Days out - Château Les Carrasses

Days out
DAYS OUT
MONTPELLIER
MORNING:
Explore the old centre of Montpellier - Languedoc’s most beautiful city, and France’s most
popular city to live in. Visit the Musée Fabre - the city’s main art gallery. Or just wander
around taking in the city – there are great things to see all over the place, and a really
lively atmosphere. There is good shopping too, in the area around Place de La Comedie.
You can also park under this fabulous square – which is smack bang in the middle of
town. Follow the signs market P COMEDIE.
LUNCH:
Sit outside at Le Comptoire de l’Arc (2 Rue de l'Hôtel de Ville, Tel: 04 67 60 30 79) - a
friendly and popular restaurant with interesting food. Alternatively head out to Grande
Travers or Petit Travers and have lunch at any one of the beach clubs.
AFTERNOON:
Lazing on the beach at La Travers or any one of the other beaches..
More French people
want to live in
Montpellier than
any other French
city. The centre is
pedestrianised, and
full of cafés where
you can sit and
watch the world
(mostly students)
go by...
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DAYS OUT
ROQUEBRUN & ST CHINIAN
MORNING:
Swimming or canoeing at Roquebrun, one of the most beautiful villages in France. The
canoeing is very easy - and very memorable. The rapids are pretty mild and even small
children do it. We recommend you do the 2-hour course from ‘Cers’ to Roquebrun. Phone
to book your place: 04 67 89 52 90.
LUNCH: At ‘Le Petit Nice’ - a very basic but good restaurant overlooking the river. Make
sure you call to make a reservation, as it is very popular in summer. Tel: 04 67 89 64 27.
AFTERNOON:
Wine tasting at the cave in St Chinian - renown for its velvety reds. It’s in the centre of the
village. Tel: 04 67 38 28 40.
If you go on a Thursday or a Sunday, check out St Chinian market, which is a lively,
colourful, and quintessentially French market.
Roquebrun –
considered to be
one of the prettiest
villages in France.
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DAYS OUT
THE MILAU VIADUCT & THE VELORAIL
MORNING:
Unmissable for anyone interested in architecture. Drive up the A75 to view the Millau
Viaduct. There’s a visitor’s centre from which you can get a great view of the tallest and
one of the most beautiful bridges in Europe, if not the world. A collaboration between
Norman Foster, and Eiffage, the French company that built the Eiffel tower. You can also
take a river tour under the bridge (Tel: 05 65 59 12 41), a great way to really appreciate
the size and splendour.
LUNCH:
In the visitors centre for the bridge (surprisingly good!) or in any of a host of restaurants in
the town of Millau.
AFTERNOON:
Not far from the Millau bridge is the Velorail - an abandoned railway that has been
converted into a ‘fun-ride’ of sorts. You hire a ‘velo-rail’, a simple open-air bike-carriage
that you sit on while it zooms down a hill. On the way, you’ll see superb views, as you go
over bridges and through tunnels.
The Millau Viaduct
– as splendid as
splendid can be.
Proof the French
and the English can
collaborate now and
again...
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DAYS OUT
LAGRASSE & THE CATHAR CASTLES
MORNING:
Visit Lagrasse, a pretty village just south-west of Narbonne where you’ll find a very nice
medieval abbey. The town is a very atmospheric place, and will reward an hour or twos
wander. You can also swim in the river here.
LUNCH:
In Lagrasse - in one of the cafés that spills out on to the street. Cheap and cheerful.
AFTERNOON:
Visit the Cathar castles of Quéribus and Puilaurens. From the walls of each, you can see
the other in the distance, the Pyrénées and the Mediterranean. The Cathars were an 11th
century sect that challenged the orthodoxy of the Catholic church.
Alternatively spend the afternoon wandering exploring Carcasonne. Or visit the Abbaye de
Fontfroide – a magnificent 12th Century Cistercian Abbey. There is also wine tasting and a
good restaurant here.
