An important conservation area for the natural environment and endangered animal species, the Sigean African Reserve, nestling on the edge of the Bages-Sigean lagoons, is home to nearly 900 mammals, 600 reptiles and 2,000 birds living in its 300 hectares in semi-captivity.

Open to the public throughout the year, the Sigean Reserve provides two ways to enjoy the space:

A trip of about an hour by car, passing through the African Bush, the Tibetan bear park, the lion park and the African savannah, where you can admire white rhinoceroses, zebra and Somalian donkeys, amongst others.

There's a walking circuit of about three hours, for adults and children to go in search of antelopes, ostriches and other animals of the African plain. In the course of your walk you can also find the chimpanzees' island, the vivarium and the Œil de Ca lake, dotted with pink flamingos and pink-backed pelicans...

Extensive 80 000 hectares, the Regional Natural Park of Narbonnaise in the Mediterranean, located in the east of the department of Aude, has a great diversity of landscape, ranging from lagoons and sandy beaches of the Mediterranean coast to vineyards and Garrigues Corbières, through the rocky escarpment of the massif of Clape.

Discover the park, magnificent views of our region http://static.zooomez.fr/tmp/pnrnm/index.html#Menus

It is a wild and preserved nature, rich of a remarkable biodiversity, that protects the Park of the Narbonnaise and its regional natural reserve. Consisting of lagoons, dunes, beaches, ancient salinas, pine forests and scrubland, the nature reserve of Saint Lucia, in the municipality of Port-la-Nouvelle, is one of the largest reserves located on the edge of the French coast. So many natural treasures to appreciate the time of a rejuvenating walk, along the paths and paths that crisscross this peaceful territory… A haven of peace also for many species of breeding or passing birds that appreciate the areas resting and nesting that constitute the ponds narbonnais.

With its seaside resorts like Narbonne-Plage, Gruissan-Plage and Leucate, the Narbonne Park in the Mediterranean is also an ideal destination to relax and indulge in many water activities !

At about fifteen kilometres from Narbonne, in the heart of a quiet vale in the Corbières, in a setting of cypress and pine trees, nestles the former Sainte-Marie de Fontfroide Abbey, a charming, picturesque ensemble founded at the end of the 11th century by Benedictine monks and affiliated with the Cistercian Order in 1145.

Admirably restored, this Cistercian monument is open to the public throughout the year, and can be seen in a guided tour of about an hour or during a themed tour... A great chance to appreciate some wonderfully serene places, such as the 12th-century abbey church, with modern stained glass windows, the cloister with Romanesque columns, the majestic, marble-columned chapter house, the buildings for monks and lay people, not forgetting the terraced gardens and the superb rose garden with no fewer than 2,500 rose bushes!

You can taste the AOP Corbières wines from the estate, and numerous cultural events take place here, from classical music concerts to exhibitions, as well as the Plant Festival in May.

Nestling at the heart of the Corbières Maritimes, in the Regional Natural Park of Narbonne in the Mediterranean, is the seaside resort of Leucate, which has a Blue Flag label, eight beaches and 18 kilometres of fine sand! A dream for lovers of relaxation and water sports...

A paradise for fans of board sports, Leucate and its little resort of La Franqui, full of retro charm, are great places to practise kitesurfing, sand yachting, windsurfing, stand-up paddle boarding and also kite-flying, thanks to the Tramontane wind which blows more than 300 days a year...

Leucate is also a typical village with a busy, lively square, a naturists' area, and a huge marina, Port-Leucate, which is one of the largest marinas in the European Mediterranean!

It is also a favoured spot for nature walks, like for example along the Cap Leucate cliffs, along Coussoles beach, listed by Natura 2000, or by the banks of Lake Salses-Leucate. Be sure to visit the Lake House (Maison de l'Étang), in the oyster-farming centre, which seeks to raise awareness of the natural heritage of Lake Salses-Leucate.

The high point of the board sports calendar is when the Mondial du Vent de Leucate-La Franqui takes place every year in the Easter holidays. As well as kitesurfing, windsurfing and stand-up paddle board competitions, there are numerous demonstrations and lots of entertainment!

The 2,500 year-old City of Art and History of Narbonne has a rich heritage; it was the capital of the Narbonne region of Gaul, the place where the Visigoth kings resided and the site of the Archbishops' palace. In the heart of the historic centre, two buildings, listed as Historic Monuments, merit a visit: the cathedral of Saint-Just-et-Saint-Pasteur and the Archbishops' Palace.

