The Corbière

The Corbière is of course world famous for its wine. The good soil and excellent weather conditions are perfect for viniculture. The area is covered with vineries, huge pieces of earth gliding along with the sloping landscape which is so characteristic for the Corbière.

There are, however, also mountainous areas such as the Montagne d'Alaric and the lower Pyrenees. In these mountains lie medieval villa-ges and ancient fortresses. An old legend speaks of the Visigotic king Alaric II, who was buried in a cave underneath his castle at Miramont in the Montagne d'Alaric, together with his treasures.

The capital Narbonne has been inhabited since ancient times. The Romans turned it into a flourishing port. From Roman times there are little remains. Largely because the ancient buildings were later used as quarries for medieval buildings. However, there are a few farms which are still standing on Roman found-ations. These used to be Roman villas and you can still see the villa like shape when you look close. Today, Narbonne is a coy shopping town with a beautiful cathedral (do not forget to take a look at the cloisters) and several medieval buildings.

Réserve Africaine de Sigean
About 15 km south of Narbonne lies Sigean, known for its wonderful safari park 'Réserve Africaine de Sigean'. It welcomes visitors the whole year round from as early as 9.00 hours. The park provides a comfortable habitat for lions, elephants, South African Springbok, chimpanzees, flamingos, ostriches, giraffes, pelicans, rhinos, black bears and many other wild animals. You can drive through the park with your car. There is a restaurant and an information desk. A wonderful day out!

The deserted mountains of the Corbière have been a favorite settling place for monasteries. Abbeys such as Lagrasse and Fontfroide were very rich. It is a great idea to explore Fontfroide in the morning and dive into the Mediterranean at Narbonne Plage or Gruissan Plage in the afternoon.

The coastal strip of the Corbière is huge. From Narbonne Plage where the July and August months can be quite crowded, to the south, there are vast beaches with enough space for thousands of seaside lovers. But do take refreshments with you, there are little or no facilities near most of the less crowded beaches.

THE ANGEL SANCTUARY

Lorraine Coffey is an Irish spiritual artist. Before she moved to France, she had a beautiful gallery in Ireland where her paintings of angels inspired many people. And they are, indeed, of magical beauty. The Angel Sanctuary is now situated in the south of France. People from all over the world come here to enjoy her paintings. Not just to admire her art, but to relax completely. The paintings are displayed in several rooms with comfortable chairs, and beautiful music is accompanied by smells of scented oils that fill the room with lovely scents. The paintings are not alone. On the side you can read poems of astonishing beauty, and written for that particular angel. Lorrie is not just an artist. She is a seer.

The family lives mostly on donations and the produce of their inspiring articles such as candles, reproductions, etc.

For more information, visit their lovely website: www.lorriesangels.com

At the foothills of the Pyrenees lies the cradle of the European caveman, Tautavel man. This earliest European lived around 450.000 years ago in the high and dry areas in caves.

The museum of Tautavel is impressive.

Here, apart of the remains of the famous Tautavel man, several finds are displayed which were discovered in caves in the area.

In the village there are several restaurants, so you can have your lunch here before or after you visit the museum.

You can plan a beautiful roundtrip through the Corbière.

Visit the museum of Tautavel as well as the impressive organ pipes at Ille-sur-Tet near Bélesta and the breathtaking Galamus Gorge. Impressive Cathar castles are balancing on sharp ridges, such as Peyrepertuse and Queribus. There are also many chateaus where you can taste their wines and perhaps take a few bottles home.