A major place for the protection of the natural environment and the conservation of endangered animal species, the African reserve of Sigean, nestled on the edge of the ponds of Bages-Sigean, shelters on its 300 hectares nearly 900 mammals, 600 reptiles and 2,000 birds, living in semi-freedom.

Open to the public throughout the year, the Sigean reserve offers two visits:

A driving tour of about an hour, passing through the African bush, the Tibet Bear Park, the Lion Park, and the African Savannah where you can admire white rhinos, zebras and Somali donkeys.

A walking tour of about three hours, which invites young and old to meet antelopes, ostriches and other animals of the African Plain. Also to discover during the walk, the island of chimpanzees, the vivarium, and the pond of the Eye of Ca, populated by flamingos and pink-backed pelicans…

Entrance fee 2023: adults and children > 14 years: 34 € - children from 4 to 14 years: 24 € - children < 4 years: free

The vast Regional Natural Park of Narbonne in the Mediterranean covers 80,000 hectares in the east of the department of Aude. It has a truly diverse countryside, from lagoons and fine sandy beaches on the Mediterranean coast, to vineyards and garrigue in the Corbières, as well as the rocky escarpments of the Clape massif.

This wild and unspoilt natural environment, which displays a remarkable degree of biodiversity, is protected by the Narbonne Park and its Regional Nature Reserve. Composed of lagoons, dunes, beaches, old salt marshes, pine woods and garrigue, the Ile Sainte-Lucie Nature Reserve, in the commune of Port-la-Nouvelle, is one of the largest nature reserves on the French coastline. There are so many natural treasures to enjoy during a revitalising ramble along the paths and lanes which run through this peaceful land...It is also a safe haven for a good number of birds, either nesting or migratory, which appreciate the resting and nesting places offered by the lakes of the Narbonne area.

With its seaside resorts such as Narbonne-Plage, Gruissan-Plage and Leucate, the Narbonne Park in the Mediterranean is also an ideal place to relax and enjoy a wide range of water sports!

About fifteen kilometers from Narbonne, in the heart of a silent valley of the Corbières, nestles in a setting of cypresses and pines, the former abbey Sainte-Marie de Fontfroide, a complex with picturesque charm, founded at the end of the eleventh century by Benedictine monks and affiliated to the order of Cîteaux in 1145.

Admirably restored, this Cistercian monument, open to the public throughout the year, can be discovered during a guided tour of about an hour or during a thematic visit… The opportunity to admire places imbued with serenity, such as the abbey church of the twelfth century with modern stained glass windows, the cloister with Romanesque columns, the majestic chapter house with marble columns, the buildings of the monks and convers, not to mention of course the terraced gardens and the superb rose garden composed of no less than 2,500 rose bushes!

Tastings of Corbières AOP wines from the estate, as well as numerous cultural events, ranging from classical music concerts to exhibitions, including the plant festival in May, are offered.

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!

Capital of Narbonne Gaul, residence of the Visigoth kings and archiepiscopal city, the city of Art and History of Narbonne, more than 2,500 years old, conceals a rich heritage. In the heart of the historic center, two buildings, classified as Historic Monuments, must be visited: the Cathedral of Saint-Just-et-Saint-Pasteur and the Archbishops' Palace.

Unfinished, the cathedral of Narbonne, of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, retains an absolutely grandiose choir which, with its 41 meters under vault, is the highest Gothic choir in the south of the France! In the axial chapel stands out a splendid altarpiece in polychrome stone of the fourteenth century. The Treasury Room reveals a rich collection of goldsmiths' pieces, tapestries and liturgical objects. Be sure to stroll through the peaceful Gothic cloister, before heading to the Archbishop's Garden, from where you can take the time to admire the flying buttresses and the south tower of the cathedral as well as the façade of the new palace.

Seat of the town hall, the Museum of Art and the archaeological museum, the Archbishops' Palace can be discovered according to the different parts that compose it: old palace of Romanesque origin, Gilles Aycelin keep, new palace in Gothic style, Saint-Martial and Madeleine towers. Dating from the late thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries, the keep offers from its upper terrace a panoramic view of Narbonne, the coast, the Corbières and the Pyrenees!

There's nothing like a coffee break on one of the terraces of the lively Place de l'Hôtel de Ville, before continuing your journey towards the Canal de la Robine and its charming Promenade des Barques, where you will have the opportunity to indulge in an electric boat ride.

Also visit the magnificent halls of Narbonne, voted the most beautiful market in France in 2022.

As for museums, Narbonne is also well off, with its archaeological museum housing a remarkable exhibition of Roman paintings, its Museum of Art and History rich in collections of fine and decorative arts, its lapidary museum installed in the former church of Notre-Dame de Lamourguier, and the birthplace of Charles Trenet, now entirely dedicated to the famous Singing Fool. Another museum, very interesting, was opened in 2021: the Narbo Via.

Y'a d'la Joie, every year at the end of August, with the Trenet festival, which honors French song, through concerts, shows, bodegas and street arts!

Also visit the following sites:

https://www.tourisme-occitanie.com/destinations/incontournables/narbonne-mediterranee/

https://www.narbonne.fr

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.

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.

