Short walk

Sun – Mon: closed
Tues – Fri: 11:30 – 14:00 & 18:30 – 22:00
Sat: 18:30 – 22:00

Pizza galore with a dizzying choice and all handmade from scratch. Or you can tuck into delicious fusion food, fresh salads, terrines and patés with plenty of vegetarian options. Staff glide about busily and efficiently, the atmosphere is friendly and buzzy, even the coffee is very good. You can order takeaways too.

Short walk

Mon – Sun: 12:00 – 20:30

Tues: closed

A romantic setting for this lovely restaurant with a pretty patio in the heart of the old village. Find good French classics on the menu with lots of regional favourites and excellent cassoulet. The wine list is extensive – over fifty local wines – and the pudding blackboard is legendary, so you shan’t leave hungry.

Short walk

Mon – Weds: closed

Thurs – Sat: 12:00 – 14:00 & 19:00 – 22:00

Sun: 12:00 – 14:00

A cosy and lively place with lots of French and Mediterranean dishes including perfectly cooked tapas, tender steaks and smashing pies. Finish off with a tasty parfait, ice cream or fruit cake. The wine list is long, or you can choose a cooling beer and enjoy live music on some evenings.

Wander through this picturesque place surrounded by wide avenues with magnificent plane trees. The village was once fortified and you’ll find significant remains as well as admiring the tall tower, now surrounded by buildings. Climb the hill to visit the beautiful Chapel of Notre Dame overlooking the village which is a peaceful spot for walks and a picnic.

Friendly Hugo can come to the cottages with his bikes, electric if you choose, to take you on a cycle tour of local vineyards. Stop to taste a myriad of regional wines, take it easy on the way back. Or if you don’t want to be guided, there are some superb walking and cycling routes, some circular from the village and you can borrow maps so you don’t get lost.

30-minute drive

If you feel the need to stride out a bit further then this is a good climb – it’s a 600m puff up to the top for fabulous views over the whole area. Legend has it that Alaric, king of the Visigoths is buried here and his grave is ‘fragrant with incense, myrrh and lavender.’ It is also claimed that there is fabulous treasure hidden in the mountain but it hasn’t been found yet.

A short walk

Open April – October

Sun: closed

Mon – Sat: 10:00 – 13:00 & 14:00 – 19:00

A popular centre for culture including music, dance, theatre, literature and art. The object is to create a generous space for sharing and you’ll find art and sculpture exhibitions at all times then a summer festival of vibrant shows and concerts.

20-minute drive

Tues – Sat: 10:00 – 18:00 (Oct – April)

Tues – Sat: 10:00 – 19:00 1 (May – Sept)

A wonderful day out exploring the Roman history of Narbonne – the first colony founded by Rome beyond Italian soil. The beautiful building, designed by Norman Foster, sits alongside the Robine Canal and offers a wide range of experiences: permanent and temporary exhibitions, workshops, film screenings and festive evenings. There is a beautiful garden which hosts outdoor events, a bookshop and a restaurant

A short walk

Mon – Sun: 06:30 – 12:30 & 17:00 – 19:30

You don’t have to go far for your breakfast baguettes and croissants – hand baked at the shop in the traditional way and served with a friendly smile – lovely to get here early and take them home warm. You’ll also find lots of different breads, savouries and beautifully-presented tarts and cakes. Stop off here before a hearty walk or bike ride and pick up all you need for a delicious picnic in the fresh air.

A short walk

Pick up nearly all of what you need from this local grocery shop in the village. They also roast chickens and potatoes on Sundays (so you don’t have to) sell fresh fish on Fridays and lots of delicious local cheeses and regional treats.

A 10-minute drive

Mon – Sat: 09:30 – 21:00

Sun: 10:00 – 13:30

Light, bright and brimming with all you need – extremely handy if you miss the market or local shops. As well as groceries and everyday stuff they sell fresh fish and have a bakery and butcher’s counter. If you’re pushed for time you can do an online order and collect. You’ll also find a petrol station here.

