Excursions by car
A suggestion for trips
Day 1.
90 km, discovery of the Minervois: Cité of Carcassonne – Minerve – Beaufort
It is best to visit the Cité of Carcassonne first thing in the morning, as it can get very crowded there during the day. More info Carcassonne
Lunch can of course be had in the Cité, but you could also picnic at Lac de la Cavayère, which is less than 8 km from there.
In the afternoon, you will drive along beautiful country roads through Minervois to visit the picturesque town of Minerve, which is classified as one of the most beautiful villages in France. Here you will discover a piece of history of the Cathars and the siege of the village in 1210.
Minerve is also known for its special geographical location, as it is surrounded by the river gorges of the Cesse and the Brian. There are two impressive bridges, les ponts naturels, naturally carved by the Cesse. Some of the year the river is dry above ground and you can walk into the tunnels. More info Minerve
From Minerve it is 10 km to La Maison Chabbert.
121 km, if you choose the variation: Carcassonne – Lagrasse – Beaufort
We are spoiled with most beautiful villages of France, because Lagrasse is also one. You could choose to go here after Carcassonne via the D3, a beautiful route. It is a very old village, not yet overrun with tourists. Among other things, it has a beautiful covered marketplace and you can visit the Abbey Sainte-Marie de Lagrasse, founded by Charlemagne in the 8th century. More info Lagrasse
From Lagrasse it is 42 km to La Maison Chabbert.
Day 2.
Beautiful 107 km ride through the Parc Régional du Haut Languedoc:
Saint-Chinian – Roquebrun – Vieussan – Assignan – St-Jean de Minervois – Beaufort
Through pretty villages you will drive to Saint-Chinian. If you make this trip on a Thursday or Sunday morning, you will find a colorful market under the century-old plane trees of the Promenade. On this square you will also find the Maison des Vins de Saint-Chinian. Nice detail is that Charles Trenet lived in this house for 10 years in his youth.
You can have lunch in Saint-Chinian or drive on to a restaurant in Roquebrun. This town, also called petit Nice, has a microclimate and this is evident in the orange, lemon and palm trees. Every second Sunday in February, the Fête du Mimosa is celebrated there. It is also a nice idea to put together a nice picnic at the Saint-Chinian market and eat it on the idyllic little beach on the banks of the river Orb.
You will continue along the Orb towards Vieussan, where you will also pass a nice lunch spot. Then you descend via Berlou back towards Saint-Chinian. There you take the D177 to Assignan, where you can visit the Castigno Château & Village. The village has been beautifully restored in all shades of red. You can visit a very special cave there, according to the newspaper Midi Libre the most original in France.
Via Saint Jean de Minervois which is in the AOC wine region of Minervois and known for its delicious muscat wine, you will drive back to La Maison Chabbert.
116 km, if you choose the variation:
Saint-Chinian – Roquebrun – Vieussan – Olargues – Saint Pons de Thomières – Beaufort
You will follow the route as described above, but you will continue at Vieussan to Olargues. Here we have another one of the most beautiful villages in France.
About 5 km before Olargues you will pass Mons la Trivalle. Here you can take a beautiful walk along the Gorges d’Héric.
The route back to La Maison Chabbert via Saint Pont de Thomières offers beautiful views.
Day 3.
90 km: Narbonne – Bages – Peyriac – Beaufort
Today’s program is Narbonne, a city classified as Ville d’art et d’histoire. You should start with a visit to Les Halles, a covered market in a beautiful building from the early twentieth century. Don’t be surprised if you come near café/restaurant Chez Bebelle and see packages flying through the air. Watch this fun video.
Along the Canal de la Robine, walk to the Cathedral Square and the Palace of the Archbishops. Here a piece of the Roman road, the Via Domitia, has been uncovered, which ran from Italy to Spain. Don’t forget to visit the garden behind the cathedral with the sundial, the panel commemorating the 1907 winegrowers’ revolt and a surprising poem!
Do you also like the chanson La Mer? Then visit the birthplace of Charles Trenet, small portrait plaques on the pavement will lead you there.
After beautiful Narbonne, on to the Parc naturel régional de la Narbonnaise. Drive a short distance towards Perpignan and take the first exit to Bages, after which you will find yourself in a beautiful landscape of lagoons. From picturesque Bages, drive to Peyriac-de-Mer, spotting flamingos along the way. Here you can take beautiful walks, along landscaped paths and planked waterways.
From Peyriac-de-Mer it is 42 km to La Maison Chabbert.