International airports are located to the west of Quaranteat Carcassonne and Toulouse, 35 and 90 minutes by car. To the east are airports at Beziers, 20 minutes by car and Montpellier, 1 hour and 15 minutes hours by car. Perpignan is 60 minutes towards Spain.Air travelers from the Americas will find Paris, Toulouse and Barcelona convenient arrival and departure locations. European air travelers often frequent Carcassonne. ( www.ryanair.com ) Barcelona Airport is just over 2 hours by car with Paris about 8 hours by car and 4.5 hours by train.
Narbonne and Carcassonne railway stations are only 30 minutes from Maison Bleue.The train ride along the Mediterranean from Barcelona to Narbonne is very picturesque. Car rentals are available at or near all train stations and major airports.(Try Kemwell or autoEurope)For amodest fee, our local caretaker is often available for passenger pickup or drop off at the local railway stations, local airports and Barcelona.
A NEW summer service, operating in July and August, between Stansted and Beziers has been launched by Ryanair.
Flights are on sale from today (April 23) with one way tickets starting at £26, and the service will operate Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The new Stansted link joins the existing flight from Bristol to Beziers.
Many of the villages surrounding Quarante and Cruz offer a countless variety of experiences from the magnificant walled medieval fortress at Carcassonne and the rugged beauty of Minerve, the antique center of the region in Pezenas, or the 12th century Abbey of Fontfroide, to the Les Halles enclosed daily market in Beziers. All are short drives from Quarante.
Travel Times
Quarante to Beziers 15 mins drive
Quarante to Narbonne 25 mins drive
Quarante to Montpellier 1 hours drive
Quarante to Aix-en-Provence 2.15 hours drive
Quarante to Valras beach 20 mins drive
The Spanish border is just over an hours drive to the south or continue on a short train ride to Barcelona for a complete change of pace.
Swimming is available at nearby lakes and rivers including the Cesse River near Bizes Minervois or the Lac de Cavayere near Carcassonne.Mediterranean beaches are also within a 30 minute drive.
The World Heritage Site, the Canal du Midi offers a romantic and sensual view of the area from the tree-lined shores or from a boat or barge slowly traversing the countryside.
The fascinating Cathar castles and caves from Villerouge Termines to Peyrepertuse are all nearby drives.Taste the olives and muscat at the Thursday market inLesignon Corbieresor regal yourselves at the Narbonne indoor marche.The exploration of local and regional wineries, restaurants, pizzerias and boulangerie-patisseries is something we never tire of.
Hiking, biking, climbing, caving and bird watching areas abound.
Here is a short list of things our family enjoyed during our year-long stay in the Minervois region:
walking/hiking- marked trails exist in nearly every small village or town- easy to follow and a fun destination when tied in to a picnic or lunch in a café.
Vide Greniers- all summer long various towns close their streets for these day long garage sales
Bicycling
Grape picking
Café/croissant mornings
Wine tastings in nearly every village
Relaxing
Cathar castles/grottos
En Bonne Compagnie
A good site for local info: click here Eating Le Pourquoi Pas- 04 67 93 37 94You are in for a treat!One of our favorite hideaways, le PP, has grown via word of mouth. It is located canal side, about 5km west of Capestang. The only sign for it is a small marker west of Capestang in the direction of Quarante saying “Pourquoi Pas”. One follows this through vineyard and dale and hopefully you come out close enough to the restaurant to not give up.Successfully run by an English couple, outdoor dining, good food, good conversation. Open during high season only.
Auberge de la Croisade- 04 67 89 36 36-3 km from Quarante- An inviting and stylish resatuarant on the north side of the canal, they offer both lunches and moderately expensive gourmet menus.
Lo Cagarol- 04 68 27 84 22- Indisputably “le top” , Lo Cagarol, in the tiny hamlet of Aigne ( direction of Minerve), offers consistently creative and well-priced entrees with crisp luxurious salads, surprise entrees, and good service. Reservations recommended
Montady- Restaurant de la Tour- Montady is a small hilltop town with 12th century Saracen fortifications market by a single square tower. The restaurant offers creative 3 course menus at a good value. Try hot and cold foie gras to start followed by a signature dish of duck with olives and homemade nougat glace for dessert. Closed Wed. PM.- 04 67 90 50 73
Capestang- 3 rue Paul BertTel: 04 67 93 31 97.La Tabledu Vigneron/Domain Cros- run by Marie who has traveled extensively in the States, you will be seated outside in the courtyeard and dine by candlelight. Open in season only.Marie and her brother Phillipe offer walking wine tours (in French) on the weekends at 10:30 AM.
Pizzaria- de Quarante – some of the best brick oven pizzas you’ll ever taste- try the fisherman’s delight with shrimp, oysters, clams, etc or one of the ones with a soft poached egg on top!
Homps- En Bonne Campagnie- 6 Rue des Negotiants- 04 68 91 23 16 Very nice dining next to the Canal du Midi- lovely activity in summer months and walking distance from a lake where our kids enjoyed a swim.
Sadora- Montpellier 04 67 66 25 23- Dale and I stumbled on this “find” during one of our Montpellier outings in the historic district of old-town Montpellier. Memories of long slow dining, good food, mostly French clientele. Let us know how this suits you…
PoihlesThis village is worth a look see even if you don’t dine at La Tour Sarrasine- a gourmand menu, expensive04 67 77 06 77
Wine tasting: Degrave - Talairan in the Corbieres- not far from LaGrasse, is where I found the Degrave vineyard and tasting room. I renovated a wee house not far from this small village and Daniel, the owner, is a minstrel at heart, lovely man. Tell him that Ginny sent you- d.remon.degrave@wanadoo.fr
St Chinian- very close to Quarante and known for their earthy reds. The cave cooperative will treat you to their reds and you may also bring your empty “cuvee”- 5 litre jug, and fill it up for 2 euros a litre.
Felines-Minervois- domaine Borie de Maurel- 04 68 91 63 92- another wonderful drive east from the house- excellent wine.
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