Carcassonne: Classed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the
ancient fortified Cité may be Carcassonne's main draw, but also set aside some time to
explore the charming boulevards of the
Bastide Saint-Louis, the "new" town, founded by the sainted King
Louis in the mid- thirteenth century, after the siege of the
medieval "Cité" above and the fall of the Cathars.
The Canal du Midi: perfect for boat trips, walks and bike rides along its flat tree-shaded paths, or
just a leisurely lunch
by a lock - and don't miss the staircase of nine locks at Béziers!
The Cathar Castles: clamber up to the quadruple forts of
Lastours, pinnacle-perched Peyrepetuse, eagle nest Queribus,
the Cathars' last stronghold Montségur, and many
others
The Medieval Abbeys: favourites are Fontfroide (for its sublime beauty, and its excellent wines and restaurant), Saint Hilaire
(for its bubbly history - see Wining & Dining)
and Lagrasse (for its stunning setting)
The Caves: dazzlingly spectacular crystal and stalactite
formations at Cabrespine and Limousis; cave paintings at
Niaux.
The medieval arcaded market-towns of Mirepoix and Revel, whether you visit
to marvel at the picturesque architecture or just to enjoy the bustle, sights
and scents of the local markets.
Montolieu, the famous "Village of Books and the Graphic Arts". Aude's
answer to Hay on
Wye enchants visitors with its quaint charm, its numerous bookshops, its museum of the printed word, gallery of contemporary
art and its specialist boutiques.
The Corbières, the wildest hills of the region, with
hidden valleys, and more vineyards than people.
The Montagne Noire, for its lakes, rivers and forests.
The Minervois for its vineyards, its rugged hills carpeted with Mediterranean flora and for the medieval town of Minerve, perched between two ravines.
The cities:
Toulouse for its contrasts, old winding streets of half-timbered, red-brick houses, ultra-modern Airbus and "Space City";
Albi for its fabulous medieval cathedral, a
soaring structure of rosy bricks and its Toulouse Lautrec musuem;
Narbonne
for its canals, vibrant covered market, Bishop's
palace and flamingo lagoons; Perpignan for its ancient centre, Spanish atmosphere
and the Palace of the Kings of Majorca.
The charming "Côte Vermeille", and especially enchanting Collioure, famous village of painters and fishermen.
The sea and the mountains: The Mediterranean and the Pyrenees are easily reached for a day trip. In 60 to 90 minutes by car you can be on a beach, or below a peak.
The summer season of festivals and events, from Pennautier International Piano Festival to the flamboyant "burning" on Bastille Day of the ramparts of Carcassonne, a firework spectacular famous across France.
(A Calendar of events can be found on the Carcassonne Tourist Office
website; see Useful Links)
Other unexpected discoveries include a troglodyte church, a hat
museum, a dinosaur museum, a safari park, a Roman amphora
factory, a modern sculpture walk, a site of legendary
Templar treasure... the list goes on!
And if all that should still not be enough to keep you entertained, why not pop over to Spain,
perfectly feasible as a day-trip and well worth the journey for the mind-boggling
Salvador Dali museum at Figueres alone?
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Puylaurens, one of the region's
numerous Cathar castles
The "book village" Montolieu is just up the road
The enchanting village of Collioure
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