Rennes-le-Chateau (Birthplace of 'The Da Vinci Code'?)
Rennes-le-Chateau is a small village perched on a mountain top that has a staggering history. It is here that in the 19th Century the local priest is said to have discovered the Holy Grail! For those interested in such things there are many books on the subject and in the 1970s the BBC broadcast a series of documentaries on Rennes. If you have read 'The Da Vinci Code' then you will also recognise a number of names and stories here, as recently Tony Robinson discovered in his television programme 'The Real Da Vinci Code'.

Gorges de Galamus
There are a number of spectacular gorges in the area, non more so than the Gorges de Galamus. Here you can visit a mysterious hermitage built precariously on the side of the gorge and also view strange people ‘canyoning’ – throwing themselves into the water at one end of the gorge and hopefully getting to the other end in one piece!

Chateau d’Arques
Just 5 minutes walk is the Donjon on the western side of Arques. This is a 13th century castle, although an earlier castle was burnt to the ground by Simon de Montfort in 1217. It is open to the public.

Cathar Castles
Romantic and ruined, the medieval fortresses which range in a broad arc around Carcassonne have come to be known as the Cathar castles, though in fact many of the castles in question were built after the Cathars' demise. The Cathars were a sect strong in this part of France, who were proscribed as heretics by Pope Innocent III. The area has had a torrid history. None more so than during the 13th century when the Cathars were persecuted by Simon de Montfort. But the Cathars hill-top castles remain as spectacular as ever. [Read more info]

City of Carcassonne
Since the pre-Roman period, a fortified settlement has existed on the hill where Carcassonne now stands. In its present form it is an outstanding example of a medieval fortified town, with its massive defences encircling the castle and the surrounding buildings, its streets and its fine Gothic cathedral. Carcassonne is also of exceptional importance because of the lengthy restoration campaign undertaken by Viollet-le-Duc, one of the founders of the modern science of conservation. A visit to the visually spectacular medieval city of Carcassonne is a must. This is where filming has taken place for many films including Robin Hood Prince of Thieves. [more]

Canal du Midi
This 360-km network of navigable waterways linking the Mediterranean and the Atlantic through 328 structures (locks, aqueducts, bridges, tunnels, etc.) is one of the most remarkable feats of civil engineering in modern times. Built between 1667 and 1694, it paved the way for the Industrial Revolution. The care that its creator, Pierre-Paul Riquet, took in the design and the way it blends with its surroundings turned a technical achievement into a work of art. Read more about the Canal du Midi [here]

The Mediterranean
Just 1 hour and 10 minutes away is the Mediterranean Sea with lots of beaches to choose from either in the Perpignan or Narbonne areas.