Top 10 extraordinary views
The Côte du Midi is blessed with countless spellbinding landscapes and views! We have selected ten of them to enjoy with your partner, tribe or alone.
And please feel free to share your loveliest Instagram stories and tag us!
@cotedumidi_official #cotedumidi
Gilles Aycelin Dungeon
NarbonneThis 42-metre-high keep, attached to the Palace-Museum of the Archbishops, protected the city in medieval times. When the weather is fine, it affords an exceptional 360-degree panoramic view of the city, the lagoons, the Corbières, and even the Pyrenees. But you’ll have to earn it by climbing 162 magnificent narrow spiralling stairs. When you reach the top, you’ll be just a few steps from the upper terrace and its watchtowers with the best view of the Cathédrale Saint Just et Saint Pasteur and Narbonne below your feet!
Wink: You’ll also get a good view of the Cathedral from the A9 highway! At Christmas, it is decorated with a big red bow! ;-)
The Leucate Cliff
Between Port-Leucate and La Franqui
This majestic cliff stands at the edge of the limestone plateau of Leucate, a Natura 2000 site and accessible by several signposted hiking trails.
The towering cliff of Leucate offers sweeping views on the whole coast, giving a 360° view of the Mediterranean Sea, the Corbières and the Pyrenees, and even Mont Saint Clair of Sète! But that's not all: the flora on the plateau shelters numerous species of birds which makes it a magnet for birdwatching enthusiasts!
"Gouffre de l’Œil-doux"
Saint-Pierre-La-MerA unique open-air site in the heart of the Clape massif, the Œil-Doux is a natural curiosity. It is made up of high limestone and green walls (40 m) which reflect in an area of emerald green water. It looks magical and mysterious, and is the subject of many legends!
You can walk there with the family in between one and two and a half hours:
- Approach it from above: from the car park on the road to Fleury d'Aude, a hiking trail leads to a cliff that overlooks the chasm and offers a spectacular view of the coastline!
- Approach from below: follow the pedestrian path towards the sheep pen from the l’Oustalet car park
Although the hypnotising emerald colour of the water is beguiling, no swimming or sports activities are allowed!
Wink: Have you heard of the mysterious cenotes in Mexico? Well, the "gouffre de l'Œil Doux" is one of these!
The Belvedere Orientation Table
Narbonne-Plage
This is a holiday destination par excellence! On the excellent D168 road which crosses the Massif de la Clape to arrive at Narbonne-Plage, about halfway between the two, drivers will find an interesting orientation table located on a promontory!
This postcard-worthy view appears after a few twists and turns, in the heart of the garrigue: a cliff overlooking the sea with Narbonne-Plage at the foot of one side and the Pyrenees on the other!
An orientation table on the promontory contains information about the local fauna and flora as well as the sites visible in the surroundings.
The orientation table on the route de la Couleuvre
NarbonneThe orientation table at the end of the route de la Couleuvre is a must for everyone wanting to admire Narbonne in all its splendour. This spot offers an extraordinary view over the city, but also on the Narbonnais and its vineyards, lagoons and the Pyrenees in the distance.
The site is in La Clape, just 15 minutes by car from the city centre and offers pleasant walks in the massif, through vineyards and scrubland!
The cross of Fontfroide Abbey
Narbonne
At an altitude of 219 metres, the Cross of Fontfroide overlooks the famous abbey Sainte-Marie de Fontfroide! It stands atop a hill in the heart of the Massif de Fontfroide which extends over 300 hectares. It takes around 25 minutes to climb up the path through the garrigue (scrubland) and its local flora such as bushes, rosemary...
Wink: The iron cross replaced a wooden one erected by the Cistercian monks which was destroyed by bad weather. This iron cross was restored with participatory funding in 2016!
The massif of l’île Sainte-Lucie
Port-La NouvelleOccupied since ancient times, these days l’île Sainte-Lucie is a protected natural site whose fauna and flora are protected by the Conservatoire du Litorral. The island has a pleasant hiking trail through the pines and scrublands, leading to several exceptional viewpoints over the lagoons, watched over by the La Clape and Corbières massifs.
Sainte-Lucie island is accessible by bike from Narbonne, following the canal of Robine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Warm up your calf muscles!
La Clape Lookout Point
Narbonne-Plage
Its lofty position in the Massif de la Clape makes it an extraordinary viewpoint over the whole coastal strip of the Côte du Midi (on fine days we can see the Cabanes de Fleury in Port-La Nouvelle). But it is also a strategic continuous lookout point for surveillance over the massif in summer, making it possible to raise the alarm quickly in case of fire.
There are several hiking trails that lead here: from the estates of Pech Redon, l'Hospitalet in Narbonne and from the chapel of Notre Dame des Auzils in Gruissan.
A breathtaking view over the Mediterranean and the Pyrenees (in spring you can even see the Canigou covered in snow!).
The tower of the Château de Ventenac
Ventenac-en-MinervoisThe Château de Ventenac is in a pleasant location beside the Canal du Midi. A true architectural gem known as "folie vigneronne” dating from the beginning of the last century, this castle now houses the village's cooperative wine cellar.
You can taste OC Minervois wines in the castle. While you are there you can also visit a museum dedicated to the world of wine on the second floor which has an extraordinary view from the tower over the Minervois vineyards and the canal!
So if you have ever dreamt of gazing out over the horizon like a princess... your dream will come true at the Château de Ventenac!
Practical information
There is a charge to visit the museum and the tower: €3 for unaccompanied visits and €5 for the guided tour (booking required), children are free.
The tasting session in the wine cellar is free.
The Caunes Loop
Bages
The route takes you from the picturesque fishing port of Bages to the top of the village towards the cliff! Follow the signs for the monadières washhouse along a path lined with low dry-stone walls that leads to Pech Crouchet, a 150-metre-high altitude with a 180° panoramic view over the garrigue and the village of Bages with the famous lagoon in the background!
Come down along the Côte d’Estarac road for a wonderful view of the coast before returning to the port of Bages! An absolute marvel!
