 |
|
 |
The Cathar Fenouilledes country train runs along a railway between Rivesaltes in the Pyrenees Orientales ans Axat in Aude, dignified heritage from the City of the South and a radial relationship between Carcassonne and Rivesaltes.
Along the way you can see numerous and remarkable works of art as it winds its way through valleys and tunnels: Flirting languidly with the rivers Agly and Aude, it reveals the rocky countryside, sprinkled with vineyards on the mountainside, dominated by many notables sites (The Catlar Castle at Queribus, The Tour of Far, the relay station of froça real...) before reaching the forest at the end of an audacious railway journey.
One must savour
this changing
countryside and
the villages
that punctuate
the trip.
Without
forgetting the
spectacular
arrival on the
viaduct opposite
the Cathar
Castle of
Puilaurens or
the horseshoe
descent to Axat,
with imposing
tunnels... |
|
|
|
Specialities
Explore this hundred-year-old railway line at the pace of our trains.
It links Axat (Aude) and Rivesaltes (Pyrénées-Orientales).
Travel in normal or open carriages, depending on the season, to encounter a mosaic of different landscapes.
There is a commentary on the route.
Opens: 60km of railway journey awaits you: Come and discover the countryside composed of vineyards, mountains and forests, in Aude and the Pyrenees-Orientales, between Axat and Rivesaltes/Espira de l'Agly.
We offer you one day rides, half day rides or rides of approximately 2 hours
Language(s):
 
|
 |
|
|
Opening Train touristique du pays Cathare et du Fenouillèdes:
-
15 april to 30 june - From 12:45 to 15:30
- Closed day(s): Monday - Tuesday
- Thursday - Saturday
- 01 july to 31 august - From 09:00 to 11:00 and from 12:00 to 18:00
- Closed day(s): Saturday
- 01 september to 31
october - From 12:45 to 15:30
- Closed day(s): Monday - Tuesday - Thursday -
Saturday
Equipments and Services: |
|
|
|
* Shop
* Group guided tours
* Pets allowed
* Coach parking |
* Bar
* Groups accepted
* Individual guided tours |
Axat
Château de Peyrepertuse
Les Gorges de Galamus
| |
The Corbières is one of the wildest areas of France with one of the lowest population densities. It is picturesque with wine growing areas alternating with garigue and mountainous countryside. It is located mainly in the Aude département and partly in the Pyrénées-Orientales département. The River Aude borders the Corbières to the west and north. To the south is the River Agly and to the east the the Mediterranean Sea. The name Corbières comes from "cor" a pre-Celtic word meaning "rock" and "berre" from the River Berre which runs through Durban. The eastern part of the Corbières with its Etangs, borders the the Mediterranean Sea and is called the Corbières maritimes. It has its own distinctive climate and characteristic vegetation known as thermomediterranean vegetation...
|
| |
|
| |
Muscat de Rivesaltes is an appellation for the historic vins doux naturels from a relatively large area of Roussillon, in southern France, covering a total of 99 communes, and the majority of the Pyrenees-Orientales administrative departement. It is the largest single sweet wine appellation in France. Muscat de Rivesaltes wines are made predominantly from Muscat Blanc a Petit Grains and Muscat d'Alexandrie in varying ratios, according to the style desired by the individual producer. Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains is used to bring aromas of exotic and citrus fruits while Muscat d'Alexandrie brings a deeper bouquet of white flowers and ripe stone fruit. Collectively the wines show aromas of peach, lemon, mango and occasionally fresher, herbaceous notes like mint. These aromas all change with ageing, (which take place mostly in the bottle to preserve the fresher aromas) and the wines take on aromas of honey and baked stone fruits...
