Discover our surroundings
Cities and Villages
Active
Cultural
Kids
Culinary and Wine
Sea and Beach
Cities and Villages
Strolling through narrow typical French streets, enjoying a leisurely lunch in a picturesque village square, or wandering through ‘the big city’ in search of delightful souvenirs. You can go in any direction here!
Two beautiful small villages (‘une des plus beaux villages de France’) are Minerve and Lagrasse. Both villages are close to the Domaine and can be reached via a beautiful route.
Very close by is ‘our city Narbonne,’ the first Roman settlement outside of Italy. Narbonne is a beautiful Mediterranean city with charming shops, a bustling market hall called Les Halles (the best marketplace in 2022), a magnificent cathedral, and fine restaurants and cafes.
Other beautiful cities within (less than) an hour’s drive include:
– Carcassonne: the best-preserved medieval fortress city (UNESCO World Heritage)
– Perpignan: a French city with a hint of Spanish influence
– Béziers: with its elevated cathedral and the Nine Locks
A fifteen-minute extra drive, and you can visit the trendy Montpellier (one of our favorite cities) or the fashionable Toulouse, the fourth largest city in France.
Active
Cycling, hiking, swimming in the sea or one of the many rivers, kite surfing, golfing, canoeing, canyoning, indoor skydiving simulator parachuting, catamaran sailing…
The region offers a wide range of activities for both the active and culturally included:
Recreational cyclists can explore the vineyards and ride along the Canal du Midi. The Canal du Midi is a 250-kilometer-long canal that runs from Toulouse to the Mediterranean Sea and has been added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List due to its history and beauty. Beautiful winding roads, plane trees along the banks, locks, and small bridges—all incredibly romantic. The canal was originally constructed by human hands for the transportation of goods but is now primarily used for leisure boating. It’s also possible to rent bicycles from an excellent bike rental company located near the Canal du Midi, allowing you to enjoy wonderful bike rides across flat terrain.
It’s also enjoyable to bike along the coast; a delightful bike ride can take you from St. Pierre de Mer to Gruissan. You can stop for a refreshing swim or a cool glass of white wine with oysters!
If you want to challenge yourself with some climbs and really work up a sweat, you can do that too; the ‘Montagne Noir’ is a true challenge.
The area also offers plenty of opportunities for hikers. Various hiking trails take you through vineyards, past castles, along streams, the Canal du Midi, over bridges, and across mountains.
By the sea, you can, of course, be active or do nothing at all and simply enjoy the miles of sandy beaches with very fine sand. For those seeking more action, there are options like surfing, taking surf lessons at a surf school, renting a jet ski, or going on a boat trip on the sea.
Cultural
There is hardly a darker chapter in the history of the Catholic Church than the struggle against the Cathars, who opposed the moral decay and corruption of the Roman clergy. Catharism developed during the 12th century in the south of France, posing a significant threat to orthodox Christianity. Pope Innocent III saw no other option but to put an end to the rapid rise of this religion by literally waging war against it, calling for a crusade. Led by the ruthless French knight Simon de Montfort, the crusader army left a trail of pillaging, destruction, and bonfires throughout the Languedoc for years.
The remaining fortresses, the Cathar castles, and the hiding places of many Cathars, often perched high on rocky outcrops, capture the imagination, exude a mystical allure, and are inseparably linked to the history of the region.
During the season, there are several cultural activities worth visiting. Here’s a selection of activities:
– ‘Le Festival de Carcassonne’: Pop concerts in the old city.
– ‘Le Mondial du Vent’: The World Kitesurfing Championship in Leucate.
– ‘Le Clap d’Été’ in Narbonne: Cultural activities from June to September.
In the winter, there are truffle markets, and during the warmer months, brocante and flea markets are part of the South French atmosphere. These markets often take place on Sundays. On other days, you can visit the town of Pézenas, a charming town full of antiques and bric-a-brac.
