Best of FREE

2019 2020

English edition

best of FREE

Digital version Digital version AUDE best of AUDE

www.petitfute.uk.com LE ICTORIA PUB BRASSERIE O ! P

E Lunchtime packages T N H 7 IG /7 from 15,90 € N D f r I om Varied menu M 1 t o 1a m pm to m 6 3p m and fr o

- Large selection of beers - Cocktails - Group meals - Musical entertainment once a month

& ZI Pont Rouge +33 9 80 84 75 07 Follow us on Carcassonne @levictoriabrasserie

L812477_2C.indd 1 19/04/2019 09:35:01 PUBLISHING Collection Directors and authors: Dominique AUZIAS and Jean-Paul LABOURDETTE WELCOME Authors: Gwénaëlle LABBE, Carine PAGES, Aurélie REYNES, Marine GASC, Fabienne CALVAYRAC, Yan EVEN, Lise ALVAREZ, Laurie ACCO, Amélie ROUJOU, Jean-Paul LABOURDETTE, TO AUDE! Dominique AUZIAS et alter Publishing director: Stephan SZEREMETA Publishing team (France): Elisabeth COL, Tony DE SOUSA, Mélanie COTTARD, Sandrine VERDUGIER Publishing team (World): Caroline MICHELOT, Morgane VESLIN, Pierre-Yves SOUCHET, Jimmy POSTOLLEC, Elvane SAHIN, Natalia COLLIER The Aude department has everything to seduce you, through STUDIO the discovery of its rich heritage and varied terroirs. Bordered Studio Manager: Sophie LECHERTIER by the montagne Noire (Black Mountain) in the North, and assisted by Romain AUDREN by the Pyrenees in the South, the department also enjoys an Layout: Julie BORDES, Sandrine MECKING, exceptional coastline, with both sunny beaches on the edge Delphine PAGANO and Laurie PILLOIS Pictures management: Anne DIOT of the sea, and a rich fauna and fragrant Mediterranean flora. Mapping management: Julien DOUCET The weather is windy on more than 300 days a year, but there’s nothing to worry about, as the Corbières offer many hiking trails. WEB Web Director: Louis GENEAU de LAMARLIERE On the other hand, kitesurfing or windsurfing can be practiced Web management and Development: Nicolas de GUENIN, in the ponds, which offer various internationally recognized Adeline CAUX, Kiril PAVELEK, Mickael LATTES, spots, such as La Franqui, part of the town of Leucate, which Caroline LAFFAITEUR, Thibaud VAUBOURG hosts the international wind sports competition Mondial Du Community Manager: Alice BARBIER, Mariana BURLAMAQUI Vent each spring, or Gruissan, with its Défi Wind and Défi Kite sports challenges. With more than 20 km of thin sand, resorts NATIONAL PUBLICITY are numerous and provide various water activities, such as scuba Local publicity management: Michel GRANSEIGNE diving, stand-up paddle, or bathing on the beaches marked by Customer relations management: Vimla MEETTOO and Manon GUERIN the Pavillon Bleu label, notifying the irreproachable quality Heads of National Publicity: Caroline AUBRY, François of the water. Finally, the department also has a rich history. BRIANCON-MARJOLLET, Perrine DE CARNE MARCEIN, The region is an ancient Roman province where archeological Caroline PREAU sites are numerous, but you will also discover the local culture INTERNATIONAL PUBLICITY through the incredible carnival of Limoux or the contemporary Heads of Publicity: Jean-Marc FARAGUET, Guillaume artworks on the ramparts of medieval Carcassonne. It is difficult LABOUREUR, Camille ESMIEU assisted by Claire BEDON to make a choice in a region with such a rich history, culture, CIRCULATION AND PROMOTION and so varied in terms of landscape, so this guide book’s writing Sales promotion Director: Bénédicte MOULET assisted by Aissatou DIOP, Marianne LABASTIE, Sidonie COLLET team found and listed several activities for you to go off the Sales Manager: Jean-Pierre GHEZ assisted by Nelly BRION beaten track, while still highlighting must-sees. Each year, we Press and sponsor partnership management: Jean‑Mary renew our selection of addresses to give you good tips regarding MARCHAL restaurants, accommodation, cultural and leisure activities for ADMINISTRATION your holiday to be unforgettable. Chairman: Jean-Paul LABOURDETTE Administrative and financial Director: Yan Even and his team Valérie DECOTTIGNIES Human Resources Director: Dina BOURDEAU assisted by Sandra MORAIS and Eva BAELEN Information and Technology Manager: Briac LE GOURRIEREC Accounting: Jeannine DEMIRDJIAN, Adrien PRIGENT et Christine TEA Collection: Fabien BONNAN assisted by Sandra BRIJLALL and Vinoth SAGUERRE Siwtchboard : Jehanne AOUMEUR

n PETIT FUTÉ BEST OF AUDE 2019-2020 n LES NOUVELLES ÉDITIONS DE L’UNIVERSITÉ 18, rue des Volontaires - 75015 Paris & 01 53 69 70 00 - Fax 01 42 73 15 24 Internet : www.petitfute.com PRINTED IN FRANCE SAS au capital de 1 000 000 E RC PARIS B 309 769 966 Cover: Narbonne Cathedral, the Saint-Just- et-Saint-Pasteur Cathedral © Stuart J Crump.jpg Printing: CORLET IMPRIMEUR - 14110 Condé-en-Normandie Finished printing: june 2019 Legal deposit: 06/07/2019 ISBN: 9782305013671

To email us, type the surname (lowercase) followed by @petitfute.com Write to the editor : [email protected] TABLE OF CONTENTS

