There are, however, also mountainous areas such as the Montagne d'Alaric and the lower Pyrenees. In these mountains lie medieval villages and ancient fortresses. An old legend speaks of the Visigotic king Alaric II, who was buried in a cave underneath his castle at Miramont in the Montagne d'Alaric, together with his treasures.

The capital Narbonne has been inhabited since ancient times. The Romans turned it into a flourishing port. From Roman times there are little remains. Largely because the ancient buildings were later used as quarries for medieval buildings. However, there are a few farms which are still standing on Roman foundations. These used to be Roman villas and you can still see the villa like shape when you look close. Today, Narbonne is a cozy shopping town with a beautiful cathedral (do not forget to take a look at the cloisters) and several medieval buildings.

Réserve Africaine de Sigean
About 15 km south of Narbonne lies Sigean, known for its wonderful safari park ‘Réserve Africaine de Sigean'. It welcomes visitors the whole year round from as early as 9.00 hours. The park provides a comfortable habitat for lions, elephants, South African Springbok, chimpanzees, flamingoes, ostriches, giraffes, pelicans, rhinos, black bears and many other wild animals. You can drive through the park with your car. There is a restaurant and an information desk. A wonderful day out!

The deserted mountains of the Corbière have been a favorite settling place for monasteries. Abbeys such as Lagrasse and Fontfroide were very rich. It is a great idea to explore Fontfroide in the morning and dive into the Mediterranean at Narbonne Plage or Gruissan Plage in the afternoon.

The coastal strip of the Corbière is huge. From Narbonne Plage where the July and August months can be quite crowded, to the south, there are vast beaches with enough space for thousands of seaside lovers. But do take refreshments with you, there are little or no facilities near most of the less crowded beaches.

At the foothills of the Pyrenees lies the cradle of the European caveman, Tautavel man. This earliest European lived around 450.000 years ago in the high and dry areas in caves.

You can plan a beautiful roundtrip through the Corbière and visit the museum of Tautavel as well as the impressive organ pipes at Ille-sur-Tet near Bélesta and the breathtaking Galamus Gorge. Impressive Cathar castles are balancing on sharp ridges, such as Peyrepertuse and Queribus. There are also many chateaus where you can taste their wines and perhaps take a few bottles home....

For more information on the Corbière region, surf to: Corbière Web