The beautiful Fontfroide Abbey just outside Narbonne was once the headquarters of the Catholic crusades against the Cathars. Fontfroide is perched atop a hill, surrounded by rugged nature, and boasts a particularly well-designed rose garden. Fontfroide is also enjoyable for children!
Kids
For various outings with children, you’re centrally located with a variety of activities to enjoy. Here’s a selection of family-friendly options:
– Swimming in Ribaute or one of the many nearby rivers (even in your own village) and cliff jumping for adventurous fun.
– Visit the Africaine Reserve of Sigean, an African safari park in Sigean.
– Canoeing in Puicheric.
– Lac de Cavayere, a beautiful lake near Carcassonne with plenty to do: a water amusement park with inflatable cushions, an adventurous tree-to-tree swinging “parc acrobatique,” small beaches, paddleboats, and a mini-golf course.
– Of course, don’t forget the classic beach day with a bucket and shovel.
– For more water fun, you can visit the water amusement park in Valras Plage or the slightly smaller Espace Liberté in Narbonne, which features a massive water slide. You can also swim, skate, and bowl indoors and outdoors there.
However, you can also choose to stay right where you are! Children can swim in our lovely pool with their holiday friends, play petanque, swing, use the seesaw, play table tennis, or just relax, draw, and craft at one of the large tables.
Culinary and Wine
Domaine des Agnelles is located on the border of the Corbières and Minervois regions, both well-known wine-producing areas. The region, Occitania, is one of the largest wine-growing regions in the world, blessed with abundant sunshine, and is often referred to as the “California of France.”
We ourselves love the good life, and that’s why we also greatly enjoy delicious food paired with good wine. At least two evenings per week, we offer a table d’hôte, a dinner where everyone can join us at the long, convivial table. We prepare the dinner, and after dessert, we take off our aprons and conclude the evening together with our guests.
For the other evenings and afternoons when you don’t feel like cooking, there are plenty of charming restaurants where you can simply enjoy good food in a cozy atmosphere. Additionally, there are numerous restaurants in unique locations, such as Cambuse de Saunier by the salt marshes of Gruissan, or with exceptionally delicious cuisine, like la Table Lionel Giraud, a restaurant with a well-deserved second Michelin star, or Auberge du Vieux Puits with an impressive 3 Michelin stars, both located in Narbonne.
We are spoiled with the abundance of excellent wines in our region. Wine tasting opportunities are plentiful throughout the area, offering numerous options. An insider tip is Chateau Luc, a genuine family-run winery with superb wines and a wonderfully engaging tour.
For chefs and food enthusiasts, a visit to the olive oil mill L’Oulibo is a must. Then, complete your shopping and visit the market halls in Narbonne. Every morning, there’s a bustling market with the freshest fish, meat, cheeses, vegetables, and fresh herbs.
Sea and Beach
Enjoy leisurely strolls along the endless sandy beaches of Narbonne and Gruissan, sunbathing, swimming, building sandcastles, or lounging and having lunch at a beach club. (Leucate Plage also boasts trendy beach clubs.)
If you take a walk at Peyriac de Mer, you’ll pass by brackish lagoons on your way from Narbonne to Peyriac, where you have a good chance of spotting flamingos or pelicans. The walk at Peyriac de Mer is a beautiful one, with well-constructed boardwalks over the saltwater lake known as ‘Etang du Doul.’
A bit further from Leucate, in addition to the beautiful beaches and the small port of Leucate (offering the freshest fruits de mer directly from the sea), you’ll also find the nature reserve Cap Leucate, which is worth a visit. It’s a stunning area for hiking with cliffs and views of the sea.
If you drive from Narbonne to Narbonne Plage, you’ll pass through the beautiful natural and wine region of La Clape. Each time, you’ll be amazed by the winding journey along rugged rock formations, culminating in a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean Sea. Narbonne Plage may not have that old-world charm, but the adjacent coastal village of Gruissan is a delightful and authentic fishing village with a small harbor, restaurants, and plenty of beach activities during the summer.
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