The key features of the area include the 8th Century Abbey of Lagrasse, the vineyards, and just 30 minutes away - Carcassone with its renown medieval walled city. Nearby are the mysterious Cathar Castles and several other monasteries.

Area attractions (most within 30 - 40 minutes’ drive unless noted):

Abbeys - Gothic and Romanesques Abbeys (Lagrasse, Fontfroide, Thermes, and Quarante)

Antique and Brocante shops to collect treasures inevery town.

Beaches - the Mediterrean is about 20 minutes away if you are French, and 40 minutes away if you drive like I do.

Carcassonne, La Cite, – A beautiful medieval city, lovely carousel, enjoyable restaurants
Cathar Castles on Mountain Tops

Caves (Cabrespine, Limousis, and Demoiselles)

Canal du Midi – tree-lined walks along the canal, and multiple restaurants and shops for viewing the passing canal boats; boats can also be rented for local/regional tour

Canyons (L'Orbieu. Galamuss, La Fou, La Cesse and Dolmens)

Collioure (2 hours), and other Fishing Villages and Marinas (Gruissan, Bages,  Sète, and Bouzigues)

Hiking, bicycling, & horseback riding

Lakes - Lac De La Cavayare – lovely lake, park, sand beach, and pebble beach - Lac de Jouarres for all water sports with all facilities including showers and bathing supervision -

Narbonne - lovely city with a Roman past and centuries of history to explore!

Minerve – highly picturesque mideval stone village overlooking a gorge, site of a fierce battle during the crusades (1210 AD)

Montagne Noire (Black Mountains) – beautiful drive, forest walks and granite boulders

Montlolure – pretty mideval town filled with second-hand book shops (even an English one!)

Ocean - Gruisan-Plage (60 minutes’ drive) – beach, restaurants, shops, and attractive pastel-multicolored village

Regional products sampling: Wine, Cheese, Olives, Honey, Pâté, and Seafood

Roman Ruins (Narbonne)

Shopping: Antiques, Pottery, Faïence, Linens, and Copperware

Spain – only a 2-hour drive – do see beautiful seaside Collioure on the way!

Wine Tasting – everywhere! Wine tasting is a joy, as the Corbieres wines as reknown for their robust qualities. Within a short radius one has several important wineries, and right in town, Sandrine Puech, a wine expert, is available for wine tours!