Lagrasse and its abbey#Core of Cathar country
In the heart of the Corbières mountains, between Narbonne and Carcassonne, discover Lagrasse, with its medieval architecture, picturesque cobbled streets and Benedictine abbey, the largest in the Aude region.
A listed medieval town#Most beautiful villages in France
The ancient cultural capital of the Corbières, Lagrasse is a must-see when camping in Narbonne. Surrounded by vineyards and hills, on the banks of a peaceful river, this small Corbières village of 500 inhabitants belongs to the select club of “France’s most beautiful villages”. People come here for the beauty of the old stones, the freshness of the banks of the Orbieu and the setting of its listed Benedictine abbey.
Built as a bastide town in the 13th century, Lagrasse has preserved a rich historical heritage, starting with the remains of the ramparts that once protected the medieval town. A stroll through the cobbled streets will reveal other reminders of the past, such as the covered market hall, built in 1315 and still standing today in perfect condition.
In the Middle Ages, the Place des Halles was home to the largest market in the Lower Corbières. A stopover village for merchants on the road from Narbonne to Carcassonne, Lagrasse prospered thanks to its cloth-making activity. Renewing its vocation as a city of crafts and commerce, Lagrasse is still home to a number of arts and crafts workshops. Every Saturday morning, an attractive market brings the Halles district to life and attracts many visitors.
Famous for its medieval heritage, Lagrasse has inherited a number of fine stone mansions with narrow, arched windows, where winegrowers, drapers, tanners and wealthy merchants once traded. In some of them, medieval painted ceilings were discovered during restoration work. The finest example of this can be found at the Maison du Patrimoine, in the former presbytery at Lagrasse. Here you can admire a collection of 131 15th-century frescoes depicting the daily life of the monks of Lagrasse, in a colloquial and saucy style.
A stone’s throw from the presbytery, visit Saint-Michel church, built in the Southern Gothic style with a single nave and buttresses. Part of its treasury consists of the furnishings of the former Sainte-Marie abbey. Has the medieval city revealed all its secrets to you? Go down to the “Pont Vieux” bridge over the Orbieu. Since the 12th century, this medieval bridge has linked the village to Lagrasse Abbey, the Romanesque jewel of the Languedoc region.
Lagrasse Abbey#Joyax roman du pays cathare
The village of Lagrasse owes its renown to its imposing and majestic Benedictine abbey, founded in 779 by Charlemagne. Surrounded by vineyards, Lagrasse Abbey has passed through 1,200 years of history without losing any of its splendor. At its height in the 12th century, it was one of the richest and most influential towns in Languedoc. Today administered by the Canons of Lagrasse, the abbey continues to welcome visitors and faithful alike, while retaining its spiritual vocation.
A guided tour reveals the oldest parts of the abbey, dating back to the Middle Ages, including the remarkable monks’ dormitory with its ship’s hull frame, the courtyard of honor of the 13th-century abbot’s palace, and the south transept, witness to the abbey’s splendor in the Middle Ages. The tour continues around the medieval and Renaissance-inspired monastic gardens. All year round, the canons welcome retreatants who wish to enjoy the serenity of the site and its occupants for a few days.
