3 Best Sights in Narbonne, Toulouse and the Languedoc

The town's former wealth is evinced by the 14th-century Cathédrale St-Just-et-St-Pasteur—its vaulting rises 133 feet from the floor, making it the tallest cathedral in southern France. Only Beauvais and Amiens (both in Picardy) are taller, and, as at Beauvais, the nave here was never completed. The "Creation" tapestry, hanging in the chapter room, is the cathedral's finest treasure. Enter from the back side (on Rue Gustave Fabre) for an especially impressive look at the unfinished nave and insight into the construction process.

Housed in an ultramodern building designed by architect Norman Foster, the collection here dates back to when Narbonne was a major Roman port and capital of the Roman province of Gaul. Its centerpiece is a giant modular wall with 760 fragments of funerary blocks. Other highlights include sculptures, murals, and mosaic floors. Interactive 3D screens bring the exhibits to life. You can also check out the nearby Horreum, an underground warehouse dating back to the 1st century BC.

Richly sculpted cloisters link the cathedral to the former Palais des Archevêques, home to collections covering art and history. Note the Donjon Gilles-Aycelin and its late-13th-century keep; climb the 162 steps to the top for a view over the town and surrounding region.