La Redorte...... 75 DISCOVER AUDE  Lastours ...... 76 Must-Sees...... 8 Limousis...... 76 Nature...... 20 Mas-Cabardès...... 76 The gourmet Aude...... 21 Montolieu ...... 76 Festivals and events...... 25 Brousses-et-Villaret...... 79 Cuxac-Cabardès...... 79 Fontiers-Cabardès...... 80 FROM PLACE TO PLACE  Moussoulens...... 81 The Region of Carcassonne...... 28 Saissac...... 81 Carcassonne ...... 28 The Region of Narbonne...... 82 Aragon...... 62 Bages...... 82 Bram...... 63 Peyriac-de-Mer...... 84 Pennautier...... 64 Gruissan ...... 85 Roullens...... 65 Fitou ...... 96 Trèbes...... 66 Salses-le-Château...... 97 Villalier...... 67 Leucate ...... 98 Villedubert...... 67 La Franqui...... 105 Villemoustaussou...... 68 Port-Leucate...... 106 Caunes-Minervois ...... 68 Narbonne ...... 110 Cabrespine...... 70 Armissan...... 136 Homps...... 72 Bizanet...... 138 Laure-Minervois...... 74 Narbonne-Plage...... 138 Villegly...... 74 Salles-d’Aude...... 142 Villeneuve-Minervois...... 75 Vinassan...... 142 Yan EVEN © ©

Canal de la Robine in Narbonne. TABLE OF CONTENTS jojojo07 - stock.adobe.com jojojo07 - © ©

The gardens of Frontfroide Abbey. Port-la-Nouvelle ...... 143 Fabrezan...... 167 Portel-des-Corbières...... 147 Montredon-des-Corbières...... 167 Sigean...... 149 The Region of Lauragais...... 168 Saint-Pierre-la-Mer...... 152 Castelnaudary ...... 168 The Region of Corbières-Minervois...153 Belflou...... 171 Bize-Minervois...... 153 Labastide-d’Anjou...... 172 Argeliers...... 154 Mas-Saintes-Puelles...... 172 Ginestas...... 155 Saint-Papoul...... 173 Saint-Marcel-sur-Aude...... 155 Fanjeaux ...... 173 Sallèles-d’Aude...... 155 High Valley of Aude...... 174 Le Somail...... 156 Chalabre ...... 174 Durban-Corbières...... 157 Limoux ...... 174 Cucugnan...... 158 Alet-les-Bains...... 177 Fontjoncouse...... 158 Brugairolles...... 177 Villeneuve-les-Corbières...... 159 Puivert ...... 177 Lagrasse ...... 159 Quillan...... 179 Duilhac-sous-Peyrepertuse...... 161 Axat...... 180 Montséret...... 161 Bugarach...... 181 Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse...... 162 Couiza...... 182 Talairan...... 162 Espéraza...... 182 Villerouge-Termenès...... 162 Luc-sur-Aude...... 182 Lezignan-Corbières...... 164 Rennes-le-Château...... 183 Boutenac...... 165 Rennes-les-Bains...... 183 Camplong d’Aude...... 166 Index...... 184 4 Haute Garonne Castres Mamazet Saint-Pons- Revel de-Thomières BARRAGE PIC DE NORE Tarn BASSIN DE Castres DE LAPRADE ST-FERRÉOL Les Martys Pradelles- 1011 m Revel FORÊT DE D118 Montmaur Cabardès D9 RAMONDENS L'O R Cupserviès ET DE LA B Lacombe IE BARRAGE L BASSIN LOUBATIÈRE Castans LES GAMMAZES La Pomarède DU LAMPY D620 D629 Caudebronde Mas- Toulouse Verdun- Roquefère SEUIL DE Cuxac-Cabardès Cabardès NAUROUZE D126en-Lauragais Saissac D62 Cabrespine D624 Fontiers-Cabardès Trassanel Citou Port-Lauragais D103 Fontiers-Cabardès Minerve Minerve D118 GROTTE DE L E D112 FR Brousses LIMOUSIS Labastide-d'Anjou ES Q A N113 U Saint-Papoul Salsigne Lastours Baraigne U EL D4 Bize- TO Villeneuve- Caunes-Minervois

R D111 L

O MinervoisL A

Limousis A

UT Montolieu Minervois D115

Belflou E CASTELNAUDARY longue C PLAN D'EAU D A61 Béziers ES D118 D111 Trausse E DE LA D St-Martin-Lalande D629 D910 S D5 EU D71 D64 Aragon Conques- S GANGUISE Mas- X N113 D620 E Peyriac-Minervois Pouzols- Salles- M Villegly L Mirepeisset Villepinte Saint- D203 sur-Orbiel 'A Ouveillan Ste-Puelle E R R G Azille Minervois sur-l'Hers D624 S Laure- E

X NT Béziers U

Pexiora Martin-le-Vieil U - PLAN D'EAU D13 Villeneuve- CA Ventenac- DO D5 Port-la-Robine N O Minervois U DE JOUARRE C AL DU Rieux-Minervois B A GRANGE DE M Villegailhenc M L Moussoulens Cabardès Villalier D57 D11 E N Montpellier la-Comtal I A A D L Ginestas FONTCALVY D623 I Homps L C

Pezens N113 610 A

A D

Malves- D611 Argens- AN I Sallèles-d'Aude L L C AL DU MID le Somail Mayreville PAYS DU D101 D1118 D624 Alzonne Tourouzelle DE Bram Villemoustaussou en-Minervois St-Frichoux La Redorte E Minervois AU UD St-Marcel- D LAURAGAIS 'A L'AUDE E D718 Pennautier L L Cuxac- Coursan D6 A Mazères N1113 Villedubert D11 sur-Aude RO D31 Villasavary A61 Puichéric Escales BI N D33 I d'Aude Fleury- Laurac E Saint-Sernin D Moussan Rustiques I N9 E CARCASSONNE M LÉZIGNAN- Macorignan D607 U N D625 N113 Trèbes D Roquecourbe N113 d'Aude AL Blomac A9 D1118 FORÊT DE D4 CAN CORBIÈRES N Belpech LA SELVE Montréal Marseillette N1 IE D102 D610 Vinassan C Les Cabanes Arzens L'AUDE D24 O Cazalrenoux D24 D Capendu Montbrun Montredon NARBONNE E Fanjeaux N113 N113 U de Fleury LA PAYS Pezens G PAYS DE LA VIXIÈGE D102 N Douzens LA D623 Cazilhac LAC DE LA Conilhac- AUTOROUTE Ornaisons D168 Saint-Pierre- CARCASSONNAIS DES D NARBONNAISE Pamiers Brézilhac CAVAYERE Floure A61 EU Corbières X Bizanet sur-Mer Villarzel- D118 Cavanac MONTS MERS D6 D625 D119 D3 Miramont du-Razès D'ALARIC A61 Narbonne-Plage Preixan D611 Boutenac D123 Cailhau Leuc NOTRE-DAME Fabrezan Gasparets Gaussan la Nautique DES AUZILS D104 D332 Mirepoix LE SO D32 Belvèze-du-Razès U Verzeille D613 N9 l Bages D102 St-Martin- Fontfroide U Brugairolles Cépie Ladern-sur-Lauquet BIE a de-Villeglan 'OR D611 Gruissan D118 L n Étang de Alaigne D623 Rieunette Montséret Peyriac- D102 D3 o A9 L'AUDE D110 Bages i Gruissan-Plage

