The 18 things to do in the Study

Want to discover the Cathar country and the Narbonnaise nature? Discover the 18 essential things to do and visit in the Aude.

In the south of France discover a department full of history and beauty. L’Aude blottit entre le Parc naturel du Haut-Languedoc et celle des Pyrénées Orientales . With about 30 kilometers of Mediterranean coasts, this department blooms well the holidays. The hinterland also has many wonders. There are many reasons to visit the Study.

Cathar castles, fortified cities and green nature await you for an unforgettable stay. To help you compose your program, here are the 18 essentials to visit in the Aude.

1. Narbonne

Narbonne is a mandatory step on a trip to the south of France. The subprefecture of the department contains some of the most beautiful monuments to visit in the Aude. Start with the Place de l’Hôtel de Ville, where you can admire the remains of Via Domitia.

This ancient Roman way connected the Italy to the Spain , making Narbonne a strategic crossroads. The dungeon Gilles Aycelin dominates the palace of the archbishops which today welcomes the Hotel de Ville. From its summit, you will embrace the whole city at one glance.

Go to the city's architectural gem: the Saint-Just-et-Saint-Pasteur Cathedral. It presents the fourth largest vault height in France with 40 meters. Finally, know that Narbonne has 5 kilometers of sandy beaches. A certain asset for those who come to search for the sun of the Midi!

2. Carcassonne

Carcassonne is famous all over the world for its fortified city , the largest in Europe. It is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will enter the enclosure fortified by the Aude Gate or the Narbonnaise Gate. Three kilometers of ramparts and 52 towers surrounded the medieval village still inhabited.

Inside, several impressive monuments await you. Saint-Nazaire Basilica is decorated with magnificent stained glass windows, considered among the most beautiful in southern France. The Comtal Castle is a must-see in the Aude. It was built in the 12th century and was the ultimate defence of the city. You will have the choice between many guided thematic tours.

Take part in the night or a treasure hunt for children!

3. Leucate

Leucate is a well-known seaside resort for holidaymakers and water sports lovers. No less than 18 kilometers of fine sandy beaches await you there. The one of the Franqui welcomes every year the World Wind. Try kite-surfing, windsurfing or windsurfing in the many schools that border the coastline.

Leucate is also beautiful cliffs overlooking the sea. You can go hiking in a preserved nature on foot, by bike or on horseback. For a day full of activities, the adventures and Aqualand route are essential for moments of frank family fun.

4. L’Aventure Parc du gouffre de Cabrespine

Cabrespine's gum is an immense underground cavity of 80 meters wide and 250 meters deep. For the greatest happiness of the public, the cave is arranged in an underground acrobatic path. You discover the geological formations while participating in a dizzying adventure. Begin by climbing the large iron staircase with a height of 80 meters.

It will be time to embark on a succession of bridges suspended between the cliffs. At the end of the course, the bravest will be able to face the Tyrolean of vertigo. You will slide at all speeds at 90 meters above the void to reach the great steeped cascade. The lower part of the blower houses more than 25 kilometers of galleries. Accompanied by a guide, you browse the galleries to the glow of your frontal lamp. You then take a boat to navigate the underground river.

An experience that will surely remain engraved in your memory!

5. Terra Vinea

To stay underground, discover the domain of Terra Vinea. The Rocbère wine cellar is 80 metres below the surface of the ground. Embark on the small train that will lead you into the bowels of the earth. More than 800 metres of galleries are waiting for you, up to the huge cathedral-sized vault.

They were miners who dug the gypsum stone to the strength of their arm. You will admire the barrels of wine aging and participate in a sound and light animation of all beauty. Discover in turn an ancient Roman villa, a museum of the work of the vineyard or a medieval banquet.

Finally, a tasting of 20 minutes will be offered, in order to taste the local wines and products.

6. Sigean African Reserve

When you came to visit the Aude, you might not expect to be transported to the African savannah... This is what Sigean’s reserve offers, a huge zoo dedicated to African species. On 300 hectares, you meet more than 3,800 animals, mammals, birds, reptiles...

The day starts by car for a 7.5-kilometre journey and about an hour. You evolve in the middle of the bush among the zebras, dwarf buffalos, giraffes, ostriches... Then you travel to savannah in the middle of white rhinos and phacocheras. The walk continues on the edge of the ponds where flamingos roam, storks, pelicans...

In total, four hours of visits, to take full eyes, whether small or large!

7. The four castles of Lastours

Lastours castles are a real historical complex. Cabaret, Tour Régine, Surdespine and Quertinieux are built on a rocky sparrow above the village of Lastours. They also overlook the medieval village of Castrum de Cabaret.

When you visit this must-see in the Aude, start with the lookout that offers an exceptional view of the whole. You will feel like transported in the Middle Ages or in the Lord of the Rings . Then take the path that leads you to the towers. You will pass through an archaeological exhibition "Lastours, 4,000 History".

A "fauna and flora" course introduces visitors to the surrounding natural environment.

8. Domaine de l’abbé Saunière à Rennes-le-Château

On the heights of Rennes-le-Château is the domain of Abbé François Béranger Saunière , mysterious and globally known character. The story of Abbé Saunière’s fortune intrigues authors and researchers from all over the world.

Several works inspired by the life of the man of faith were published. Discover the domain he has built and try to pierce the enigmas around him. Between the myths of freemasons and treasure hunt, you will visit a museum, the gardens of the estate and the church of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine.

