The 10 most beautiful hikes to do around Narbonne

Narbonne, already equipped with a classified historical heritage and a living seaside resort, also enjoys a very beautiful natural environment: the many trails of the Narbonnaise Regional Natural Park are the perfect opportunity to discover the most beautiful hikes around Narbonne.

Wet areas and large ponds, the Mediterranean coastline lined with beaches, the massifs covered with garrigue and pine forests, the vicinity of Narbonne are a real call to hiking! Protected in large part by the Narbonnaise Regional Natural Park in the Mediterranean, this pretty region is crossed by many well-appointed and clearly marked trails, perfect for excursions adapted to all levels.

From the simple two-hour walk to the great exit at the day, keep in mind that we are in the south of France: the ideal season to hike to Narbonne starts in the spring, in the spring April-May , and extends on the back season, until October-November . With a beautiful winter day, with perfect visibility, the region is also idyllic for walking.

Attention in the summer, because the temperatures rise and the sun type hard: water reserve and sun protections are rigour. During the same season, find out the day before you leave on the opening of the trails: they are sometimes closed to limit the risk of fires.

Pending to be on site, here is a source of inspiration for your future hikes around Narbonne:

1. Vignes and ponds on the Goules path, in Gruissan

Here is a very beautiful condensed of the natural beauties of Narbonnaise, with a hike around Narbonne of easy level, without technically speaking difficulty. The departure is in Gruissan, at 20 minutes drive from Narbonne only, to follow the path of the Goules on the island of Saint-Martin.

This route between land and sea, alternates between the banks of the lakes of Campignol and Ayrolle, then crosses landscapes of vines and garrigues to find its starting point. Well marked, the trail offers the possibility to take its time, admire nature (and sometimes some pink flamingos) and take photos without risking losing the thread.

2. Outstanding views of the Fontfroide Mountain Trails

The Fontfroide massif, gridded by multiple trails, is a popular destination to hike around Narbonne. Here, the limestone relief takes shape and reaches even 287 meters of altitude at the rock of Fontfroide, above the abbey of the same name. This is the starting point of our ride.

Count this less than 20 minutes to reach the Abbey of Fontfroide, to visit before, or after the hike: a beautiful loop through the massif, with to the key some superb views of the Narbonnaise Regional Natural Park, the ponds, the Mediterranean, and to the south, the Corbières and the Pyrenees .

3. The Clape Trail, in the heart of Narbonnaise Regional Natural Park

The difficulty rises from a skull with this superb hike around Narbonne, more demanding in number of kilometers and in accumulated denial. Much rewarded efforts! This trail allows you to explore the Clape massif, in the heart of the Narbonnaise Regional Park, through landscapes alternating limestone rocks and wooded areas, with the scents and sounds of the Garrigue for companions.

To 20 minutes from Narbonne, the departure is near Gruissan. Don’t miss out on the way to take a look at the Hermit garden, the small marine cemetery and the Notre-Dame-des-Auzils chapel. Splendid from end to end.

4. The pink flamingos of the Doul pond in Peyriac-sur-Mer

Let's stay in the ponds area with this new hike around Narbonne in less than 20 minutes road to downtown, from Peyriac-sur-Mer. The path, pleasant and easy, crosses wetlands and salins, with no major difficulty if it is a few wet passages.

Numerous species of birds live in the places: amateur ornithologists and photographers enjoy themselves around the pond of the Doul, with in the head of the poster, local flamingos.

5. The gouff of the Sweet Eye through the sheepfold of the Oustalet

This hike around Narbonne aims at an amazing site, source of many legends in the region: the swell of the Sweet Eye. This unfathomable blow, which has long been ignored by depth, shows a variable level of water depending on the rains and the marine hazards: from the limestone wall that dominates it, the view is untenable.

Count half an hour drive from Narbonne towards Saint-Pierre-la-Mer to catch up with the starting point of the hike, which takes place mainly between wood and fields of the Clape massif.

6. The tower of the pond of Gruissan

Gruissan, to 20 minutes drive , is an excellent starting point for several hikes around Narbonne: here, the itinerary is no longer easy to follow, since it is to do all the round of the pond of Gruissan.

The interest of the walk is not in the denial, absent, or the distance to go, relatively short, but in the beauty of the decor, with beautiful views of Gruissan. The village is organized in "circulade" around the Barberousse Tower, a typical plan of the Languedoc. Also to be seen, the many species of birds who have chosen home in the area. To be done at the end of the day when the brightness declines...

7. Superb panorama from the Vigie de la Clape

The aim of this hike around Narbonne is above all a magnificent panorama, which we appreciate from the Vigie de la Clape to 187 meters high: the Mediterranean coast, the Narbonnaise region, the Pyrenees... we take a full view of it!

The start of the hike is on a small road from the Clape massif, to less than 20 minutes Narbonne. The trail, through garrigues and agricultural plots, is quiet and does not present great difficulties, making it accessible to all.

8. Saint Lucia salins from Port-la-Nouvelle

Count a good one half hour drive to bypass the ponds and reach Port-la-Nouvelle , starting point of a new hike around Narbonne in a wet area: on the one hand, the salins of Saint Lucia, on the other, the pond of La Berre and the pond of the Ayrolle. We'd really believe it on an island!

After the Maison Eclusière de Saint-Lucie, the route follows the canal of the Robine, to win the beautiful views of the Saint-Antoine rock and Vigie. Without notable difficulty, perfect with family, this exit can be concluded by a good sea bath at the beach of Port-la-Nouvelle.

9. The circuit of La Capoulade on the side of Gruissan

We're back in Gruissan, 20 minutes de Narbonne, on a pleasant and easy path, baptized La Capoulade. Well-appointed and marked from end to end, the circuit follows without any difficulty, going first along the canal Sainte-Marie, then crossing various landscapes of vineyards and pine forests, which are so appreciated on hike around Narbonne...

Several beautiful points of view enamel the itinerary, all the more so if you choose its hours of walking: early in the morning, or at any end of the day, for the variations of brightness.

10. Variant by the beaches of the gulf of the Sweet Eye

A long-distance seaside hike: this great buckle allows you to discover the seaside side of Narbonne while preserving the objective of discovering the gulf of the Sweet Eye. The latter being banned from swimming, enjoy the large sandy areas of Narbonne Plage and Saint-Pierre-la-Mer to make a jump in the water!

This hike around Narbonne is accessible in 20 minutes from the city centre, the necessary road time to reach the seaside resort of Narbonne Plage.