Summary of the Best Things to Do in Narbonne
Narbonne was established as “Narbo”, a Roman settlement located on the Via Domitia, which became prosperous through maritime commerce due to its natural harbor.
The grandeur of Narbo’s Roman residences can be appreciated at the Archbishop’s Palace, where wall paintings discovered from ancient villas represent the largest collection of Roman artwork in France.
The medieval palace housing these artworks stands as a prominent symbol of Narbonne, characterized by a complex of towers, halls, and courtyards that reflect the city’s evolving history.
Though the lucrative harbor became silted during the medieval era, Narbonne adapted with the establishment of the Canal de la Robine, a verdant waterway lined with historic bridges and elegant boulevards that connect to the Canal du Midi.
Let us explore the most noteworthy activities in Narbonne:
1. Fontfroide Abbey
Founded in 1093 by Benedictine monks on lands bestowed by the Viscount of Narbonne, the abbey’s significant history commenced in 1145 when it attached itself to the Cistercian order.
This affiliation positioned it as part of a network of Cistercian abbeys in the region and as a satellite to the prominent monastery of Poblet in Catalonia.
The abbey served as a vital base for Catholic orthodoxy during the violent crusade against the Cathar sect in this territory during the 13th century.
Visitors will be impressed by the extent to which the Romanesque and Gothic architecture remains intact, featuring the chapter house, the cloister, and the dormitory for lay clergy.
Fontfroide Abbey is nestled in the Corbières Massif, a region celebrated for its wine, which can be sampled at the conclusion of your tour.
2. Archbishop’s Palace
Situated directly in front of this monument in the Place de l’Hôtel de Ville are steps leading down to a visible fragment of the Via Domitia Roman road, which traversed Narbonne and connected Cadiz in Spain to Rome, stretching across southern modern-day France.
The Archbishop’s Palace originated as a modest Episcopal residence but gradually evolved into an extensive complex of interconnected structures featuring three towers, an old Romanesque palace, and a new Gothic addition. Visitors are invited to delve into medieval intrigue and politics, explore the museums, ascend the keep, and navigate the courtyards and gardens.
3. Archaeology Museum
The first of the two museums within the Archbishop’s Palace showcases the city’s medieval, ancient, and prehistoric heritage across 12 captivating rooms.
The Gallo-Roman era is the focal point of the museum, featuring what is considered the largest collection of Roman paintings in France.
These frescoes originally adorned luxurious villas and were excavated from the Close de la Lombarde archaeological site.
They have been meticulously mounted on walls with background information that illustrates the missing components.
The museum also displays mosaics and an evocative array of marble remnants from statues, columns, and reliefs, along with a milestone from the Via Domitia Roman road that passed through modern Narbonne.
4. Musée d’Art et Histoire
Located in the 17th-century apartments of the archbishops, the palace’s second museum, the Museum of Art and History, invites visitors to appreciate the opulence of its interiors while exploring a vast collection of art and ceramics dating from the 1600s to the 1900s.
A notable highlight includes three large cabinets filled with labeled apothecary jars from the 16th and 17th centuries, alongside an Orientalist room featuring a reproduction of the Mosque of Cordoba and approximately 125 paintings depicting exotic scenes such as Arab souks from the 19th century.
5. Gilles Aycelin Donjon
In the early 14th century, Archbishop Gilles Aycelin fortified the palace by constructing a four-storey keep which still dominates the western side of the complex.
Although no major attraction, it is worth visiting if you possess the Narbonne museum multipass.
The staircase leading to the battlements above consists of 64 steps designed for the small feet of medieval inhabitants.
Once you emerge into the sunlight, you will be greeted with stunning views of the Corbières Massif, the Clape Massif, and the Pyrenees.
You can also observe Narbonne from above, where the green ribbon of the Canal de la Robine flows beneath the Pont de la Marchand.
6. Narbonne Cathedral
This high Gothic cathedral from the 14th century remains incomplete, which only adds to its unique character: The transept—often referred to as the “arms” of the cathedral—was never constructed due to the need to remove stones from the city’s fortifications while conflict ravaged across France.
Despite its unfinished state, the structure is not only impressive but also stylistically cohesive, with little alteration over time.
Marvel at the ribbed vaults above the choir, discover the terracotta sculpture of the Entombment within the Chapel of Saint-Étienne from the early 1500s, and explore the cloister, which contains two columns from Narbonne’s Roman forum.
In the treasury, located above the Chapel of the Annunciation, visitors can view a magnificent collection of medieval liturgical art, including a tapestry from the 1400s woven with silk and gilt.
7. Musée Lapidaire
The former Priory of Notre-Dame de Lamourguier, constructed in the 13th century, now serves as the solemn home for one of Europe’s largest lapidaries.
Housing 1,300 stone artifacts, each piece offers intriguing insights into the city’s ancient past.
