Narbonne is east of Carcassonne and reachable in about 45 minutes.
In Roman Gaul “Narbo” was a vital port on the Aude river, but among the many misfortunes that befell the city in the coming centuries was that Aude changing course and the harbour silting up.
The medieval centre is a treat though, with one-of-a-kind monuments like the unfinished cathedral.
It’s symbolic of the fate of the city throughout the middle ages, as work was halted due to an economic downturn in the 1300s, so there’s no nave.
Also marvellous is the Archbishop’s Palace, a gothic complex mostly from the 1400s and containing the city wall as well as museums for Narbonne’s history and archaeology.