10-minute drive

Weds: open

A lovely, bustling market held under the shade of the tall plane trees in the centre of the pretty town. It’s not just for buying food, it’s an opportunity for the locals to meet their friends and have a good natter. Stroll around with your basket and fill it with seasonal vegetables and fruit, cold meats, cheeses and honey. Everyone finds what they’re looking for here. Recover with a good cup of coffee outside one of the many cafés and enjoy a spot of people watching.

13-minute drive

Sat: open

A colourful market held in the medieval market square. Stalls buckle under mounds of the freshest fruits, vegetables and herbs, charcuterie and breads, cheeses and olives. The vendors are friendly souls who usually let you try before you buy. Pick up all you need for a picnic by the river (you can take a refreshing dip here too) or simply sit in the shade for lunch at one of the many good restaurants

12-minute drive

Mon – Sat: 09:00 – 12:00 & 14:00 – 18:30

A fabulous winegrowers’ cellar and an essential stopover for wine lovers. You’ll find AOC Corbières, Vin de Pays d’Hauterive and Vin de Pays Cathare. Free guided tours are available and you can taste their medal-winning vintages. You can visit the ‘Belle Époque style cellar and also buy a selection of other products from the Languedoc-Roussillon region. A handy car park means you can load up your car with everything you buy.

36-minute drive

Mon – Fri: 09:00 – 12:00 & 13:00 – 16:00

Become your own wine maker during a course at this lovely château. After a tasting of the estate’s wines to ‘train your palate’ you’ll be handed all the gear you need to give it a go – test tube, glasses, spittoons and a blending board along with two single variety wines so you can create your own mix. Once you’re happy you can bottle it and stick on your own personalised label. Bob’s your uncle! Great fun and educational.

5-minute drive 

Housed in a huge old warehouse this will appeal to older children and teenagers who like street art and graffiti – there are literally hundreds of examples. Find interactive workshops, a gallery and museum displaying works by many graffiti artists and the chance to have a go at creating your own designs. Heaven for paint sprayers who haven’t been allowed to do it at home.

53-minute drive

Thrills and spills in a fabulous setting and a two-hour organised trip along the river. Choose canoeing, kayaking or paddle boarding, prepare to get wet and have enormous fun. You can glide along on the flat bits but you’ll also encounter slides for a bit of an adrenaline hit. Children and the young at heart will adore this.

44-minute drive

A spectacular set of caves – voted one of the ten most beautiful caves in Europe and which go down to a dizzying 250 meters. A guided tour with commentary takes you over bridges and balconies overhanging the bottom. If you don’t enjoy heights it’s not for you but it’s mighty impressive. You can also discover a secret underground river and take part in a unique adventure in the Accro cave.

22-minute drive

The Benedictine abbey sits in a quiet, wooded valley and dates from the 12th century (with substantial 17th century additions.) It’s a very beautiful place with a serene atmosphere, the church and the cloisters being the most important buildings. You enter through an impressive doorway to reach the two courtyards – the Cour d’Honneur and the Cour Louis XIV. There are very impressive Italian style gardens to wander and much history to absorb.

34-minute drive

A day trip to Carcassone, high on a hill, will thrill history lovers and anybody with an interest in architecture. Founded during the Gallo-Roman period it is surrounded by 3km of impressive double walls interspersed with 52 towers. About 2,500 years of history is yours to discover and the town has been occupied at different times by the Romans, Visigoths and Crusaders. Book a guided tour and you’ll learn much more than if you just wander about by yourselves.

40-minute drive

Head to the magnificent coastline and this charming oyster fishing village with its rows of huts. The terraces are decorated with colourful fishing nets, driftwood, old buoys, parasols and huge piles of oyster shells. Eat your fill of oysters and other fresh seafood, watch the sun set over the water or take a boat trip. This is the real deal.