Mirepoix FORÊT DE Lagrasse de-mer et de g L

Saint-Hilaire L D611 E Caudeval E GREFFEIL

D52

é D104 L A Sigean D3 Saint-Laurent-de D626 U RÉSERVE Étang de Malras Q R Mirepoix U AFRICAINE D626 Clermont- la-Cabrerisse ET l'Ayrolle D56 DE SIGEAN LIMOUX D23 D620 sur-Lauquet Fontjoncouse D611A

Saint-Polycarpe FORÊT DE D613 CASTILLOU Portel- ILE STE-LUCIE Saint-Martin- D212 D30 PAYS des-Corbières Sigean D129 E

des-Puits R

R D620 Durfort E N139

CORBIÈRES-MINERVOIS B

D40 A Port-la-Nouvelle D40 L

Roquefort-

Alet-les-Bains Villerouge-Terménès des-Corbières D118 Chalabre Termes l N709 D212

D123 e PAYS DE LA D40 LAC DE FORÊT D613 Durban-Corbières

Ariège r Lapalme MONTBEL HAUTE VALLÉE DE L'AUDE DE L'ORBIEU

Luc- N9 Cascastel- u Mediterranean D12 FORÊT Villeneuve-

Peyrolles Mouthoumet t

L'AUDE sur-Aude D'ARQUES Étang de Sea A9

des-Corbières A9 des-Corbières a Foix D1610 Lapalme

D620 Antugnac Laroque- N Couiza D613 D613 Castelmaure

Ste-Colombe- D16 Arques Palairac

U Espéraza

E de-Fa

I B

sur-l’Hers Coustaussa R FORÊT DU O c Puivert D52 ' D39 La Franqui L D611

Lavelanet Campagne-sur-AudeCampagne-sur-Aude Rennes- RIALSESSE r

Rennes- a Leucate Foix Rouvenac P D117 D117 le-Château les-Bains D10 Leucate- Pamiers D118 Aguilar

Nébias FORÊT LA SALS Fitou Plage D627 DES FANGES Tuchan D627 FORÊT DE Brenac PICAUSSEL ET D14 Bugarach D14 DE CALLONG Coudons QUILLAN Padern Montségur Sougraigne D14 Paziols D613 D117 Belvianes- GORGES DE GALAMUS Belvis PUECH DE Étang et-Cavirac BUGARACH L'AGLY Duilhac- D611 Port-Leucate GORGES ROUTE Cucugnan de DU SAPIN D613 1230 m Perpignan DE LA FRAU sous-Peyrepertuse Quéribus GORGES D107 DÉFILÉ DE Cavirac SPAIN Leucate Belcaire DE RENBENTY PIERRE-LYS Lapradelle- ou de Comus Puilaurens Saint-Paul-de-Fenouillet Le Bacarès Espezel Marsa Perpignan Tautavel Salses Camurac Roquefeuil D117 TY Cailla Saint-Paul-de-Fenouillet BEN Ax-les-Thermes RE Axat GORGES ANDORRA D1020 D118 ST-GEORGES Salvezines LEGEND L'AUDE Abbey - Church Gincla GROTTES DE LAGUZOU Castle D22 Montfort- Pyrénées National D118 Heritage Site sur-Boulzane DUBLIN KOBENHAVN Orientales World Heritage Site MASSIF DE MADRÈS Perpignan LONDON AMSTERDAM Train Usson PIC DE MADRÈS BERLIN 2469 m Chef lieu of canton

PARIS Commune - Quérigut ZÜRICH Tourist Attraction Font-Romeu SPAIN Seaside Resort Highway AUDE Main Road CACASSONNE 0 10 KM BARCELONNE Secondary Road ROME (1st an d 2d category) Avec l'aimable autorisation du Secondary Road comité départemental du tourisme (3st category) Reproduction Interdite Cathar Path Janvier 2011 5 Haute Garonne Castres Mamazet Saint-Pons- Revel de-Thomières BARRAGE PIC DE NORE Tarn BASSIN DE Castres DE LAPRADE ST-FERRÉOL Les Martys Pradelles- 1011 m Revel FORÊT DE D118 Montmaur Cabardès D9 RAMONDENS L'O R Cupserviès ET DE LA B Lacombe IE BARRAGE L BASSIN LOUBATIÈRE Castans LES GAMMAZES La Pomarède DU LAMPY D620 D629 Caudebronde Mas- Toulouse Verdun- Roquefère Cuxac-Cabardès Cabardès Aude SEUIL DE NAUROUZE D126en-Lauragais Saissac D62 Cabrespine D624 Fontiers-Cabardès Trassanel Citou Port-Lauragais D103 Fontiers-Cabardès Minerve Minerve D118 GROTTE DE L E D112 FR Brousses LIMOUSIS Labastide-d'Anjou ES Q A N113 U Saint-Papoul Salsigne Lastours Baraigne U EL D4 Bize- TO Villeneuve- Caunes-Minervois

