Things to See and Do in Narbonne, France
A PIcturesque Holiday Destination in the Languedoc Region
Narbonne is an attractive, relatively small city in the Aude department of the Languedoc region of south west France. Founded by the Romans, Narbonne today has a population of approximately 50,000 people. Narbonne’s is an accessible destination for day trips from Montpellier, Carcassonne or Tolouse, as well as a comfortable base for exploring surrounding regions.
Narbonne’s Canal
One of he most charming features of Narbonne is its canal. The city is bisected by the Canal de La Robine, a branch of the Canal du Midi. Visitors can stroll along ithe attractive plane-tree lined-promenades which line both sides of the canal and pause to relax at one of the many cafes and restaurants on the promenades.
Narbonne’s Cathedral
The seven hundred year old gothic style Cathedral St Juste dominates Narbonne’s skyline. Because of conflict related to medieval city planning regulations the cathedral was never completed to the original plan, but what exists is impressive. The cathedral’s foreshortened nave is compensated for by soaring ceilings.
Narbonne's Roman Heritage
Narbonne was the capital of the Roman province of Gallia Transalpina, later named Gallia Narbonensis after the city itself. In the middle of Narbonne’s city square is an uncovered section of the Via Domitia, the road through the south of France built by the Romans. The route is now largely followed by the A9 motorway.
Narbonne’s Markets
On the southern side of the Canal de la Robine is the not-to-be-missed Les Halles, one of the finest food halls in France and a gastronomic and sensory delight. Les Halles is open 6 am to 1 pm daily. On Thursdays and Sundays an open-air market with stalls selling flowers, clothes and other items stretches along the canal bank near Les Halles.
Narbonne’s Old City
A wander through the narrow, twisting streets of Narbonne’s old city provides the opportunity to view medieval architecture, including many impressive mansion houses.
Shopping in Narbonne
Narbonne is a city of boutique establishments, rather than department stores. The most popular shopping street is the Pont des Marchands, built on a bridge over the Canal de La Robine.
Narbonne’s beach
Narbonne Plage is an expansive white sand beach, one of few in this area of southern France.
Bages
Bages is a picturesque, historic fishing village just 8 kilometres from central Narbonne. It is easily reached by bus or car and offers stunning views of the lagoon, Etang de Bages.
The Minervois Wine Region
Immediately north of Narbonne is the beautiful Minervois wine region. As well as numerous opportunities for wine tasting, the Minervois offers many attractive canalside villages such as Le Somail, Ventenac, Capestang, Homps and Roubia.
The Corbieres Region
The Corbieres region is a relatively sparsely populated, mountainous region west of Narbonne best visited by car. Here can be found Cathar castles, vineyards, dramatic vistas and winding river valleys.
Les Halles, Narbonne
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