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Train touristique du pays Cathare et du Fenouillèdes |
|
|
Leisure |
|
|
Train touristique du pays Cathare et du Fenouillèdes
11140 AXAT |
|
|
Phone1 +33 4.68.20.04.00
Phone2 +33 4.68.59.99.02
Fax +33 9.58.44.97.73
 -
info@tpcf.fr
 -
www.tpcf.fr |
|
|
 -
Adults: 3.90 € to 22.50 €
Children: 2.80 € to 15.50 € |
|
|
Service:
    |
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
Enlarge |
|
|
|
|
Rivesaltes is the birthplace of the vin doux naturel, a creation of Arnaud de Villeneuve, the eminent 13th Century physician. It was he who discovered the process of halting the alcoholic fermentation by the addition of spirit to the must, thus giving rise to a new breed of wine. The technique has since been employed in the production of Rivesaltes, and over the ensuing centuries there have been numerous literary references to these fortified wines, which seem to have been highly regarded. Today there are 94 communes eligible to produce these wines, mostly in the Pyrénées-Orientales, although with nine situated in the Aude. The wines start off as principally red or white - although blending of red and white varieties, and subsequent barrel ageing, may influence the wine's true colour and eventual style significantly. Grenache Noir is the lead variety for the red wines, but this may be blended with a number of white varieties, including Grenache Blanc and Gris, Maccabeu and Tourbat...
|
|
|
|
In 2001, Angelina and Jean-michel settled in Axat in the heart of the Haute Vallée de l'Aude. In this green oasis of tranquility they opened a traditional inn with rooms for people in search of authenticity. Angelina developing a generous and family atmosphere where fresh local produce combines the plate ... Simple cooking with local accents. Eleven years ago, after leaving the rooms they create a restaurant cellar and some takeaway. Careful selection of wines from the Languedoc and Roussillon are available as well as homemade products - biscuits, chocolates, jams and other tapenades - for their happiness and that of greedy. The wine during the transition to table provides thus at prices much more attractive a rich overview of the skills of the winemakers in our region...
|
|
|
|
At the campsite de l'Agly, Hélène and Jean Luc Schosseler welcome you all along the year in a quiet natural place on the banks of the river AGLY, in Saint Paul de Fenouillet in Roussillon; for patrimony visits: Cathare castles, prehistory museums: Tautavel and Belesta; or for nature activities: Via Ferrata, rambling, climbing, caving, rafting, canyoning, ... On the campsite site are 42 shady places with electric plugs. We let too mobil homes and caravans. Near the camping site, you may stay in our holyday apartments. At the office, you'll find all informations about the area, visits, activities and local specialities: wines and croquants (biscuits). The camping site is close to the village: swimmingpool, shops, super market, doctors...
|
|
|
|
The castle of Puilaurens (also written Puylaurens) is mentioned for the first time early in the XIIIth century. It was a shelter for cathar people from 1241 to 1246. The date of its surrender to the royal troops is not known precisely, probably around 1250. As several other castles around, it was integrated by the King Saint Louis in the defensive plan of the border with the Aragon Kingdom. After the treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659, that has fixed definitively the border, the castle was downgraded and have been occupied by only a little garrison. This castle is located at an altitude of almost 700 metres and overlooks the village of Lapradelle, in the midst of a pine forest. Access is via a pathway with chicanes preceded by a barbican...
|
|
Hôtel Restaurant
La Tour de l'Horloge |
 |
|
|
Hotel Restaurant La Tour de l’Horloge Hotel is set in an old townhouse located in the historic centre of Rivesaltes. It was renovated recently, without losing any of its original character. Offering a peaceful location in a pedestrian area, La Tour de l’Horloge Hotel boasts guestrooms of various size, each individually decorated and with its own personality. They are perfect for a romantic week-end or a family break. Enjoy an authentic and friendly moment in the restaurant, where you can discover all about the Catalan culinary art....
|
|
|
|
The Cathar castle Queribus in the south of France (located in the heart of the Corbieres) still stands today as an impressive memorial to the Albigensian crusade of the thirteenth-century. It was only in 1255 that this mountain top fortress fell to French Catholic knights. Queribus held out an additional eleven years beyond the more widely known Cathar castle at Montsegur, which gave Queribus the distinction of being the last of the Cathar castles. As a result, in many ways the capture of Queribus represents the end of the organized Cathar movement and is sometimes referred to as "the last bastion." Geographically, the castle is high and isolated.The exhausting hike up the mountain, a few hundred steep meters, that is necessary to reach the castle is rewarded by the stunniing military architecture of Queribus. The gothic style hall and its polygonal keep are especially worth seeing...
|
|
|
