Whitewater sports
The countless rivers, torrents and mountain lakes in this part of Languedoc-Roussillon, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, along with its tens of reservoirs, offer every kind of whitewater sport: canoeing, kayaking, rafting and canyoning, and all are within easy reach of Quillan. The turbulent waters of the river Aude offer perfect conditions for practising…
Cathar Castles
Depending on your definition of ‘Cathar castles’ you might claim anything from the five ‘sons of Carcassonne’ to the 17 or so ancient castles that lie in the ‘Pays Cathar’ (Cathar lands). The castle at Carcassonne itself is probably the best-known of the region, but there are many others worth seeing. Puivert Our closest castle…
Conspiracies
Just 10km or a little under 20 minutes from here, perched on a hilltop near Couiza, is the village of Rennes-le-Chateau. This little village of less than a hundred people has become the centre of many conspiracy theories, speculation and fiction of the last century or so. Books include The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail…
Les bains
One of the things the Languedoc region has been known for is its spa towns, with settlements and towns building up around the natural springs with their healing minerals. There are many hot springs, created by geological activity under the Pyrénées heating the underground water. Alet-les-Bains The nearest of these is Alet-les-Bains, 20 minutes away….
