8-11 SEPT_PRE-ITINERARY CARCASSONNE TO CATALONIA V3

Itinerary
CARCASSONNE TO FRENCH CATALONIA
8-11 September
www.destinationsuddefrance.com
Sud de France Languedoc-Roussillon: the real luxury is
being there
It is impossible to talk about Sud de France Languedoc-Roussillon in the singular. Like its wines and
agricultural and food products, Languedoc-Roussillon is many destinations, all exceptionally rich in
natural, historic and cultural assets.
Sud de France is the umbrella brand created by the Languedoc-Roussillon region for tourism, wine
and agrifood products. Spanning the three sectors, the Sud de France brand was created to foster the
local, national and international commercialization of Sud de France products and wines while at the
same time promoting Sud de France Languedoc-Roussillon tourist destinations.
Today, this strategy of supporting and promoting the local economic fabric has brought together
1984 regional firms and nearly 6900 products. And the Sud de France family continues to grow all the
time. Sud de France Languedoc-Roussillon also encompasses 670 Qualité Sud de France
establishments and 50 top-of-the-range establishments included within the “Cercle Prestige”.
Sud de France Languedoc-Roussillon destinations have exceptional natural assets including a sunny
climate, the sea, the mountains and beautiful landscapes.
Languedoc-Roussillon also has an incredibly rich cultural and historic heritage. The region is home to
six majestic Unesco world heritage sites including the Pont du Gard, Canal du Midi, the city of
Carcassonne, the Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle pilgrimage routes, the Vauban fortresses of MontLouis and Villefranche-de-Conflent, and the Causses and the Cévennes regions. In addition,
Languedoc-Roussillon has ten “Grands Sites de France” operations, vibrant cities with countless
museums and festivals, 13 villages that have earned the prestigious French label, “Les plus beaux
villages de France”, awarded to only the most beautiful villages in France, 11 Cathar castles,
carnivals, nautical events, fishing festivals, races, local markets, and historic spectacles, to name only
a few.
With 30 appellations and over 60 vins de pays including reds, whites, rosés, sparkling, still and
naturally fortified wines, Languedoc-Roussillon wines are as diverse as the region. However, these
wines all have in common a certain frank quality that makes them especially pleasant to drink, festive
and yet untamed.
Sud de France Languedoc-Roussillon destinations also offer a multitude of specialties including
Cassoulet from Castelnaudary, anchovies from Collioure, oysters from Leucate, Gruissan and
Bouzigues, brandade from Nimes, “le pélardon”, sweet onions from the Cévennes, rousquilles
cookies from Vallespir, apricots from Roussillon, le Bleu des Causses, rice and salt from the
Camargue, and Catalan and Lozérienne charcuterie, among countless other products. Sud de France
has something for every eating and drinking occasion from the family dinner, to an impromptu get
together, to a glass of wine among friends, or a picnic by the seaside.
Bringing together regional firms from different economic worlds including artisans, producers and
distributors, Languedoc-Roussillon has focused on pooling resources, expertise and talents.
Today, Sud de France has expanded its footprint by supporting communication campaigns for wines,
products and destinations from all over the region.
Itinerary created in partnership between Sud de France Développement
(www.destinationsuddefrance.com, the Aude tourism development agency
(http://www.audetourisme.com/), and the Tourist office of Perpignan
(http://www.perpignantourisme.com/)
- All extras (telephone, bar, mini-bar, drinks, etc) are at the journalist’s own expense
- If you are delayed for one of your visits (places, accommodation, restaurants) please
advise beforehand the people you are meeting.
