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No other region of France has so many sites registered by UNESCO (8) and villages labeled ‘most beautiful villages of France”. Staying in Montpellier for a few nights, each day will be dedicated to a different excursion in various directions. It will allow you to discover the most remarkable places that Occitanie can offer.
Arrival and check-in at your hotel. You may arrive from the US by plane at the international airport of Nice or Marseille, or you may come with the fast TGV leaving from Paris Gare de Lyon. The train ride is around 3 ½ hour.
Morning walking tour of Montpellier including a visit to the famous Fabre Museum with more of 900 works of Fine-Art (paintings, sculptures, lavish decorative art…).
Lunch in Montpellier.
Afternoon excursion (44 miles drive). Transfer to La Grande Motte (16 miles) to discover its unique architecture listed “Great Site of Occitanie” as a 20th Century Heritage. Then visit Aigues-Mortes (10km), a lovely fortified village and discover a traditional “Camargue Manade “(white horses and black cattle) or have a cruise on a canal in the Camargue marsh or discover the salt marshes and the pink flamingos with a touristic train tour. Enjoy for dinner a typical horse and flamenco show in the “Cabaret Equestre”.
Return to Montpellier (22 miles).
Overnight in Montpellier.
Transfer to Nimes, the “French Roma” which combines some of the most fabulous vestiges of Roman Art in France and a brand new Museum : the “Musée de la Romanité” (opening in June 2018 with more than 25000 roman works and an amazing panoramic restaurant.
Lunch in Nimes
Transfer to Uzes, a lovely Art & History labeled city, with its typical “Provence” market. Transfer To the Pont du Gard Roman aqueduct (UNESCO Site)Visit of the Pont du Gard.
Return to your hotel in Montpellier.
Full day excursion: St-Guilhem-le-Désert – Cap d’Agde – Bassin de Thau – Sète. 115 miles drive
Depart after breakfast to go to Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert (28 miles). Visit of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert (listed as a stage on the Pilgrimage way to Santiago de Compostela). In the heart of the Hérault Gorges, the medieval village of Saint-Guilhem-le- Désert, built around the Abbey of Gellone, is one of the most beautiful villages in France and a jewel of romanesque Art. Continue to reach the banks of Thau lagoon at Marseillan (39 miles).
Lunch at Tarbouriech
Domaine Tarbouriech is an amazing oysters farm and tourism resort offering treatments based on products from the best shellfishes. Oyster tasting, catering, care, relaxation on the program. Visit of Maison Noilly-Prat (favorite James Bond wermouth) : discover the unique production site of Noilly Prat vermouth created in 1813. Explore the cellars, the new brand museum and have a cocktail masterclass. In the afternoon you could do either one of the 2 following taking you time, or both of them by moving faster.
Option 1: Cap d’Agde
Transfer to The Cap d’Agde (8 miles) Cruise along the volcanic coast of the Cap d’Agde and approach the Island of Fort-Brescou castle.
Option 2 Sete (16 miles) :
Have a walk along the harbor and enjoy a magic view from the Mont Saint-Clair on the sandy beaches between the Pyrenees and the Rhone delta (Camargue). Return to Montpellier (25 miles) for dinner and night.
Full day excursion to Narbonne – Fontfroide (102 miles)
Departure for Narbonne (50 miles) after breakfast. Visit of Narbonne (labeled City of Art and History). Tour in the first roman city in France (Gaule) founded in 188 BC and the ancient cradle of french wine-making. Don’t miss the Saint Just-and-Saint-Pasteur Gothic cathedral, the Archbishops’ palace (2nd largest Catholic Palace in France after Popes’ Palace of Avignon), the narrow streets of the historical centre, the 1900-style covered market, the underground galleries from the Roman time, and the Canal de la Robine (UNESCO site).
Lunch at The Grands Buffets restaurant. This Narbonne all-you-can-eat restaurant proposes a journey through 350 different products from among the great classics of French traditional cuisine, with its old-fashioned Rotisserie, its Tripe, Kidneys and Stews. For your drinks : Every bottle is served at producer prices, choose from a selection of over 70 local, all available by the glass.
