Places of Interest

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The fortified medieval city of Carcassonne - approximately 25km from us. The fairy-tale castle that is the ancient citadel of Carcassonne is the culmination of three thousand years of history. Long before the coming of the Romans, this site was used as a prime defensive position for the ancient Gauls, although nothing remains of that era. The current layout is due to the Romans who built a huge fortress to oversee all movements across the wide valley between the Pyrenees and the Massif Central. It was temporarily occupied by the Moors and then by the Cathars, a Christian fundamentalist sect, who were declared heretics by the Roman Catholic Church, and captured by the French crown in 1209. Remnants of all these periods can still be seen in the present structure which was massively restored in the 1850s. It achieved World Heritage status in 1997.Festivals throughout July and August.
	The Canal du Midi - approximately 20km from us. Construction of the Canal du Midi began in the 17th century in the reign of the Sun King, Louis XIV - arguably the most powerful ruler in the entire history of France - who signed off the project in 1666. It was the brainchild of local engineer, Pierre Paul Riquet, who was nearly 60 before the first sod was turned the following year, and lived to see part of it used for the transport of the mail before his death in 1680, but failing only by a year to see its completion  from Toulouse to the Port of Sete. It has been continuously developed in the 200+ years since that date and in the year 2000, it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The tourist can hire a boat, take a floating excursion, or simply ramble along its peaceful banks.
Pre-historic cave of Grotte de Limousis, 8km and the giant chasm of Gouffre Geant de Cabrespine, 15km, one of the world’s largest natural chasms, where you will find Aragonite and marble. There are about 15 spectacular caves in the vicinity that are open to the public, but these are the nearest. They contain extraordinary shapes, stunning colours, narrow passages and vast chambers… and some surprising images that seem to be sculpted from rock, such as the hundred-thousand soldiers of the Grotte de Trabuc, In these mineral kingdoms, lakes and rivers sometimes appear and it’s easy to stroll through the labyrinth of halls and galleries, up flights of steps and along lighted passages.
	Medieval castles, Saissac and Lastours (both 13km) were the strongholds of Cathar warlords (Seignores) who were allies of the Viscount of Carcassonne against the invasion by the French in 1209. Saissac is situated in a small town of the same name from which you can gain spectacular panoramic views through a deep wooded valley, across the entire expanse of the Languedoc, to the Pyrenees. The castle itself is easy to get to for those with limited mobility.  Lastours,  which is perched high above a steep gorge overloking the village, is the site of a weekly spectacular Son et Lumier (sound and light show) during the summer months.

The waterfall of Cubserviés, 12km, is a spectacular 90m high cascade of water which can only be reached by driving up a long twisting mountain road where places for vehicles to pass are few. The effort is worth it.