Situated near the Canal du Midi, about 2.5km from Beaufort, is the village of Olonzac,  known as the ‘Capital of the Minervois’. There is a vibrant weekly market, every Tuesday morning, selling produce and crafts from all over the region, as well as numerous restaurants, cafés, a bank, hairdressers, beauty salons, medical services and pharmacies. … Continue reading “Olonzac”

12 Km away, about 20 minutes drive, is Minerve, the site of the famous siege in 1210 by Simon de Montfort, to starve out the Cathars taking refuge there, during the Albigensian Crusade. This pretty village is classed as one of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (“The Most Beautiful Villages Of France”). It is … Continue reading “Minerve”

The Canal du Midi (Occitan: Canal de las Doas Mars, meaning canal of the two seas) is a 241 km (150 mile) long canal in Southern France (French: le Midi). Construction began in 1667. It was originally named the Canal Royal en Languedoc (Royal Canal in Languedoc) but the French revolutionaries renamed it to Canal … Continue reading “Canal du Midi”

Since Pre-Roman times there has been a fortified settlement at Carcassonne. Nowadays you will find one of the most outstanding examples of a medieval walled city in the world, which is visited by over 2 million people a year and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. As well as exploring the ramparts and getting … Continue reading “Carcassonne”

Narbonne was established in Gaul by the Romans in 118 BC, as Colonia Narbo Martius, colloquially Narbo. It was located on the Via Domitia, the first Roman road in Gaul, built at the time of the foundation of the colony, and connecting Italy to Spain. ‘At the time of its creation the town was to … Continue reading “Narbonne”