Unfinished, the 13th and 14th-century Narbonne cathedral has retained an absolutely spectacular choir; with 41-metre-high arches it is the highest Gothic choir in the south of France! The axial chapel is distinguished by a splendid 14th- century altarpiece in polychromatic stone. The Treasure Room reveals a rich collection of gold and silver artefacts, tapestries and liturgical objects. Afterwards, don't forget to take a stroll in the peaceful Gothic cloister, before heading off to the Archbishopric's garden, where you can admire the flying buttresses and the south tower of the cathedral as well as the façade of the new palace, at your leisure. The site of the Town Hall and the Museums of Art and Architecture, the Archbishops' Palace has a number of different areas which are open to visitors: the old palace, Romanesque in origin, the Gilles Aycelin keep, the new Gothic style palace and the Saint-Martial and Madeleine towers. Dating from the end of the 13th and beginning of the 14th centuries, the keep offers a panoramic view of Narbonne, the coast, the Corbières and the Pyrenees from its upper terrace!

Then there's nothing better than a coffee break at one of the café terraces in the lively Place de l'Hôtel de Ville, before resuming your walk towards the Canal de la Robine and its charming Promenade des Barques, where you can treat yourself to a ride in an electric boat.

Narbonne also has plenty to offer when it comes to museums, with its archaeological museum which houses a remarkable exhibition of Romanesque paintings, its Museum of Art and History, with substantial collections of fine and decorative art, its Museum of Masonry located in the ancient church of Our Lady of Lamourguier, and the house where Charles Trenet was born, which is now entirely dedicated to the famous "Singing Fool".

"Y'a d'la Joie" ("Joy is all around") sang Charles Trenet, and there is certainly joy at the end of August every year when the Trenet Festival takes place, celebrating French popular song with concerts, shows, bodegas and street art!

At the foot of the Corbières, in the commune of Salses-le-Château, stands a gem of Spanish military architecture: the fortress of Salses, fortifications built at the end of the 15th century by order of the Spanish Catholic royals, Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella of Castile, to protect the frontier between Spain and the kingdom of France...

Supposedly impregnable, this substantial fortified castle, modified by Vauban in 1691 and now open to the public throughout the year, reveals its former function through features typical of defensive architecture: ditches, escarpments, drawbridges, a keep, artillery towers, curtain walls and demi-lunes.

This exceptional site, listed as an Historic Building, regularly hosts exhibitions of work by contemporary artists.

Between sea and lagoons, in the heart of the Regional Natural Park of Narbonne in the Mediterranean, stands the old, circular village of Gruissan, overlooked by the Barberousse medieval tower. As well as its village with typical little streets, the commune of Gruissan has two marinas, and a pretty Blue Flag listed bathing resort two kilometres away. Endowed with beautiful fine sandy beaches, great for relaxing and water sports, the resort of Gruissan-Plage is also remarkable for its picturesque neighbourhood made up of 1,300 chalets on stilts...

Besides its numerous summer entertainments, in May every year there is a big festival in Gruissan, Les Festejades, lasting three days, where the public can enjoy concerts, brass bands and batucada groups in a party atmosphere.

Bearing the Blue Flag and Station Kid labels, the great seaside resort of Port-Barcarès, on the Pyrénées-Orientales coast, has an immense beach of fine sand which stretches over 8 km. In the summer, there are lots of water sports here for youngsters and grown-ups, especially water-skiing.

Also worthy of exploration is the Lydia, a liner which has stood on the sand since 1967. Now it is home to a casino, a restaurant and a disco, and nearby, along the beach, is the Allée des Arts, a walk featuring many contemporary sculptures ...

About fifteen kilometres to the east of Narbonne, City of Art and History, at the foot of the Clape mountain, in the Regional Natural Park of Narbonne in the Mediterranean, lies the seaside resort of Narbonne-Plage. Carrying the European Blue Flag label, the resort is appreciated for its long beach – no fewer than five kilometres of fine sand – which is great for relaxing, bathing, and for sports activities such as sailing, beach volleyball, jet-skiing, sand yachting, catamaran or sea kayak. There is also lots of entertainment in the summer at Narbonne-Plage, such as evening markets, open-air shows and traditional festivals...

