Narbonne France - Languedoc - IndigoGuide Narbonne

Narbonne France - history, hotels and harbour

Book Online at:

5 Hotels in Narbonne - France - Booking.com/hotels-in-narbonne

France: Holiday Accommodations Narbonne - www.casamundo.co.uk

Narbonne Hotels - www.TripAdvisor.co.uk

Languedoc Rousillon: Holidays in Languedoc Rousillon > Albi France - Tourist Travel Guide > Béziers France - Tourist Travel Guide > Cap d'Agde France - Tourist Travel Guide > Carcassonne France - Tourist Travel Guide > Montpellier France - Tourist Travel Guide > Nimes France - Tourist Travel Guide > Narbonne > Toulouse France - Tourist Travel Guide > Toulouse Hotels

Narbonne

Situated 25km west of Béziers, Narbonne is 13km from the coast but, before silting up put an end to it, the town used to be a hive of activity and an significant port. The Romans made it the capital of their first colony in Gaul, Gallia Narbonensis, and it was a vital port both then and later in the Middle Ages. It was ruled in turn by Romans, Visigoths, Moors and Franks before becoming part of France in 1507.

Map of Narbonne

The harbour silted up in the 14th century, ending any real chances of prosperity for Narbonne until the wine industry gave it a boost in the late 19th century.

The Horreum is a Roman subterranean grain store on rue Rouget-de-l'Isle (€4.57) and the ticket, valid for three days, also gains you entry to the Palais des Archévêques and church of Notre-Dame-de-Lamourguié. There are two museums in the Palais des Archévêques: a moderate art museum and a more interesting archaeology museum with Roman remains including a ship's rudder and a mosaic. The deconsecrated church of Notre-Dame-de-Lamourguié contains a selection of Roman sculptures and epigraphy.

Narbonne's grand Gothic Cathédrale St-Just-et-St-Pasteur is on the same street as the Horreum, next to the Canal de la Robine, which has pleasant banks lined with trees. You can see the cathedral for miles around as it completely dwarfs the restored narrow streets of the old town. The Palais des Archévêques is part of the complex and a 40-metre keep also stands here. Surprisingly what you see of the cathedral is not even half of what was planned: this is merely the choir of a church that never got built because it risked ruining the city walls. At 41 metres this choir is still one of the tallest in France. You can climb the north tower in summer (€1.52) and there is a good view of the vineyards that surround Narbonne.

There is a range of accommodation in Narbonne to suit most budgets, from the humble Hôtel de France, 6 rue Rossini (04 68 32 09 75) with smart rooms from under €30-40, to the more elegant 17th-century canalside Hôtel La Dorade at 44 rue Jean-Jaurès (04 68 32 65 95) with rooms from €55-70. A few restaurants are worth particular note, including Aux Trois Caves in a medieval cave at 4 rue Benjamin-Crémieux with terroir menus from €18-37, but for general brasserie and snack-bar fare head to the banks of the canal in the town centre.

Find out more by using Google's
Co-op Search Refinements

World Holiday Travel Guides - Cyprus Holiday Travel Guide & Vacations - Costa Rica Holiday Travel Guide - Croatia Holiday Travel Guide - Dubai Holiday Travel Guide - Paris City Breaks - Greece Holiday Travel Guide - Hawaii Holiday Travel Guide - Ibiza Holiday & Vacation Travel Guide - Italy Holiday & Vacation Travel Guide - Majorca Holiday & Vacation Travel Guide - Malta Vacation & Holiday Travel Guide - Mexico Vacation & Holiday Travel Guide - Portugal Vacation & Holiday Travel Guide - Spanish Holiday Travel Guide & Vacations - Thailand Holiday Travel Guide - France Golf Holidays

Specialist Breaks - Alaska Holiday Travel Guide - World Cruises - Golf Holidays - Grand Canyon Vacations - Climb Kilimanjaro - Las Vegas Vacations - African Safaris - Orlando Vacations

Weekend City Breaks - Buy & Sell Timeshare - Airport Parking - Airport Hotels - Ferry Tickets - Vacation Rentals in Spain - Travel Insurance