PRESS KIT - 2021 - #oseznarbonne CONTACT: Virginie SIRE - Vice Director / Press and Promotion Supervisor [email protected] - Mobil +(33)6 37 56 94 19 1 Dive into the Horreum, to discover the mysterious past of roman times Narbo Enjoy the rich variety of local produce right on the food stands of the century Martius. Then wander in the streets of the medieval centre before enjoying a old market “Les Halles” and meet local coffee on the main square and do not winemakers who live their passion forget this year’s brand new Roman by making exceptional wines while Museum: Narbo Via! respecting both the tradition and the environment. This is Olivia’s thrill, passionate about local history. Véronique, fine locally based cuisine (Read p.3) specialist, will reveal its secrets to you. (Read p.17) 5 Good reasons Take a break on the to discover fine sandy beach of Narbonne-Plage Let yourself carried by this strong while the kids are Cers wind, on a kite-surf ride across Narbonne playing on the soft the lagoon of La Nautique. Mediterranean’s shore. by the team This is Thomas’ spot, outdoors This is the leisurely activities expert. advice of Mounir, in of Narbonne’s charge of Narbonne- (Read p.9) Plage ‘s Tourist Office. tourist office (Read p.13) Dance to the music and enjoy the numerous events, taking place all year long, such as the “Barques en scène” festival. Do it like Laetitia, our community manager, who never misses the chance to go out and have fun. (Read p.21) © Guilhem Laetitia 2 © c-deschamps-adt-aude HISTORY 3 A VERY SCHEDULED DAY IN THE VERY HISTORICAL CENTRE OF NARBONNE: HAVE COFFEE ON THE MAIN SQUARE À 9am LA DOLCE VITA, LIKE THE ITALIANS DO STROLLING IN THE STREETS OF THE Nothing’s better than a good coffee to start the day, facing the majestic façade MEDIEVAL PART OF TOWN 10am of the Palace-Museum of the Archbishops: a medieval monument like no other. Make sure to take a peek at the remains of the Via Domitia, down in the centre On the other side of the Merchants’ Bridge « Le pont des marchants”, one of of the square, which says a lot about the prestigious past of Narbonne in the the only two inhabited bridges left in France, is where you’ll find “Le quartier Roman times. de bourg”. This part of town was prosperous during the Middle Ages thanks to VISIT OF THE CATHEDRAL AND THE the cloth and wine trade. This area keeps the marks of its illustrious past with 11am its narrow streets typical of the medieval period and surprising façades such ARCHBISHOPS’ PLACE-MUSEUM as the façade of the house of the three nurses: “Maison des trois nourrices”. This monument as a whole is one of a kind. The Archbishops’ Palace-Museum and TASTING LOCAL PRODUCE AND TYPICAL WINES the Saint Just and Saint Pastor Cathedral embody the emblematic heritage of Narbonne. They contain numerous architectural, artistic and historical treasures: IN “LES HALLES” MARKET 1pm the art collections, the 14th c. cloister, the Cathedral’s treasure room. Temple of the hearty eaters, “Les Halles” is the meeting point a gourmet cannot overlook. Under a century-old structure of Baltard architectural style (1901) discover the rich variety of local produce: oysters, honey, olive GOING ALONG THE CANAL oil… and wine, of course! Open all year round with the possibility to eat on 2pm the spot until 2 pm. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, “Le Canal de la Robine” which connects to “Le Canal du Midi”, is the perfect place to go for a walk or a bike ride… or why not a boat ride? From there you will catch sight of the monuments of the historical VISIT THE NEW MUSEUM NARBO VIA centre, the facades of the prestigious hotels particulier from the 19th c., and seve- 3pm ral locks. If you feel like it, you can go across the natural reserves all the way down Located along the banks of the Robine Canal, this new museum is dedicated to the end of the canal and to the shore of the Mediterranean Sea. to the period of the Roman Empire. Narbo Via Museum houses a significant collection of more than 1300 pieces on an exhibition surface of 2600 SQM GOING SHOPPING IN THE STORES including remarkable mural paintings and a collection of 760 carved Roman funerary stone blocks. It bears witness of the rich past of Ancient Narbonne 5pm OF THE HISTORICAL CENTRE called Narbo Martius, first Roman colony founded in Gaulle in 118 BCE. Numerous shopkeepers and craftsmen offer their services and savoir-faire; in this beautiful setting of the historical centre, there is something to suit all tastes. Numerous events will give you the opportunity to get good bargains: APÉRO! AND DINNER ON THE summer and winter street sales, street markets and other special markets PROMENADE “LES BARQUES” 7pm (truffles, honey, organic...). End the day by relaxing on the terraces of the numerous cafés and ENJOY THE SHOW AT THE ARENA restaurants which you’ll find all along the promenade. Here’s the chance to experience a night out in Narbonne, to taste the local wines and local A night out at Narbonne Arena is the perfect way to end this long day on a high 4 cuisine in a festive and ideal atmosphere calling for conviviality. 