For nature-lovers, the resort is a good starting point for rambles on the wild, unspoilt Clape massif.

Overlooking the archaeological excavation site of a Gallo-Roman potters' workshop, the Amphoralis Museum describes the history of pottery production in Sallèles-d'Aude, which lasted from the first century B.C. to the third century A.D.

In this museum, which is divided into four sections (production, firing, daily life and trade), you can learn about the business and daily life of these potters of Antiquity, who mass produced amphorae for transporting wine.

There is an outside walk, where you can see reconstructions of kilns and a dwelling, as well as a garden with more than 900 plants which existed in the Gallo-Roman period, to pleasantly round off your visit.

Nestling at the heart of the Corbières, the picturesque village of Lagrasse, classed amongst the most beautiful in France, makes a lovely picture, with its old humpback bridge over the Orbieu, its medieval houses, the remains of ancient ramparts and its abbey overlooked by an imposing bell tower. Before visiting the Abbey of St Mary of Orbieu, take a stroll in the medieval town, a place full of charm, where you can admire an old 14th-century covered market with stone pillars, art and craft shops, and a Gothic church listed as a Historic Monument.

Then on the opposite bank you can find the Benedictine Abbey of St Mary of Orbieu, founded in the 8th century, which was very prosperous in the past and had considerable intellectual influence. The courtyard of the old palace, the lower chapel, the cellar, the bakery, the sacristy, the north transept, the pre-Romanesque tower, the monks' dormitory, the Chapel of St Bartholomew, the Master of Cabestany's room and the guards' room are all fascinating sights to see during your visit to the medieval part of town, which belongs to the General Council of Aude.

Situated thirty kilometres form the Spanish border, Perpignan, city of Art and History, retains from its past as the former continental capital of the kingdom of Majorca an historic centre of harmonious architecture, predominantly in the Gothic style.

Constructed at the end of the 14th century, then modified under Louis XI, the celebrated Castillet, the terrace of which gives an uninterrupted view over the roofs of the city, is the symbol of Perpignan. Once you have passed through the imposing fortified entrance, stroll along the little streets of shops, then set off to discover the treasures of the old town: the 14th-18th century Cathedral of St John the Baptist, topped with a wrought-iron bell tower, the choir of which has a 17th century marble altarpiece and whose Devout Christ chapel holds a 14th century woodcarving of Christ; the old funeral cloister of Saint-Jean from the beginning of the 14th century - the Campo Santo - the largest and oldest of this type in France; the Place de la Loge with its remarkable Gothic style building, the Loge de Mer; a palace-fortress of the Kings of Majorca from the 13th and 14th centuries, and its gardens overlooking the town; the forecourt of the Town Hall with its bronze statue by the sculptor Maillol, "La Méditerranée"...

You can also enjoy a moment of relaxation, ambling around the heart of the Bir Hakeim square or along the majestic Promenade des Platanes, with its many statues.

The Castillet, which was a gateway to the town then a state prison before being classed as an Historic Building in 1889, is now home to a museum which traces the history of North Catalonia from Antiquity to the present day.

Each year, around 23 April, the festival of Sant Jordi, the patron saint of Catalonia, is celebrated. Place Gambetta is transformed into a real open air bookshop, where the book is given pride of place by of publishers, writers and booksellers. Full of things to see and do, this special day is also that of the rose, which has been celebrated here since the 15th century!

The birthplace of Pierre-Paul Riquet, founder of the Canal du Midi, Béziers combines its age-old architecture with the beauty of the Orb, Hérault's emblematic river. A majestic monument, cherished by architecture-lovers, towers over its waters: the Cathedral of St. Nazarius, built in the 13th century. This Gothic fortress dominating the city is uniquely original. You could be forgiven for thinking you were visiting a castle! And yet the machicolations above the rose window, and the arrowslits beside the towers and turrets are only a decoy: this display was a way for the Catholic faith to assert its dominance over the Cathar heresy. Other original features await visitors inside. The carved wooden doors set in recesses in the stone are also a kind of optical illusion. They are actually never opened because of the wind, which could sweep away anything in its path.

