In the heart of the Narbonnaise regional nature park , between vineyards and garrigues, Narbonne is a historic town founded over 2,000 years ago. A cultural destination not to be missed on your next camping vacation in Aude, Occitanie. Follow the guide!
Narbonne and its ancient heritage
Make the most of your vacation camping holiday near Narbonne to visit the city nicknamed “Rome’s eldest daughter outside Italy”! Twice a thousand years old, the largest city in the Aude offers visitors a journey through time and history. Founded by the Romans in 118 BC, Narbonne is the oldest Roman colony in Gaul, known at the time as Narbo Martius.
In the center of Place de l’Hôtel de Ville, the true heart of Narbonne, many remains of the ancient Via Domitia are still visible today. The Via Domitia was the first major Roman road in Gaul, linking Italy to Spain in 120 BC. Not far from here, the archaeological site “Le Clos de la Lombarde” (1st century BC – 5th century AD) is another precious testimony to the ancient history of Gaul. Narbonne. Most of the finds, particularly the frescoes, are on display at Narbonne‘s archaeological museum.
Underground structures, known as “horrea”, also remain from the Roman period. Built in the 1st century BC, these food storage corridors have survived intact. The Horreum’s galleries have been open to visitors since 1976, and now house a museum. It’s a cool place to be on a hot summer’s day!
Stroll around the Forum square and admire the bronze replica of the Capitoline She-wolf, donated by Rome in 1982 for the city’s 2100th anniversary. Finally, if you love old stones that leave no stone unturned, visit Narbonne ‘s lapidary museum, second only to Rome. The site boasts over 1,500 Gallo-Roman remains, sculptures, sarcophagi and Romanesque capitals of prime importance.
Medieval treasures #of Narbonne
Narbonne is also known for its rich medieval heritage. Starting with the Archbishop’s Palace, a veritable city within the city, both residence and fortress. With the Gothic-style Palais Neuf on one side and the Romanesque Palais Vieux on the other, the Archbishop’s Palace now houses the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire and the Musée Archéologique de Narbonne (ancient, medieval and modern collections). The Gilles Aycelin keep houses the town hall. The Saint-Just-et-Saint-Pasteur cathedral is another architectural treasure that commands the admiration of visitors. Although the nave remains unfinished, the building nevertheless boasts the highest Gothic choir in the south of France, with a vaulted ceiling height of 41 metres!
Not far from here, Narbonne’ s Basilique Saint-Paul is one of the oldest Gothic churches in southern France. People flock here to greet the “stoup frog” who, according to legend, saved Saint Paul from shipwreck and enabled him to reach Narbonne in the year 60. Another curiosity is the Pont des Marchands, one of the very few inhabited bridges in France. Built in Roman times and modified and enlarged in the Middle Ages, this bridge, which once followed the route of the Via Domitia, spans the famous Canal de la Robine, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Lovers of Renaissance architecture won’t want to miss a visit to the Hôtel de l’Archidiacre and the Maison des Trois-Nourrices (Three Nourishers’ House), which owes its name to the planturous caryatids adorning its mullioned windows.
If you’re not in a hurry, you can also visit the large carved altarpiece in the Notre Dame de Bethléem chapel, the Place des 4 Fontaines, where you’ll find the Maison des Inquants (the former cloth market), and the Pénitents Bleus chapel with its 18th-century baroque decor. More recent, but no less interesting, are the Palais du Travail (functionalist and rationalist architecture from the 1930s) and the Maison de Charles Trenet (a native of Narbonne).
Your campsite near Narbonne
Looking for a campsite in Narbonne? The 3-star La Pinède campsite, in the heart of Cathar country, welcomes you to Lézignan-Corbières, just 30 km from Narbonne! You can set up your tent, caravan or camper van in total peace and quiet on one of our 68 camping pitches. And for campers who want to combine nature and comfort, we offer 18 mobile homes and 3 lodge tents to rent, in an exceptionally quiet, green setting.