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Annemarie & Frederick Ros
Telephone: +33 468 760086
E-Mail: jf.ros@wanadoo.fr
Domaine Le Trabet
11170 Moussoulens
France
Contact Le Trabet by E-Mail:
E-Mail...E-MailLast up-date: August 24, 2007/Dlt23
About the Region
The Aude province, part of the Languedoc region, is renown for its history and its historical places (especially the Cathar castles and fortified villages), its vineyards and excellent wines and its thinly populated and unspoilt nature.
Vineyards and Wines
Domaine Le Trabet is situated in the Cabardes wine region. The Cabardes, although not too well-known yet, obtained its own AOC label some years ago and winegrowers are improving their products continuously. South of Le Trabet you will find the Malepère, Limoux and Fitou vineyards. Limoux is famous for its excellent Chardonnay's and affordable sparkling wines (Blanquette de Limoux), some of them ranking above well-known champagnes. The largest wine growing areas however are the Minervois (mostly red) and Corbières; producing excellent wines of which the experts say that they have the best balance between quality and price in France. We love to introduce you to the best vineyards where you can taste and buy the wines directly from the winegrowers. Several wineries organize exhibitions and dinners during the summer, like Château de Jau (famous for its excellent Muscat wines) and Domaine de l'Hospitalet near Narbonne.
Gastronomy
Although France is well-known for its 'cuisine', these days you have to know the right place to go. In the Aude are many good local restaurants where you can eat and drink well for reasonable prices as well as a couple of Michelin star rated restaurants, all nearby. Fresh vegetables and marvellous fruits (depending on the time of the year) one can buy anywhere, especially at local markets, like the ones in Bram (Wednesday), Montolieu (nearby 'Village des livres', well-known for its bookstores and galleries, including a well stocked English bookshop), Revel, Carcassonne (three times a week) and many others.
Cathar Castles; Fortified Towns; and Abbeys
The 'département'of the Aude boasts a rich historical heritage whose outstanding landmarks are the Carcassonne Cité fortress, together with the innumerable hilltop castles of the Middle Ages that mark the landscape everywhere you go. The history of these strongholds is intimately bound up with the events that shook the whole of the Languedoc in the 13th century when the crusade against the Cathars took place. Today, immemorial landmarks have survived abandoned until little by little they fell into ruin. Several Cathar castles are still worth a visit, like Château de Peyrepertuse. Also several fortified towns are interesting, like Minerve as well as some abbeys (Lagrasse, Fontfroide, St. Papoul, Villelongue), all nearby 'Le Trabet'.
Go to the Cathares
Grottos and Canyons
Amateur speleologists could visit nearby grottos of Limousis or the giant cave at Cabrespine. Long ago disappeared rivers have left the Aude with beautiful 'gorges' and canyons, worthwhile to visit, like the 'Canyon de Cesse' near Minerve, the 'Gorges de Clamoux' near Carcassonne and Cabrespine and the 'Gorges de Galamus', 'Defilé de Pierre Lys' and 'Gorges de St. Georges', all south of Limoux.
Art
Beside some interesting 'regional' museums three museums are worth a visit: LAC (Lieu d'Art Contemporain), at Sigean, the Musée de l'Art Moderne in Ceret (Ceret has been home to many painters and artists between 1910 and 1925 like Braque, Chagall, Picasso, and Soutine) and the 'Teatre Museu Dali' at Figueras, just over the Spanish border and not too far from beautiful Barcelona. During the summer several wine estates organize art exhibitions either presenting just one artist or a more general exhibition like Chateau de Jau with its Modern Art. In several villages one find galeries with works of interesting regional artists. Also Toulouse, just one hour from 'Le Trabet', offers a variety of exhibitions and galleries. Antique and Brocante shops are all over the Aude as well as the 'Vide Grenier' organized by villages from time to time during the summer.
Go to Lieu d'Art Contemporain
Spa's
Situated south of Carcassonne, one finds several thermal spa's well-known for their health-giving properties. At Rennes-les-Bains the origin of its thermal spa goes back to antiquity and has been frequented by the Roman colony at Narbonne. This thermal spa is recommended in the case of rheumatism, arthrosis and arthritis. The spa at Alet-les-Bains is recommended for the treatment of digestive disorders.
Safaripark
Just south of Narbonne is the largest wild animal park in France, over 750 acres (300 hectares) of Languedoc scrubland dominating a lagoon, in a unique setting, very reminiscent of the African landscape: 'Le Réserve Africaine de Sigean'.
Go to Le Réserve Africaine de Sigean
The Sea; Lakes; Mountains; and Sports
The beaches of the Mediterranean Sea are just one hour from 'Le Trabet'. Places to go are Gruissan, Porte la Nouvelle and a little more south Collioure and Banyuls, a beautiful part of France to spend the day on the beach and the boulevard bars and restaurants with their excellent local wines. Surfing is ideal near Leucate at the 'Etang de Leucate', but also possible at several other lakes nearby. Boats for rowing and kayaking are for rent at several places in the Aude. Renting a motorboat for one or more days on the Canal du Midi is quite popular. Several 'centres equestre' (horse riding) are not too far from 'Le Trabet, where you can have a Shetland pony or a horse by the hour or for the whole day. Golf is quite popular in the Languedoc and the northern part of Spain. The nearest 18-hole golf course is only fifteen minutes away. If you like to walk in the wooded hills and mountains, the 'Parc regional de Languedoc' almost begins at 'Le Trabet' and the Corbières hills are nearby. The Pyrenees and her skislopes are only an one-and-a-half hour drive away from Le Trabet. Especially Andorra is a worth-wile place to visit during the winter season.
Go to Collioure