R D111 L

O MinervoisL A

Limousis A

UT Montolieu Minervois D115

X NT Béziers U

Pezens N113 610 A

A D

Mirepoix FORÊT DE Lagrasse de-mer et de g L

Saint-Hilaire L D611 E Caudeval E GREFFEIL

D52

é D104 L A Sigean D3 Saint-Laurent-de D626 U RÉSERVE Étang de Malras Q R Mirepoix U AFRICAINE D626 Clermont- la-Cabrerisse ET l'Ayrolle D56 DE SIGEAN LIMOUX D23 D620 sur-Lauquet Fontjoncouse D611A

Saint-Polycarpe FORÊT DE D613 CASTILLOU Portel- ILE STE-LUCIE Saint-Martin- D212 D30 PAYS des-Corbières Sigean D129 E

des-Puits R

R D620 Durfort E N139

CORBIÈRES-MINERVOIS B

D40 A Port-la-Nouvelle D40 L

Roquefort-

Alet-les-Bains Villerouge-Terménès des-Corbières D118 Chalabre Termes l N709 D212

D123 e PAYS DE LA D40 LAC DE FORÊT D613 Durban-Corbières

Ariège r Lapalme MONTBEL HAUTE VALLÉE DE L'AUDE DE L'ORBIEU

Luc- N9 Cascastel- u Mediterranean D12 FORÊT Villeneuve-

Peyrolles Mouthoumet t

L'AUDE sur-Aude D'ARQUES Étang de Sea A9

des-Corbières A9 des-Corbières a Foix D1610 Lapalme

D620 Antugnac Laroque- N Couiza D613 D613 Castelmaure

Ste-Colombe- D16 Arques Palairac

U Espéraza

E de-Fa

I B

sur-l’Hers Coustaussa R FORÊT DU O c Puivert D52 ' D39 La Franqui L D611

Lavelanet Campagne-sur-AudeCampagne-sur-Aude Rennes- RIALSESSE r

Rennes- a Leucate Foix Rouvenac P D117 D117 le-Château les-Bains D10 Leucate- Pamiers D118 Aguilar

Discover AUDE

Peyrepertuse Castle.

©©midgardson – stock.adobe.com

Discover AUDE ABBAYE DE FONTFROIDE, NARBONNE

MUST-SEESTITRE 1 © SUD DE FRANCE

restoration and beautification work was undertaken Honza1 ©

© and the abbey quickly became a place for artistic and intellectual encounters. In the winter months, Fontfroide opens the private apartments of Les Fayet to visitors, an opportunity to discover the Parlor, the Dining Room or the old kitchens. The Visit of the 3 Painters, organised on Tuesdays and Saturdays (by reservation only), will allow you to admire the Day and the Night, two majestic works by the painter Odilon Redon. At the back of the church, on sunny days, the colours of the 2,000 roses will reveal their sweet fragrance. Throughout the year, Fontfroide offers a rich cultural programme: concerts, flower market, The Frontfroide Abbey stands in the middle of the forest of Narbonne. medieval weekend, orchid exhibition, entertainment for adults and children.... In July and August, embark on a new journey thanks to Fontfroide la Nuit, a poetic night for the whole family. © FONTFROIDE

The abbey can be visited every day on a guided tour, using © SUD DE FRANCE a digital tablet (adult and child route) or with a leaflet. wwTasting and sale at the cellar: on reservation. wwEating: La Table de Fontfroide offers a revisited Mediterranean cuisine, a must in the region. ABBAYE DE FONTFROIDE Chemin de Fontfroide D613 The gardens of Fontfroide Abbey. NARBONNE NARBONNE & +33 4 68 45 11 08 www.fontfroide.com Fontfroide Abbey [email protected] Nestled in its Massif, Fontfroide Abbey, incredibly well Open all year. Closed on December 25th and on January preserved, stands out in all its splendor! Dating back to 1st. From 10 am to 12 pm and from 2 pm to 4 pm. Free 1093, this Cistercian masterpiece is one of the greatest in for under 6-year-olds. Adult: E9.75 (16 to 25 years old: France. Today, you can visit the refectory, the dormitory, E6.50). Children (from 6 to 15 years old): E3.50. Group the cloister of the 12th-13th centuries, the Louis XIV (20 people): E7.50. Ticket combined with the gardens Aerial view of the Abbey. The restaurant La Table de Frontfroide, at the court, the abbey church, the chapter house and the (terrace in gardens open from May to September): adult, entrance of the site of the Abbey. gardens... In 1908, the abbey was the subject of a public E13; – of 25 years: E10; 6-15 years: E6. Possibility sale. Gustave Fayet and his wife Madeleine d’Andoque de of ticket combined with the museum. All the rooms are Sériège bought Fontfroide, not hesitating to bid higher accessible to the disabled people except the dormitory to save the abbey from a departure for the Americas. of lay from the upstairs. Guided tour (every hour, on MONEL © YANN A cultural and artistic renaissance took place. Extensive reservation for groups).

At nightfall, the cloister of the Abbey and its garden offer visitors a light show.

ABBAYE DE FONTFROIDE_anglais.indd 1 26/06/2018 15:17 ABBAYE DE FONTFROIDE_anglais.indd 1

© FONTFROIDE Aerial viewofthe Abbey. At nightfall, the cloister ofthe Abbey and its gardenoffervisitors alightshow. The Frontfroide Abbey standsinthemiddleofforestNarbonne. ABBAYE DEFONTFROIDE,NARBONNE The restaurantLa Table deFrontfroide, the at entrance ofthesite Abbey. 26/06/2018 15:17