Monday 8th September
Tina Walsh
10:20 Recommended arrival time into London Stansted – check in bag
12:20 Flight departs (Ryanair)
15:15 Flight arrives into Carcassonne
Welcome by Virginie Lenart, who will accompany you during the all trip (+33 (0) 63 01 52 32)
Check-in at the Hotel Mercure Porte de la Cité
18 rue Camille Saint Saëns
Tél: + 33 (0)4 68 11 92 82
www.mercure-carcassonne.fr
Possibility of a free visit with audioguide (to take at the Tourist office: 28 rue de Verdun,
Carcassonne) of the medieval Bastide Saint-Louis
Janine Marsh
17:27 Arrives by train at Carcassonne station
Welcome by Virginie Lenart
Check-in at the Hotel Mercure Porte de la Cité
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------19:30 Myriam Fillaquier, in charge of Tourism Promotion at Aude tourism development agency
(ADT Aude), will wait for you at the hotel
20:00 Dinner at Atelier de la Truffe with Myriam Fillaquier and Virginie Lenart
51 Rue Trivalle
Carcassonne
http://www.barriere-truffes.com/
Mob: +33 6 30 35 52 71
Tél. +33 8 70 53 88 36
Tuesday 9th September
8:45 Guided Tour in English of the medieval city of Carcassonne
and the Basilique St Nazaire with Katia Signoles (guide speaker of
the Cathar Country)
Meeting point: entry of the Medieval City in front of the drawbridge
Visit: 1 hour 15
Since the pre-Roman period, a fortified settlement has
existed on the hill where Carcassonne now stands. In its
present form it is an outstanding example of a medieval
fortified town, with its massive defences encircling the castle
and the surrounding buildings, its streets and its fine Gothic
cathedral. Carcassonne is also of exceptional importance
because of the lengthy restoration campaign undertaken by
Viollet-le-Duc, one of the founders of the modern science of
conservation.
10:00 Free time in the city of Carcassonne
and its small shops of delicatessen,
homeware and wine.
12:00 Lunch Cruise on the Canal du Midi for
a relaxing moment with regional meals
Meeting Point: at noon in the Port Fluvial of
Carcassonne (face to train station) – Bateau
Le Defi
This canal has been build between 1666 and 1681 to
carry water to the countryside. You will see a
masterpiece which needed 328 engineers for the
construction and has been modified by the wellknown Vauban, a French architect. Surrounded by
trees, this canal is a perfect fitting in a green
environment.
14:30 Leave for the Corbières (autoroute Carcassonne Est-Lezignan
Corbieres, then tourist route from Lezignan Corbieres to Cucugnan)
16:00 Guided visit of Queribus Castle (contact to be confirmed)
17:30 Visit and Wine tasting of “wines which speak” at the Cucugnan
Wine Cellar
Les Vignobles du vertige
31 rue Alphonse Daudet, 11350 CUCUGNAN
Tél +33 4 68 45 41 61
Overnight stay in the cosy village of Talairan in a B&B called La Talairane
Chambres d’Hôtes La Talairane (3 épis Label Gîtes de France)
Place de la République
Contact : Mme Chertrier Tel: +33 (0) 4 68 44 09 92 /+33 (0)06 76 86 97 88
http://www.gites-de-france.com/location-vacances-Talairan-Chambre-d-hotes-La-Talairane-11G900147.html
Dinner in a Café de Pays « La Talairane »
8 Avenue du Termenes 11 220 Talairan
Tél 04 68 45 82 19
www.restaurant-la-talariane.fr
Wednesday 10th September
8:45
Leave the Corbières for Perpignan
10:00 Meet at the Tourist office / Palmarium with Françoise Estève, Press relations at Perpignan
Tourist office (06 67 92 81 46)
Place François Arago, at the end of quai Vauban
66000 Perpignan
Visit of the city through Visa Pour l’Image photojournalism festival and discovery of local
delicatessen shops (Maison Quinta, rue Paratilla épices, anchovies, ham, pastries…)
Visa pour l'Image is the premier International Festival
of Photojournalism held in Perpignan, France. This
festival is a unique event where you can join thousands
of kindred spirits who share a love and passion for
photography. View the greatest photojournalist work
from around the world in exhibitions across the city.
www.visapourlimage.com/index.do
12:00 Lunch at the restaurant “le café de la poste” with Françoise Estève
14:30-16:30 Guided Visit of the city Perpignan
The capital of French Catalonia has been
influenced by Spanish culture; you will be
visiting the Palace of the Kings of Majorca.
Perpignan city centre is typical of the
Roussillon architecture with winding streets
and small shops.
Free time
Dinner at the restaurant Saint Jean or Le Figuier (to be confirmed)
Overnight stay in Perpignan at the Hôtel Mercure
5B Cours François Palmarole
66000 Perpignan
Téléphone : 04 68 35 67 66
Thursday 11th September
Janine Marsh
7:00
Check out of hotel
Transfer by car to Perpignan Train Station
7:37
Train departs Perpignan
Tina Walsh
10:00 Check out of hotel and transfer by car to Béziers Airport
11:10 Arrive at Béziers Airport
13:10-14:05
Flight from Béziers to London Stansted (Ryanair)
CONTACTS:
Virginie Lenart : +33 (0) 63 01 52 32
Janine Marsh : 0203 667 3700
Tina Walsh