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 large, Blue-Flag approved seaside resort of Canet-en-Roussillon has 9 km of beaches of fine sand, with everything to delight fans of swimming and sunbathing...In Canet-en-Roussillon, there are also lots of water sports activities! Windsurfing, kitesurfing, beach volleyball, kayaking, paddle boarding and jet skiing are all available here. A slot machine arcade as well as restaurants, cafés and discos provide plenty of night-time entertainment.

The Natura 2000 listed site of Canet Pond is a place of choice for a great number of wild birds. Bird-lovers are invited to enjoy a peaceful walk along its Discovery Path, which has hides along the way.

Located about thirty kilometers from the Spanish border, the city of Art and History of Perpignan retains its past as the former continental capital of the Kingdom of Mallorca, a historic center with harmonious architecture, where Gothic art predominates.

Built at the end of the fourteenth century, then remodeled under Louis XI, the famous Castillet, whose terrace offers a breathtaking view of the roofs of the city, is the emblem of Perpignan. Once through the imposing fortified gate, stroll along the shopping streets, then discover the treasures of the old town: Saint-Jean-Baptiste Cathedral of the fourteenth-eighteenth centuries, surmounted by a wrought iron campanile, whose choir houses a marble altarpiece of the seventeenth and whose chapel of the Devout Christ contains a wooden Christ of the fourteenth; former funerary cloister of St. John of the early fourteenth century - the Campo Santo -, largest and oldest example of this type in France; Place de la Loge and its remarkable Gothic-style building, the Loge de Mer; palace-fortress of the kings of Majorca, of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, and its gardens overlooking the city; patio of the town hall and its bronze statue The Mediterranean by the sculptor Maillol…

Also enjoy a moment of relaxation to stroll in the heart of the pleasant Bir Hakeim Square or along the majestic Promenade des Platanes punctuated by statues.

City gate then state prison before being classified as a Historic Monument in 1889, the Castillet now houses a museum that traces the history of Northern Catalonia from antiquity to the present day.

Every year, around April 23, Sant Jordi, the feast of the patron saint of Catalonia, is celebrated. On this occasion, Place Gambetta is transformed into a veritable open-air bookstore where books are honored by the presence of publishers, writers and booksellers. Full of entertainment, this festive day is also that of the rose whose celebration dates back to the fifteenth century!

Other useful website: https://www.tourisme-occitanie.com/destinations/incontournables/perpignan-mediterrannee/

Birthplace of Pierre-Paul Riquet, the founder of the Canal du Midi, Béziers combines its centuries-old architecture with the beauty of the Orb, emblematic river of the Hérault.

Its waters are overlooked by a majestic monument and popular with architecture lovers: the Saint-Nazaire cathedral built in the thirteenth century. This Gothic fortress dominating the city is of unparalleled originality. It's like visiting a fortified castle! And yet the machicolation appearing above the rose window, the loopholes alongside the towers and turrets are only a decoy: this staging was a way for the Catholic faith to dominate the Cathar heresy. Inside, other originalities await the visitor. The carved wooden doors in the shape of bays inlaid in stone are also a kind of trompe-l'oeil. They are actually never opened because of the wind that could carry everything in its path.

To admire a breathtaking view of all Bézier, go to the garden of the Bishop's Palace, below the cathedral. You will enjoy a unique panorama of the plain of the Orb and the bridges of the city seeming to spring from the ground.

Stroll through the den of the city and its cobbled streets. You will probably come across other treasures hidden between the ancient buildings such as this statue of Pépézuc, mythical figure of Béziers who would have saved the city from invaders during the Hundred Years War. Another curiosity: the ancient Roman arenas of Béziers. Unlike their Nîmes counterpart, they are inhabited by locals. Above the remains stand colorful buildings forming a magnificent marriage between present and past. However, visits must be planned in advance as they cannot be visited freely.

To get away from the urban hustle and bustle, take a tour of the old cemetery of Béziers echoing the Parisian Père-Lachaise. We walk between sculptures, cypresses and burials, some of which compete in eccentricity: atypical typography, elegant statues and other wonders adorn the stone.

Finally, a stay in Béziers would not be complete without visiting the mythical Allées Paul-Riquet, a pleasant walk lined with plane trees and lined with shops and lively café terraces.

Hop aboard a boat, get on a bike, put on your sneakers, and cross the Malpas tunnel, dug in three months and in secret against Colbert's advice. A real technical feat, less spectacular than that of the impressive water staircase of the 9 locks of Fonseranes. The latter have been completely restored and are now a first-rate tourist site.

Also admire in Béziers the beautiful canal bridge over the Orb which allows boats sailing on the Canal to cross this river.

Other useful website: https://www.tourisme-occitanie.com/destinations/incontournables/beziers-canal-du-midi/

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!

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.

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.

The imposing Cathedral of St Eulalia and St Julia (Sainte-Eulalie-et-Sainte-Julie) towers above the charming little town of Elne. Built in the 11th and 12th centuries, it is a magnificent example of Catalonian Romanesque art. The medieval cloister adjacent to Elne Cathedral was once the residence of the cathedral's canons, and is one of the most beautiful in France... Dating from the 12th to the 14th century, the Elne cloister in white, blue-veined marble, listed as an Historic Building, is famous for its Romanesque and Gothic sculptures. Utterly beautiful, its sculpted capitals, the oldest of which are in the southern gallery, display a variety of designs representing biblical figures, animals and plants. This is a completely remarkable architectural ensemble which will, without a doubt, delight lovers of religious art!

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.