We are considering a vacation rental in Durban-Corbieres, which is well located for what we want to see and do in Languedoc-Roussillon area, and the town itself looks very charming. If anyone has stayed or visited there, I would welcome opinions.
Thank you!

Well, I've driven through it a couple of times. I think it's on the D11 between Perpignan and Narbonne. It's a bit remote around there, but the town if I recall did seem to be quite charming. Sorry can't give any details though.

Thanks for you reply. It seems to be about an hour from Carcassonne, 30 minutes from Narbonne Plage and in a very pretty spot, judging from photos. I'm interested in your "remote" description, because it probably had 3 of the better rentals that we've seen in that region.

voyager, I haven't been down that road for a few years, but I have been on it a number of times in the past. Perhaps the area is more built up than it used to be, but if I remember correctly Durban-Corbières was just about the only town on that stretch of road, and it was hilly, remote Cathar country. And yes, I remember it was very nicely situated. Sorry I can't be more helpful. Check on a satellite map and see what you find. It might be quite a nice discovery!

If you really need to know - see if you can roust up Pvoyageuse. She lives in Perpignan & knows that region quite well. Start a seperate post with her name in it.

Stu Dudley

I don't know that place but can tell you how much I like the Corbieres where we stopped without a restervation at a hotel.
The owner, working at the bar asked if I liked fish, and said I preferred it over steak. He said you will get fish I will catch. Everywhere we stopped on our way to the Vienne, we were impressed how little traffic, how friendly everyone was .
It's a lovely area and the wines are very good and not expensive

Durban is not the place I would chose if I wanted a beach holiday but is fine if you want to visit the area and don't mind winding roads. The Corbieres hills look very dry but are full of lovely green valleys if you know how to find them. They can be very hot in summer.
In my opinion Narbonne-Plage is nothing to rave about except for "Montagne de la Clape" with lovely views over the ocean. Gruissan, Peyriac de Mer and Bages are more picturesque. La Franqui near Leucate is a charming beach resort.

Don't miss the two Abbeyes of Fontfroide and Lagrasse and of course the Cathar Castles of Peyrepertuse, Queribus and Puilaurens

Many thanks for all the responses from area experts. We aren't necessarily looking for a town on the coast, but rather a pretty town within 45 minutes of the coast and close to the Cathar castles you mentioned, so we can do day trips to both. We were thinking an inland town of a certain size might offer a more tranquil atmosphere and possibly better restaurants than one on the coast, but perhaps we should be more open to the beach towns you mentioned. We will be traveling in mid to late May. Pvoyageuse, other than the beach spots you mentioned, any other recommendations for towns well situated in Cathar country that offer a scenic location, 3 or 4 good restaurants and rental possibilities? I am most appreciative of your help.

You mention an inland town of a certain size. How big a town? Durban has approx. 700 people.
You may want to look at Villerouge-Termenès which is a pretty (and small) village with the ruins of a Cathar Castle. Or Quillan (3,500 people), Esperaza or Limoux. All three are close to Rennes-le-Château and all three have a bigger choice of restaurants.
If you like the Durban rental, by all means take it. Late May is not high season and there won't be much traffic in the area.

A certain size would mean small, but not teeny. Three or four good restaurants and a grocery store with some variety are more important than population size. We liked the size of Cortona in Tuscany, but it could definitely be smaller and still be fine. Thanks for the new suggestions...I will start researching!

Tautavel has several restaurants and an interesting prehistory museum.
In Quillan I recommend Restaurant Pierre-Lys, on the road to Limoux. Cucugan has 2 good ones.
Villerouge-Termenès has a "medieval" restaurant (haven't tried it). A bit out of the way in Montner near Estagel, an excellent one. Trick : go for lunch during the week, Sunday menu is more expensive.
Have a look at Minerve, there are several B and B in the area.

I stayed in Laroque de Fa which is smaller and more remote than Durban. Visited Durban and liked the town (and the pizza from the pizza truck--but it only calls there twice a week) but it is isolated and a fair drive to almost any place else you'd want to visit.
The more remote rentals reflect the remoteness in the price usually and at the cost of fuel, it's not always a saving.
Lagrasse is charming and Esperaza is nice and has a great weekly market.
Myself, I would prefer Caunes Minervois (16 km from Carcassonne) to Minerve which isn't close to much else and the countryside is rather stark. Caunes is a friendly place where walking around in the evening a 'bon soir monsieur, madame' will get a freindly reply--except sometimes it will be French with an English accent!
My all time favorite town is Mirepoix in Ariege -- I'm spending two weeks there in May--2 bd house, all found (sheets, power, etc) 460 euro the week--and the house is a couple hundred years old. I stayed there 10 years ago, on my first trip, and had to go back. www.mirepoix.fr for more info on the town...
When looking for a rental, if you speak French at all well, consider looking for gites at www.gites-de-france.com; they're often less expensive but still reliable. I've stayed in gites five times, all of them positive (and easy) experiences.

Durban is lovely - a typically sleepy French village, baking in the Corbieres sunshine. We have stayed there before and find it very well located for both the coastal motorway for trips to Spain (Catalonia) and points north (Beziers, Narbonne, Montpelier and Nimes) as well as the main east west motorway (Carcassonne, Toulouse). Beaches are nearby and there are a wide range of vinyards if wine is an integral part of your holiday interests.

If long trips are not your thing then local jaunts to the Canal du Midi and the likes of the Cathar Castles are easiliy done. Consider a villa rental via one of the lettings agencies or a privately ownned house of which there are quite a few- we booked ours via www.rentvillalanguedoc.com

Also worth noting are cheap(ish) flights into Girona just over the Spanish border with the likes of Ryanair.