Must do suggestions

Food

Les Halle - Narbonne Food Hall http://narbonne.halles.fr/ is an essential visit for anyone who loves food, the hall is a large indoor market open every day (only partly on a Monday) selling practically every foodstuff available. You can even have lunch there or go to Gruissan on the Med. for a seafood lunch.

Olonzac market is every Tuesday morning and the food part starts by being very deceptive as it is entered via a small passage off the roundabout, it meanders through to eventually a small market area but along the way are numerous food stalls of locally produced products.

Cabezac - Oysters on Wednesday and Friday evening 1730 onwards, get there early in the summer to get a table. The roadside cafe and filling station provides a location for a local oyster grower to sell his oysters and mussels. Order as many as you like and they will be prepared for you or buy to take away.

L'Oulibo - also at Cabezac, award winning Olives and of course where our olives go to. You can take part in a tour and see how olives are prepared and of course you can buy plenty of olive products. http://www.odyssea.eu/oulibo/

Places

Minerve - A Cathar stronghold that was beseiged by the very nasty Simon de Montfort in 1210. It is rated as one of Frances best villages. http://www.les-plus-beaux-villages-de-france.org/en/minerve Take a picnic and have it by the underground river.

Le Somail - A walk through the vineyards will bring you to the Canal du Midi hamlet of Le Somail, it is Canal centric with a very pretty bridge, floating shop and boats for hire.Images of Le Somail

Lagrasse - another rated prettiest village http://www.les-plus-beaux-villages-de-france.org/en/lagrasse , there is an excellent walk from the village and the Abbey is worth a visit. There is also a 14th. Century market and plenty of places to eat Canard.

La Cité - Medieval City situated in Carcassonne, this has to be the most popular tourist attraction in the region, it can be very busy, especially on a day when the sun does not shine. http://www.carcassonne.culture.fr/

Fontfroide - The Abbey is tucked away in a valley and is an excellent location for a walk, picnic or eating very well in their restaurant.http://www.fontfroide.com/home_page.htm

Beaches and Activities

The website creme-de-languedoc.com is the best source of information for this.

Massage

I have visited Consultant Orthopaedic specialists, physiotherapists, chiropractors but NONE of them can even get close to

Lyuba. I really do have to thank her so much for her expertise, she is a true professional. Any pain or discomfort anywhere - go and visit her.

click on the image for more information.

A Day Out

Here are a few suggestions for a Day Out.

The Montagne Noir

Tuesday is the preferred day – good idea if you can also see the tops of the mountains to the north!.

Head off on the D11 and follow signs for Olonzac, parking will be difficult as it is market day, make sure you find the narrow street with all the food stalls. Now take the road to Homps (D910) only a couple of kilometres and treat your self to a coffee at one of the cafés on the south side of the Canal du Midi, don't tarry too long though as now need to join the main Carcassonne road for 4 kilometres and then turn right and pass through La Redorte, Rieux Minervois, Peyriac Minervois and follow directions to Villeneuve Minervois. (a nice little well shaded village). Now start climbing on the D112 towards Pradelles-Cabardes, a very windy road which eventually brings you to Pradelles-Cabardes, pass through this little village and on the left you will see a sign to Le Lac. Lunch here is simple food at the cafe by the lake. You can take quite a few walks in this area, but remember you are at 2500ft so it is cooler. After lunch continue a short distance and turn left towards Labastide and meander through the gorge and take a stroll around Roquefore. Continue to Villalier, Trebes and if you still have time divert via the villages of Rustiques and Badens before returning to the D610/D11 and home.

Flamingoes

Head off to Narbonne and if you have not visited Les Halles or the city then this is a good time to do it, avoid Monday and take a cold bag with you. Head out of Narbonne on the road to Perpignan and take the roundabout exit to Bages just after you come out of all the commercial part of Narbonne. Follow the signs to the village centre, up a small hill into the village, have a wander round and a cup of coffee. The village has a fantastic commanding position. Drive onto Peyriac de Mer past the salt pans and flamingoes and park in Peyriac. Be prepared for an 8K walk, firstly crossing the road causeway a bit further on from the car park. At the end climb straight ahead across the road and follow the footpath up and around to the left, then right at the footpath crossroads to take you through the woods and along a ridge above the lake, follow the signs to Peyriac (the longer distance!) but beware after climbing a ridge you will come to a water tank where the indication of the footpath is not clear, do not be tempted to walk past the tank but veer right just before it to join a track. Now follow the yellow markers which will eventually bring you out on the road. Continue for a while until you see a turning to the left and a car park sign and cross the board walk back into Peyriac. If you have timed this correctly it should be lunchtime. Head for the Bar/Restaurant in the village square, the food is truly excellent and if you go at the weekend it may be wise to book before you walk. If this fails and you cannot get a table then head back to Bages and eat there. If you want to visit the beach then head back into Narbonne and simply follow the signs for Narbonne Plage for an afternoon dip.

The Pyrennes

This could be a long day if you stop a lot. Go to Lezignan-Corbieres via Ventenac and Canet d'Aude and follow the signs to the Peage A61. At the roundabout by the airfield and Peage follow the signs to Fabrezan/Lagrasse. This village has a very ancient market place and an impressive Abbey, a quick stroll round will give you a flavour in case you want to return at a later date. Follow signs for Villerouge-Termenes and then Mouthoumet. Time for coffee in the very basic cafe in the village. Continue to Pont d'Orbieu and turn left towards Auriac and Soulatge. It is very unlikely you will see any other traffic on this very windy wooded road. At the Soulatge junction turn left again and pick up the signs to Peyrepertuse. Climb all the way up with the car to the top and visit Peyrepertuse castle. You should now be hungry and the village has a few places to eat. After lunch drive to Cucugnan, Padern, Tuchan, Durban-Corbieres at the river bridge take either left or right and head for Lezignan again or the D611A back towards Narbonne.