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Updated 23 March 2008 - New Photos and Summer 2008 page.
Trebes is a beautiful medieval village in the Aude department (number 11) in the Languedoc Roussillon area of South-West France.
Our home is in the old part of the village and is situated is at the confluence of the Canal du Midi, the river Aude and the river Orbiel. The street consists of rows of cottages which were originally built at the start of the nineteenth century to house the local workers who were mainly employed in the vineyards.
The town of Trebes was established in the late twelfth century and now has an approximate population of just over 6000 people most of whom live in the new town on the northern side of the Canal du Midi.The old medieval village is situated in an area of historical interest.However, the new town is expanding and there have been a number of new homes built at the top of the town.
The Chateau at Trebes
As you can see from the top picture,the village is set on The Canal Du Midi and the port was constructed in the seventeenth century. The canal was built wide and deep enough to enable ocean going ships to sail along the canal from sea to sea, namely the Mediterranean and Atlantic.This meant that ships no longer had to negotiate the Straits of Gibralter. In 1787, the then future president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson,travelled the length of the canal and he recorded a diary of his journey, declaring it to be "a most pleasant voyage".The canal brought prosperity to the area and the town was an important staging post in the 19th century for the transport of wine along the canal from the Corbieres and Minervois regions to the rest of Europe. This prosperity diminished in the early 20th century with the inauguration of the new Narbonne-Toulouse railway line.
The Canal Cruiser Ilorin in the Port of Trebes - June 2007.
The village has a number of shops,banks (with cashpoints),opticians,hairdressers,estate agents and take-aways.There are good Italian and French restaurants all within walking distance of the centre of the village.There are photos on the 'Port and Village' page.
On the opposite side of the town there is a beautiful three star campsite called L'Ombre Des Micocoulieurs. This is a view of Trebes taken from one on the pitches.
Trebes is known as the "Gateway to the Minervois". It is situated on the main tourist route from Carcassonne into the vineyards of the Minervois wine region.On leaving Trebes by car or cycle, you soon arrive at local "domaines" where you can but your wine direct from the growers.
Two of the most popular red wines are Chateau Badens and Lauren Cabaret. There is a local garden centre called Gamm Vert where you can fill up your own 5 litre flagon of red, white or rose for about £4.There are hosepipes that come out of the wall into a trough and you simply fill up your vessel and take it to the till.Splendid!
This is the River Aude at Trebes.You can see the old town fortifications on the left.The foundations of the old bridge are Roman.
Trebes is approximately 6 kilometeres east of Carcassonne. It is twenty minutes away from the Salvaza airport and the autoroute is 3 kilometeres west of the town. The area is within the easy reach of airports serviced by Ryanair, Flybe and BMI-Baby.
Montpellier - 1 hour 20 minutes.
Nimes - 1 hour 40 minutes.
Toulouse - 50 minutes.
Perpignan - 50 Minutes.
Gerona (Spain/France border)- 1 hour 45 minutes. Rodez - 2 hours.
Barcelona - 2 hours 45 minutes - Thomson Fly route at really low prices from Coventry.
Bristol to Beziers starts Spring 2008 with Ryanair.
I have taken all the photos on this site.Feel free to use them, but please e-mail me to let me know that you have done so.Thanks.
WE HAVE PUT MORE PHOTOS OF THE AREA ON THE FOLLOWING SITE :
The Pont de La Rode on the Canal Du Midi at Trebes. For further information go to www.canalmidi.com
