Restaurants
If you're looking for a treat, maybe on your last night, then it has to be the famous La Cour des Ducs restaurant (pictured here) in the Château des Ducs de Joyeuse hotel in nearby Couiza, a short 5 minute drive/taxi or 30 minute walk away.
For a slightly less exclusive experience, there are many good restaurants within walking distance in Couiza or Espéraza, and other excellent options in nearby Quillan or Limoux.
A local favourite is Lou Cantou, run by a British chef and which specialises in local food at affordable prices!
Tripadvisor provide a useful guide to the best restaurants in both Quillan and Limoux.
For a slightly less exclusive experience, there are many good restaurants within walking distance in Couiza or Espéraza, and other excellent options in nearby Quillan or Limoux.
A local favourite is Lou Cantou, run by a British chef and which specialises in local food at affordable prices!
Tripadvisor provide a useful guide to the best restaurants in both Quillan and Limoux.
Markets
Espéraza is famous within the region for its day and night-time markets. At its popular Sunday market, you will not only be able to buy fresh regional specialities such as blanquette, goats cheese and wild boar; you will also get caught up in the carnivalesque atmosphere provided by the buskers and dancers while enjoying a coffee or a beer on one of the local café terraces.
In fact, Aude specialises in markets, and there are many markets in the region that offer a chance to sample the French way of life. Most markets offer fresh food, hand-made crafts and various other artefacts and treasures such as clothes, jewellery, etc. Markets normally start around 9am in the morning and finish shortly after midday. A useful list of local markets is provided here.
In fact, Aude specialises in markets, and there are many markets in the region that offer a chance to sample the French way of life. Most markets offer fresh food, hand-made crafts and various other artefacts and treasures such as clothes, jewellery, etc. Markets normally start around 9am in the morning and finish shortly after midday. A useful list of local markets is provided here.
Day trips
|
You're spoilt for choice when trying to decide where to head off for a day trip, so it really just depends what you're interests are and how far you want to drive. As well as pottering around neighbouring Espéraza, Qilllan and Limoux, we would recommend any of the following, grouped by distance from the cottage...
Under an hour's drive Alet-les-Bains – a lovely medieval village just 10 minutes north of the cottage towards Limoux St-Hilaire - and its famous abbey where the first ever fizzy wine was produced! Carcassonne – a trip to the UNESCO World Heritage site is a must! Mirepoix – a beautiful bastide town famous for its medieval houses and arcades Puivert – a charming village perched up in the hills with its own lake and Cathar castle Rennes-les-Bains – an idyllic thermal spa town just 15 minutes from the cottage Rennes-le-Château – a hilltop village now world famous for its mysterious priest! 1-2 hours' drive Béziers – bustling town dating back to 575 BC, famous for its five-day bullfighting Feria. Collioure – arty seaside village just near the Spanish border (pictured left) Foix – charming Roman town which is the préfecture of the Ariège department Lagrasse – one of France's prettiest villages, lying in the beautiful Corbières (pictured above) Narbonne – once a prosperous port and major Roman city, Narbonne is definitely worth a trip Toulouse – France's 4th largest city & capital of Occitanie, famous for its terracotta buildings |
Lakes
Aude is also famous for its beautiful lakes, and one of the most memorable is the Lac de la Vène at Bugarach (pictured here), which is about a 30-minute drive from the Railway Cottage. In fact, it's often said that the best swimming in the South of France is actually to be found in the region's rivers and lakes, rather than from its many beaches.
You can find a comprehensive guide to the region's best lake and river beaches here. The best lakes within easy driving distance of the Railway Cottage can be found in Quillan, Bugarach, Arques, Puivert, Cavayère and Taurize. There's also a public swimming pool in Alet-les-Bains, just 10 minutes' drive from the cottage towards Limoux.
You can find a comprehensive guide to the region's best lake and river beaches here. The best lakes within easy driving distance of the Railway Cottage can be found in Quillan, Bugarach, Arques, Puivert, Cavayère and Taurize. There's also a public swimming pool in Alet-les-Bains, just 10 minutes' drive from the cottage towards Limoux.
Fishing
There is some excellent fishing throughout the region. The river Aude is a category 1 trout-fishing river, teeming with Mediterranean brown trout, and there are many other fish in the Aude and in the other small rivers and streams nearby. There are some excellent lakes too not too far away. The most accessible is the new fishing lake in the Parc St-Bertrand just outside Quillan.
In order to fish in the region, you'll need a fishing permit - the Carte de Pêche Vacances. You can buy the permit online at en.cartedepeche.fr
In order to fish in the region, you'll need a fishing permit - the Carte de Pêche Vacances. You can buy the permit online at en.cartedepeche.fr
Beaches
The best beaches in the region are larger and sandier than the more pebbly beaches you'll find in Provence. Indeed some of them stretch out as far as the eye can see along a stunning coastline that is predominantly flat and straight. The nearest good beach to the cottage is Torreilles beach, which is long and deep with parking nearby. It has two beach bar/restaurants (from June 1) with lovely views up to the Pyrenees.
Espiguette beach (pictured here), which lies in the Camargue (a vast river delta covered with lakes and salt marshes and famous for its beautiful grey horses), is said to be one of the longest beaches in Europe. It is certainly one of the most remote, but accessible as a day trip from the cottage. You can find an excellent guide to the best beaches in the region here.
Espiguette beach (pictured here), which lies in the Camargue (a vast river delta covered with lakes and salt marshes and famous for its beautiful grey horses), is said to be one of the longest beaches in Europe. It is certainly one of the most remote, but accessible as a day trip from the cottage. You can find an excellent guide to the best beaches in the region here.
Walking
The Aude Valley and indeed the wider Languedoc region is famous for its extraordinary hiking, rambling and walking. Many visitors actually come here on special walking holidays. There are many stunning walks amongst the foothills of the Pyrénées, but if you're looking for a longer hike, you might prefer the famous Cathar Trail. Some great walking options are provided here.
One of our favourite walks is a circular 2-hour walk leaving on foot from the cottage, going up Chemin de Brimort and following the path left through the vineyards to Autignac (where you can pause for some wine-tasting if you get thirsty!). Then continue back towards Couiza via the old part of Montazels through high ground offering stunning views of the Pyrenees and up to Rennes-le-Château. All the pictures below are taken on this walk to give you an impression of the surrounding countryside...
One of our favourite walks is a circular 2-hour walk leaving on foot from the cottage, going up Chemin de Brimort and following the path left through the vineyards to Autignac (where you can pause for some wine-tasting if you get thirsty!). Then continue back towards Couiza via the old part of Montazels through high ground offering stunning views of the Pyrenees and up to Rennes-le-Château. All the pictures below are taken on this walk to give you an impression of the surrounding countryside...