Cathar Castles
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DAYS OUT
NARBONNE & CARCASSONNE
MORNING:
Drive to Narbonne and stroll around the centre of this lovely Canal side town. Make sure
to visit the covered market. Also worth a visit is the 13th Century Cathedral, the
Archbishop’s Palace and the Archaelogical museuem, with its important collection of
Roman artefacts and art – reflecting Narbonne’s role as the first major settlement of the
Roman empire.
LUNCH:
In Narbonne town centre. The food market (‘Les Halles’) is a great place, particularly if
there is Rugby on. Chez Bebel is the standout restaurant.
AFTERNOON:
The Medieval castle just outside Carcassonne is a World Heritage Site - and the best and
largest example of a medieval castle in the world. Alternatively spend the afternoon
wine tasting on La Clape – just a few kilometers outside the town, with many of the
Languedoc’s best Domaine’s within close proximity to one another. Some of the best
include Château Capitoul (one of ours!), Gerard Bertrand , Château Camplezans and
Château des Angles. Great for bikes, walks etc. as well.
Picture Perfect
Carcassonne. Kind
of Disneyish, only
real...
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DAYS OUT
OLARGUES & THE GORGE D’
D’HERIC
MORNING:
Drive to Olargues – a beautifully preserved medieval village – and spend a couple of
hours wandering through its meandering streets. Market day in Sunday. Some of the
surrounding hamlets are all but forgotten, and so were a great hideout for the
resistance, who camped out in this area during the second world war.
LUNCH:
In the small bistros in the village centre. Alternatively try the Auberge de Combes in the
village of Combes, about half an hour from Olargues. The food here is fantastic and
there is a lovely terrace with spectacular views (Wednesdays to Sundays only). The drive
is not for the faint hearted at night.
AFTERNOON:
Drive to the Gorge d’Héric to go swimming in the gorgeous rockpools (see ‘River Beaches
‘ section). Alternatively explore the many walking trails of the area or go canoeing on
the river Orb. There is a departure point at Tarrasac, about 10 minutes from Olargues
towards the Gorge. Reservations 06 83 61 62 2 1.
Olargues and the
surrounding
villages - like going
back in time...
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DAYS OUT
BEACH CHIC
MORNING:
Reserve a sun-bed at the Jungle Club (you might want to call first to make sure they are
available: 06 72 24 91 05). It’s one of the best beach clubs in the region, with a restaurant,
bar, and masseur. To get here, head towards Cap d’Agde and once there, take the signs
for ‘Plage Richlieu Est’. The signs for ‘naturisme’ on the other hand, take you to the
clothes off side of Le Cap – itself divided into three sections – family, gay and
straight/frisky...
LUNCH:
At the Jungle Club’s restaurant.
AFTERNOON:
Stay at the beach, or drive to Marseillan port (NOT ‘Marseillan Plage’). It’s a nice fishing
port close to Cap d’Agde where you’ll find some nice cafés and restaurants. Try the
Taverne du Port. Vist the caves of Noilly Prat – home of the eponymous Vermouth. You
can also walk along the lagoon here around to the Oyster farms.
One of the beaches
at Cap d’Agde
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DAYS OUT
LA CLAPE & GRUISSAN
MORNING:
La Clape is a great place to go wine tasting, with many of the Languedoc’s best Domaine’s
within close proximity to one another. Some of the best include Château Capitoul (one of
ours!), Gerard Bertrand , Château Camplezans and Château des Angles. Great for bikes,
walks etc. as well.
LUNCH:
At The Salt Pans - Les Salins - in Gruissan – the freshest seafood you will ever eat probably,
given that it is pulled from the water about 5metres from your plate and refined ‘’affiné’)
on site. Amazing duck too. Funky rustic atmosphere, and fiercely popular. After lunch
check out the salt museum.
