Carcassonne is famous for its fairytale like medieval city which is a world heritage site.  It was the seat of the powerful Trevancel family during the 11th and 12th centuries, its Cathare* bishopric being created around 1167.  *Catharism was identified by the Roman Catholic Church as an heretical form of Christianity and crusades were conducted to extinguish the Cathares providing a rich heritage of fortified sites stretching from a little North of Carcassonne South into the Pyrenees.  Many of these castles, such as Peyrepertuse, are spectacularly situated and well worth a visit. In the crusades of 1209 Carcassonne fell to Simon de Monfort.  In 1226 at a Cathare assembly in Pieusse  the Cathare bishopric of Razes was created.  It was not until around 1329 that the last few Cathare believers were burnt at the stake outside Carcassonne.

 

Limoux (4 min car, 10 min cycle) spans the river Aude and has a lively centre with a picturesque square and a number of attractive churches. Below the town square can be seen from the surrounding arched arcade through which the masqued carnival participants process every weekend from early January to mid March followed by the traditional brass band.

The Carnival costumes and troupes change each week:

The spa town of Alet-les-Bains is on an attractive bend of the river Aude 10mins South towards the Pyrenees.  The spa waters flow round the well preserved medieval streets.  Many locals and visitors fill their water bottles at the traditional lavoire still in use at the end of the town near the bottling factory. The town is walled with an ancient ruined abbey, traditional picturesque square and the old bishops palace has a pleasant restaurant and peaceful shaded gardens by the river.  The thermal spa facilities are open from May to September.  Alet-les-Bains also has an out of town casino with restaurant and a Forest adventure assault course.

A walk up to the hamlet of Saint Salvayre above Alet, is rewarded by a wonderful panorama of the Pyrenees and the Corbieres. (not the view above - sorry we don't have a photo!)

There are many beautiful landscapes to appreciate on walks in the local area and a wonderful variety of butterflies is attracted to the fragrant sunny hillsides.