We made a day trip to Narbonne. (To be honest: we made 2 day trips to Narbonne during the last weeks … there’s quite a lot to see & to visit or just to relax at the Canale de la Robine.)
The main landmarks are the unfinished cathedral Saint-Just et Saint-Pasteur and the adjoining Palace of the Archbishop. From the channel you’ll only get a view of the towers.
Another very interesting landmark is the Marché, the food hall resp. market hall, a rather vast building, home to stalls filled w/ fresh vegetables & fruit, bread & cakes, wine & olives, meat, fish, seafood … whatever to imagine. Walking down the aisles is a breathtaking adventure! (Be sure: I would have filled lots of bags w/ these delicacies, but … unfortunately reminding me of our tiny kitchen and … I backed off.)
Our sightseeing in Narbonne started – of course – w/ the cathedral & the archbishop’s palace.
The cathedral was built in the 12th & 13th century – they started building the monument. However, during the next decades there were some challenges: financial problems, the Hundred Years’ War, the plague … & quarrels in the administration of the city among each other & with the clergy. So this gorgeous cathedral was never finished.
The palace of the archbishop, however, was …
Narbonne dates back to the Roman Empire & was founded as Colonia Narbo Martius. The Roman road Via Domitia leads crosses Narbonne … & in front of the town hall there is a part of this ancient road to be seen.
We also went down into the Horreum, a rather vast Roman underground magazine … So you guess how important Narbonne was as a centre of trade.
Today Narbonne is a colorful city w/ beautiful old houses, cafés, bistros … whatever … where you may walk leisurely for some time.
Bye, bye Narbonne!
(We’ll be back – Narbonne Plage at the Mediterranean coast is waiting for us!)