To admire a breathtaking view of the whole of Béziers, head to the Bishop's Palace Garden (Jardin de l'Évêché) downhill from the cathedral. There you can enjoy a unique view over the Orb Plain and the city's bridges, which seem to spring from the ground. Take a stroll in the city centre along its cobbled, narrow streets. You will probably come across other treasures hidden between the old buildings, like the statue of Pépézuc, a mythical Béziers figure said to have saved the city from invaders during the Hundred Years War. Another curiosity: Béziers' old Roman arena. Unlike its counterpart in Nîmes, it is inhabited by locals. Above the ruins stand colourful residential buildings, a wonderful blend of past and present. However, visits must be arranged in advance as you cannot go in and out freely.

To get away from the urban hustle and bustle, take a trip to Béziers' old cemetery, which has echoes of Père-Lachaise in Paris. You can walk among the sculptures, cypress trees and graves, some of which are seemingly vying to be the most eccentric: unusual typography, elegant statues and other wonders adorn the stone.

Lastly, a trip to Béziers would not be complete without a visit to the legendary Allées Paul-Riquet, a pleasant avenue lined with plane trees, shops and lively café terraces.

Bordered to the south by the Canal du Midi and to the north by the Montagne Noire mountain range, the medieval town of Minerve nestles amid breathtaking scenery: the gorges carved into the limestone of the Causses are covered with vegetation, combined with human architectural feats such as the magnificent viaduct bridge giving access to the village. One of its advantages is its geographical location. Minerve is positioned on a rock at the confluence of two rivers, the Brian and the Cesse, creating the impression of a peninsula. So the houses are perched on their rocky spur and when seen from above, appear to be suspended in space. It's no surprise that Minerve is listed among the most beautiful villages of France!

Strolling around the town, you may notice remnants of its eventful history. A tall, medieval tower made of stone, the Candela, is still standing. It once belonged to the castle. The village also welcomed the Cathars, who refused to renounce their faith and surrender to the enemy army. You can make out a few ruined ramparts as well as some masonry elements that bear witness to the siege against them.

Take a stroll along Minerve's ancient cobbled lanes. The houses with old stone façades seem to tell a thousand secrets. You can also visit its palaeontology and archaeology museum, become setting off to discover its natural heritage. In the summer, be sure to take a stroll near its two natural bridges, impressive tunnels carved into the rock that make for an unusual experience!

Located in Nissan-lez-Enserune, on a hill overlooking a vast panorama, the Oppidum of Ensérune is a real open-air museum with reminders of its glorious past. As early as the 3rd century BC, the city experienced incredible expansion: it served as a trading platform occupied by Gaulish aristocrats. The latter controlled the site, which was located on the main routes linking the Italian and Spanish worlds via the Mediterranean. In order to keep pace with this expansion, all kinds of facilities and buildings were constructed, including streets and houses erected accordingly.

Along the signposted trail created to help visitors to discover this archaeological site, you can now admire a large number of silos dug into the rock that were once used to conserve water and store agricultural produce. Other objects and vestiges illustrate the opulence of Ensérune, as evidenced by archaeological excavations. Vases, weapons and warriors' attire are now on display in an impressive museum. All sorts of amphorae, bronze ornaments and coins can also be seen there, providing evidence of Ensérune's erstwhile affluence.

Make the most of the oppidum's advantageous position to admire the site's direct view over the drained wetland of Montady and its plots of farmland forming an incredible sun shape.

The wine-growing village of Rieux-Minervois, in Aude, is renowned for its 12th-century heptagonal church, where magnificent Romanesque sculptures can be seen. These are the work of the famous Master of Cabestany; the capital representing the Assumption of the Virgin is the masterpiece of the building.

A European Prehistory Centre, the Tautavel Museum, can be found at the heart of the Corbières, in the Pyrénées-Orientales. It is dedicated to the Prehistoric period and more particularly to the discoveries made on the Caune de l'Arago site, where the famous Tautavel Man was found, an ancient Preneanderthal Man who is 450,000 years old.

Come and meet the oldest man ever found on French soil, through exhibitions spread over 1,500 square metres of galleries! Take advantage of our modern museum layout to explore our archaeological collections and admire our life-sized reconstruction of the Caune de l'Arago, where the skull of the Tautavel Man was discovered in 1971.

There are temporary exhibitions, events based on Prehistoric times. The Tautavel Man Days in July, the Festival of Prehistory in August and the Prehistoric Arms Shooting Competition in May are among the highlights of our calendar of events.

