Up and about reasonably early, walking shoes on, head for the medieval city. We decide to have breakfast up there. It is in full operation up there, of course catering for tourists. Hotels, Restaurants and a variety of boutique and touristy shops. There are also local residents who live there.
The enormity of the city is incredible, most of which is fully intact or well restored. Today is a perfect day for exploring weather wise. Bright blue skies and up to 30 degrees, but a really comfortable heat.
The Outer Ramparts
The Inner Ramparts
There are ruins all around the region of Languedoc-Roussillon. We decide to take some of the smaller roads and go through a couple of the villages on the way to Perpignan, which is only about a 1 hour drive from Carcasonne. There are 3 different types of roads - A roads, toll roads, but fast travelling up to 130km,
D roads, some have two lanes each way 110kms and other roads 70 - 90 kms. These routes are often the shortest, but slower driving.
We visit two of the bigger villages on the way Alet les Bains and Lagrasse
At Lagrasse there are a large amount of medieval ruins. The biggest being the Abbey that sits across the other side of the river Aude. A gorgeous town and big grape growing area, so wine boutiques scattered through the village. We stop by the river for a ice cream - glacé. It's actually sorbet. I have passion fruit - beautiful, and Sam has citron - delicious.
Lagrasse Abbey
Lagrasse Town Buildings
The view looking over the Village
Just an old Building in Middle of Nowhere!
We decide to head to Narbonne - no hotel booked winging it. Arrive there and don't really like the city area, head to St Marie Plage, a beach just put of Perpignan. Get there and don't think much of that either, so head to Perpignan. At least we will be handy to train station. It takes us a wee while to find a hotel, but finally get one. Nice dinner in restaurant and earlyish night, ready for a weekend in Barcelona.
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