), an 85m flume and an Ice Rink, all at the Espace Liberte.

The Cathare chateaux - this chain of ruined fortresses stand on the top of limestone outcrops and can barely be distinguished from the rocks on which they were built 600 years ago. These strongholds overlook dizzying sheer drops and offer superb views over the surrounding garrigues and sun drenched vineyards.

Chateau de Queribus a 10 min. climb to the top. On a clear day you can see the Pyrenees and the sea.

Chateau de Termes, Chateau de Peyrepertuse After a stiff 20 min. climb you reach the Chateau de Corbières. From the top of the San Jordy rock there is an exceptional panoramic view of the surrounding area.

Chateau de Puilaurens - excursions on foot or horseback.

Local companies offer excursions into the Cathare country following in the footsteps of the Bonhommes exploring the range of landscapes, criss-crossing the magnificent countryside.

Activities

In the villages:

Tennis, Children’s playground, Walking, Cycling, Wine Tasting (2 Caves in the Village) 4 more within 6 kms Plus you can always challenge the villages to a game of Petanque!

Within 30 minutes: Paragliding, Windsurfing, Sailing, Walking, Cycling (off and on road), Climbing, Bird Watching, Golf, Swimming, Wine tasting, Haute cuisine and casual dining, 4WD tours, Fishing

Within 1 – 2 hours: Canoeing, White water rafting, Gorge walking, Skiing.

The wide, sandy beach of Leucate-Plage. La Franqui--famous for its windsurfing. Other good beaches are at Narbonne-Plage and Port La Nouvelle.

 

There are a large number of Cathare castles in the region--the best are at Peyrepertuse and Queribus.

 

Fontfroide Abbey is possibly the finest Cistercian building in the region.

 Lagrasse has a Benedictine
abbey is a wonderful town to 'browse' or to go swimming in the river.

 

There are wine co-operative in most of the villages and another at the next and another at the next……….!!

 

Aqualand at Port Leucate has water slides etc. for the children and an evening   funfair in high season.
Narbonne has a leisure centre with indoor-outdoor pool slides.

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2005