9pm note. There is something to suite all tastes: Concerts, ballets, musicals, comedy shows and sports competitions. 4 © c-deschamps-adt-aude A journey through history Narbonne was born in 118 BC when the Romans decided to settle on this strategic site. Narbo Martius became the first Roman colony outside of Italy. Narbonne as a dynamic port in ancient times was adorned with beautiful Roman public monuments. The only structures left from this period of great prosperity are the mysterious Horreum (underground galleries used as a storage facility) and the Via Domitia (Roman road linking Rome to the Iberic peninsula) on the town hall square. In the Middle-Ages the Archbishops’ Palace, the cloister and the gothic Cathedral Saint Just and Saint Pastor are built. They are the symbols of the religious power of the great prelates of Narbonne. In the 19th c. winegrowing took a leading place in the region’s economy. In spite of the Phylloxera crisis the region became the land of plenty for winegrowers. Landowners and traders got rich and had their sumptuous houses built along the canal de la Robine, which substituted for the Aude River at the end of the 17th c. DID YOU KWOW? ANCIENT NARBO MARTIUS’ RIVER PORT La Nautique, which is located on the lagoon area, was Narbonne’s main harbour during the Roman period. At that time it was the biggest port in Gaulle; when Narbo Martius was exchanging with ports across the whole Mediterranean sea including the famous port of Ostie in Rome where a mosaic picturing ships from Narbonne can be seen. Archaeological excavations have unearthed amphorae and other rare pieces such as a wooden anchor of an impressive size. More recently the remains of a luxurious villa as well as the remnants of a warehouse and the surface of an old road heading towards Narbonne were found. 5 NARBONNE : GRAND SITE D’OCCITANIE SAINT JUST AND SAINT PASTOR VIA DOMITIA GOTHIC CATHEDRAL A segment of this great antique road going from Fitted with the highest gothic choir in the south of Italy to Spain is visible on the town hall square. France, with a vault hight of 41 meters; this cathe- dral’s distinctive characteristic is that it has never been finished, which gives it a unique identity. It includes a surprising treasure room which contains remarkable LE PONT DES MARCHANTS artworks from the Carolingian to the modern period. The merchants’ bridge is one of two inhabited bridges in France. The other one is in Landerneau, THE ARCHBISHOPS’PALACE-MUSEUM Brittany. One of the two archiepiscopal monuments in France after the Popes’ Palace in Avignon. This emblematic monument gathers different architectural periods. SAINT PAUL BASILICA It was restored by Viollet-le -Duc and contains many One of the most ancient gothic churches in south treasures: medieval ceiling fresco, the spectacular of France. Do not miss the frog petrified in the “salle des synodes”, the panoramic view from the font. Gilles Aycelin’s Dungeon, and the art collections in- cluding an important orientalist paintings collection. CHARLES TRENET’S BIRTHPLACE Located on 13 avenue Charles Trenet is the child- LE CANAL DE LA ROBINE hood house of the famous French singer Charles Just as le canal du Midi, of which it is an extension, Trenet aka “Le fou chantant” (the singing loony). this construction of the 17th c. is a UNESCO world heritage site. CONTACT : Direction du Patrimoine et des musées de la Ville de Narbonne Tél : +33 (0)4 68 90 26 38 - [email protected] NARBO VIA THE HORREUM This new museum which was designed by Foster + These underground galleries, ancient times Partners firm is dedicated to the period of Ancient storage facility, are unique in Europe. Rome. It shows evidence of Ancient Narbonne’s rich www.narbovia.fr/accueil/visiter/visiter-horreum history. www.narbovia.fr © Arnaud Späni LE SOMAIL THE ABBEY OF FONTFROIDE The Canal du Midi runs through this quiet hamlet A Cistercian jewel beautifully restored which which reveals a unique undamaged architectural en- welcomes 125 000 visitors each year. semble of the 17th c. www.fontfroide.com www.visit-lanarbonnaise.com/fr/le-somail- 6 canal-du-midi ©ibgfolio-adt-aude TOP TIPS WANT TO GO ON AN ADVENTURE? WHAT IF YOU BECAME A TREASURE HUNTER? Given the great success of “The Matagot Treasure Hunt” a brand new paper chase is now available in Narbonne: “The Genie of the Amphora”! Be very careful of what you ask for should you come across a genie who will grant your wishes… it might not end so well! Open up this treasure hunt box-set, including enigmas, clues, maps and other quirky objects, and help young Roman Kevinus to travel back to his own time.