the land of the l'aude

CarcassesLa ClapeCorbièresLauragaisMinervoisMontagne NoirPyrénées OrientalesRazès

Lauragais
Located near the border of the Toulousain - the Toulouse region - the Lauragais is the land of windmills and corn fields, it is the Departement of the Aude's granary and centre of poultry breeding. Castelnaudary, its capitol,is celebrated for its Cassoulet and centre of the fluvial tourism on the Canal du Midi.

The abbey of Saint-Papoul and the formation of rocks along the watershed of Narouze invite for a visit.

Razes
A land beloved by Goths, Celts and Romans, having also been capitol of the mysterious West-Goths, seat of the order of the Temple, of whom it is said that they were hiding their legendary treasure at this spot; in what is nowadays a small, sleepy village. The Razés offers a splendid landscape at the foot of the Pyrennees, vineyards, many abbeys, churches and caves. Its centre is Limoux, this vivid city of carnaval and first-class Chardonnay.


Montagne Noir
The mountains, the highest of them being the Pic de Nore (1210 m), connect the Cevennes and the Pyreenes. Heath, large forests of the Carbadès, feudale castles, old fortresses of the Cathars, such as Château Lastours, forests of chestnut trees and beeches, wide planes, the lakes of Saint-Ferréol du Lampy or Laprade, Montolieu, the village of books ... it is always worth visiting the black mountains.

Carcasses
This region of the plane of the Aude comprises the Carbardès, the land of wine such as Minverois and Corbièren. It is the ancient region of trade located between Atlantic Ocean and Mediterrenean Sea. The land of rivers and the land of the canals. The most famous city of this region is a world heritage : the city of Carcassonne, this unique fortress with 38 towers and a marvellous history.


Pyrenées Audoises/Orientales
The land of gorges, of small passages and high plateaus. This is were the wild bed of the river Aude runs: La Pierre Lys, Gorges de St. Georges. In summer the famous wandering-route GR10 «Circuit du Sapin» invites you to discover the Pyrenees Audoises, staying in the ancient spas of Alet-les-Bains and Rennes-les-Bains, just as the Romans did 2000 years ago. At Axat, Quillan and all along the river Aude aquanautics can enjoy canoeing and cayak hire.

Le Minervois
is always different: plane and sea, heath and mountains, and neverending vineyards. Grapes have been cultivated in the Minervois since the age of the Gallo-Romans. Today Minervois is the most famous wine-growing area of the Languedoc-Roussillon. But there is much more to discover than wine: prehestorical grottos, countless Roman churches, the abbey of Caunes near Rieux-Minervois, beautiful villages along the Canal du Midi.

The Minervois belongs to both the Departements Aude and Hèrault, with its 68 communities being the smallest administrative region of France
Nowadays Minervois is the wine-growing region number one of Languedoc-Roussillon; first of all due to the seven communities producing A.O.C. wines, with the best of it being Pic de Loup in Hérault.

Still nowadays Minervois is a land of vineyards and agriculture, with a splendid landscape and beautiful villages and small cities along the Canal du Midi. Tourism is nowadays if utmost importance for the Minervois and the landscape offers everything to attract visitors. There are first-class hotels, family Gîtes and many campsite. Anyhow, the most beautiful way of discovering the Minervois is to stay in one of the many Gîtes, small accommodations similar to bed and breakfast, located in beautiful spots - most of them being open throughout the year.


Clape/Narbonnais
The region's capitol is the oldest city of the Roussillon: Narbonne, once capitol of the Roman province of Gallo-Narbonensis. Endless sandy beach, hyper-modern holiday centres, Port Gruissan and Port Leucate, spas of tradition such as Narbonne Plage or Port la Nouvelle, fishermens' villages along the Etangs of Bages or Ayrolle, the zoo of Sigean and splendid landscapes of rocks in the Clape region and L'Oustalet ... that Le Narbonnais - La Clape!

Corbières
The mountains of the Corbières are flanked by the Pyrenees in the South, the river Aude in the North and in the East by the lagoons of the Mediterrean Sea. Chaotic formations of rock, wild landscapes, bizarre mountain tops, the famous vineyards and the Mediterrean climate, make the Corbi&egave;res an unique region.

The abbeys of Lagrasse and Fontfroide, the castles of Vertige, Peyrepetruse, Quéribus, the Chateau Villereouge-Termenes, Termes and the donjon of Arques - visitors will always remember the beautiful landscape of the Corbières.