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997, Cité of the Cité in the Middle Ages from 1074 to 1209. It de Carcassonne, contained in its powerful ramparts, began with Bernard Aton Trencavel and ended with is known well beyond our borders. At the foot of Raymond-Roger Trencavel. During this period, the city Montagne Noire (the Black Mountain), at a crossroads, made more attractive and experienced exceptional between the Pyrenees and the Massif Central, “the Cité radiance by asserting itself as a hotbed of trade. Its with fifty two towers”, rich of its 2,600 years of wall belt was strenghtened by using all architectural history past and 1,000 years of military architecture, elements of defense known at the time (poternes, establishes itself as a major curiosity that you cannot barbicans, inaccessible watchtowers, hoardings and forget. machicolations…), while at the end of the twelfth A little bit of history… century, catharism took place in Occitan lands. wwFrom the sixth century BC: men settled on this Construction of the comtal castle (around 1130) which promontory of 50 m above the Aude, a privileged was a fortress in the fortress. location in this region where water is often lacking. wwIn the thirteenth and the fourteenth In the third century BC, the Volques Tectosages, Gauls centuries: in 1209, during the crusade against the of Celtic origin (from the Latin etymology: those Albigensians known today as cathars, the Cité was looking for a roof) settled on the Carcaso oppidum. taken by the crusaders and entrusted to Simon de wwAt the end of the 2nd century before. {1} Montfort, then the kings of France annexed it to their Christ{/1}: the agglomeration of Carcassonne, which kingdom after making it a royal jurisdiction of a would retain this name, was integrated into the seneschal. Border city, the city was going to undergo Roman colony of Narbonnaise founded in 118 BC. major transformations under the kingdoms of Louis IX, then, Philippe III Le Hardi and his son Philippe IV le wwAt the end of the third century or at the Bel. The bulwark of Bas-Empire was resumed, and the beginning of the fourth century: under the threat outer enclosure was built. As a result of these works, of barbarian invasions, the Romans erected the first the Cité would never be captured by any possible rampart dotted with thirty towers. enemies, which would give it the nickname of “Pucelle wwIn the fifth century: The Wisigoths occupied the du Languedoc” as early as the fourteenth century. site and strengthened the walls. The fortress then looked almost the same as we can w contemplate today. Bourg Neuf, now called Ville Basse, wIn the seventh century: In 725, the Sarrasins was created on the other side of the Aude at the request settled there until 759, before being hunted by the of King Louis IX in the second half of the thirteenth troops of Pépin le Bref. La Cité became a city placed century. This “second Carcassonne” developed in turn. under a county authority until the eleventh century. It was a bastide whose checkerboard pattern organizes wwFrom the eleventh century to the beginning blocks (called “carrons”) around a central square. It of the thirteenth century: from marriages to quickly experienced growth thanks to a flourishing treaties, Bernard Aton Trencavel became viscount of cloth industry whose productions were exported to Carcassonne. The Trencavel dynasty was a major stage Constantinople.

Digital version offered to buy any paper guide Travel guides on more than 700 destinations

www.petitfute.com 11 wwFrom the seventeenth century to the army leaving the plain in front of La Cité, Lady Carcas, restorations: The Treaty of the Pyrenees, signed in filled with joy by the victory of her stratagem, decided 1659, attached Roussillon to France, and, pushing the to ring all the bells of the city. One of Charlemagne’s border to its current position, caused the Cité to lose men then shouted “Carcas sonne! “(Carcas rings), hence its strategic importance. Gradually, the workers of the name of the Cité. the cloth industry, often very poor, settled between It is also said that Walt Disney would be inspired by the walls of the Cité, in the lices, using the stones of the Cité of Carcassonne to draw his castle of Sleeping the monument to build their hovels, resting against Beauty. the ramparts. Thus, 122 houses, gardens, pigsties and henhouses occupy this space until the restoration of LA CITÉ MÉDIÉVALE the city in the nineteenth century. The city now a poor DE CARCASSONNE neighborhood, slowly fell into ruins. Cité de Carcassonne CARCASSONNE wwNineteenth century: La Cité, an obsolete fortified & +33 4 68 11 75 87 place, was condemned to be completely destroyed, its maintenance cost too expensive. But in 1839, Jean- o Pierre Cros-Mayrevieille, a local scholar passionately Open all year. Free tour. Guided tours with departure from attached to La Cité, made a great discovery during the Comtal castle: strolling routes on ramparts, departures archeological excavations in the old cathedral of the from 10: 15 am, every day. Lecture visits are also proposed. fortress: the tomb of Bishop Guilhem Radulphe, the Visible from a distance and especially from A61, the Cité first expression of Gothic art in the city. Thanks to this Médiévale looks like an anachronism in the landscape, exceptional discovery, he succeeded in having the placed in this Mediterranean environment. It is true church listed in 1840 and asked the newly created that it is impressive with its 52 towers, mostly headed Historic Monuments Commission (1837) to restore the with slates, and its 3 km ramparts. A picture coming building. He also raised awarness on the importance out of a storybook! Futé strongly urge you to stop in of safeguarding the monument as a whole. This is this historical site, because what you see from afar is how the architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc came into nothing compared to what you find here... A trip back play, sent by Prosper Mérimée. The architect quickly in time which will open the door of medieval art in its supplanted the local archeologist, thus taking all the entire splendour to you! glory and prestige of a rescue initiated by another… He then transformed La Cité into an idealized medieval city, according to the romantic image that was then attributed to such monuments. When he died, one of his students, Paul Boeswillwald, would finish the restorations… But it is really thanks to the Carcassonnais Jean-Pierre Cros-Mayrevieille that two and a half million visitors Claudio Giovanni Colombo – Shutterstock.com discover this quite unique site every year, thanks to his © attachment to La Cité and his perseverance… © wwSuch a beautiful legend: legend has it that the army of Charlemagne was at the gates of La Cité then occupied by the Saracens. Lady Carcas, the widow of their king was at the head of La Cité. The siege lasted 5 years. But at the beginning of the sixth year, food and water were becoming ever more scarce and none of the tricks used by the lady moved Charlemagne and his troops away. Lady Carcas had an inventory of all the reserves that remained made to see how long her city could still resist. The villagers brought her nothing but a pig and a bag of wheat. They would not hold out with so little! She then had the idea of force-feeding the wheat animal that was brought to her, and then throwing it from the highest tower of La Cité to the feet of Charlemagne. Believing that the city was still abounding with food to the point of wasting a wheat- fed pig, he ended the siege. Seeing Charlemagne’s Medieval city of Carcassonne. PAUL ATKINSON - SHUTTERSTOCK.COM ATKINSON PAUL ©

View over the rooftops and the pond of Gruissan. YAN EVEN YAN © PICTURE CATCHER - FOTOLIA PICTURE CATCHER ©

Knight in the medieval city of Carcassonne. Medieval city of Carcassonne. ILLUSTREZ-VOUS - ADOBE STOCK ILLUSTREZ-VOUS - ©

Bike ride on the banks of the Canal du Midi.

