voyager61

We are planning a trip to France and maybe Italy for May 2011, spilling into June, and one of the towns we are thinking about for a base in southern France is Narbonne. From photos, it looks interesting and sounds promising, but we'd like an insider's view. Anyone spent time there? How are the restaurants? We love exploring small towns and visiting historic sights but when we rent somewhere, we also want a selection of great restaurants to come back to. What is the landscape like around Narbonne? We have done rentals in Chianti (Panzano) and southeastern Tuscany (Cortona). I would say we favored the landscape of Chianti over southern Tuscany, but we did enjoy the size and amenities of Cortona. Thanks for any help!!

Christina

I just spent one day there, but thought it was a very pleasant city and they have several interesting things to see. They have a good outdoor roving market there, I remember it happened to be there the day I visited (which was in the summer). I believe Charles Trenet was from there as his face is plastered on the side of some building or something, as I recall. I can't comment on restaurants, it's a big enough place that you should be able to find something you like. It's not a small town, you know, I think it's the biggest city in that area, the population is around 50K.

It's about 10 miles from the coast, so it's rather flat around there, and it's hot in summer. There is a canal running through the city.

voyager61

Thank you for responding. It may be a bit bigger than we're looking for...and the information about it being flat in that area is also helpful. We really enjoyed the rolling hills of Chianti, and want to find something more like that in France.

ira

Hi Voy,

I responded on your other post.

I'm reasonably sure that Narbonne is not what you are looking for.

However, the beach town, Narbonne Plage, is a terrific spot to just look at the Med and go "ah". Do it in late Sept or early Oct, when the crowds are gone and the weather is still nice.

Nikki

In July, 1972, I spent one day in Narbonne. My friend Ellen and I took the bus to Narbonne Plage, a wide, sandy beach where we bought a selection of picnic items from a charcuterie (I still remember the caponata) and lay in the sun. I have a picture of Ellen sitting with a towel over her head and shoulders. She is a redhead. I was less prudent.

As I got on the bus to go back to the city, someone pointed at me and said, "Rouge comme une carotte!", and I was indeed.

mpprh

It is a good base for visiting Languedoc as it has connections to the A9 autoroute as well as the main coastal rail line.
The coast, mountains, Cathar chateaux, Carcassonne and wine areas are all nearby.

As you are interested in restaurants, this may be useful : Auberge du Vieux Puits, av. St Victor F - 11360 Fontjoncouse (about 30km from Narbonne) was granted it's third Michelin star yesterday ! More starred restaurants : http://the-languedoc-page.com/phpBB2...pic.php?t=4595

Tourist office : http://www.narbonne-tourisme.com

Peter

voyager61

Thank you for that link to the Languedoc Michelin rated restaurants...it will be useful!