9. Gruissan

Gruissan is a small coastal village with a certain charm, away from the bustle of the great Mediterranean seaside resorts. It is built around the Barberousse tower that dominates the village. Five beaches extend along the coastline to extend your towel or play in the waves with children.

The Gruissan ponds are a paradise for birds that can be observed while walking through the many paths. Have fun recognizing the pink flamand, the echasse, the stern or the cormoran. Another interesting ride is the salins.

You will learn how the Human has shaped the landscape over the centuries to extract the salt from the sea.

10. Castle of Peyrepertuse

Dressed proudly at the top of a limestone cliff, Peyrepertuse Castle is a must-see in the Aude. Archetype of cathar castles, it has already received more than three million visitors.

At the heart of a green nature, you will be subjugated by the beauty and power that emerges from the millennium building. A climbing path leads you from the parking lot to the castle in 20 minutes. You will then choose between a free and guided tour, to learn all about the history of the site since the Gallo-Roman era.

11. Lagrasse village

Considered one of the most beautiful French villages, the small village of Lagrasse is nestled in the heart of the Corbières. In the middle of the vineyards and hills, it welcomes you between its two banks connected by a beautiful bridge over the Orbiou.

Old halls of the 14th century on one side, beautiful medieval abbey on the other, it is a dive in history that awaits you. Discover a village of character and traditions as there is little by visiting the Aude and its countryside!

12. Boat trip on the Canal du Midi Somail

The Canal du Midi is a monumental work dug in the 17th century to connect the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. Classified at Unesco, it passes through the Somail where it is possible to board for a cruise over the water.

Hop on board a 19th-century gauge and let yourself be guided by the workshop. You will attend the passage of a lock, or follow the canal to Ventenac Castle for a wine tasting. And for a more intimate experience, it is possible to rent a living boat up to 12 people. No worries, the boat permit is not required and training is provided.

Put the captain’s cap on a family or friends stay!

13. Dinosauria

If you come to the Family Study, set the course on Dinosauria. This museum dedicated to the dinosaurs will delight children as the greatest. You will discover reproductions of these prehistoric animals with real size.

The museum houses a collection of skeletons, including that of the terrifying Tyrannosaure Rex and a Ptérosaure. A giant fish skull is also exposed, with a size of 1:1 meter! L’Aude is one of the largest bone deposits of dinosaurs in France. Learn more about their history by browsing the different galleries. The Cretacé greenhouse reconstitutes the world of 70 million years ago. Through a glass, you can observe the work of paleontologists who prepare fossils.

And why not create vocations in children?

14. Caunes-Minervois

Just 25 minutes from Carcassonne, Caunes-Minervois is a village not to be missed when visiting the Aude. Built on the banks of the Double Silver and at the foot of the Black Mountain, it is on foot. Follow the two numbered routes to discover the history of the village and its marble sculptures.

Then head to marble quarries. Caunes-Minervois is worldwide known for its red incarnate marble used in the construction of many monuments. Versailles , Louvre , Opéra Garnier are just a few examples. Not far, the Hermitage of Notre-Dame du Cros is a charming chapel nestled in a green setting.

Finally, climbers can enjoy themselves on the landscaped cliffs around it.

15. A 2CV tour in the vineyards

The « vin4hours » company takes you to discover the Languedoc region in an original way. Ride on a convertible 2CV and explore the vineyards. From the villages of La Palme or Sallèdes d’Aude, explore the landscapes of the coast or the Canal du Midi.

Accompanied by an oenology professional, you will learn more about the secrets of wine making. Several tours are offered, with tasting, meeting wine growers or typical meal « vinegar saquette ». A complete experience of the vine foot with glass on foot...

16. Abbey of Fontfroide

Classified Historic Monument and Great Site of Occitania, the Abbey of Fontfroide was founded in the 12th century. It’s almost 1,000 years of history that you’re contemplating by visiting the Aude and the Corbières massif.

Over the centuries, the Cistercian abbey has taken castle areas to become an unusual building. Take a walk in its gardens or vineyards, then enter the interior. You will marvel at the decorations that embellish the place and the atmosphere that emerges from it.

17. Walk or ski around Camurac

For sportsmen, Camurac is a must-see destination, which you visited the Aude in winter or summer. Between 1,500 and 1,800 metres above sea level, the resort welcomes visitors in winter on its 11 ski slopes. In summer, it becomes the paradise of hikers.

Various activities are proposed, such as a orientation course for children or paragliding.

18. Gastronomy

It is impossible to visit the Aude without tasting local specialties! The cassoulet prides the inhabitants of the region around the world. And it is not the Great Brotherhood of the Cassoulet of Castelnaudary that will say the opposite!

Do not miss the seafood with Leucate oysters or Gruissan mussels. And to accompany all this, take a little glass of Limoux's Blanquette. This effervescent wine in the five centuries of tradition benefits from a Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée.

How to go to the Study?

By plane:

There are no national flights to Carcassonne Airport, so you will have to choose between Perpignan, Toulouse and Montpellier.

We advise you to use a comparison as Skyscanner to find the best flights.

By train:

The main train stations are Narbonne, Carcassonne, Castelnaudary and Limoux.

By car:

The department of Aude is connected to Toulouse by the highway A61 and Montpellier by the A9 .

Where to stay in the Study?

You can opt for a few nights in urban environment by staying at Narbonne or Carcassonne . Then take the road to the beaches and rent a villa in Gruissan or Leucate. Your can do your research on Airbnb ! Finally, get green in one of the most beautiful French villages in Lagrasse.

In any case, use one Compare hotels to find the best rooms according to your criteria.