Tucked away in a triangle between Narbonne, Perpignan and Carcassonne, the Corbières region is one of the wildest, most unspoilt parts of the Languedoc. From Narbonne, the Mediterranean is only 10 minutes’ drive away, but banish clichéd images of the south of France: the landscape here is dominated by dramatic wetlands as a series of lakes filled with flamingos and herons run parallel to sandy beaches and resorts such as Bages and Peyriac – long favoured by painters and poets.
Start driving inland and the landscape quickly changes to the bare, arid foothills of the Pyrenées, called Les Causses. This is the historic pays Cathare, where high mountain ridges are topped off by spectacular castles, dating back to religious disputes in the Middle Ages.
But the big reason to visit the Corbières today is for the wine and food. Village bistros specialise in hearty cuisine, from the traditional cassoulet to seafood such as squid and cod. Winemakers offer cosy chambres d’hôtes or reasonably priced gîtes. And there has been a winemaking revolution here, with a dynamic new generation of young vignerons, who are now working smaller vineyards – often organic – and creating high-quality wines that, for the moment, offer outstandingly good value.
The Guardian – Languedoc Wine Route
Head for the Med near the city of Narbonne, says Liz Boulter, and you’ll see why artists are drawn by its fishing villages, lagoons and sandy beaches – and why the French have kept it to themselves….
The Guardian – On France’s secret riviera…
and the best kept secret is Panier! We offer a first class foodbox hand delivery service in the Languedoc region.
With a local presence for 10 years now, we are able to source quality goods from local artisan grocers and vignerons and deliver them to your doorstep. Our suppliers have been hand-picked by our expert staff, chosen because they share the Panier ethos. They are local farmers working in villages that have barely changed since their medieval histories.
Let us bring the secrets of the Languedoc to your door…
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