AUDE anglais.indd 1 26/06/2018 14:54 must-SEES 13 dietwalther – stock.adobe.com © © PAUL ATKINSON - SHUTTERSTOCK.COM ATKINSON PAUL © DISCOVER AUDE

View over the rooftops and the pond of Gruissan. YAN EVEN YAN © Palace of the arcbishops. Open from 8 am to 7: 30 pm. Sundays and public holidays PICTURE CATCHER - FOTOLIA PICTURE CATCHER Palace of the Arcbishops of Narbonne © from 10 am to 6 pm during high season. Free. Guided Palais-Musée des Archevêques is a familiar place for the tours (an audio-guide on rent at the palace shop or at Narbonnais as the town hall has been there since 1842. the Tourist Office). Shop. On both sides of Passage de l’Ancre, a charming paved alley, you can find Palais Vieux (12th and 13th centuries) and Palais Neuf (14th century, modified in the 17th Abyss of l’Oeil Doux and 18th centuries). Originally a modest ecclesiastical residence, the archbishopric, in Roman, Gothic, classical LE GOUFFRE DE L’ŒIL DOUX and neo-Gothic styles, is now a sophisticated architectural FLEURY complex. The facade of the palace has three towers: that www.visit-lanarbonnaise.com/fr of the Madeleine, the oldest, the Saint-Martial tower and In the heart of Clape Massif, the impressive Gouffre de l’Œil the Gilles-Aycelin dungeon, crowned with bartizans. The Doux is located in a green setting and offers a surprising archbishop proclaimed his military strength at the end of sight. The top view is exceptional: Domaine de l’Oustalet, the 13th century from the top of the 40 m of the keep to the sea, the clape and the pond of Pissevaches. This Knight in the medieval city of Carcassonne. Medieval city of Carcassonne. the powerful bossage walls. The top offers a panorama of natural curiosity was born of the collapse of an immense the city and you can enjoy the remains of the Via Domitia arch. It consists of high limestone cliffs dominating an and the Saint-Just-Saint-Pasteur cathedral. Palais-Musée emerald green, brackish and immobile water body. des Archevêques hosts two collections: the archaeological Perfectly circular, this water point remains a riddle for collections in the Vieux Palais offer the public one of the geologists. This water would come from the drainage finest collections of antique frescoes. The collections of Art of underground rivers of the Clape. A siphon would and History are located in the Palais Neuf, where paintings, be at its center.

ILLUSTREZ-VOUS - ADOBE STOCK ILLUSTREZ-VOUS - sculptures and temporary exhibitions can be found. The More than two hundred bird species, some of which are © palace rests against the first enclosure of Narbonne, very rare, make this site one of the best ornithological beyond which the garden of the archbishopric spreads. sites in the department. Do not hesitate to come with Fountain, boxwood carved in French style, sundial, stele your binoculars. The abyss is indicated on the road of Paul Tournal, founder of the Archaeological and Literary between Fleury and Saint-Pierre-la-Mer, access to the Commission. A break in the shade of the monuments is parking lot is marked and winding in order to preserve required. At the bottom of the Passage de l’Ancre, a door the local flora and the beauty of nature. Picnic possible leads to the 14th century cloister, freshly restored, where under pine trees and oak trees. If hiking shoes are not you can admire picturesque carved gargoyles, but also needed, we advise you to wear walking shoes, but also enjoy the shade and peace and quiet. something to cover your head in summer, the path is not shaded because here vegetation is mainly low. It is PALAIS-MUSÉE important to remain vigilant and follow safety guidelines DES ARCHEVÊQUES well, particularly with regard to fire. Finally, don’t get Place de l’Hôtel-de-Ville near the edge, don’t jump, don’t bathe, and open your NARBONNE & +33 4 68 65 15 60 eyes wide to enjoy this spectacular site! Swimming [email protected] prohibited and dangerous. Bike ride on the banks of the Canal du Midi.

