The region has a rich history starting from the prehistory (grots and dinosaurs),
and medieval castles (former border between France and Spain), the historical
town of Carcassonne, the roman history of Narbonne (Via Domitian, oppidums,
Horreum), several abbeys, and the Canal du Midi (1)
which relies the Atlantic coast through Toulouse to the Mediterranean.
The towns of Carcassonne(2) (Unesco patrimonium) with
its famous medieval town and Narbonne (3) with its
rich roman history and museums must be seen.
Afterwards there are also several famous abbeys like Fontfroide
(4), Lagrasse (5) and Caunes
Minervois (12), the Cathar Castles (6) of Peyrepertusse,
Queribus, Termes, Villerouge Termenes, all surrounded by magnificent landscapes
offering panoramic views. Those who are intrigued by the mysterie of the «
Da Vinci Code» from Dan Brown must certainly visit the village of
Rennes le Château (11), Dan Brown has based his book on the biggest
mysterie of the Aude .
The villages of Gruissan (8),Minerve,
Bages, Leucate (7) and Lagrasse are worth a
visit too.
You can find books of all subjects in several languages in Montolieu
(9) the"book" village, and in Le somail (10)
with its antique library,
Amphoralis in Sallèles d'Aude is a roman pottery site where they still
produce pots and amphora's once used for wine transport.
More info and links :
(1) http://www.canalmidi.com
(2) http://www.carcassonne-tourisme.com
(3) http://www.mairie-narbonne.fr
(4) http://www.fontfroide.com
(5) http://www.lagrasse.com,
http://www.chanoines-lagrasse.com
(6) http://www.payscathare.com,
http://www.chateau-peyrepertuse.com
(7) http://www.tourisme-leucate.fr/
(8) with its "plage des chalets" beach of chalets know from the film"
37,2° le matin", the old village, surrounded by salt lakes has kept
its original charm and the tower Barberousse offers magnificent views. You can
also visit "les salins" where they produce salt and purchase several
types of salt for use in the kitchen or bath. http://www.gruissan-mediterranee.com
(9)the "books" village with several libraries and book shops, new
or second hand, visit la Manufacture, http://www.montolieu-livre.fr/
(10) pleasant village at the border of the Canal du midi and an antique library
containing literary treasures, tel 04 68 46 21 64
(11) it appears that here still lies the treasure found by the priest Sauniere,
who became rich all of a sudden and has build it's own paradise. It's a mysterious
place, different codes and signals are found in the church(where the devil is
hiding behind a baptismal font), Joseph and Maria each hold a child(did Jesus
have a twin brother?), the crusade goes in the opposite direction than the one
general applied in churches. Rennes le Château, a mysterious site ! http://www.renneslechateau.fr,,
(12) Besides the abbey, you can visit the marble quarry (2km outside the village
direction Trausse). The town owns its richness due to its famous pink marble
used in Versailles, the opera Garnier and the ’Arc de Triomphe in Paris
2. General culture
Certainly in the summer period each village has its fête
locale and vide grenier (flee market) and also
daily animations at the beaches. Music, art and danse
festivals like the Festival de Jazz in Conilhac, the
Sol y Fiesta in Leucate, Les Amplofolies, Les Abracagrasses in Lagrasse, ……
In Mayronnes, small Corbières village close to Lagrasse, you can visit
the "sentier sculpturel", a walk of about 2h in the "garrigue"
decorated with modern art sculptures, exposure between Easter and mid-August,
free entrance.