AFTERNOON:
Stroll along the vast beach. Stop for a coffee at the sail club, watchging the sailors and
kiters. Wander through the beach village, with its clapboard houses on stilts. If you still
have enough energy, have a browse in the old town of Gruissan.
La Clape – great
wines, fabulous
scenery.
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DAYS OUT
A DAY ON THE CANAL
MORNING:
Rent a small boat and make your way up the Canal du Midi - one of the most beautiful
canals in the world. We recommend starting at Homps and coming downstream to
Capetang, which takes around half a day from Croisières du Midi Tel: 04 68 91 33 87.
LUNCH:
At a restaurant in any of the villages you pass along the way.
AFTERNOON:
Visit the Abbaye de Fontfroide – a magnificent 12th Century Cistercian Abbey with
gorgeous rose gardens. There is also wine tasting and a good restaurant here.
The Canal du Midi
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DAYS OUT
THE ETANG DE THAU & SETE
MORNING:
Drive to Marseillan, stop in the old port for coffee. Have a walk around the port, stopping
for a coffee in any one of the cafés lining the port. Have a peek in the Noilly Prat factory,
home to the legendary vermouth.
From Marseillan, take the road out towards Meze. Take a quick detour into the “Parc de
huitres “ – the oyster farms.
LUNCH:
On the beach in Meze.
AFTERNOON:
Drive to Sète - Languedoc’s biggest port. It’s buzzy and interesting, with some nice cafés
and restaurants. Walk to the top of the hill (Mt St Clair) where you’ll find one of the best
views in the region. Take a dip in the sea at the beach just below the town.
Don’t expect Sète to be always this postcard-pretty. it’s very much a working port - but interesting nonetheless.
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DAYS OUT
PERPIGNAN & COULIOURE
MORNING:
Drive to Perpignan (about 50 minutes from the Château) and stroll the streets. You’ll find
lots of interesting shops, art galleries and nice cafés.
LUNCH:
In any of the tapas bars in Perpignan, or drive to Coulioure and have lunch in any one of
the cafes in the old town or overlooking the beach.
AFTERNOON:
Stroll around Coulioure, following the Matisse Trail and watching the world go by. Then a
couple of hours on the beach…
Collioure is really
lovely. The coast
finally starts to get
more interesting in
this part of
Languedoc, as the
Pyrénées tumble
down into the sea.
Collioure is more
like the Cote d’Azur
in style, and very
popular with artists.
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GREAT DAYS OUT
ST GUILHEM & THE PONT DU DIABLE
MORNING:
Stroll around the village of St Guilhem, visiting the 10th century Romanesque church. It’s
quite touristy, but worth it. The best views of the village are from above - if you can find
the trail up the hills.
LUNCH:
Any restaurant in St Guilhem itself.
AFTERNOON:
Swimming or canoeing at the river beach at the Pont du Diable - on the way back from St
Guilhem (about 10mins) (see beaches pages). If you are feeling energetic, you could also
visit the ‘Grotte de Clamouse’ - spectacular caves only 10mins drive from St Guilhem.
Don’t forget to go
inside the
Romanesque
church at St
Guilhem - as there
is a hidden
courtyard garden.
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DAYS OUT
FOOTHILLS OF THE PYRENEES
MORNING:
Visit the pretty village of Castelnou just south west of Perpignan - with its medieval castle
perched on the top of a hill. And/Or visit ‘Les Orgues de Roussillon’ - weird sandstone
formations close to Ile-sur-Têt.
LUNCH:
Drive inland to Villefranche-le-Confluent, a walled village. There are a few small
restaurants in the centre.
AFTERNOON:
Drive up to St Martin de Canigou. Climb up the hill and keep climbing until you can see the
abbey from above - sitting on a rocky outcrop.
Collioure is really
lovely. The coast
finally starts to get
more interesting in
this part of
Languedoc, as the
Pyrénées tumble
down into the sea.
Collioure is more
like the Cote d’Azur
in style, and very
popular with artists.
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