AUDE anglais.indd 1 26/06/2018 14:54 14 must-SEES

great detail! Be assured, after all these emotions, the The giant abyss of Cabrespine Abyss of Cabrespine will remain forever engraved in This is the largest fitted cave in Europe, renowned your memories! worldwide for its mineralogical richness. There are wwPlease note: the constant temperature (14 °C) of the discs, aragonites, draperies, columns, or waterfalls. abyss makes it a natural cellar that hosts the wines of local It is 250 meters deep and has a volume of more than producers. The chasm is home to a large population of bats 1,500,000 m³, it could house the Eiffel Tower or even that find all the conditions necessary for their survival Notre-Dame de Paris. A few years ago, the site took here: a perfect temperature, an outdoor vegetation the necessary steps to be classified as a UNESCO World that attracts many insects on which they feed, and an Heritage site. The balcony layout in a large room is totally underground network that protects them. Since their flat and therefore accessible to all audiences (parents natural habitat is protected (NATURA 2000 classification), with strollers as well as wheelchair users). In addition, Cabrespine has ten species of bats that evolve under the an 8 meters long glass footbridge rises from the rock wall watchful eye of specialists. face 200 m over the void. When the first fears are gone, it allows you to discover areas of the abyss inaccessible GOUFFRE GÉANT to the public until now. Touch screens in 7 languages DE CABRESPINE allow everyone to access a wide range of information D 112 on the site. The disc lookout created in 2018 makes it CABRESPINE possible to get as close as possible to the vault in order & +33 4 68 26 14 20 to watch its unique disc-shaped concretions. 2019 will www.gouffre-de-cabrespine.com be the year of innovations because, after the success [email protected] of the unique raptor show in summer 2018 (renewed onl for summer 2019) and “L’envol des chauves-souris”, an Closed starting from December 11th until the 1st day impressive show featuring the charming bats of the of winter holidays. February, March, November and abyss (from August 15 at nightfall), you will be treated December from 2 pm to 5: 30 pm; from April to June and to a breathtaking attraction: “L’Accro-grotte” (like an from September to October from 10 am to 12 pm and from “accrobranche” (tree climbing) with suspended routes, 2 pm to 5: 30 pm (last departure); July and August from zip lines and suspension footbridge.... and all of this in 10 am to 6 pm (last departure). Free for under 4-years- the heart of the abyss and in complete safety! Finally, old. Adult: E9.90. Child (from 5 to 12 years old): E6.20. experience a unique moment by entering the bowels of Group (15 people): E7.60 (open all year to groups by the abyss in “safari” mode and follow in the footsteps reservation except the 25/12 and the 01/01). Checks are of the first explorers, unless you are more interested in not accepted. Guided tour. Catering facilities (snack bar). exploring the underground river in exploration canoes, Shop. Parking. Shaded terrace. the first route takes about 3 hours and the second one 4 hours. As for safety, no worries, you are well supervised The Canal du Midi by true qualified professionals who know the abyss in CANAL DU MIDI www.sudouest.vnf.fr Guided tour. Cruises with accompanying notes in several languages are proposed on Canal du Midi. Photo Passion – Fotolia © Designed by Pierre-Paul Riquet (1609-1680) and © motivated by the wheat trade, Canal du Midi was shaped by the hand of man. It began the era of the Industrial Revolution by allowing to rally, by its 240 kilometers, the Atlantic Ocean, via the Garonne, to the Mediterranean Sea. Its journey begins in Toulouse and ends in Marseillan - the other part connecting the Atlantic begins in Toulouse and ends in Castets-en-Dorthe (Canal de Garonne). It was made between 1667 and 1694 and two thousand workers were hired from January 1667. This number rose to twelve thousand, including six hundred women, to alleviate the shortage of men. The work was carried out in three major projects: the first from Toulouse to Trèbes (east of Carcassonne) which includes the basins and water supply systems, the second towards the south of Trèbes to the pond of Thau, and the third that was the construction of the harbour of Sète. To address the problem of leveling throughout the course, more than 60 locks had to be built, Riquet was perfectly conscious of helping to forge a symbol of the power of the 17th-century France, while giving the country a functional communication channel. He thus Canal du Midi. Gouffre must-SEES 15

GouffreGouffreGéant GéantGéant DISCOVER AUDE

miere re - p P r d e l

r m

BALCON DE i è

W er

e i

- m

e -

VERRE r e

l o P a n i p d r d e l ier r m em e -

r BALCON DE i

p P è

r r

d e e

m -

r m

orl VERRE

w d e

o l o i a n e BALCON DE i

h - è d

t r

P W

n m

i VERREe

l m o a n t i

s d

r i

i è

GLASS e

m -

CABRESPINE

CABRESPINE WALKWAY o e l n a i

d CABRESPINETel.Tél. +33 04 (0)468 6826 26 14 14 22 22

Tél.www.gouffe-de-cabrespine.comwww.gouffre-de-cabrespine.com 04 68 26 14 22 RANDA OSCAR FERRER ET MICHEL - PHOTO CONCEPTION GRAPHIQUE - WWW.OLEAN-CREATION.COM CABRESPINEwww.gouffre-de-cabrespine.com RANDA OSCAR FERRER ET MICHEL - PHOTO CONCEPTION GRAPHIQUE - WWW.OLEAN-CREATION.COM particularly made sure that the qualityTél. of the canal’s 04 68which 26 is classified 14 22 as a UNESCO world heritage, links the architecture is worthy ofwww.gouffre-de-cabrespine.com this function. The bridges, Canal du Midi to the Mediterranean RANDA OSCAR FERRER ET MICHEL - PHOTO CONCEPTION GRAPHIQUE - WWW.OLEAN-CREATION.COM and allows you to the locks and the structures associated with them, as understand the town in a different way: by going along well as the tunnel entrances were designed and drawn its landscaped banks on foot, by bicycle, or on board small with a great sense of aesthetic combined with technical electric boats that you rent. A beautiful walk, from the constraints, the whole includes no less than 328 works island of Moulin-du-Gua, via the theatre to the island of of art and 63 locks. He was also extremely conscious of Sainte-Lucie. You can get from one bank to the other by the impact of his work on the landscape and took great many footbridges. Pont des Marchands is the equivalent care to ensure that it was properly bordered by trees and of “Ponte Vecchio” in Italy: it is a pedestrian bridge lined by vegetation in harmony with the landscapes crossed. with shops, linking two neighbourhoods of the town. Since 1996, this performance has rightly been listed as However, only an arch is still visible, the six others are a UNESCO World Heritage site.Having the width of 10 to buried in the basements of houses. The canal is made 20 meters and deep of about 2 meters, the canal passes even more pleasant by green spaces and quays fitted to its highest point at the threshold of Naurouze, at the out with all the equipment needed by boaters. Each border of the department of Aude and Haute Garonne moment is a pleasure. in the Lauragais. Its history with Carcassonne was quite complex since, at the completion of the first route, the canal was 2 kilometers from the city. A link between the The castles of Pays Cathare city and the canal was suggested in 1686 by Vauban but it was only a century later, in 1787, that the construc- CHÂTEAU DE QUÉRIBUS tion of a new route was ordered and was completed 1, rue Achille-Mir CUCUGNAN in 1810 and that wouldl definitely set the canal in its & current configuration. +33 4 68 45 03 69 www.queribuscucugnan.fr CANAL DE LA ROBINE [email protected] NARBONNE Low season: open every day from 10am to 5pm. High The Canal de la Robine occupies the former bed of the season: every day from 9am to 8pm. Audiopass: E4 in river Aude in ancient times. This 32 km waterway entry in addition to the entrance ticket, 2nd offered. Adult: E5.50. the heart of the town gives Narbonne its whole identity, Child: E3. February: from 10am to 5.30pm. March: from as the city is divided into two districts by La Robine: 10am to 6pm. April-May-June-September: from 9.30am Bourg in the south and Cité in the north. This canal, to 7pm. Guided tour (for groups only). 16 must-SEES

