Aude

Holiday Homes France -
French holiday rental houses & gites in Aude - Rent-in-France

 Sitiuated in South Central France the Aude department is named after the river Aude. It was formed from the eastern part of the old province of Languedoc back in 1790. The local council calls Aude “Cathar Country”. The picturesque capital of Aude, Carcassonne makes the perfect base to discover the area during your Aude holiday rental due to the splendid restoration of its buildings and medieval fortifications. Other than its beautiful beaches and resorts along the mediterranean coast the department of Aude is relatively undiscovered. The town of Narbonne is a tourist hot spot due to its Roman ruins. Other vilages and towns that are worth visiting whilst renting a Aude self catering holiday property include Leucate and Lagrasse.

Places to visit when on holiday in Aude, France

Couiza - This gorgeous little town is in the heart of Aude is located between the towns of Quillan and Limoux. Home to its own train station along with a fantastic bus and taxi service direct from Carcassonne airport make Couiza very easy to reach. The rivers Salz and the Aude run through the heart of Couiza where there are swimming spots and a variety of watersports available. The market on a Tuesday is a popular attraction in Couiza where you can purchase a variety of locally produced products.

Narbonne - Situated of the mediterranean coast Narbonne is less than 1 hours drive from the Spanish border. The centre of Narbonne is full of narrows streets and quaint boulevard which all open out on to some fantastic squares consisting of ancient buildings, traditional cafes, markets and restaurants. The old town is what you could call French with a Spanish twist with its pedestrianised streets and its gushing water features. One of the hot spots is the lovely Canal de Robine which runs through the centre of the city.

Esperaza - located between the towns of Campagne / Quillan and Couiza Esperaza is home to one of the busiest Sunday markets in the area. There are a number of shops and restaurants, along with a hat museum, a honey museum, a dinosaur museum and various other attractions to enjoy during your French holiday experience in Esperaza, Aude, France. It also boasts a thriving artist community.

Limoux -  With its markets on Fridays throughout the year and its Tuesday evening market during the summer months, the market town of Limoux is situated in Languedoc-Roussillon  between the towns Quillan and Carcassonne. The Fècos is the winter festival that is held between January and Easter each year. The heart of Limoux is all about food and drink with its large number of fine restaurants and shops. There is a fantastic play area for children which is surrounded by nature and is nearby to the river Aude.

Carcassonne -  Famous for its walled city inside of a city. Take a self catering holiday rental in Carcassonne, Aude and explore the enormous castle, its walls with their beautiful stone arches, the winding stairways and the large number of mysterious passageways waiting to be explored. The main building of the castle contains restaurants, bars and shops to purchase those souveniers. The old city is open between 9:30am and 5pm daily and open later during the summer months. Home to the famous Bird city a visit here during your stay will allow you to see a wide range of birds with live shows performed daily.

Rennes - les Bains This town is well known for its fantastic naturally heated thermal spa which is around a 10 minute drive from Couiza and is open in the afternoons on a daily basis from April. Visit Pizzeria de la Place, located in the centre of Rennes les Bains by the square this is one of the towns favourite restaurants where you can enjoy some delicious pizzas.

Quillan -  A small thriving town that is situated along the river Aude. If you are looking for a place where you can enjoy sightseeing, walking, horse-riding, bird-watching, white water rafting, kayaking and most other outdoor activities then Quillan, Aude is the place for you when looking for a self catering holiday home in Aude, France. There is a market twice a week with a number of local shops and supermarkets. With its large number of local cafes and restaurants you are guaranteed to experience the French cafe culture.

Its Mediterranean climate means your holiday rental houses & gites in Aude will offer you Moderate spring and Autumn, hot dry summers and rainy winters. January and February receive the occasional frost but snow is very rare. The summer months can see the average temperature reach to an impressive 30° C. The start of autumn is warm and sunny with the festive period getting cooler but still very pleasant.

RyanAir provides direct flights to Aude but alternatively you could fly to Paris or even Spain and travel by land, there is an Aude car rental service easily available. UK holidaymakers could also travel through the Channel Tunnel or by ferry. Once in Aude a car rental is recommended and there are many car hire companies available in the area. We would recommend the best way to see what Aude has to offer would be by foot, this is due to the large number of narrow streets throughout the department. Some areas are suitable for cycling with bike rental shops usually open between June and September. Please be aware that only the serious cyclist will be able to appreciate the whole of Aude by bike due to some of the challenging hills in the area.