Lagrasse
A village in the Corbières valley listed among 'The Most Beautiful Villages of France', where the 8th-century Abbey of Sainte-Marie stands alongside a medieval bridge.
Lagrasse lies on the banks of the Orbieu River. Its medieval stone houses, a 14th-century covered market arcade, and an old bridge spanning the river form a beautiful village scene, and it has been named one of 'The Most Beautiful Villages of France'. On the far side of the river, the Abbey of Sainte-Marie was founded in the Carolingian era in the 8th century. It is divided into a section used by the religious community and a section open to visitors, managed by the département government (admission about €6), where you can see the cloister, dormitories, and bell tower. It is about 35 km from Carcassonne, roughly a 40-minute drive.
Opening hours
Village open all day; monastery approx. 10:00–18:00
Nearby sights
- Château de Villerouge-Termenès
- Château de Termes
- Lac de la Cavayère
- Château de Peyrepertuse
- Château de Quéribus
- Porte Narbonnaise
- Cité de Carcassonne
- Château Comtal