Overlooking the Corbières, the majestic citadel of Quéribus in July and August, falconry shows are held within the is one of the major castles of the northern border of castle. Eagles, buzzards, falcons and owls fly over the the Kingdom of Aragon. Chabert de Barbaira, Royalist old stones. A pleasure for the eyes. Ask for the schedule. party of the king of Aragon, occupies the fortified site of Quéribus in 1239, where he houses the fleeing Cathar LES QUATRE CHÂTEAUX heretics after the fall of Montségur. Quéribus will be the DE LASTOURS last bastion to fall into the hands of crusaders in 1255. LASTOURS & +33 4 68 77 56 02 After a 16-year reign, Chabert de Barbaira, negotiating www.chateauxdelastours.fr his freedom, left Quéribus to royal engineers and soldiers [email protected] and turned back to the king of Aragon. Becoming a royal From Carcassonne, follow Mazamet by D118, fortress, Quéribus watches over the border between the then take Conques-sur-Orbiel by D101 until kingdoms of France and Aragon. Thus Saint Louis becomes Lastours. Master of Corbières. The castle lost its strategic interest in Closed in January. February, March, October, November, 1659, under the reign of Louis XIV, with the treaty of the December (only weekends, and school holidays): from Pyrenees which set a new border between France and 10 am to 5 pm; April, May, June, September: from 10 am Spain. A very beautiful visit: an arranged trail leads to to 6 pm; July and August: from 9 am to 8 pm. Free for the castle after a good 10-minutes walk, the explanatory under 5-year-olds. Adult: E6. Child (from 6 to 15 years panels explain what you see during the tour, the keep has old): E2. Group (15 people): E105 (package guided a breathtaking view, and the elements related to daily tour; package guided tour of the view-point: E60 – by life (cistern, main building, site of the chimneys...) have reservation). Access alone to the view-point: E2; free been preserved remarkably well. for under 15-year-olds. Access for the P.M.R only on the view-point. Guided tour (only for groups of 15 people, CHÂTEAU DE PEYREPERTUSE check the conditions). Cultural shop, children booklet, D14, Le Château area of picnics, telephone, toilets. Pets are accepted only DUILHAC-SOUS PEYREPERTUSE on a leash. Entertainment in July and August. & +33 4 30 37 00 77 Perched at 300 m on a ridge above the Orbiel Valley, www.chateau-peyrepertuse.com in a steep landscape, each planted on a summit, these [email protected] four castles dominate the flow of the Orbiel and the Open all year round. Closed 3 weeks in January after school torrent of the Grézilhou. From north to south: the monu- holidays – Visit can not be done in high wind conditions. mental Cabaret, Tour Régine - the most recent one (13th High season: every day and public holidays from 9am to century), Surdespine - the oldest one (12th century), 8pm. In January, November and December from 10am and Quertinheux. Cabaret, Surdespine and Quertinheux to 4.30pm; in February from 10am to 5pm; in April from existed before the Crusade against the Albigensians. Tour 9.30am to 7pm; in May, June and September from 9am Régine was built after, by the King of France. Despite the to 7pm; in March and October from 10am to 6pm. Plan multiple assaults suffered during the Crusade against the about 20 mn walk and 90 mn of visit. Free for children under Albigensians, then those of religious wars – the end of 5 years old (impossible access with a pushchair). Adult: the 16th century (platform for Protestants) – they haven’t E8.50 (from July 1st to August 31st; from September 1st lost any of their majesty. For centuries, they controlled to June 30th: E6.50). Child (6-15 years old): E3. Group the passage of Montagne Noire’s ores. Access to this (20 people): E6. Impossible access to disabled people. impressive architectural complex is somewhat arduous, Guided tour (audioguide: E4). consider bringing walking shoes! But a remote stopover Peyrepertuse, which means “pierced stone”, is the name on the shady belvedere also allows you to admire this of the rock upon which the fortress stands. Suspended at exceptional view of the castles. The reception of visitors 800 m above empty space – hence the stunning view of takes place in a former textile factory where the pieces Corbières and Fenouillèdes to the sea – with its 1.2 km of of sheets and felt were made. Restored, it is used as ramparts, it is the largest of the “fils de Carcassonne”. The an exhibition room where part of the archeological first mentions of this castle date back to 1070. The fortress furniture found during excavations carried out on the suffered a bit from the Crusade against the Albigensians site is presented. A shop offers an interesting selection and did not experience any big battle. The citadel of this of books on the Aude heritage and the crusade against castle consists of three parts that stack three buildings the Cathars in the region. You will also find books and of the 11th and the 13th centuries: the low triangular games for children and books in different languages. wall is protected in the North by a wall of 120 m (the old keep and house), the median wall encloses a collection CHÂTEAU DE PUILAURENS of ruins, including those of a huge polygonal building, PUILAURENS and at the top, the Saint Jordi keep that offers captivating & +33 4 68 20 65 26 medieval rooms with embrasures oriented according to [email protected] sunrise or summer solstice. You can reach it via Saint-Louis By D118 until Quillan, then by D117. staircase, built under Louis IX in 1250. Peyrepertuse is Closed from November to January. July and August: the most completed and the better-preserved example 9 am-8 pm; February, March (weekends and school of medieval architecture in Languedoc. On the heights, holidays): 10 am-5 pm; April and from October 1st to from a distance, it is possible to see Château de Quéribus, November 15th: 10 am-5 pm; May: 10 am-6 pm; June and another model of royal architecture, but also to enjoy the September: 10 am-7 pm. Adult: E4. Child (from 6-15 years view, the quietness and the beauty of nature. Every day old): E2. Group (10 people): E3. Shop. Entertainments. 17 © Santi Rodríguez – stock.adobe.com

Castle of Puilaurens. DIRECT ACCESS TO SOUTH OF FRANCE with Carcassonne Airport

www.aeroport-carcassonne.com/en AeroportCarcassonne aeroportcarcassonne Airport news : best of AUDE 2019 - 2020