For instance, a shrine and lintel that were part of the 4th-century Constantinian basilica which once occupied the site of Narbonne’s cathedral are displayed here.
Established in the 1800s after the city walls were dismantled—walls that housed numerous Roman marble objects from tomb steles and sarcophagi—the best pieces were brought to this museum.
8. Gruissan Plage
In just a few minutes, you can relax on a sandy beach; fortunately, the closest beach to Narbonne is also among the finest in the region.
Gruissan Plage features a broad expanse of sand bordered by a holiday community that maintains a low-rise profile without overwhelming development. Various dining options are available for lunch or snacks, and lifeguards are on duty for the entire summer.
Gruissan itself is somewhat isolated, surrounded by salt marshes and oyster farms, with the 13th-century Tour Barberousse perched atop a lonely outcropping.
9. Horreum Romain
The Horreum is the sole Roman structure open to visitors in Narbonne, consisting of a 1st-century network of underground galleries served by corridors.
These spaces were utilized for storage beneath a warehouse (horreum), and remnants of amphorae can be seen, helping visitors visualize its operation 2,000 years ago, accompanied by sound effects that recreate the atmosphere of a marketplace.
Small art fragments from Narbo, such as a carved marble bull’s head, broken statue pieces, reliefs, and a faint fresco depicting games from the amphitheater, are interspersed among the galleries.
10. Maison Natale Charles Trenet
For those unfamiliar, Charles Trenet was a celebrated singer whose extensive career spanned from the 1930s to the 1990s, during which he exclusively recorded songs he composed himself, establishing himself as a pioneering figure.
One of his most renowned songs, “La Mer,” from 1945, was later adapted into “Beyond the Sea” in English and has been covered by numerous artists over the years.
Born in 1913 in an apartment at number 13 on what is now known as Avenue Charles Trenet, the site features a statue of the artist out front, alongside many of his personal items, including a transistor radio, piano, and manuscripts of several of his songs.
11. Canal de la Robine
Following the incredible development of the Canal du Midi, which opened up trade routes in southwestern France in the 17th century, Narbonne subsequently benefited from the Canal de la Robine in the 18th century.
This waterway connected with the Canal de Jonction, which, in turn, linked to the Canal du Midi at the Écluse de Cesse a few kilometers north of Narbonne, thus enabling access to the Atlantic Ocean several hundred kilometers away.
Visitors can rent electric boats, cycle, or take leisurely strolls along the coastal paths to appreciate the engineering marvels of the 18th century, with flower-adorned bridges and rows of plane trees lining the banks.
12. Pont des Marchands
An exceptionally picturesque feature along the Canal de la Robine is the Pont des Marchands, an arched bridge embellished with houses lining its length.
This bridge, constructed during Roman times for the Via Domitia, reflects the complex history of the Aude region, as the river originally flowed beneath this structure but was redirected following flooding in the 1300s.
The canal usurped the former riverbed, and residents of the charming houses above the water have the distinction of living on one of the few inhabited bridges in France.
13. La Clape
The Massif de la Clape serves as a natural buffer between Narbonne and the Mediterranean, representing a 15,000-hectare mountain range that was, historically, an island as recent as Phoenician times.
A typical sight within La Clape features a vineyard bordered by a limestone ridge with an evergreen forest at its base.
Activities such as cycling and walking through the Mediterranean scrub and fragrant woodlands consisting of stone pines, cypresses, and kermes oaks are available, in addition to exploring the numerous wineries in this region.
These establishments produce wines for the AOCs, Coteaux du Languedoc and Corbières, often blending grenache, mourvèdre, and syrah grapes for their red wines.
14. Les Halles
Narbonne’s central market is located in an appealing art nouveau hall situated just a short distance from the Canal de la Robine.
Constructed in 1901 due to a shortage of space in front of the Hôtel de Ville on Place aux Herbes, this market operates daily from 07:00 to 13:00, featuring 70 stalls run by butchers, greengrocers, bakers, cheesemongers, florists, fishmongers, and more, offering the finest produce from Aude.
Food enthusiasts will find themselves captivated by artisanal olive oils, spices, jams, lucques olives, vinegars, and honey.
As lunch approaches and activity begins to wind down, patrons can take a seat in one of the nearby restaurants, such as Chez Bebelle, which sources its meat directly from its own butcher’s counter and includes horse meat on the menu.
15. Gastronomy
The plant life in the wilderness surrounding Narbonne, particularly in regions like Corbières and La Clape, is known as “garrigue.” This Mediterranean brush is rich in wild herbs such as thyme, lavender, and rosemary, providing nectar for honey recognized by the Romans as the finest in the world.
Due to the seasonal flowering of various plants, the honey obtained can present different flavors throughout the year.
As noted earlier, lucques olives, identifiable by their elongated shape, represent a delicious local specialty.
Finally, the Aude region is renowned for its cassoulet, a rich and flavorful pork and bean casserole that is a must-try culinary experience.
