Essential tour in the Cathar Country

5 days / 4 nights Ref 18CG012 A perfect 5 days tour to discover this particularly beautiful part of Southern . If you are interested in discovering a mysterious but also attractive history, follow us in the Cathar Country! Walk in the steps of men and women whose tragic fate is still recorded and told. While visiting the famous and fantastic Cathar places, be prepared to discover sublimes views over region and more.

Day1 Day 3 Day 4 Carcassonne Cathar Castles Mirepoix – Montsegur Arrival to Carcassonne for lunch in a Drive along the valley to reach Today first stop in Mirepoix, a medieval restaurant of the medieval city. Taste a and discover the impressive Cathar town that preserved its covered famous local dish: The Cassoulet. Castles, located in the High Corbières galleries and its covered market. Drive Then enjoy a guided tour including the mountains: The Vertigo Fortresses. in direction of Montsegur castle, last walls and curtain walls, the streets, but Enjoy a view over Limoux, Quillan and place of refuge for the Cathars during also St Nazaire Basilica. Later in the The Pierre-Lys gorges. the crusade of the Albigensian. Enjoy afternoon, discover the panoramic view Visit the Queribus Cathar castle built a regional dish for lunch. Then reach over the four Cathars Castles of on a rocky peak overlooking the castle, featuring sculptures of , located at 11 miles at the Roussillon plane and the Corbières. It musicians. Visit the museum to know north of Carcassonne. Then drive back was the last refuge for the Cathars more about medieval music and to Carcassonne for the dinner and during the Albigensian Crusade. instruments. Return to Carcassonne accommodation in a 3*** hotel at the In the village of , enjoy a for dinner and night. feet of the medieval city. regional lunch, before seeing a statue of the pregnant Virgin and the windmill. Day 5 Day 2 Then drive to the castle of Fontfroide Abbey Minerve – The Canal du Midi , the most important and Located closer to Narbonne, visit the Leave Carcassonne for an best-preserved example of military Cistercian abbey of Fontfroide and its approximative 2 hours commented architecture in . Comments roses garden. This private abbey cruise aboard a barge over the Canal from the guide at the bottom of the features an interesting mix of ancient du Midi. Meanwhile you discover the castle. and modern art. End of our services Canal: pass over locks, the aqueduct Conclude the day enjoying a wine after the lunch. Drive back to your bridge. Crossing the gorgeous tasting. Taste the famous sweet region Minervois roads, reach the Cathar town natural wine in “Les Vignerons de of Minerve. Maury” cellar. Taste a regional dish for lunch. Drive back to the hotel. Dinner and Built on a rocky peak at the confluence night. of the Cesse and the Brian. Minerve is part of the association of the most beautiful villages in France and was a key place of resistance during the Crusade of Albigensian. Visit Minerve and then stop at the vineyard of a vine-grower who will make you discover the Minervois wine. Enjoy a nice moment and of course, a wine tasting.

Indicative price by person in basis of 25 participants: basis of 35 participants: basis of 45 persons: a double or twin room: 515€ 495€ 485€ Price includes: Prices does not include: - Accommodation in a 2** hotel, half-board (breakfast, - the transport (contact us) dinner drinks not included) - personal expenses - Entrance fees to monuments and sites of the program and - cancellation insurances (contact us) wine tasting - what is not mentioned in the program. - the lunches - Single room: 140€/person - Full-day guide services on days 2 and 3, guided tours of Carcassonne, Minerve and Fontfroide. - driver’s cost included Prices are subject to modification according to participants number and date of arrival

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