LANGUEDOC II: MORE SECRETS
7 DAY TOUR ITINERARY
This tour is recommended for people who have visited this region of France before
but will still be enjoyed by first time visitors!
DAY 1 - Welcome to the 'Real' South of France...
Today you will be picked up from Narbonne train station or Carcassonne train station or airport (other pickups by prior arrangement).
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You will check-in to our award winning B & B which has been ranked in the top 25 in France!
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Sleep on deep sumptuous super king mattresses with the finest 100% cotton linen usually found in exclusive hotels. All of our contemporary ensuite bathrooms have luxurious pure cotton bath towels and beautiful organic bathroom products.
This evening you will join us for our welcome dinner…a fun and informative tapas and wine tasting evening presented by our local wine master. Can she find wines you haven’t tried before?
DAY 2 - Historic Port of Marseillan & the Etang de Thau
This morning we drive towards the Mediterranean coast and visit the historic port of Marseillan which is the third oldest town in France.
Photograph courtesy of Marseillan Tourism
Today we will enjoy lunch at a renowned restaurant in the port of Marseillan.
After lunch we take a guided tour of the famous Vermouth producer, Noilly Prat with over 200 years of tradition. The tour concludes with a tasting of their Vermouth collection.
© Noilly Pratt
This evening we share a grazing platter and a glass of wine sitting in the Sainte-Hélène courtyard.
From here we take a boat to explore the Etang de Thau oyster beds and discover the mouth of the Canal du Midi. Now is the time to try the local fresh oysters.
© KMW
DAY 3 - St Chinian Market & Plus Beaux Village of Olargues
After breakfast we travel to the foothills of the Haut-Laungedoc to the pretty town of St Chinian for a relaxed stroll through the Sunday market with it’s spectacular canopy of plane trees.
St Chinian Market
We will drive higher into the Haut-Languedoc to the Plus Beaux village of Olargues for lunch at a lovely Michelin rated restaurant overlooking Pont du Diable (Devil's Bridge) over the river Le Jaur. This restaurant is always a highlight.
Olargues & Roquebrun © LMW
After lunch we will enjoy a stroll around the village before heading back to Sainte-Hélène. We drive home via the pretty riverside village of Roquebrun...
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Time for a rest before dinner at a local restaurant.
DAY 4 - Minervois Vineyard Tour
There has never been a more exciting time to explore the Minervois wine region and it's Cru La Livinière. This region is brimming with both tradition and innovation.
Will it be during the vendanges/grape harvest?
This evening we have dinner at a local restaurant...
After lunch, there's time for a short stroll around the this lovely circulade village and then we head toward La Livinière.
This Cru is made up of vineyards located across six villages and our afternoon visit is to a winery currently run by the fourth generation. They not only produce Cru La Livinière wines but also Appellation Minervois wines too - and maybe an extra surprise!
By the end of the day, you too will understand why we call this region 'the New World of the Old World'.
This morning's visit takes us to St-Jean-de-Minervois in the foothills of the Montagne Noir. Here we visit a first generation winemaking couple who have taken many heirloom grapes under their wing to create wonderful wines including many varietals which may be new to you.
La Livinière
Next stop is lunch and today our tour takes us to a great little country auberge, where the menu du jour is always tasty and is accompanied by local wines of course!
DAY 5 - La Forteresse de Salses & Collioure
After breakfast we travel to the old Spanish border area to visit La Forteresse de Salses. The fortress was in a strategic position between Spain and France. Built in the late 15th century the fortress guarded the original border on the Spanish side.
For today’s lunch we travel to the beautiful Mediterranean town of Collioure near the current Spanish border which inspired many famous artists including Matisse and Picasso.
Collioure © LMW
This afternoon there will be plenty of time to shop, wander the streets and soak up the atmosphere before heading back to Sainte-Hélène.
This evening we will share a grazing platter and a glass or two of local wine...
DAY 6 - Sparkling Wine & a Taste of Chocolate
Lunch today is at Domaine Gayda - a fabulous wine domain in the Malpere appellation.
© Domaine GAYDA
After lunch we drive to Trèbes where we can let ourselves be transported on a chocolate journey with a thousand and one delicacies with a guided tour and tasting, while immersing ourselves in the unique history of Nougalet!
This evening we will have dinner at a local restaurant …
We start the day off with a drive to Limoux where the world's first recorded sparkling wines were made in 1531. We will visit one of the largest producers who will share with us the history of sparkling wine and the techniques they use today. Of course the morning wouldn't be complete without a tasting of these interesting and delicious sparkling wines!
DAY 7 -
Château de Pennautier & Cabrespine Cavern or Grotte de Limousis
After breakfast on our final tour day we visit the grand Château de Pennautier. This Château is listed as an historic monument of France and King Louis XIII, who established the Château de Versailles, stayed here in 1622!
Photo courtesy of Château de Pennautier
Lunch today is in the award winning Château restaurant...
This afternoon we visit Cabrespine cavern, one of the largest caves in France open to the public. It’s as tall as the Eiffel Tower and quite spectacular! If our tour group has visited this cave before we will visit the nearby Grotte de Limousis which is equally beautiful...
Cabrespine Cavern © LMW
This evening we complete our ‘Real’ South of France Languedoc II tour with another fabulous wine and food extravaganza!
Grotte de Limousis photo courtesy of
Tourisme et Patrimoine en Pays Occitan
DAY 8 - Farewell...
After breakfast we say farewell to our new found friends as we transfer you to our designated drop off points to continue your travels.
