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Much of the region where we are based is a national park called the "Parc naturel regional de la Narbonnaise en Mediterranée". Our base of Les Fenals is next to a beautiful peninsula jutting out into the Med (see right). The nearest village - La Franqui - and the neighboouring village of Leucate are on the peninsula itself.
There are many places of interest that you may like to visit either during your Taste for Life holiday or later. Here are a few of our favourites.
The Plateau – the Plateau above La Franqui is about six square miles of protected land. On top of the Plateau, there are stunning views of the Pyrenees (see right). You can wander right out to the tip of the peninsula above the sea, or inland among the tiny vineyards and almond trees.
Les Coussoules – This is the marshy land immediately across the shallow inlet from La Franqui with rare birds and plants. After wandering around on it, you can walk from it directly out onto the beach.
Leucate - the village over the other side of the plateau to La Franqui. It has a wide selection of good restaurants and cafes in the main square, interesting boutiques selling a wide range of local food products and crafts and a lively market twice a week. It also makes a pleasant destination for a walk over the plateau (about 45 minutes).
Fitou, Feuilla & Treilles – These local villages, straight westwards in the Corbieres mountains, have gorgeous mountain walks all around them. There’s hundreds of square miles of unspoilt mountain up there, within about five miles of La Franqui.
Peyriac de Mer – About 20 minutes’ drive north, a beautiful set of walks on the board-walks out over the salt-lakes where salt was harvested naturally until recent times. There is a hyper-salinated circular lake called Le Doul where you naturally float like in the Dead Sea.
Bages - picturesque fishing village perched on a hill overlooking one of the many salt lakes of the region. Try the famous local eel dishes.
Narbonne and Perpignan – Narbonne is a laid-back Roman city 30 minutes to the north. Small and intimate with marble-paved little streets. Excellent Museum of Roman artefacts. Its covered food-market, Les Halles, is open 7 days a week. Perpignan, by contrast, is a vibrant Catalan city with lots of trendy boutiques and shops and many excellent, inexpensive restaurants. Both are served by direct trains from La Franqui train station.
Fontfroide – Beautiful abbey in the mountains beyond Narbonne. Stunning mountain walks beside the abbey. Very good restaurant in the cloisters with regional specialities.
Carcassonne - (45 minutes north-west on the motorway) is a magical medieval city of turrets and dreams. Looks just like a Walt Disney castle.
Rennes les Bains – About half an hour beyond Carcassonne, down a road due south from there. Naturally hot medicinal spring waters gush out of the earth in this gorgeous spa village (right). There’s also a public open-air swimming pool of these hot waters.
Rennes le Chateau - close to Rennes-les-Bains and (in)famous for its links to the Holy Grail. For Da Vanci Code enthusiasts.
Cathar castles - perched on the tops of the most inaccessible mountains these awe-inspiring castles were where the Cathars of the 12th century made their last stand against persecution.
Pyrenees – About one and a half hours drive. Mount Canigou is the famous mountain of the Pyrenees, revered as a deity traditionally here. Endless walking opportunities. A pretty walk leads to the monastary of St Martin de Canigou (left).
Collioure – the stunning little port where Picasso, Matisse, Miro painted the light and colours. Famous for its anchovies. Nearby in the Pyrenees foothills is Ceret, a pretty village with an important Museum of Modern Art.
Spain – on the motorway south from La Franqui, you’re in Spain in about 45 minutes. Remember to take your passport! Caduques and Rosas, Girona are all gorgeous towns. The Dali Museum is supposed to be wonderful. And the national park on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees is beautiful too.
