Heritage, Nature and Serenity at Fontfroide Abbey

Narbonne 1 day

Localisation-Narbonne
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Tried and tested for you by…
 Laetitia, Narbonne Tourist office
Explore the mountains and abbey of Fontfroide for a timeless experience. Plunge into 1,000 years of history. Recharge your batteries in the heart of an unspoilt wilderness. Take time out on a spring day. Succumb to the charm of magnificent Fontfroide!
  • Nature
  • Wines & Gastronomy
4,33/5

HIGHLIGHTS

  1. The Cistercian Corbières gem
  2. My friend the rose
  3. Mediterranean tastes and treats
  4. Garrigue fragrances
  5. White, Red, Rosé & togetherness

01 Highlight

The Cistercian Corbières gem

On a romantic weekend, sun shining in a bright blue sky, head for Fontfroide Abbey. Surrounded by grape vines, this sumptuous building nestles against a lush green backdrop. Inside, time seems to stand still…

Visite du cloître et du clocher de l'Abbaye de Fontfroide ©Rogier Fackeldey-Abbaye de Fontfroide

Olivia, our passionate guide with contagious enthusiasm, plunges us into an atmosphere of authenticity and spiritual serenity. This Cistercian masterpiece of over 1,000 years of age has retained every bit of its soul! It is bewitching!
We leave the guide and continue at our own pace to explore the gardens.

Did you know?
The abbey stands near a torrent, a freshwater source, or “fons frigida”, that explains the name of the monument.
Visiter l'abbaye de Fontfroide à Narbonne ©Edgar De Puy-ADT de l'Aude

Beauty that leaves you awestruck...

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Remember to download our apps...

To enhance your visitor experience, you can follow in the footsteps of the Cathars with our mobile apps: "Guide to Cathar Country", for an in-depth, interactive tour of the site, or "Castrum", to make culture fun. An invitation to further explore the main sights of Cathar Country.

Visite du cloître de l'abbaye de Fontfroide ©Bernard Delmas-Mairie Narbonne

02 HIGHLIGHT

My friend the rose

Visiter l'abbaye de Fontfroide et ses jardins ©Edgar De Puy-ADT de l'Aude
Visite de la roseraie de l'Abbaye de Fontfroide ©Bernard Delmas-Mairie de Narbonne
In the terraced gardens, here and there a statue catches our eye, inviting us to quiet contemplation. This is a beautiful walk with inspiring views over the Abbey and the mountains. Fragrant roses of many colours offer a pleasant contrast with the surrounding greenery. This bucolic picture demands a photo!

The rose garden features 2,500 rose bushes of 16 different colours. Created in the early 20th century, it was originally a kitchen garden and also the monks’ cemetery! This walk is idyllic from May to September when the roses are in bloom.

03 hIGHLIGHT

Mediterranean tastes and treats

Manger au restaurant de l'abbaye de fontfroide ©Sdf-Abbaye de Fontfroide

Fontfroide's restaurant

The sun is at its zenith and it’s time to relax on the shady restaurant terrace of Fontfroide’s restaurant. A gourmet interlude full of the flavours and colours of the Mediterranean, all in an exceptional setting. The local produce and Fontfroide wines will delight your tastebuds!

Practical info

The restaurant opens every lunchtime from February to mid-December, as well as evenings in July and August.

Find out more
Manger au restaurant de l'abbaye de fontfroide ©Sdf-Abbaye de Fontfroide

04 HIGHLIGHT

Garrigue fragrances

With full stomachs and armed with backpacks, we venture onto the path behind the Abbey which leads to the Fontfroide Cross! A 30 minute adventure across the fragrant garrigue. We can hear chirping birds and foraging bees. This is pure nature, pure happiness!

Our tip

There’s no water or shade along the way, so in hot weather, leave early in the morning and take a sun hat and plenty of water.

Unusual info
Keep your eyes open! These mountains are home to some very rare species, such as the endangered “Algerian Psammodromus”, a small reptile that can only be found in a few areas of the South of France.
Visite de l'Abbaye de Fontfroide à Narbonne ©Edgard Depuy-ADT de l'Aude
Narbonne, abbaye de fontfroide et massif ©Rogier Fackeldey-Abbaye de Fontfroide
It worth it!
​ The hike takes 1 hour there and back. It climbs a bit, but you’ll be rewarded with some exceptional views!

The roof of the Corbières region

Wow! When we arrive at the Cross, right at the summit, the view takes our breath away! The majestic Abbey stands below us and, opposite, upwind, unfold the lush green valleys of the Corbières region! Contemplating the horizon, we enjoy a sense of freedom and absolute tranquillity.

App

Download the free “Alternative Fontfroide” app to learn about the massif through 23 stories and interactive features (winegrowing, wildlife, vegetation, etc.)
Find out more
Application Fontfroide insolite

05 HIGHLIGHT

White, Red,
Rosé & togetherness

Wine tasting

Our perfect day ends in a wine-tasting session in the company of a professional sommelier called Philippe. The bouquet on the nose, the aromas on the palate, the colour in the glass…

Dégustation de vin au caveau de Fontfroide ©Rogier Fackeldey-Abbaye de Fontfroide
Vendanges dans les vignes, Aude ©Céline Deschamps-ADT de l'Aude

A moment of togetherness

All our senses are awakened! A friendly moment discovering the wines of this outstanding terroir!

With a head full of memories and a few good vintages we leave Fontfroide with the magical feeling that we’re bound to be back. For the Orchid Festival, maybe?

Try the experience yourself...

Hotels, restaurants, activities,… see our favourite addresses to ensure you get the most out of your
experience in Narbonne.

RESTAURANT DE FONTFROIDE

Restaurant NARBONNE

Abbaye de Fontfroide

LE CAVEAU DE FONTFROIDE - ABBAYE DE FONTFROIDE

Drinks, wines and spirits NARBONNE

The whole information from Narbonne

©yannmonel

ABBAYE DE FONTFROIDE

Religious site NARBONNE

From 14€

Getting here

By car

Fontfroide Abbey is out in the countryside and not served by the public transport networks. The best way to reach it is with your own private vehicle. A 20 minute drive from Narbonne on the D613 road. A 50 minute drive from Carcassonne via the A61 motorway, exit 25 towards Lézignan-Corbières.

Electric charging stations

(See the electric recharging points in the municipality)

Get directions :

In Narbonne

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