Justifiably known as the citadel of vertigo, the impressive Cathar castle of Peyrepertuse, which clings to the heights of the commune of Duilhac-sous-Peyrepertuse, overlooks wild, unspoilt country from its rocky promontory. The fiefdom of Guillaume de Peyrepertuse at the time of the Albigensian crusades, the castle played a key role in the defence of France against Aragon, and today its remains can be seen on this fortified hillside site. Like a stone sentinel watching over the Corbières massif, this immense medieval fortress, listed as a Historic Monument, is composed of three parts: the old castle, the middle enclosure and at the highest point, the San Jordi castle, which is accessible by the Saint-Louis stairway.

A steep path going from the car park on the edge of the castle road will take you to the ruins of Peyrepertuse, about a twenty minute climb. Once you have arrived at the site, you will be able to discover remarkable evidence of military architecture from the Middle Ages, and admire superb panoramic views of the surrounding verdant hills...

Each year in August, the Medieval Festival of Peyrepertuse, which takes place over two days within the castle walls, in the heart of the village of Duilhac-sous-Peyrepertuse, will take young and old back to the Middle Ages, with its shows, concerts, banquet, market and medieval entertainments.

At the foot of the Black Mountain, between vineyards and garrigue, lies the picturesque medieval village of Caunes-Minervois. This village is famous for the quality of its crimson marble, which is used to embellish celebrated monuments like the Grand Trianon at Versailles, the Opéra Garnier in Paris and the Capitole in Toulouse, to name but a few.

Caunes-Minervois is also renowned for its former Benedictine abbey, founded in 780. Richly decorated with crimson Caunes marble, its abbey church has two bell towers, a superb 11th-century Romanesque apse and a beautiful 13th-century sculpted doorway. As well as this architectural gem, there's an 18th-century cloister, a crypt which holds the remains of the first Carolingian church and 17th-century convent buildings.

After you have seen the abbey, take a stroll in the little Caunes-Minervois streets, lined with medieval and Renaissance houses. You will have a chance to admire the façades of beautiful, ancient dwellings, such as the 14th-century mansion Hôtel Sicard, or the 15th and 16th-century Hôtel Alibert.

Perched on the top of a rocky peak, at 507 m in altitude, the site of the Hermitage of Força Réal, accessible from the Col de la Bataille by the D38 road, near to Millas, is a marvellous belvedere overlooking Roussillon. It offers a superb 360° panorama, which takes in the Roussillon plain, the Vermillion Coast, the Canigou massif and the Corbières!

Completely in the heart of the Corbières massif, near the village of Cucugnan, made famous by Alphonse Daudet's book Letters from my Windmill (Lettres de mon Moulin), stands the Cathar castle of Quéribus, at the summit of a narrow, rocky peak. This medieval fortress, located at an altitude of 728 metres, is recognisable by its imposing keep surrounded by three successive walls... A refuge for the Cathar faithful during the Albigensian crusade, the citadel of Quéribus was the last stronghold of Cathar resistance to fall into the hands of the crusaders in 1255.

Accessible in about ten minutes along a steep path, the Quéribus site has an astonishing panoramic view from the terrace of its polygon-shaped keep - you can see the Corbières, the Roussillon plain, the Mediterranean and the Pyrenees! The superb Gothic room in the keep, with its ribbed arches, will also be a highlight of any visit.

At the heart of the Fenouillèdes massif, on the border of the departments of Aude and the Pyrénées-Orientales, between Cubières-sur-Cinoble and Saint-Paul-de-Fenouillet, the Galamus gorges extend over 2 m, a spectacular natural site with vertiginous limestone cliff faces! Carved out over time by the tumultuous waters of the Agly, this protected area can be admired from the narrow road which traverses the wild countryside, in all its beauty... As photogenic a place as you could hope to find, which you can admire from a specially created belvedere, the Hermitage of St Anthony of Galamus clings to a cliff overlooking the Agly and will delight amateur photographers!

Between April and September, the Galamus gorges, with their little waterfalls and pools, are particularly good for canyoning. This is a fun and pleasant way to explore this marvellous natural heritage.

In the summer, when the gorge road becomes busy, a system of alternating traffic is in place, to make it easier and safer to cross the gorges. There are also electric shuttle buses (Diablines) which go from Cubières-sur-Cinoble and Saint-Paul-de-Fenouillet.