Transfer to Fontfroide Abbey (8 miles)
On the foothills of the Corbières, at the end of a wild valley lined with pine trees and vines, the Cistercian Abbey of Fontfroide tis tucked away. Today the historic 12th c. site is in a state of exceptional conservation.
Make your way back to Montpellier (50 miles) – Dinner and night in Montpellier.
Full day excursion to Carcassonne – 175 miles
Depart for Carcassonne (85 miles) after breakfast. Visit to the Cité de Carcassonne, the greatest medieval fortress in all Europe (UNESCO site). The fortress of Carcassonne looks like a medieval film set. The spectacular walled town is one of France’s most famous national monuments built between the 12th and 14th c.
Lunch at Carcassonne.
In the afternoon, enjoy a Cruise on the Canal du Midi (UNESCO site). Go and visit the Chateau de Pennautier : the “Little Versailles of Languedoc” (3 miles) Visit this beautiful castle, taste the local wine and enjoy the park and gardens “à la française”.
Return to Montpellier (88 miles)
Dinner and night in Montpellier
Full day excursion: Millau – Gorges du Tarn or Roquefort 170 miles round trip
Departure after breakfast to Millau (70 miles). Visit of a leather glove manufacture – Causse Gantier , the oldest manufacturer still in activity in France. In the heart of the Causse, Millau is famous for manufacturing high quality gloves. You will have access to the factory shop that offers great classics and new collections which are also presented in the most beautiful boutiques in Paris, Tokyo, Moscow and New York. These gloves have featured in many designer haute-couture collections (Chanel) and are the gloves of the stars, including Jackie Kennedy yesterday, Madonna or Nicole Kidman today.
Lunch at Millau Viaduc Area (gastronomic restaurant). Both a “viewing area” and “tourist information centre”, it also offers a “gastronomical area”. Take a few minutes to climb to the belvedere viewing point from where you can admire the sublime and panoramic view of the viaduct. In the afternoon you may be a fine gourmet and want to know where and how is made the Roquefort cheese, so you will proceed to the little town of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon.
Option 1 :
Transfer to – and visit of Roquefort Cave Société. (25 km x2). Enter into the legend of Roquefort cheese : the king of the cheeses ! For an hour, learn about the mystery of these natural cellars, discover the animated model, its sound and light show, it’s museum- its gallery of illustrated people, without forgetting the free tasting. Should you prefer scenic landscapes, you can choose option 2 to discover the French “Grand Canyon”. From Millau (25 km x 2)
Option 2 : the Gorges du Tarn
Enjoy a little cruise with “Les Bateliers des Gorges du Tarn”. The spectacular canyon is listed by UNESCO as a beautiful natural landscape. Lunch in the Gorges du Tarn. Way back to Montpellier by La Couvertoirade (16 miles), one of the most beautiful villages of France lost on a desert plateau of Causses du Larzac listed UNESCO as a beautiful natural landscape.
Return to Montpellier (50 miles)
Dinner and night in/around Montpellier
End of the program
At the end of this magic week you may want to return to the US from Marseilles International airport. Norwegian Airlines has flights out of Montpellier via Paris. You may also return to Paris by TGV or enjoy another part of France such as the Region Provence, Alps, Côte d’Azur.
Celestial Voyagers can always customize a special program for you.
This sample tour is just an example of a specific itinerary related to the country we just described to give you an idea of what is available in that country when you travel.
All our trips are tailor-made and we are at your disposal to plan your trip in consideration of how many people will be traveling, how many days you wish to travel, the season, the standard and the location of the hotels, the amount of meals you wish to include, the guided tours or experiences which will show you not only the “must see” landmarks but also the special interest sites and events you will love that are off the beaten track.
Francoise is the president and founder of Celestial Voyagers. She graduated with a tourism degree at Nice University in France and has worked as a tour director and operations manager in France, Australia and Mexico. Settling in New York City, she founded Celestial Voyagers with the aim of creating uniquely curated group travel for adults and Academia.