Narbonne Things to Do

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Trade has been one of the most important sectors in Narbonne since the city was founded and and due to the commercial success of the Canal du Midi the Narbonne traders demanded improved access to it. So in 1686 the Canal de la Robine was constructed by Vauban as a lockless open cut following an abandoned course of the Aude. In recent years, retailers have been an engine of growth for the city, especially the local offer. Don't, however, expect any large shops or chain-stores. Narbonne is not quite like that: it has more character. Part of this character is Les Halles de Narbonne (Marché) near Canal de la Robine, where you can buy any of the local specialties.

After a visit to Les Halles we also had a walk on both side of the Canal de la Robine. Its base nautique is the starting point for many midi mariners embarking on a week or so of gentle adventure, exploring one of France's loveliest canals from water level. So our stretch of the legs had just the right balance of scenery, gastronomy and history.

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Whenever you follow the contours of the Canal de la Robine starting at Les Halles towards the old city center you will automatically find a very old bridge which also used to be part of the Via Domitia. This so called Pont des Marchands (Merchant Bridge) is a historic bridge and serves as a foundation for a row of houses and shops underneath which the Canal de la Robine runs through the old town. The Romans started to built this bridge in the 1ste century BCI and its segmental arch has a span of circa 15 m and. The structur of the original Roman bridge featured as many as six arches.

Roman bridges, built by ancient Romans, were the first large and lasting bridges built. Their bridges were built with stone and had the arch as its basic structure of which the Pont des Marchants is a very good example. Most utilized concrete as well, which the Romans were the first to use for bridges. The Pont des Merchands crosses the canal in the center of Narbonne, but it used to cross the river Aude before that river changed its bed. It is a so-called living bridge, with houses and shops on top of it. Therefore, if you walk over the bridge you probably don´t even notice you are on a bridge.

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On our first walk in Narbonne we noticed the beautiful Canal de la Robine immediately, because we parked our car nearby. Just a walk alongside it did't made us realize that this canal was handmade and had a specific reason why it was made. We found that out later. The reason is as followed: Narbonne fell into a slow decline in the 14th century, due to a change in the course of the Aude River. Eager to maintain a link to important trade, the people of Narbonne began a very costly work trying to keep the Aude River's linked to the sea so that it would remain navigable to vessels.

This major undertaking resulted in the construction of the Canal de la Robine, which was finally linked with the Canal du Midi via the Canal de Jonction in 1776. In the 19th century, the canal system in the south of France came into competition with an expanding rail network, but kept some importance due to the flourishing wine trade. Therefore Narbonne managed to hold on to its vital but limited importance as a trading route.

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Whenever you follow the contours of the Via Domitia at the main square toward the Canal de la Robine you will automatically find a very old bridge which also used to be part of the Via Domitia. This so called Pont des Marchands (Merchant Bridge) is a historic bridge and serves as a foundation for a row of houses and shops underneath which the Canal de la Robine runs through the old town. The Romans started to built this bridge in the 1ste century BCI and its segmental arch has a span of circa 15 m and. The structur of the original Roman bridge featured as many as six arches.

Roman bridges, built by ancient Romans, were the first large and lasting bridges built. Their bridges were built with stone and had the arch as its basic structure of which the Pont des Marchants is a very good example. Most utilized concrete as well, which the Romans were the first to use for bridges. The Pont des Merchands crosses the canal in the center of Narbonne, but it used to cross the river Aude before that river changed its bed. It is a so-called living bridge, with houses and shops on top of it. Therefore, if you walk over the bridge you probably don´t even notice you are on a bridge.

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Narbonne was founded in 118 BC, as a Roman port, on the Mediterranean coast. This sea-port was the capital of Gallia. Narbo Martius as it was called, was one of the most important ports in the Roman Empire. It became the capital of a province stretching from Toulouse to Geneva. Before we decided where we wanted to go during the summer of 2011 of course we did some research on Google about Narbonne. One of the things that intregued me immediately was the fact that there was a section of Via Domitia exposed right at the city centre of this old city. This route that the Romans regularised and paved was ancient when they set out to survey it, so old that it traces the mythic route travelled by Heracles. Hannibal traversed it on his way from Hispania to Italy.

So right here at the city centre we saw the Via Domitia, the first Roman road built in Gaul, and Narbonne the first Roman colony there. Named after its constructor Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus - a Roman Consul, the Via Domitia linked Hispania to Italy. It is here in Narbonne that the Via Domitia met the Via Aquitania. Talking about history!

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Why was I so much intregued by visiting the Via Domitia? That answer is quite easy to be honest ... it beares so much history, please read what I learned:

* The Via Domitia was constructed in 118 BC by the proconsul, Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, whose name it bore;
* Built around the same time the first Roman colony in Gaul, Colonia Narbo Martius (Narbonne) was founded;
* The Via Domitia connected Italy to Hispania;
* It crosses the Alps by the easiest passage, the Col de Montgenèvre (1850 m);
* At Narbonne, it met the Via Aquitania (which led toward the Atlantic Ocean through Toulouse and Bordeaux);
* Narbonne was a crucial strategic crossroads of the Via Domitia and the Via Aquitania, and it was an accessible, but well-defendable, port at that time;
* In between the cities that it linked, the Via Domitia was provided with a series of mansiones at distances of a day's journey for a loaded cart, at which shelter, provender and fresh horses could be obtained for travellers on official business.

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You'll find some plaquates with some interesting historical facts whenever you're just walking in and around the Archbishop's Palace. We read that the Archbishop's Palace was first designed in the 12th century and was intended to create a safe place of comfort for the residents of Narbonne, even whilst under attack. The military prowess of the building can still be seen from the large turrets that emanate from the top. in recent times the palace has become home to three of the citie favorite museums.

We took a strawl around it and behind the palace we saw another plaquate. It said that the palace is built on the first wall of narbonne and this part can be seen at the palace garden where we were standing. Right here the first stone was laid when they started to built a 7th century old palace right at this spot. But anyway, we contineud our walk around the palace and when we were back at the front side we said to each other: together with the Cathedral of Saint-Just and Saint-Pasteur the Archbishop's Palace constitutes the key monument of the town of Narbonne.

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The Archbishop's Palace was conceived as part fortress, part pleasure residence. It has three military-style towers from the 13th and 14th centuries. The Old Palace on the right dates from the 12th century, and the so-called "New Palace" on the left dates from the 14th. It's said that the old, arthritic, and sometimes very overweight archbishops used to be hauled up the interior's monumental Louis XIII -- style stairs on mules.

We first decided to admire the facade for some time during a drink we had at a café at the main square. After that break it was time to explore this beautiful ancient building. We entered the main entrance, which is also the entrance of a luxurious hotel. Once we were at the inner square of the Palace we read a sign that stated that this palace is notable for its many towers, such as the Gilles Aycelin Keep (late 13th - early 14th century), which we could see from the very spot we were standing. Other important towers are the Saint Martial and Madeleine twoers (13th century) both made of Romanesque origin. After that we walked towards the new part of the palace and noticed some Gothic style remodelled towers of the 17th and 18th century.