Page 483 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - France

People strolling and relaxing
in an attractive square in the
heart of pretty Narbonne

St-Just et St-Pasteur. It is still The town is bisected by the tree-lined
enormous, with 14th-century Canal de la Robine; to the north is the
sculptures, an 18th-century
carved organ and fine restored medieval quarter with good
stained-glass. Aubusson and shops and restaurants.
Gobelin tapestries adorn the
walls, and it is possible to visit
a treasury of manuscripts and museums are in the Palais Edgard Quinet. Nearby is the
jewelled reliquaries. Neuf, on the left through the Musée Lapidaire, housing
Between the cathedral and low medieval arches of the architectural fragments from
the Palais des Archevêques passage de l’Ancre. The Musée Gallo-Roman Narbonne. The
(Archbishops’ Palace) lies a d’Archéologie has remarkable collection will transfer to the
cloister with four galleries of Roman frescoes, mile stones new Narbo Via museum when
14th-century vaulting. and parts of the orig inal town it opens in 2020.
This huge palace and cath- walls plus an assem blage of Southwest (13 km/8 miles)
edral complex dominates the domestic objects, coins, tools the Abbaye de Fontfroide is in
centre of Narbonne. Between and glassware. Those with a serene position, surrounded
the Palais des Archevêques’s a head for heights can climb by cypress trees.
massive 14th-century towers to the top of the 42-m (138-ft)
is the town hall, with a 19th- Donjon Gilles Aycelin. Horreum
century Neo-Gothic façade In the archbishops’ former " ⌂ ue Rouget-de-l’Isle
by Viollet-le-Duc (p202), the apartments is the Musée § 04 68 32 45 30 # Oct–May:
architect who so determinedly d’Art et d’Histoire, which is 10am–5pm Wed–Mon; Jun–
restored medi eval France. as interesting for its luxurious Sep: 10am–6pm daily ¢ 1 Jan,
The palace is divided into the furnishings and richly deco- 1 May, 1 & 11 Nov, 25 Dec
Palais Vieux (Old Palace) and rated ceilings as for its fine
the Palais Neuf (New Palace). art collection. This includes Musée d’Archéologie/
Narbonne’s most important a number of paintings by the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire
likes of Canaletto, Brueghel, "= ⌂ Palais des
Boucher and Veronese as well Archevêques § 04 68
as a large selection of local 90 30 65 # Hours vary,
Did You Know? earthenware. There is also call ahead ¢ 1 Jan, 1 May,
an out standing collection 1 & 11 Nov, 25 Dec
Narbonne Plage, of Orientalist paintings.
found close to the city, South of the Canal de la Musée Lapidaire
has won the European Robine are a number of fine " ⌂ Église Notre-Dame
Blue Flag every year mansions, including the de Lamourguier § 04 68 90
since 1988. Renaissance Maison des Trois 30 65 # Hours vary, call
Nourrices on the corner of rue ahead ¢ 1 Jan, 1 May,
des Trois-Nourrices and rue 1 & 11 Nov, 25 Dec
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