Why spend a day in Narbonne?

Narbonne is one of those places I have always intended to visit, but I have never been there for various reasons. It’s one of those towns I seem to have bypassed on my way to or from somewhere else, notably Carcassonne or Montpellier. However, when a friend who was staying with us in France suggested having an adventure, Narbonne fitted the bill!

We caught the train from Castelnaudary, directly to Narbonne, which took just under an hour. I already had an idea of what I wanted to see and do in Narbonne but I knew we would be unable to cover everything.

Narbonne is known for its stunning architecture, rich history, culture, cuisine, and much more besides!. It’s a medium-sized town and the location makes it easily accessible. Narbonne has a rich history dating back to the Roman Empire. It was the first Roman colony outside of Italy and was once one of the most prominent ports on the Mediterranean.

It is a short walk from the train station to the town centre and one of the first things I spotted was this sign for the Canal de la Robine. This offshoot of the Canal du Midi flows through the middle of Narbonne.

It is very picturesque with trees, shops, cafes, and restaurants alongside. In the picture below you can see the famous Pont des Marchands. It dates back to Roman times and is lined with shops and inhabited houses.

On the walk into town, we spotted some beautiful buildings…

Having visited the Tourist Office, we decided it was time for coffee and croissants. There were a plethora of cafés and we opted for one near the town square. it was a beautiful hot, sunny day, so we could sit outside and people-watch. The aerial photo below is from pixabay.

Below is the celebrated Archbishop’s Palace which stands in the main square. It was originally built in the twelfth century, although there have been changes and additions throughout the centuries. As well as two museums, it houses the Town Hall.

If you have read my blog before you might remember that I am a fan of the Hop-on Hop-off Bus when arriving in an unknown city. Narbonne is too small for such a bus but it does offer ‘le petit train‘. I last experienced this type of tourist train in Perpignan and, as there was limited time, this seemed the ideal way to gain an overview of Narbonne.

The guided visit lasted about forty minutes. It is a fun, interesting way to discover the historical centre of Narbonne. En route, you can see many major sights, including the house where the prolific songwriter Charles Trenet was born, in 1913. You may have heard his most famous song ‘La Mer’. Unfortunately, most of the photos I took from the train are not blog-worthy!

After the petit train, we went to ‘Les Halles’, the century-old covered market in the centre of Narbonne. This market won an award for being one of the most beautiful covered markets in France, in 2022. The building is impressive, made of steel and glass, as is the atmosphere inside. You can buy olives, herbs, oysters, sardines, and much more.

There are also bars inside where you can buy snacks and tapas. A true taste of the Mediterranean! The market is open 365 days a year from 7h to 14h. Highly recommended!

Having had a busy and active morning, we decided it was time for a late lunch. I really fancied crêpes and we found a delightful restaurant on the Cours de la République. This is the road that runs alongside the Canal de la Robine. As it was such a warm and sunny day, we were able to eat outside.

We opted for the menu which included a savoury Galette, a sweet crêpe, and a cup of dry cider. Delicious!

Time was beginning to disappear and after our copious lunch, we found a bench beside the canal and listened to a talented busker and people watched. This was followed by a gentle stroll back to the station, through some fascinating old streets which were lined with independent shops and restaurants. It reminded us of the Lanes in Brighton.

In answer to my original question, I would say it is definitely worth spending a day in Narbonne. In fact, I would suggest spending longer than a day because there is so much to see, not only in the town but outside of the centre, the beach for example. I do hope to go back and see all the sights that I didn’t fit in during one day. Watch this space!